Tortoise. Help me!

[Jenko109]

I've found this tortoise.

No answer on local fb pages and vets shut.

I've locked him in a dog crate with a shallow saucer of water and some dandelion leaves.

He is very active and seems hell bent on trying to get out.

Is inside in a dog crate the safest place until I find his owner? Or is he better off outside in the rabbit hutch?

 

[SilverLinings]

That's a handsome looking tortoise. Could you ring somewhere like the RSPCA or a tortoise rescue and ask them for advice? If @scats is around she may be able to offer advice as the resident tortoise expert.

 

[SilverLinings]

Bumping for attention

 

[Clodagh]

Can you take his photo and put him on a local fb group? I found a dog this morning and he was reunited with his owner very quickly.
Good luck. Dog crate sounds sensible to me.

 

[Jenko109]

Yes have posted on local fb groups however they are moderated and posts not yet approved.

 

[adamntitch]

Looks like a leopard tortoise so not as commen as other species and grow large maybe see if a vets will check for a chip as a lot are chipped now adays

 

[TinselPoos]

They like to be outside and they like to have sun to bask in, so maybe put the dog crate outside? Mine loved little gem lettuce and would kill for a bit of banana They like access to water too, but not too much as they definitely can’t swim, or even float!

They are great escape artists, which is probably how your one got out. you do have to keep an eye on them to make sure they have not flipped on their back. My last tortoise was one that was found wandering around the fields. I had her for years until she died of a virus she picked up at the vets.

Hopefully her owner will see her/him on FB once you can post.

ETA: the rabbit hutch would probably be better for night time as they like to hide away, then put it in the crate outside in the daytime.

 

[scats]

Looks like a Leopard tortoise. Definitely try to get him back home via FB. They need access to UV light and high temperatures. He’ll be fine for a night though.

A local vet should hopefully be able to take him in and get him in an appropriate set up until his owner can be found.

 

[lialls]

It might be microchipped so I'd take it to the vets, preferable a vets that has experience of tortoises and get them to scan it.

 

[Jenko109]

She has gone home now.

Thanks all.

 

[poiuytrewq]

She has gone home now.

Thanks all.

Had she just escaped someone’s garden?

 

[Jenko109]

Yes, however she had been missing a week!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Had she just escaped someone’s garden?

They must have been so relieved! I am on a few tortoise FB pages and they do seem to go missing quite often. Sometimes for quite a while.

 

[skinnydipper]

Yes, however she had been missing a week!

How far was she from her home?

 

[Jenko109]

Not far at all really. She was in the street that runs behind the street that she lives in.

I was quite surprised that the owners had not been round knocking tbh, considering how long she had been gone.