# Anyone lose a turtle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584 "2006-08-13T20:38:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/1 "2006-08-13T20:38:20Z")
While driving to the stable yesterday to perform our daily, mundane barn chores, we encountered a large (10" carapace, at least) [red-eared slider](http://www.allturtles.com/turtle_species/slider.php) hanging out right smack in the middle of the private road, just a few feet in front of the equestrian facility gate. I got out of the truck to move him out of the way, thinking it was a box turtle or some other dry-land species. Seeing it was a water turtle, I picked him up and tried to figure out a) where he came from, and b) where to put him. This is Southern California–and, SoCal in _August_, I might add. There’s not a whole lot of water around. Mr. Turtle was found inbetween a baseball field and equestrian park, miles away from any body of water. Granted, there IS a wash just 100 feet away–but it’s also about 45 feet _down_. I don’t think turtles are good at scaling 40 feet of vertical cement barrier, followed by 5+ feet of chain link fence. Closer inspection showed Turtle had teeth marks on his shell: best we figure, a dog found him somewhere more appropriate, carried him around until it grew bored with the shelled toy, and left it in some un-turtle-friendly locale not far from where we found him. Though there were bite marks, there were no obvious injuries to Turtle–his shell had done its job. We brought him back to the barn–not knowing what else to do with him–and one of the other boarders immediately took a shine to him. We filled an unused muck tub with a few inches of water, put in large rocks that would enable him to exit the water and bask, and dug up earthworms for him to snack on, should he feel the need. The other boarder is moving at the end of the month to a house with two koi ponds, and they feel he’ll make a fine addition (and I think the ponds would be a fine home, better than a tank IMO). In the meantime, a relative of theirs (who has water turtles) will take care of him until they move into their new home. They do intend to post “found turtle” signs around the neighborhood and in a local reptile store. I keep saying “he,” but I have no clue how to determine turtle gender. Maybe it’s a “she” as females are typically larger, I dunno. Turtle–who was looking pretty dried up–soaked in his temporary home happily and seemed relieved to be in an aquatic environment once more, if a turtle can look relieved. It’s not a kitten, but we still think it’s pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/2 "2006-08-13T20:47:19Z")
Thank you for saving him! Pics? I think turtles are counted under the “no kitten threads without pictures” rule. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/3 "2006-08-13T21:33:23Z")
Yes! Does he look like [THIS? (LINK)](http://www.henshinonline.com/images/gamera_returns_01.jpg) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/4 "2006-08-14T02:37:24Z")
good on y’all. i’m sure he is much happier in the barn tank than out in the pasture. sounds like he has a chance at a nice new home. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/5 "2006-08-14T05:50:47Z")
Alas, it doesn’t look much like my long-lost Basil, a land turtle (boxer), who wandered off lo, some 8 years ago _sniffle_. He escaped, cartoon-like, by walking up a 2 x 4 that a yardworker carelessly leaned in his pen until it seesawed down and he made the Great Escape. How could he leave the lettuce leaves? The strawberries? The cantaloupe? ME??!!! ☹ Hopefully someone like you interfered in his foolhardy quest for independence, **Ruffian**. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/6 "2006-08-14T05:53:17Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Yes! Does he look like [THIS? (LINK)](http://www.henshinonline.com/images/gamera_returns_01.jpg) 🙂 [/QUOTE] "With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound He pulls the spitting high tension wires down Helpless people on a subway train Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them He picks up a bus and he throws it back down As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town Oh no, they say hes got to go Go go godzilla, yeah Oh no, there goes tokyo Go go godzilla, yeah" 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/7 "2006-08-14T05:59:03Z")
[QUOTE=jellyblue] Oh no, they say hes got to go Go go godzilla, yeah Oh no, there goes tokyo Go go godzilla, yeah" 😃 [/QUOTE] For shame, false fanboy. The true lyrics are: Go go Godzilla, woooo. I am shocked and appaled. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/8 "2006-08-14T06:16:28Z")
Tibby, oh Tibby, you’ll always run free. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/9 "2006-08-14T06:36:53Z")
[QUOTE=Pullet] For shame, false fanboy. The true lyrics are: Go go Godzilla, woooo. I am shocked and appaled. 😉 [/QUOTE] “Shocked”? Perhaps you Pullet-ed one of those high tension wires yourself? “Appaled”? I got nuthin’ 😉 . And I would be a false fan_girl_. 'sides, I just Google’d it. Woo, indeed 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/10 "2006-08-14T06:42:15Z")
