Central Texas Tortoise Rescue

25/06/2024

We are an all-volunteer organization, but it's not cheap to care for so many animals! If you can spare even $1 each month, it helps keep us sustainable.

https://donorbox.org/cttr

25/06/2024

Hi my name is Ben. I am a female, will come when you call me and will follow you anywhere. I have no issues with children or dogs as long as I'm not left unsupervised with them.

Ben was part of the Nebraska 14. If you are interested in finding out what the adoption requirements are visit texastortoiserescue.com. You can also find other tortoises available for adoption.

Central Texas Tortoise Rescue is a nonprofit adoption and rehoming organization for pet tortoises and box turtles.

24/06/2024

Public service announcement 1:
Seriously stop taking native turtles and tortoise from the wild! If a box turtle crosses your yard, let him go! If he's not safe, move him to safety nearby. If they are native, assume they are wild and not a pet. Leave them alone. If you don't know if it is native, see our website https://www.texastortoiserescue.com/identification or send us a photo.

23/06/2024

Tortoise highlight time. This is Diggy (top)and Sammy (bottom). They are just two of the Russians we have right now. Diggy is in Bandera. Diggy is too young to tell the s*x yet. He or she was purchased at a Petco. The owner travels now and can't find a sitter.

Sammy is in New Braunfels. She was also purchased at a pet store, PetSmart in 2019. Her age of 10 years is an estimate. She has grown since the owner purchased her, which usually means she was less than 3 years old at the time. She has some shell damage on her carapace that was possibly from old shell rot or heat exposure. She is healed and healthy now and in need of a great home.

Russians must be houses individually. We have Russians at many of our locations. Select the photo of the Russian of interest on our website to see their location stated in the profile information. Be sure to read about the care requirements for the species on the adoption page before submitting your application to adopt. www.texastortoiserescue.com

Please ADOPT. We are overcrowded and need good homes.
(no we will NOT reduce our adoption expectations to empty our enclosures. Healthy homes are the goal, empty enclosures are a benefit)

22/06/2024

When you schedule an appointment for a tour, adoption, or surrender with us, please be considerate of our time. If you are running late or need to cancel, please text or call before your appointment time. It's hot outside. We are often waiting in the heat for you. We are all volunteers. We have lives and things we want and need to do that we set aside to meet with you. We are not a pet store or animal shelter where we get paid to be here no matter if you come or not. I have left early from family gatherings, cut grocery shopping trips short, put off feeding and watering until a hotter time, all to have no one show up. Please be considerate and respectful. I know your momma taught you to apologize It only takes a phone call or a text. Make your momma proud.

This is Shelly. His crazy antics like this are what you miss when you don't show up. Yes he needs a new home. See our website for information. www.texastortoiserescue.com

16/06/2024

For today's tortoise highlight we have a couple of large sulcatas. They make great pets if you have a large enough secure area to allow them enough space to roam and eat. There also needs to be adequate vegetation for them because these tortoises are considered lawn mowers due to how much "grazing" they do. The majority of their diet comes from grass, weeds, plants and some hay.

The first is Ben. He is approximately 6 years old and came to us as part of the Nebraska 14. Ben does have severe pyramiding but with proper care over time it will improve. His original owners surrendered him due them no longer being able to care for him.

Toby is around 20 years old and over 100 pounds. He is a digger so his enclosure needs to be secure and checked often for "escape routes". Toby is very social and active and will make a great addition to an outdoor active family.

If you are interested in more information or want to find out about the adoption process visit texastortoiserescue.com. There's also several other tortoises available for adoption.

11/06/2024

On today's tortoise highlight we are featuring two small sulcatas.

The first is Kitty. Kitty is being fostered in New Braunfels and is approximately a year old. We don't know Kitty's s*x yet because it is too young to tell. The previous owner was forced to surrender this little one to us due to medical reasons.

The second tortoise is Horus. Horus is just over a year old and is currently being cared for at a partner facility in Bertram. We don't know the s*x of Horus because of the age. Horus, until recently, was too little to spend 100% of its time outside due to the size. Horus was surrendered to us due to the previous owner's decline in health. Horus received excellent care by its previous owner, getting the proper nutrients, hydration and uv lighting.

If you are looking for a young sulcata to grow with your family then one, or both of these guys may be just what you are looking for. They will require a minimum of 200 square feet for an enclosure now with the space to eventually enlarge to the needed 6,000 square feet.

