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 #1844856


Sharkie
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 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

Good morning! Imagine my surprise when I walked outside yesterday to find this guy in front of my house. Does anyone know what kind of tortoise he is?



For size reference, here he is with my 7 year old daughter:



Not something you see everyday in NJ!

I’ve come to learn he has been in the area for a few days now, and I worry about him out there at night since it has been unseasonably cool in this area.

I would love to know what type of tortoise he is, but my research has not yielded any solid results. We have a rescue zoo not too far from here, so if I see him again I may give them a call.

Thanks!
08/28/08  06:52am

 #1844858


RepticTay
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   Message To: Sharkie   In reference to Message Id: 1844856


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

Hi sharkie, that is a sulcata tortoise (geochelone sulcata).

heres some links!

http://tortoisetrust.org/care/csulcata.html
http://africantortoise.com/sulcata.htm
http://chelonia.org/Articles/sulcatacare.htm
08/28/08  06:55am

 #1844861


Sharkie
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1844858


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

Thank you! I did come across the Sulcata when I was looking, but wasn’t sure that was him.

Seems he likes it a little warmer than it’s been around here lately. I will definitely try for a rescue if I see him again.

I appreciate your help. :)
08/28/08  07:02am

 #1844968


RepticTay
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   Message To: Sharkie   In reference to Message Id: 1844861


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

your welcome. Theyre not hibernating species, so they will find heat if it kills them!
08/28/08  10:53am

 #1845015


Amphibiandude
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1844968


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

how did it get to new jearsy musthave been an escaped pet and it is majorly pryamiding
08/28/08  12:14pm

 #1845131


Reptilefreak23
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   Message To: Amphibiandude   In reference to Message Id: 1845015


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

obviously the person who raised this tort did not know or care that much about it to let that happen.
And Lazy Ownership often leads to escaped pets
08/28/08  02:56pm

 #1846128


Amphibiandude
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   Message To: Reptilefreak23   In reference to Message Id: 1845131


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

poor guy hes probably confused and scared



08/29/08  01:38pm

 #1846365


RepticTay
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   Message To: Reptilefreak23   In reference to Message Id: 1845131


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

Quote:

By ~ Reptilefreak23:
obviously the person who raised this tort did not know or care that much about it to let that happen.
And Lazy Ownership often leads to escaped pets



No entirely true RF23, the owner may be an expert at this tortoise species, but maybe he purchased him like that.

He may of known the care of the tortoise but overfed.

OR you may be right he did not know the care and it lead to escaping and pyramiding.
08/29/08  06:16pm

 #1846841


Sharkie
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1846365


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

Thanks for the info, guys. I was thinking escaped pet or he just got larger than the owner anticipated and they let him go. I really feel badly for the tortoise. I am keeping an eye out for him, and if I see him again I will try to get him rescued.

Some people just shouldn’t own animals.
08/30/08  08:48am

 #1847108


RepticTay
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   Message To: Sharkie   In reference to Message Id: 1846841


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

thats great!

Maybe he escaped or the owner didnt realise the size involved with this percific species.
08/30/08  03:15pm

 #1848947


Ledroc567
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1847108


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

I have a freind who purchased a a hermans tortoise and It turned out to be an aldabra
09/01/08  06:47pm

 #1849507


Dinkanber
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   Message To: Ledroc567   In reference to Message Id: 1848947


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

Quote:

I have a freind who purchased a a hermans tortoise and It turned out to be an aldabra



There is no way to mistake that..How big is it.Thats not something that just happens..lol
09/02/08  01:36pm

 #1849514


RepticTay
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   Message To: Dinkanber   In reference to Message Id: 1849507


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

I agree with dinkanber, maybe a russian for a hermanns or a hermanns for russian thats relatively common due to their similarities but a hermanns and an ALDABRA
09/02/08  01:45pm

 #1850131


Yexalen
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1849514


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

it could happen... not likely but if a pet store got ahold of one with absolutely NO knowledge of the tortoise and sold the hatchling as a hermanns tortoise not knowign the true identity..

You would have to have NO knowledge but I guess if it was a hatchling it could happen...

The pet store or whatever just never bothered to look up what kind he was...

or something was lost in translation lol
09/03/08  01:22am

 #1850234


RepticTay
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   Message To: Yexalen   In reference to Message Id: 1850131


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

True, but also it is not neccessarily the pet stores fault. The breeder who has sold them to the pet store or the dealer even, may have mixed it up or given out the wrong sale paper work with tortoise idenfitification of speciemens.
09/03/08  08:40am

 #1850342


Dinkanber
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1850234


 Can anyone identify this tortoise?

I just dont see any pets store even having a $2000 tort in the first place let alone giving it up as a hermans be mistake.
09/03/08  11:15am


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