[QUOTE=jellyblue] “Shocked”? Perhaps you Pullet-ed one of those high tension wires yourself? “Appaled”? I got nuthin’ 😉 . And I would be a false fan_girl_. 'sides, I just Google’d it. Woo, indeed 😃 [/QUOTE] Hey, I might not be able to spell the words in the lyrics, but I will get the words right. 🙂 It’s my spot-on-the-wall superpower and I’m going to exploit it for all it’s worth \ Congrats on Turtle rescue! For the love of Og, don’t let them name her Lucky or Chance. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/11 "2006-08-14T13:09:17Z")
[QUOTE=jellyblue] "With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound He pulls the spitting high tension wires down Helpless people on a subway train Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them He picks up a bus and he throws it back down As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town Oh no, they say hes got to go Go go godzilla, yeah Oh no, there goes tokyo Go go godzilla, yeah" 😃 [/QUOTE] Except…that ain’t Godzilla. It’s Gamera, the Giant Turtle _kaiju_. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/12 "2006-08-14T13:23:45Z")
[QUOTE=jellyblue] Alas, it doesn’t look much like my long-lost Basil, a land turtle (boxer), who wandered off lo, some 8 years ago _sniffle_. He escaped, cartoon-like, by walking up a 2 x 4 that a yardworker carelessly leaned in his pen until it seesawed down and he made the Great Escape. How could he leave the lettuce leaves? The strawberries? The cantaloupe? ME??!!! ☹ [/QUOTE] I’m sorry, I know you miss your lovely pet, but I can’t help but snicker at the image of him walking the plank. Ruffian, he’s definitely not my red-eared slider as I just fed him this morning and he’s much smaller. They’re pretty cool pets, they are easily trained to feed at the same time every day, are voracious eaters and mine at least has an attitude that’s bigger than any 10-incher. He bites and scratches. I don’t mind, shows he’s got spirit. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/13 "2006-08-14T14:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Except…that ain’t Godzilla. It’s Gamera, the Giant Turtle _kaiju_. [/QUOTE] Damn right. And if you need a Gamera song to sing - well, he has a nifty one. Or may I suggest… ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/14 "2006-08-14T15:00:20Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Yes! Does he look like [THIS? (LINK)](http://www.henshinonline.com/images/gamera_returns_01.jpg) 🙂 [/QUOTE] \*Gamera’s enchantment still grows. He fills our hearts with love. Gamera’s the latest thing. He fills our hearts with spring, spring, spring! Anytime you want some moonbeams, Gamera is the thing. Gamera is really neat, He is filled with turtle meat. We all love you, GAMERA!!! \* ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/15 "2006-08-16T05:09:26Z")
Update: The turtle apparently belongs to a family with a home that borders the baseball park/equestrian center. They had surrounded his pond with chicken wire, and the crafty old fellow had found a way to get under it and out into the adventurous outdoors. I was impressed–he’d gone a good 100+ yards from home! He’s been reunited with his family and his pond, and all is now right in turtle world. Cool beans. (And now we know where to take him should he venture our way again…) ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/16 "2006-08-16T07:22:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ruffian] Update: The turtle apparently belongs to a family with a home that borders the baseball park/equestrian center. They had surrounded his pond with chicken wire, and the crafty old fellow had found a way to get under it and out into the adventurous outdoors. I was impressed–he’d gone a good 100+ yards from home! He’s been reunited with his family and his pond, and all is now right in turtle world. Cool beans. (And now we know where to take him should he venture our way again…) [/QUOTE] Oh, that’s such good news! Thanks for the update. Under the chicken wire, eh? See? They’re clever little critters for having brains the size of a lint ball! I hope Basil found a custodian as good as you were, **Ruffian**. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/17 "2006-08-16T08:48:25Z")
Oh, that’s great! I do like Sliders - we’ve got a colony at work. FYI, the way to tell 'em apart is to look at their tails and claws. Males are much longer for both. It’s especially noticable on the front claws. I hope he decides to stick to the pond from now on! ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-lose-a-turtle/368584/18 "2006-08-16T10:59:55Z")
**zoogirl** is correct about nails and tail as a way to determine the sex of most turtles. In addition, females are quite a bit larger than males in most species of aquatic turtles in the US. Based on your size estimate, I think yours is a female.