If you are interested in adopting these tortoises or want to see what other tortoises are available for adoption and to learn more about adoption requirements please visit texastortoiserescue.com. We literally have many size sulcatas currently to choose from, making it easier to find the perfect fit. Just remember that no matter the size of the sulcata now they will eventually need 6,000 square feet to provide an enclosure with the space needed to thrive well.

09/06/2024

Today's tortoise highlight is on two red foot tortoises that we currently have available for adoption.

The first is Hartley Herman who is at a foster home in Galveston. She was bought at a Petco as a pet for a son's birthday present. The son no longer had time for her and the family wanted to see Hartley Herman go to a better home where she can the time and attention that she needs. She has been very well cared for, comes to her name and likes shell rubs.

The second red foot, named Timmy, is at our Bertram partner facility. He is only 2 years old and was purchased as a hatchling. The owner decided that she could not care for him anymore so he was surrendered to us.

Red foot tortoises make great pets. They need an enclosure that is at least 600 square feet to give the tortoises room to roam as well as providing them ample vegetation. During the times of the year where the temperature falls below 60 degrees they have to be brought inside.

For more information on adopting these cuties or to see what other tortoises are available for adoption right now visit texastortoiserescue.com

08/06/2024

This little girl is Chief. She was purchased as a gift for someone's young son. The previous owner knew that after researching some they would not have the necessary space outside for Chief to grow in to. She is about five years old and will require a minimum of 200 square feet now for an enclosure with safe vegetation for her to eat. You must have room to expand the enclosure to 6.000 square feet in the next few years to provide the full space needed for her to have space to thrive.

If you are interested in adopting Chief check her out on our website texastortoiserescue.com. You can also browse through all of the other tortoises that we have available for adoption.

07/06/2024

It's great when we get a group of youngsters who are interested in learning about the care of the tortoises. This young group is looking out at 14 tortoises enclosures at one of our partner sites during a tour. And yes the enclosures are full!

On that note, we have a lot of tortoises available for adoption right now. There are a variety of ages and sizes as well as breeds. If you are interested in adopting or know someone who may be interested in adopting, please visit our website texastortoiserescue.com and click on the "adopt" tab.

07/06/2024

This beautiful boy is Aristotle. He is an Ibera Greek tortoise. We don't get very many of these. They use to be very popular in the pet trade in the 80s and 90s, but aren't anymore. They are fabulous pets. Their husbandry is similar to Russians. This boy is about 7 inches long and is 10 years old. He is in Pflugerville.

Watch this great video from The Garden State Tortoise to learn more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNc46CIdwog

Aristotle is available for adoption. See our website for all the details and to see any of the other turtles and tortoises we have available. www.texastortoiserescue.com

05/06/2024

This is Shelly the Russian. He is in Pflugerville yesterday he was on a roll for some reason. Just ran all over, then took a nap. He is so cute. Yes, he is available for adopotion. See our website for all the details and to apply to adopt any one of the torotises in our care. texastortoiserescue.com

05/06/2024

Last minute, sorry. Our executive Director, Brenda is on this podcast tonight 7-9 pm Central time. Join me.

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04/06/2024

We have been busier than usual lately. Here are four tortoises that have been taken in at just one of our partner facilities in less than a week.

Chief is approximately 5 years old. She loves sunbathing and eating fresh grass and weeds.

Soldier was surrendered to us by someone who found it in his yard and we took it in on Memorial Day. Soldier has a little different shell pattern. There is an extra scute right in the center giving it 6 scoots down the middle.

Myrtle is a larger male that came to us as a pair. His approximate age is 7 years old and he weighs about 50 pounds or so. He is a little shy at first but slowly warms up to you.

Batman is a larger female that came to us with Myrtle. She weighs about 60 pounds and loves soaking up some sun and taking in the sights.

If you are interested in adopting any of these tortoises or seeing what other tortoises are available for adoption, visit texastortoiserescue.com and click on the adopt tab. You can also find adoption information there.

