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 Member  Message

 #1949941


AGC
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 What is it ?

We are a Wildlife center and have been given the Tortoise in the photo.
We hope to keep him as a example of long time commitment in our Education Division.
However to better care for him/her we would like to get a positive I.D.
It is over 30 pounds and almost 26 inches long.
Any Help would be appreciated, usually all we get is Aquatic Turtles.
Vet check was clean and healthy.



02/09/09  03:37pm

 #1950178


Captain Sam
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1949941


 What is it ?

wow interesting looking guy!

i have no idea...

www.tortoiseforum.org
02/09/09  09:25pm

 #1950314


RepticTay
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1949941


 What is it ?

its a leopard tortoise.

www.africantortoise.com
02/10/09  06:28am

 #1950463


AGC
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1950314


 What is it ?

Thank You and for the website.



02/10/09  02:47pm

 #1950747


Wild "J"
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1950463


 What is it ?

How did you come by this tortoise... It is in nice condition.
02/10/09  10:59pm

 #1950816


AGC
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   Message To: Wild    In reference to Message Id: 1950747


 What is it ?

We do Wildlife rehabilitation in the Freeport, Illinois area.

The Tortoise was dropped off because the family could no longer take care of it after having him for
20 years, due to his size. So far everybody enjoys him and we’ll build him a nice outdoor area in the Spring.
Right now he is enjoying our animal room with all his fellow critters. (25 X 25)
We are going to use him in our Education Division, to go to schools and show how getting a pet is a forever deal.
That nice cute little critter is going to grow up and is not disposable...so think it through before you commit, etc.

We hope to have our website working soon.
http://www.agcwildliferehab.org/
02/11/09  12:47am

 #1950985


J&C
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1950816


 What is it ?

they took very good care of him. his shell looks wonderful..
Your center is very lucky!!!
Jackie:)
02/11/09  01:12pm

 #1951001


Wild "J"
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   Message To: J&C   In reference to Message Id: 1950985


 What is it ?

I wish they would have given him to me...
02/11/09  01:58pm

 #1952754


Dinkanber
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   Message To: Wild    In reference to Message Id: 1951001


 What is it ?

Yeah I agree that Leo has the least amount of pyrimiding that I have ever seen on a captive Leo..Just make sure yall keep up the husbandys on him..It would be a shame to see that shell go bad.He is pretty
02/14/09  05:16pm

 #1954071


AGC
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   Message To: Dinkanber   In reference to Message Id: 1952754


 What is it ?

We are new with this type of rescue, since he was not a wildlife rescue.

What do you recommend to keep him in the great shape that he is.

So far he is doing a lot of sleeping. I assume they hibernate somewhat during the winter.

When we got him he was grazing outside daily until it got cold (We keep him in a room that is 55) then
he seemed to slow down. He does like to climb into his water tray and stay there during daylight hours,
then moves to a corner for the night. His current pen is 5 x 5 feet and has Hay for a base. Once in awhile I bring him into the house so he can cruse the living room and bask in the sunlight. His enclosure has both a UV fixture and a heat light.

You can post here or e-mail direct at



02/16/09  09:42pm

 #1955041


RepticTay
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1954071


 What is it ?

Hi his temps must be up all year round, with heat lamps and uv lamps.

these species dont hibernate.

Visit: www.africantortoise.com
02/18/09  12:33pm

 #1955115


AGC
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   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1955041


 What is it ?

Just pulled up the paperwork and contacted the previous owner.

She claims that since he was little (20 years ago to now) during winter he would seek out corners in the house and just stay there for weeks. As he got older she would place him a a large tub and put him in the corner of the closet, checking on him from time to time providing water and food which he really did not touch during the time in the closet..

Can they be taught to hibernate ? or was she just lucky for all this time.

I have added a Heat Lamp to his pen, I’ll check the temp in about an hour and ajust the lamp to maintain about 80-85 degree’s.



02/18/09  03:07pm

 #1955130


Wild "J"
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1955115


 What is it ?

If it is cooler the animal will slow its metabolic functions, the owner should have made a cage for this tortoise species that was warm year round, being that it went to a corner during winter tells me she let it free around the house which means inconsistent temperatures, the owner got lucky... Keep it warm!
02/18/09  03:47pm

 #1964641


AGC
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   Message To: Wild    In reference to Message Id: 1955130


 What is it ?

Just an update.
Bought a Dog Bed warmer and place it under the box/pen that I built for Spot (name a tour of kids gave him)
and he seems to be a lot more active. He has started eating quite a bit. We grew him 4 trays of Blue grass mixed with clover and cat grass. Placed them in his pen like as if it were sod. which helps give him places to cool off or warm up since the heater only covers half the pen. Also we felt it was a more natural way for him to feed. We also give him Romaine, Red, Spinach, tomatos and carrots. Also have a UV light and a Heat lamp off to one side.

One thing we have noticed is that he is eating, but as of yet hes has yet to (for lack of a nicer way to put it) take a dump. How often do they ? and what can we expect ? (or look for) our aquatic residents leave pellets on the bottom that we suction out of the tanks.
03/07/09  04:20pm

 #1965046


J&C
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   Message To: AGC   In reference to Message Id: 1964641


 What is it ?

I would stop the tomatoes and give the carrots on occasion. I would put a cuttle bone(like for birds) in the enclosure so he can nibble when he wants to as this provides calcium they can get when their bodies need it. I would also give more timothy hay, orchard grass and Bermuda hay, escarole, endive and dandelion greens and less Romaine and red leaf.. and very little spinach.
The natural grass is a very good idea and you can get seed from HERE that is made just for grazing torts such as the leopard.
My larger leopard only poo’s about 2 a week so far ( I have only had him for a couple weeks) and I recommend just letting it harden and then removing it from the enclosure. Mine is probably half the size of yours and his poo is much smaller than cat poo and he kind of drags it with him in the enclosure.
Tort poo doesnt really stink too much. (if it does, it usually a sign of bad diet or parasites or stress)
Good luck and ask away with the questions
Jackie:)



03/08/09  02:54pm

 #1965054


J&C
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   Message To: J&C   In reference to Message Id: 1965046


 What is it ?

OH... and when you say UV light, do you mean UVB?
He will need a uvB light when he is inside....
I personally recommend the TREX active UV...
It is heat and UVB.. the bulb runs about $50 but last for over a year and has the best UVB output on the market (from studies I have heard)
Plus you only have to have 1 bulb plugged in
You can pick it up cheap at the link I gave you above or lllreptile($50 is cheap, the large pet stores sell them for $75)
Jackie:)
03/08/09  03:09pm

 #1965403


RepticTay
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   Message To: J&C   In reference to Message Id: 1965054


 What is it ?

go to

www.africantortoise.com
03/09/09  09:11am

 #1969327


AGC
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   Message To: J&C   In reference to Message Id: 1965054


 What is it ?

It’s UVB light, I’ll try to mix it up a little on the diet, he really like the cat grass and now we have grown carrot top for him and thinks that is just dandy. Still no droppings, he has eaten a bunch of food and still nothing that we can find, unless he is smashing it into the hay we use for the bottom of the pen.
Can’t wait for the weather to break so we can get him outside and build him the pen he deserves.
03/16/09  11:22am


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