# Help identify this turtle **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759 "2026-03-25T15:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/1 "2026-03-25T15:45:30Z")
Previous tenants left it in the backyard when they moved out. I need to try to arrange help for it. [Is it a land or water turtle?](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/e18d3f9d-406f-4ada-a181-009442366f66_l.jpg) Thanks ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/2 "2026-03-25T15:46:21Z")
Where are you? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/3 "2026-03-25T15:52:24Z")
Santa Maria CA ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/4 "2026-03-25T15:53:29Z")
Looks like a tortoise (i.e. land animal) to me. But I’m no expert. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/5 "2026-03-25T15:55:38Z")
Can you provide a rough idea of its size? ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/6 "2026-03-25T15:58:09Z")
Does it have a red patch behind its eye? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/7 "2026-03-25T16:00:43Z")
I think it’s about 5 or 6" long. I’m not in possession of it right now - I’m at work - so not sure about the patch ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/8 "2026-03-25T16:02:48Z")
From the coloring and shell shape, I’m guessing Red Eared Slider. Does it have a red stripe near its eyes? These turtles are commonly sold as pets and are considered invasive in CA because they compete with native Western Pond Turtles. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/9 "2026-03-25T16:05:15Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > they compete with native Western Pond Turtles. So it’s water turtle? ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/10 "2026-03-25T16:06:04Z")
If its a Slider, yes ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/11 "2026-03-25T16:06:20Z")
I was just going to say - Red-eared slider. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/12 "2026-03-25T16:38:04Z")
Slightly off topic, but if you are interested in Chelonians, this guy: > **[HOME | GardenStateTortoise](https://www.gardenstatetortoise.com/)** has some fun videos. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/13 "2026-03-25T20:14:48Z")
Follow up - I went over and confirmed it was a Red-eared Slider. These assholes had left it in a small yard with only DG, concrete and a few succulents. No water. Anyway, I took it to a reptile rescue place. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/14 "2026-03-25T20:48:10Z")
Good on you. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/15 "2026-03-25T20:52:46Z")
Thank you for the happy ending! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/16 "2026-03-25T21:29:43Z")
You get a prize for that. And Mother Nature would like to have a word with asshole who did that. Good on you!!! 🏆 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/17 "2026-03-25T21:52:54Z")
Thanks guys, I know it was just a turtle but I couldn’t bear to think of it suffering. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/18 "2026-03-26T08:48:35Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Anyway, I took it to a reptile rescue place. Let me guess - The Turtle and Tortoise Rescue in Arroyo Grande, CA ? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/19 "2026-03-26T08:50:55Z")
I think that is Greg. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759/20 "2026-03-26T15:16:31Z")
Aw geez, what’s wrong with people?? Sometimes the turtles are amazingly resilient. Garden State Tortise rescued one that had been living on a kitchen floor for **50 years**! With rehab and the proper environment, she made an almost full recovery. Video is worth a few minutes for an upbeat story: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DQVZF-G3Tjs/maxresdefault.jpg "Rockalina’s FULL Story: A Turtle’s Recovery After 50 Years of Neglect (Fed Cat Food + No Sunlight)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQVZF-G3Tjs) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-turtle/1028759.md?page=2)