If you decide to offer this animal a home Turtle Homes can help you set them up properly. Your first step would be to bring the turtle or tortoise to the vet for a check up. You want to start off with a healthy animal. We recommend that you bring a fresh stool sample with you to the vet so they can check the turtle for parasites. The vet will be able to tell you the sex of the turtle and let you know if you have a juvenile or adult specimen.

Remember even if you have found an adult turtle or tortoise it may still be relatively young. Turtles and tortoises have lifespans that are longer than humans. For many species twenty years old is still very young. You can not determine the exact age of a turtle by the number of rings on it's shell. That is for trees.
The vet will be able to tell you the stage of development by the wear on the shell. Some turtles change shape drastically as they grow older.

After you have determined the turtle is healthy you will want to set up a proper habitat. Turtles and Tortoises rely on the sun to help them metabolize calcium. Calcium is very important for the development of healthy shells and bones. We always recommend an outdoor habitat over an indoor one. It is important to identify the exact species of the turtle because different species can require drastically different setups.

You would not keep a moisture needing Eastern Box Turtle in a habitat that includes mostly sand substrate and low humidity or a sulcata on damp leaf litter. The Virtual Chelonian Field Guide will help you to do a proper identification. If you still confused as to what you have contact us and we will attempt to identify it for you.

If you do not wish to keep the turtle or tortoise you can place it up for adoption through us. Keep in mind, that you cannot adopt out native species.

Turtle Homes follows all state laws regarding adoption. We will inform you if there are any complications involving your turtles placement.