What kind of turtle or tortoise did I rescue? How do I care for it?

Hatchlings do not need third mother's. They hatch and leave the nest site immediately to search for food and live their lives. Ideally, you should have the the tortoise examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. He or she will be able to determine the species after which detailed care information can be provided. You can read about basic care here: http://www.avianandexotic.com/care-sheets/reptiles/tortise-care-sheet/

Hello. This is a common Red Eared Slider & there is a ton of information available online, in books & at pet stores on the proper care of these turtles. Please inform yourself the best you can to give this little guy the best chance possible to have a long life. They can make very good pets. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Those are a pair of yellow belly sliders. They are common throughout your state. Returning them to the spot you found them or to the nearest body of water would be recommended as well. If you plan on keeping them, check local, state and federal wildlife laws first. Care of this species is identical to its cousin, the red eared slider. You can review care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

It looks like a juvenile slider. Ideally, a wild turtle should be returned to the area where found. They don't transition well to captivity Since it is a juvenile , you may have a better chance though. You can read about slider care here: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html You can feed a commercial pellet or stick diet supplemented with fresh greens and some protein in the form of crickets, feeder fish or nightcrawlers. The water should be no deeper than twice the length of the shell and should be heated and filtered. Provide a heat lamp and UVB lighting.

Thank you for using PetCoach. This appears to be a box turtle. Please do not keep this turtle as a pet, In most states it is illegal to do so, beyond that it is very difficult to provide adequate housing and nutrition for wild reptiles. Many species of box turtle are endangered or vulnerable due to human interference. http://www.boxturtles.com/box-turtle-conservation/ If interested in a turtle for a pet, I recommend you search for local reptile or turtle rescues in your area. box turtles and other species can live up to 50 years in captivity, so need a long-term commitment. But often end up in rescue when people can’t take care of them there entire lives

Thank you for your question, and thank you for the pictures! I would recommend taking this turtle back to where it was found, and placing it on the side of the road that it was trying to get to. It may have just been moving around in its territory when it was found. This would be the best course of action for the turtle, so that it can be part of the wild population and hopefully make little turtle babies in the future! It is so important to leave these guys in the wild because their population numbers are declining. Every turtle being back out in the wild will help! Thank you for caring for this turtle, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The images are a bit blurry. It can be difficult to keep those little guys still! It does look like a YBS. They are not native to the UK and are typically captive bred. They are quite easy to keep. They need warm, clean water, a water heater, a basing spot with an overhead heat lamp, UVB lighting, a balanced diet consisting of animal protein and plant matter, calcium supplementation and multivitamin supplementation. For now, keep water depth no deeper than twice the length of the shell. As it grows, you can increase water depth. Maintain water quality via filtration and regular water changes. Feed a varied diet of prey (appropriately sized feeder fish, earthworms, crickets, etc.) and fresh greens and vegetables. Use a calcium and vitamin supplement and provide UVB lighting. You can review slider care at the link below. It is titled for Red Eared Sliders, however, Yellow Bellied Slider care is the same. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html