AND if it IS a desert tortoise DO NOT release it back into the wild, it is a federal crime to do so. You also need a permit to keep one, as they are endangered species!!!


I advise you to contact a tortoise rescue nearby, and they can even come out to get it. You should not have a desert tortoise, they are very prone to upper respiratory problems, especially when they are comming out of hybernation.

You need to find out what type of tortoise it is, and make sure before you decide to let him go. That is not a very smart thing to do. And plus, it could be a totally different type of tortoise, or a box turtle who is really a turtle but lives on land, and if you let it go it might not survive!


Please do not let him suffer and contact a rescue.

As far as feeding, my Desert Tortoise gets romain and red leaf lettuce, cactus .....................hold on be right back.