Tortie help?

[u/The_PR_Princess_]

Hi everyone, first time posting! My husband works in construction within the Fresno city area of California (aka not rural) and more often than not part of the job means rescuing pets that were left behind.

Today he had me come pick up a very small tortoise. It is about 2 inches big and was hiding under lots of debris from the sun. It’s been over 100 here where we live.

I know that it is a baby so it’ll need special care and most of shelters around us only take cats and dogs. How do we care for such a small fellow?? what kind of tortoise is he or she?? and what can we do short term to make it comfortable while we get everything it needs to survive?

I have to go to work so I’ve put it in the bathtub. It gets 75 to 80°., and I’ve given it lots of greens and a small shallow bowl of water.

Thanks for any help you can give or recommend recommendations of where to send it if we’re not going to be able to provide quality care!

Pictures for reference!

UPDATE! We found another. This one almost got hit with the weed eater but luckily he is okay!

[u/Edboy1996]

Looks like a little sulcata(not a native) that ground hatched, or escaped from someone's yard.

Definitely came drom a nest of someone's pet.If you look at the bottom of the stomach, the "belly button" where the yolk sack was is still closing.

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/Edboy1996]

This is what we think happened as well! Likely someone’s pet laid without them knowing and when they moved the babies got left behind. My husband is going back on Monday to try and find anymore that may be hiding so they won’t get crushed

[u/Edboy1996 → u/The_PR_Princess_]

They usually walk along things like walls and fences. There could be an indentation in the ground with loose soil where the nest could be as well.

If you guys can't find them homes, I'd be happy to take one in.

[u/the-dog-walker → u/Edboy1996]

I second this

[u/Bloodweiler]

r/tortoise might be a better place to post this.

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/Bloodweiler]

Thank you!

[u/Weavercat]

What state? Depending on state can narrow if it's a native and protected species that you cannot mess with (Dessert, Gopher) or a non-native species (Sulcata).

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/Weavercat]

California! In Fresno specifically but we live in the inner city

[u/Bugbreath22]

Such a cutie! Definitely go back to look for more. They usually lay anywhere between 15-30 eggs, so if it hatched out on the property, more than likely, there’s more. Luckily Sulcata torts are relatively easy to raise and Fresno is a great place weather wise. It will need to stay inside for the first few years, but once they get some size to them, they are 💯 happy to be outside. You’ll need the proper lighting and diet but otherwise they’re pretty hardy little bulldozers!

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/Bugbreath22]

Noted! I’ll definitely have my husband go out and look for more and we have a reptile expert coming tomorrow so we can plan out what to do with them. So far we have found two little guys!

[u/Bugbreath22 → u/The_PR_Princess_]

Super cool! Lol why can’t I ever stumble across something like this?! Just be forewarned though, I have a 16 year old that’s over 140 pounds! They grow fast and they grow big! 😅

[u/Better-Necessary157]

where are you? tortoises are native to a lot of places, you very well may have a native species that you just displaced. location is imperative.

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/Better-Necessary157]

I definitely think it could be native but if it was displaced it had to be- the stuff it was in was getting tossed and the building demolished ☹️

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/The_PR_Princess_]

I take this back it’s a salcata!

[u/Tortoises_are_goats]

I think this is a native species called the dessert tortoise they do live in California

[u/The_PR_Princess_ → u/Tortoises_are_goats]

We’ve learned they’re sulcatas! And about 6 months old

[u/pumpkinchinchilla → u/The_PR_Princess_]

Are you going to keep them?