01/06/2024

Russian tortoises are so much fun. They are a great experience as a first tortoise because they brumate and they are herbivores, so you don't have to worry about them much over winter and there's no need to feed them worms, crickets, etc. They have great personalities. They love people. We get a lot of Russians at CTTR. The one in the first picture is Tuck. Tuck is in Bandera. The next one is Sammy who is in New Braunfels with Fred. We also have Shelly (male) in Pflugerville, Diggy in Bandera (young one), and finally Oogway is in Austin. Please consider adopting. Our website contains all the adoption requirements, videos on building great habitats, and all the information we have about each one of these tortoises. Please select their photos under the adoptable animals section on our adoption page.

31/05/2024

Happy Friday from Horus! Horus is ready to dance its way into your heart!

To find out more information about adopting this cutie or any of the other Tortioses available visit texastortoiserescue.com.

30/05/2024

Brewsky: Is it Friday yet?

Louis: Every day is Friday! Get out of your house and soak it in!!

28/05/2024

Meet Soldier. This little one was found in Round Rock, TX and surrendered to us. It is approximately 2 years old and measures 6 inches long by 4 inches wide. Soldier has a little different shell pattern than usual and 6 scoots down the middle of his shell.

If you are interested in adopting him visit texastortoiserescue.com and click on the adopt tab. There you will find the tortoises available for adoption as well as adoption requirements.

24/05/2024

Meet Thomas. Thomas is another tortoise who came to us with the "Nebraska 14". He is approximately 4 years old, about 5 pounds and measures 9 inches by 6 inches. He was shy when he first got to the foster facility but acts like a totally different tortoise now. He likes following you around and loves to eat grass, flowers, weeds and hay.

If you are interested in giving this little fellow a new home please visit texastortoiserescue.com and fill out an adoption application. You can also find other tortoises available for adoption as well as adoption requirements.

23/05/2024

This big guy was surrender to Central Texas Tortoise Rescue today. Louis came to us all the way from Michigan. His previous owner drove him down himself. He was a pet store rescue that he owned since Louis was about the size of a football. He is around 20 years old and 75-85 pounds. It is hard a lot of times for owners to have to rehome tortoises that they have cared for and loved for many years. Unfortunately circumstances change as life goes on. We are fortunate to have Louis come to us because there are many organizations that he could have chosen to surrender him to. Including ones that are much closer to Michigan than Bertram, TX.
If you or someone you know are interested in adopting or more information about adopting tortoises please visit texastortoiserescue.com. There you can find the tortoises available for adoption as well as the adoption requirements.

23/05/2024

Thursday May 23, 2024 is World Turtle day!! In honor of this occasion we are excited to announce the launch of our CTTR Merchandise page on our website. All profits go to support tortoises! We want to thank our web designer and volunteer, Wyatt for all his hard work. Show your love of tortoises and support CTTR. Buy a shirt or cap. (We think we worked out all the glitches, be patient if you find one.) Thank you for your support.

https://www.texastortoiserescue.com/category/all-products

21/05/2024

Wow! You people are amazing. It's only been three days since we took in the 14 sulcatas from Nebraska and we already have approved adoptions for four of them: Wiggles, Tobie, Tank, and Dually. That's fantastic. Thank you.

This sweet, friendly girl is Sammy. She has never had a place she didn't have to share. As you can tell by her severe pyramiding, her early years did not include enough humidity or enough time in the sun. She is definitely getting that now! Our humidity is through the roof. She is pigging out on cactus. I'll have to plant another very soon. She is near Pflugerville. There is a male that looks very similar, lived in the same home for the first 8 years of their lives. His name is Ben and he is in Bandera.

Check our website for all the details regarding adoption and to see all the other tortoises we have available. www.texastortoiserescue.com

19/05/2024

I am one very tired turtle lady. I spent all day doing turtle stuff. I got all 17 tortoises we took in over the last two days processed and on the website. I even processed a few more surrenders and a few adoptions. Yes!!!
This little friend is Frankie the small sulcata tortoise in Pflugerville. Yes, he is available for adoption. There is also a Frank, also sulcata but bigger and she is in Fort Worth. See our website for all the details. www.texastortoiserescue.com

Signing off for today. Cheers!
--Brenda

17/05/2024

Busy day. This afternoon we took in 14 sulcatas from Nebraska by way of Tyler. We split them over 4 of our locations: Bertram, Pflugerville, Flatonia, and Bandera.
A woman named Kenna took them in when living in Nebraska and can no longer keep them so she brought them to us. Most of them will be added to our website tomorrow, available for adoption. See each one's story there until we have time to feature them here.