New pet, new forum member
 

Good day. New member here. My name is Alex, and I'm from Serbia.

Few days ago, I was on a hike in forest, and almost accidentally stepped on this small tortoise shown on pictures. After thinking for a few moments, I decided to take it home, and also make a new home for this little fellow (40mm shell length).
This is not my first shelled pet, as I had few of Red-eared sliders(Chrysemys scripta elegans) a long time ago, but this is first one of it's kind, and I guess it's a Testudo Hermanni, or it could be Testudo Gracea... you tell me :)

I have only seen much larger specimens in forests around here, so I don't know what kind of behavior to expect from this little one. Now it just stays tucked in it's shell with eyes closed, like it's sleeping. and when I lift it, it looks like it wakes up, and then moves a little, then tries to dig a hole through cardboard box, as it probably want's to dig itself underground, and when fail, just starts "sleeping" again.

I have fed it with grass, different leaves, yellow dandelion flower, cucumber, apple, and it does it every day a little, also takes poop every day.

But... yesterday, when I handled it, I've noticed something black around it's mouth, is that normal? (look at the photo).

As it mostly stays inside it's shell when I'm around in the same room, I don't see when it eats or does anything, it does all the things when no one is around, but one time, i saw it opening mouth, like it's yawning (not trying to eat anything).

What sex is it?
What age is it if it can be observed from pictures?

Thanks in advance! :)
More pics coming soon

https://s10.postimg.org/6nb06bb85/IM...523_102457.jpg

https://s12.postimg.org/lmo8wq5jt/IM...525_205547.jpg

https://s2.postimg.org/s0z13lyhh/IMG...525_205601.jpg

Welcome to the forum Alex.

I will leave all the answers to the experts!

So are you saying that you took this hatchling from the wild, because these are an endangered species and shouldn't be taken from the wild.
It does look like a Herman.

Hello Alex. Yes it looks like a herman and is most likely about one year old.

We can't tell the sex at that size. I can't see anything wrong with him in the pictures.

I'm not sure if it's good for him that you have taken him home. You might find it hard to give him everything he needs. He needs to be in sunlight sometimes but also to be safe and not get too hot. He also needs water to drink. And as you say he would like to dig into some soil.

I am sorry but this is just so wrong. :(

That tort has been plucked from what would have been a wonderful life compared to replying on what you can provide. S/he should have been n left in peace to go about their business.

Hermanns are a critically endangered species, protected by Cities, so you have also broken the law.

I would give it a good soak to hydrate it & replace it somewhere safe in the area you picked it up :)

ooh yes best left be back in secure safe habitat otherwise you could have one dead tortoise on your hands. black tarring round mouth not good sign either, could be rotting food in their due to stress handling.....if really is no turning back then I would try and get some sound advice on native habitat / food and its future as what you are feeding / husbandry is probably not the ideal. CB

Is the law the same in Serbia?

CITIES is international , they are an endangered species, and it's illegal to take them from the wild.
Like others have said, because this is a wild tort, handling can cause stress, and it may not do well.

Thanks Suze.

Let's hope Alex has come to the right decision.

I forgot to tell you here. I've returned tortoise to the same spot where I picked it up. Again I have to tell, I know how to handle with animals, so I wouldn't doo harm to it. Also wanted to build a big tort table for it, but really didn't find time to make it those days when I picked it up from nature, and when hearing it trying to dig in cardboard box, it made me sad. After all, freedom is priceless.

Here it is, returned home :)
https://s23.postimg.org/9vn5wgst3/IM...529_194958.jpg