Rescued Tort ID & Advice Please

lisa · 01-05-2007, 08:48 PM

Hi

I was asked to take this tort in from a friend of a friend who after 4 years in a viv and being chewed by the dog they decided they could no longer look after him. Does anyone know what type he is, they didn't know, i was thinking maybe star or leopard, he is quite large for a young one and quite heavy. Can you also advise on diet and Housing, he's outside in the day, sunny devon 8) but at night he's in a under bed box until I can get something else at the weekend so suggestions would be appreciated. He's a bit different than the Horsfields I'm used to but at least you can spot him in the garden rather than have to dig him up!!

If you need any more pics let me know and I will try to put some more on.

Also should he have any paperwork, he came to me in a plastic box with a bit of toilet tissue in the bottom.

Hope you can help.

Thanks.

Lisa

piglet · 01-05-2007, 08:53 PM

Hi Lisa
Its certainly not a star or leopard, how long is the tortoise and whats its weight can you post a plastron(underneath ) picture also.

Looks like a marginated tortoise to me

D

Henry-flash · 01-05-2007, 08:56 PM

I would have gone with marginated too

sandy · 01-05-2007, 09:41 PM

Marginata and he/she does need cities paperwork.

01-05-2007, 10:01 PM

I would say marginata aswell.

niamherrity · 02-05-2007, 10:00 AM

Im so proud of myself I got it right

ok shut up niamh

02-05-2007, 10:08 AM

marginated definately, i can tell species but not subspeciea, and also med spurs are quite hard to tell apart from hermanns but marginated ones stand out from them 2 anyway.

im sure i read that you can take tortoises without paperwork (for free), but its illegal for the person to sell it to you without papers, so as long as you didnt pay for this one everything should be ok, and also you wont be able to sell it on either.

but hopefully someone with more experience in these matters will explain fully all about paperwork etc..

lisa · 02-05-2007, 05:58 PM

Hi Heres some more pics, he is 1.2kg and 9&1/2 inches long, can anyone tell if he is a he or a she?

Also he's not eaten anything since Friday, Does this sound ok, I've tried all sorts of tempting things but he doesn't seem interested, I know when we got the Horsefield's they didn't eat for the first week or so either.

Thanks for your help.

Lisa.

**egyptiandan64** · 02-05-2007, 06:23 PM

Hi Lisa,
Your Marginted is a male

How long ago was he chewed on by the dog? If you measured him right, he is very underweight. He should weight 1,924g. If he's not eating I would say a trip to a tortoise vet would be in order.

Danny

sandy · 02-05-2007, 06:40 PM

If given freely then you dont need paperwork, but if you want to breed eventually then you
will need paperwork. You also cant sell without paperwork.

01-05-2007, 08:48 PM	#1
lisa Member Hatched Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 371	Rescued Tort ID & Advice Please Hi I was asked to take this tort in from a friend of a friend who after 4 years in a viv and being chewed by the dog they decided they could no longer look after him. Does anyone know what type he is, they didn't know, i was thinking maybe star or leopard, he is quite large for a young one and quite heavy. Can you also advise on diet and Housing, he's outside in the day, sunny devon 8) but at night he's in a under bed box until I can get something else at the weekend so suggestions would be appreciated. He's a bit different than the Horsfields I'm used to but at least you can spot him in the garden rather than have to dig him up!! If you need any more pics let me know and I will try to put some more on. Also should he have any paperwork, he came to me in a plastic box with a bit of toilet tissue in the bottom. Hope you can help. Thanks. Lisa

01-05-2007, 08:53 PM	#2
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Hi Lisa Its certainly not a star or leopard, how long is the tortoise and whats its weight can you post a plastron(underneath ) picture also. Looks like a marginated tortoise to me D __________________ 17 years old 25 years ago

01-05-2007, 08:56 PM	#3
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	I would have gone with marginated too __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

01-05-2007, 09:41 PM	#4
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Marginata and he/she does need cities paperwork. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

02-05-2007, 06:23 PM	#9
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Hi Lisa, Your Marginted is a male How long ago was he chewed on by the dog? If you measured him right, he is very underweight. He should weight 1,924g. If he's not eating I would say a trip to a tortoise vet would be in order. Danny __________________

01-05-2007, 10:01 PM	#5
tortoise_dude Guest Posts: n/a	I would say marginata aswell.

02-05-2007, 10:00 AM	#6
niamherrity Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: klidare/ireland Posts: 2,827	Im so proud of myself I got it right ok shut up niamh

02-05-2007, 10:08 AM	#7
bruceleetortoise Guest Posts: n/a	marginated definately, i can tell species but not subspeciea, and also med spurs are quite hard to tell apart from hermanns but marginated ones stand out from them 2 anyway. im sure i read that you can take tortoises without paperwork (for free), but its illegal for the person to sell it to you without papers, so as long as you didnt pay for this one everything should be ok, and also you wont be able to sell it on either. but hopefully someone with more experience in these matters will explain fully all about paperwork etc..

02-05-2007, 05:58 PM	#8
lisa Member Hatched Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 371	Hi Heres some more pics, he is 1.2kg and 9&1/2 inches long, can anyone tell if he is a he or a she? Also he's not eaten anything since Friday, Does this sound ok, I've tried all sorts of tempting things but he doesn't seem interested, I know when we got the Horsefield's they didn't eat for the first week or so either. Thanks for your help. Lisa.

02-05-2007, 06:40 PM	#10
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	If given freely then you dont need paperwork, but if you want to breed eventually then you will need paperwork. You also cant sell without paperwork. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

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