Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My first question is can anyone please identify this tortoise to me, I was given two of them as a gift from Lebanon (Middle East, I live in Canada)

My second question is one of my tortoises seem sick, his/her bottom part seems very soft , and the sides of the shell seem very soft! Can anyone please help !

Also what type of habitat do I need to provide my new friends !

Any help will be greatly appreciate !

looks like a marginiated tortoise

Please can someone answer my other question !

Is the shell just soft when you press on it? Does it ooze any type of puss or anything like that?

Also, do you supplement their feedings with Calcium?

No puss or ooze but everytime I press (one tortoise) he/she seems very uncomfortable, and I know the softness is not regular. And No I do not supplement their feeedings with calcium !

I would suggest putting calcium on every feeding then. Their shells need the calcium to be strong and to grow.

You are right, a soft shell is not normal. If it is to bad, you might have to take it to the vet for evaluation and possibly liguid calcium.

Good luck to you and the tort. Hopefully someone else will throw a little more info in.

I just noticed the bottom of the shell, and the sides of the shell are pinkish of the sick tort ? Does anyonw know what it is ?

Get it to a qualified vet with reptile experience AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If its shell is turning pinkish it may well have septaecemia and will need intensive antibiotics. If you don't see a vet it might be dead within days. I can't open your picture, but if your animals are from Lebanon they are probably Testudo graeca (spur-thighed), of a subspecies that should not hibernate.
It is likely from the wild (should have still been there, really :-S and is probably imported illegally) and full of parasites: have a faecal sample done and have them both wormed and treated for flagellates a.s.a.p., too. Don't let the vet give it a Vitamin A shot (some vets want to but for tortoises it can be very harmful).
You will be able to find good care sheets on the net if you know the species (as I said, probably T.graeca: Marginateds don't occur in Lebanon). They absolutely need calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements on their food (leafy greens, no fruit). UV-B light is also very good. They need a large dry environment with a daytime heat lamp so they can get their body temperature up.
Good luck.