Giant Turtle Rehabilitation at Garden State Tortoise! + Very Special Guest!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

What species of turtle or tortoise would you love to witness in nature?? 🤔🐢🐢

[@jetjiles49]

Painted, spotted, box turtles! 🐢 ❤

[@aboutdawntoday]

Alligator snapping turtle!! True dinosaurs!!!

[@chadstapp8698]

I'd like to see a red foot in the wild I've had one for 25 years and still don't know everything about him

[@Sean-v6h]

I just saw a gopher tortoise what a pretty tortoise he was crossing the road I made sure to avoid him

[@mohdzaudikhasni8829]

Galapagos tortoise please.. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@thecrone7964]

Not a fan of reptiles but your slowly changing that one turtle at a time. Excellent work, thank you for helping all these creatures.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

My pleasure

[@waltbirchmeier2947]

Reptiles can actually make great pets and are actually a lot more intelligent than most people realize..I know some of them look creepy or gross but they are actually awesome creatures and eventually you get passed the creepy or gross factor.. especially if you start to create a bond with a reptile..it's really not much different than a relationship with a dog or cat with some reptile species..if they are already growing on you then it won't be long before you really start to actually like them and enjoy them.. hoping you become another great member of the reptile community..

[@jenpink4298]

That’s how they get you! One turtle at a time! That’s what happened to me😂

[@aymirabye6533]

Same here.

[@noone1929]

Go Unit and Brodie! I can’t wait to see both them reach their goal weights!

[@susanspeight148]

Unit is such a pudgy beast! So glad to see him getting exercise!! I hope you can get him slimmed down over the next year.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I think we can do it! 💪🏻

[@MultiPetercool]

@@GardenStateTortoiseHis nickname should be “Cartman”. Fatass! 😂

[@Urhmmmm]

Unit 😊 is adorable with his fat in the back. I love him 😍

[@cara9648]

Loved seeing him walk off the scale and walk down the hallway! What an improvement!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

It was so cool to see!

[@loriw2661]

Fantastic job, Chief Brody! He was so behind when you got him that it probably took a while for him to “even out” before he could start gaining. The fact that he put on a pound and a half is amazing!!❤️🐢❤️

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Definitely Lori!

[@golddragonette7795]

Brody has been using all that food to repair his body before he can build up more muscle and then fat reserves, hes doing great! Even mammals would need more than 1 year to fully recover from such starvation

[@GardenStateTortoise]

👍🏻

[@kellybraun7048]

Yep. Looks to me like he used all that food to build muscle. Looking forward to seeing his progress in another year!

[@denisepacetti4559]

I love Chief Brody and I was so happy to see that he's gained some weight and he's walking well! Unit is gonna be great with all the super caring help you'll make sure he gets. All in all a great video. 🥰

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@rajanikumari3672]

Go get ‘em Unit! You can loose it.👍🏼 Chief Brody is looking great. Not surprised he will need another Winter inside with how he was when he came to you. You are doing a great job (hard & necessary too) with all your tortoises & turtles GST.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!

[@BrooklynHudson]

You guys do such amazing work, Chris. I thought for sure Brody had put on 3 - 5 pounds, but I think we're seeing muscle tone. Keeping him indoors one more winter will get those pounds on him. Can't wait to see his spring weight. And Uinit already moves so much better - should have renamed him Friskies! LOL

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you and yes I agree!

[@johnblanton-fd3jf]

May need to put Unit on a treadmill this winter , he could listen to "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees while getting his walk in. lol

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣

[@tamarrajames3590]

Perfect…🖤🇨🇦

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

You need a big deep wagon for the Chief and Unit, lol. Unit looks like he lost a bit of weight. It was fun watching Unit walking around. So happy for the Chief…he looks so much better. Such magnificent turtles. I’ve lived around both species and always enjoyed them. Great video.

[@sharondickinson3837]

Wow!!! Unit really walks well when he gets going 💙

[@GardenStateTortoise]

💪🏻💪🏻

[@vampireturtle]

This check-in video brought so much joy to my day. I love seeing how the snapping turtles are progressing. And love to have learned about the Turtle Survival Alliance. Such amazing, beautiful and, to me, adorable creatures. It's going to be an exciting 2024 for them.

[@spiercephotography]

I just found your channel (via Unit) yesterday, thank you for all the information on turtles, it's really interesting to see all the different species and learn about them as i'm moving through older videos!!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Welcome aboard and thank you!

[@ArtThatElevatesTheSoul]

Never thought I could love a snapping turtle but Chief Brodey captured my heart! You guys are fantastic with the care you give these creatures. When I lived in upstate NY we had a lot of rivers and snapping turtles would always wander around on the roads. Never could understand why people (car drivers) got such a kick out of making an effort to run over them and kill them. Yes, I thought they were an ugly turtle but ramming your 2 ton truck into them when it wasn't doing anything to you...sad. Well, Chris you make up for all the jerks I've come across over the years who love torturing turtles!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That made my week. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@cathy_p637]

I understand exactly what you are saying. When I lived in FL we had a lot of FL box turtles in our area and I would see the same thing, broke my heart, and now they are nowhere to be found due to habit loss more than anything. What makes me love Garden State Tortoise is that during the showing of the different species they actually show different personalities whidh I never thought they would have.

