Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I'm taking care of my collegue's tortoise while she's on vacation. I have lizards and amphibians, but I've never had a tortoise and I think my collegue don't know how to take care of it, so I prefer not to follow her directives...
First, could you help me identify it? All I know is that it comes from Algeria.
I have a lot of stuff available here (UV fluorescents, basking lamps, heat pad, etc), so I think I could set up a great enclosure for her (at least, maybe she'll be happy for the time I'll keep her...).
Please, this little creature is begging for help...

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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

front view

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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

rear view

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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

HOw long has she had it, because it looks fine to me. it'd be asier if u tell us how she told u to take care of it, and we can agree or disagree

...because it will probably make you angry. She got this tortoise (wild collected) about 3 months ago. She keeps it in a small cardboard box in her bathroom (lights closed day and night). No basking light, no UV, and a piece of lettuce from time to time. She places her in the sink with running water (cold water) so it can drink, about 1 time every 10 days. It doesn't receive any calcium or vitamin supplements.
This morning, I gave her leafy greens and it ate like crazy! I think the little thing was very hungry.
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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

If it came from North Africa you can be pretty safe in keeping it warm and dry with a humid hide. Provide temps of 75 to 100 F. Soak it daily to every other day. Provide a low water dish. Use a sand or hay substrate (or both). Feed dark leafy greens (spring mix found in the grocery store) with a decent calcium supplement. Add a little Mazuri tortoise diet once or twice a week...

If it came from Algeria you probably have T. graeca

That should do it.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Wow! It is awful she is taking care of it that way. I would definately get her a nice set up in a roamy enclosure with heat and UVB feed her salads of dark leafy greens with calcium supplements.

When your collegue gets back i think you should definately talk to her about wether a Tort is the right pet for her. I think that Tort should, under no circumstances, go back to that home.

Although, since its not yours there is only so much you can do. Hopefully she will understand and let you take the little guy
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1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
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0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

Thank you,
I've found a lot of information about T. graeca today and I think I can offer it a good home. I'd like to keep it, but I don't think its owner will let it go (unfortunately).
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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

i think in this case you should lie and say it passed away under your care. This tortoise should NOT go back to her.

Friends are friends, but this is an animal's life. It could spend a long time languishing in her care and suffering horribly. Even if she insists on keeping it, the animal's welfare must come first. You could always say it passed away in your care (and then show her some husbandy sites to suggest why it died), while you actually take it to a local reptile rescue facility or group. Wild caught animals are really, really sensitive and need all the human allies they can get! I know it's a tough choice, but I'd definitely lean in the direction of keeping her away from the poor little guy.

Meg
Proud owner of Ndugu, the petulant redfoot

Not only is it wrong but it is just as immoral. You know... 2 wrongs don't make a right.

The way to do it is show the owner all of the info you found. If they want to keep it maybe they will get into it... OR maybe they will think it is too much trouble and give it up to you.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I think I'll follow your advice and give her information about how to take care of its tortoise. If I tell her it is dead, she'll probably get another one and the problem won't be solved.
I often have baby anoles and when people that are not familiar to reptiles ask me for a baby, I just have to explain how much time and money it takes to properly take care of them and they always give up. I hope she'll have the same reaction.
She'll come back in two weeks. I'll give you some news...
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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

You guys are crazy. How quickly this thread went from how to improve the situation of a tortoise to stealing someone’s pet.

Most pet owners even ones completely ignorant on proper care will do what’s right when they know how. Point out to her your recommendations then see what she does.

I doubt many of your claims. Due to the fragile nature of wild caught tortoises I doubt the care you suggested is occurring (kept in the dark, watered once a week, only fed lettuce…). If this were occurring for over three months you/we would see signs of a poor body conditioning.

My advice is weigh him. If we weighs less then 20g at 7cm then drop him off at the RSPCA, ASPCA or SPCA or other similar organization. If he weighs more then that give him back to your friend who trusted you to care for him when she was on vacation.

Believe me, she really "took care" of its tortoise this way...
I think she was ignorant and I hope she'll change her methods if I explain her how to properly take care of it.
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Julie

1.1.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 painted mantella
0.0.1 golden mantella
4.2.2 green anoles
1.0.0 brown anoles
1.0.0 gold dust day gecko
1.0.0 house gecko
0.2.0 long-tailed grass lizards
2.1.0 cats
2.2.0 goldfishes

wow, Candianherper. That was one of the rudest responses I have seen on any forum. Regardless of whether I agree with your point of view (which I don't) there were many, MANY other ways to say that.

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
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0.1 Feline Winter
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