All Turtles Message Board

Maisey · Level 1 Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

My husband found this turtle on the sidewalk cruising along. I thought it was a box turtle but when I started checking care sheets...he doesn't really match the pictures I could find. I'd like to provide proper care for it..but I need to know what it is first! Any help is much appreciated.

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Linzlou83 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:23 am Post subject:

It kind of looks like Bill Slowsky from the Comcast commercials, doesn't he?

What part of the country are you from? Sometimes that helps determine the species. He looks very healthy whatever he is, so he must've been doing ok out there in the wild.

Maisey · Level 1 Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

I live in the Pacific Northwest. He is very easy going and doesn't frighten easily, which makes me think he was someones pet. He was very close to a major road with tons of traffic.
I'm buying a rubbermaid tub today so he can have more room..right now he is in a 10 gallon tank that I normally use to take my bearded dragon to work in. I have one incandescent light over it, but I'm afraid it will get too hot for him while I'm at work so I'm going to shut it off before I leave. I gave him access to very shallow water(1/2"), so he can get wet if he wants and I offered him some greens I use for my bearded.
I've looked at tons of pictures of Box Turtles, but none seem to be a match. They all have color on their limbs or head, or their markings are brighter on their shells. To make it more difficult..I'm sure it's a male, as he showed me his "little red rocket" after I bathed him..and he doesn't have red eyes. His shell on the bottom is also concave.
I was going to place topsoil in the tub when I get home..is this a good idea? or should I wait until I definately know what he is?
Can I feed him crickets? Live ones? I don't want to make him too wet, dry, hot cold, etc. I'm nervous I'll do something to make him sick. I've read they can be sensitive. Again, I appreciate any help. I'd like to keep him healthy until I'm able to find his owner. And if I can't find his owner...I'm going to need to know how to properly take care of him.

Maisey · Level 1 Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

I think he is a Gulf Coast Box Turtle. I found a photo that looks alot like him and the description of this species fits him. The dark legs head and eyes, the dark underside and the spot on top of his head!

I think this link will lead you to the info I read.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.floridanature.org/photos/Terrapene_carolina_major_1a,_Tallahassee,_20020317.jpg&imgrefurl=http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q%3Fsearch%3DTerrapene%2Bcarolina%26guide%3DTurtles&h=596&w=872&sz=175&hl=en&start=363&um=1&tbnid=rVnzsy96SQ07nM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbox%2Bturtle%2Bphoto%26start%3D360%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

Perhaps it should remain wild, unless it is sick or something. Well as long as you take good care of it.

Maisey · Level 1 Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

I didn't find him in the wild..I stated above I live in the Pacific Northwest, as I understand it, this would not be native land for him. I also said I found him cruising down a sidewalk near a busy street. I live in Portland, Oregon. He was heading towards a 4 lane major road in a busy city.
I believe he was someones pet. I have posted ads and I am monitoring lost and found ads in hopes of returning him to his owner. In the meantime, I want to make sure he is getting the proper care. I needed to know what he is in order to provide that.

=)

Maisey · Level 1 Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

Mystery solved...it's a Greek Tortoise. I got some care sheets for him and I'll do my best to keep him healthy until an owner is found.

Linzlou83 · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject:

That's funny cuz I was looking it up online and I thought that was what it was. Some pics it looked like one and others it didn't. Glad he is being cared for and I'm sure he'll make a great pet! Good luck!

Maisey · Level 1 Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

Thats the problem I was having, some looked like him some didn't. I got a pretty good lesson in Tortoise anatomy out of this though! I didn't even notice he has spurs or that he has one symetrical scale on top of his head where the white spot is. I found a web site that explains 10 differences between a Russian and a Greek and then started really looking at him. I guess there is some question about their exact origin and even how many subspecies. There are color differences. I read somewhere that Syria may be where the blacker ones come from....where black basalt is the soil in some areas. I'll do lots of reading now..and learn a bunch. I must say..he is a very charming gent. He eats like a giant..I keep telling him he is not a Sulcata.
Thanks for your input =)

Rachel16 · Level 3 Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 366

i have a turtle kinda like that but have no idea wat it is! Exclamation