Can anyone help ID Mr Tortoise please?

Kiwiana · 05-07-2006, 05:48 PM

We have inherited this tortoise and have no idea of anything about him except its a male!

How can we tell his age - roughly!?!

We are very new at this tortoise business! (This is our first!)

I think he might be a Horsfield but that is only by the couple of little books I have recently bought. Then looking at Archie's shell it is similar - but then so are some species!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

piglet · 05-07-2006, 05:56 PM

Hi Kiwiana
Your tortoise is a mediterranean spurthighed tortoise (testudo graeca graeca ) possibly of morrocan origin
Darren

clairekentuk · 05-07-2006, 06:00 PM

Welcome to tortoise keeping and welcome to the forum. Male Graecas are the best! So much personality. I have 3 of them and they are adorable.
You'll learn all you need to know about him from here and the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ( xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Stick around on the forum as you will need advice on hibernation if this is your first time. Dont listen to the old lady down the road types who will tell you to put him in the airing cupboard!

Claire

Kiwiana · 05-07-2006, 08:00 PM

Wow! Many thanks for the prompt reply. We have sore fingers from searching the internet for ALL information on him.

Unsure what to feed him and how old he is and what weight he should be? Also worried about his shell colour - is this diet related or is he OK?

Thanks once again for the replies.

Helen

Henry-flash · 05-07-2006, 08:07 PM

His shell loks fine too me normal colouration. He should be on a diet of weeds. Go to the home page and click on edible weeds to find some commonly found tortoise friendly weeds http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/

Dazza · 05-07-2006, 08:49 PM

She looks fine, but it did cross my mind that maybe he's been oiled in prvious years..

I have just rehomed a tortiose and the old lady oiled him regular, i just GENTLY agitated it with plain warm water and a toohbrush, the dirt that came out was amazing, and his shell ground colour is a lot better

Darren

piglet · 05-07-2006, 09:36 PM

Hi here's my black coloured male graeca gracea similar to yours and a yellow coloured animal

sandy · 06-07-2006, 07:32 AM

Thanks Darren

That answers my question, and my learn for the day<g>.

LV426 · 07-07-2006, 06:11 AM

A good way to clean tortoise shells of any build up of dirt and oils is a toothbrush and some baking soda.

05-07-2006, 05:48 PM	#1
Kiwiana Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 12	Can anyone help ID Mr Tortoise please? We have inherited this tortoise and have no idea of anything about him except its a male! How can we tell his age - roughly!?! We are very new at this tortoise business! (This is our first!) I think he might be a Horsfield but that is only by the couple of little books I have recently bought. Then looking at Archie's shell it is similar - but then so are some species! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

05-07-2006, 08:07 PM	#5
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	His shell loks fine too me normal colouration. He should be on a diet of weeds. Go to the home page and click on edible weeds to find some commonly found tortoise friendly weeds http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/ __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

06-07-2006, 07:32 AM	#8
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Thanks Darren That answers my question, and my learn for the day<g>. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

07-07-2006, 06:11 AM	#9
LV426 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 33	A good way to clean tortoise shells of any build up of dirt and oils is a toothbrush and some baking soda. __________________ They say there is more to life than tortoises, "they" have never had a tortoise.

05-07-2006, 05:56 PM	#2
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Hi Kiwiana Your tortoise is a mediterranean spurthighed tortoise (testudo graeca graeca ) possibly of morrocan origin Darren

05-07-2006, 06:00 PM	#3
clairekentuk Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 120	Welcome to tortoise keeping and welcome to the forum. Male Graecas are the best! So much personality. I have 3 of them and they are adorable. You'll learn all you need to know about him from here and the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ( xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) Stick around on the forum as you will need advice on hibernation if this is your first time. Dont listen to the old lady down the road types who will tell you to put him in the airing cupboard! Claire

05-07-2006, 08:00 PM	#4
Kiwiana Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 12	Wow! Many thanks for the prompt reply. We have sore fingers from searching the internet for ALL information on him. Unsure what to feed him and how old he is and what weight he should be? Also worried about his shell colour - is this diet related or is he OK? Thanks once again for the replies. Helen

05-07-2006, 08:49 PM	#6
Dazza Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,486	She looks fine, but it did cross my mind that maybe he's been oiled in prvious years.. I have just rehomed a tortiose and the old lady oiled him regular, i just GENTLY agitated it with plain warm water and a toohbrush, the dirt that came out was amazing, and his shell ground colour is a lot better Darren

05-07-2006, 09:36 PM	#7
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Hi here's my black coloured male graeca gracea similar to yours and a yellow coloured animal

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