How to Identify a Baby Tortoise

Identifying tortoises can be difficult, especially when they are young. However, if you have found a tortoise, it is important to look for characteristics which can help to identify it to ensure you can give it the correct care. There are many different types of tortoises, with many different care requirements, so a correct identification is important.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the tortoise's feet. If the tortoise has webbed feet, t is likely to be a water turtle that lives in water either all or most of the time. If it has claws in the place of webbed feet, it is more likely to be a land turtle.

    • 2

      Look at the tortoises' shell. Baby tortoises often have a brighter pattern than adults, so the shell may be quite distinguishable. If the turtle has a soft shell, it is a soft-shell turtle. Tortoises with flat shells are usually painted tortoises, and tortoises with high, dome-like shells are box tortoises. Knowing the sub-species of your tortoise will help to narrow it down.

    • 3

      Measure the tortoise from head to tail, along with the shell length. Also note down the shell width at the widest point.

    • 4

      Take pictures of the tortoise from different angles, along with a zoomed-in photograph of the shell pattern. These will help you remember the tortoise's markings to look up in a book or post on a forum.