[@Rayraywheelz]

I never knew turtles were able to complete close. Thank you for teaching me something new today. I bet someone may think one of them were a cool looking stone take it home and the rock comes alive 😂

[@GardenStateTortoise]

You’re welcome and thanks for watching!

[@Calamity_Jen85]

You guys are amazing, and are a model of responsible stewardship. Your work and dedication is so inspiring. Thank you 🩶🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Wow, thank you!

[@tamarrajames3590]

I couldn’t have said it better @calamity_jen85.🖤🇨🇦

[@lisatagliabue6395]

Chris…you’re hilarious! Great job as always!!🩷

[@kathymacomber5115]

Great job getting him to move and act like a real tortoise

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@steamedyam21]

So great , keep us updated ! 👍

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you! Will do!

[@joycedavis9996]

omg, look at him go!

[@kimberlyhendricks1229]

Great video! Glad to see both snappers are improving.😮❤❤😊

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Us too!

[@george.s.8491]

You guys and gals are doing awesome work! I love turtles they are my favorite!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks so much!

[@Averageyoutubenjoyer]

I started learning more and more about turtles with your videos, and actually get inspired to learn even more by my own

[@01splitpea]

Really well done. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thank you for all you do for our reptilian friends!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chetchurchill9524]

Multiple dittos!

[@valariemeltzer2553]

You are doing awesome work. Brody and Unit are doing awesome. Love them both.

[@Jk-editz51211]

Love your Channel, you give me so much information on everything that I need to know I'm currently in the stage of getting a Herman's tortoise. And you've taught me everything that I know so far Amazing channel

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I'm so glad!

[@sylviaueckermann655]

Love all your critters.....and Mr 'thunder thighs' is such a character....😂❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣

[@chanterelle483]

Chief Brody: "And I'm out of here!" 😅

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣

[@katlady567]

It’s always a joy to see a new video from you. You and your family work so hard in giving these beautiful animals their best lives. 🥰

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you very much!

[@Lonesome__Dove]

It amazes me how much you know about all of your turtles. The oldest, the youngest in each species and so much more. Amazing man

[@carschmn]

Unit seems pretty friendly.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

He’s struck at us a few times but def not like your typical common snapper.

[@alicecain4851]

I know you were a bit let down by the small amount of weight Chief Brody gained, but he really looks amazing! All of the turtles and tortoises do! I love watching you getting them ready for the cooler weather. You have such a darling family. Thank you for all of the work you do!

[@jeanwonnacott2718]

What a gorgeous beastie!!! He will lose it in no time!!! Go beastie go!!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

💪🏻🐢

[@GatorMike79]

Great video! The pancake tortoise is my favorite tortoise by far

[@GardenStateTortoise]

They’re really something!

[@chezmoi42]

10:15 That look on Nacho's face when he closed up - like he's playing hide & seek!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣

[@safranpollen]

great like all from you🙏😍 cheers from ice cold black forest ✌️🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🙏🏻🐢

[@garygerrard1able]

I really think this channel still under rated when you see some channels with millions of subs and views but store their animals in half arse enclosures the enclosures and knowledge use have is amazing

[@Woodlily617]

Added Turtle Survival Alliance to my subscription list. Always looking for i formative channels. Thank you for all the work you do with the turtles and tortoises. The symposium has been added to my bucket list.

[@tonymonahan1185]

Great presentation. I took notes. ✍

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks Tony!

[@Pzykoh_Tey]

1St Woot! a Brody update!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🙌🏻

[@Lonesome__Dove]

There's nothing better than being able to geek out about your passion w another person thats involved in the same thing...especially w conservation when There's so much....negative.

[@PStein80]

Excellent, Chris - love the videos.

[@gabmatth]

pancake tortoises are my favorite! so happy to see them in this video

[@LymanGreen]

Critical work that you do! Keep it up!

[@farmergirlangie3469]

I love watching box turtles when I find them

[@frosttheicefloeturtle8143]

0:50 *"DAMN BOI HE THICC!"* I'm sorry but I had too XD

[@Ilovewildlifeandstuff.]

Chief brody is looking so much better.Unit 😅 so fitting.

[@MFoster392]

Can a common turtle and a gator snapper live together or will they fight, it would be cool if the 2 big snappers could live together in that big pond :)

[@GardenStateTortoise]

They can but in this case because they’re both males, there’s a probability that Brody would kill Unit.

[@melg8475]

i love these names! 😂lol so cute

[@Lonesome__Dove]

Unit is so funny to me The way his eyes are so derp and his butts so dang big....he's a meme waiting to happen

[@cathy_p637]

i saw what I thought was an alligator snapping turtle in New Port Richey FL a few years ago but he didn't look anything like Brody. It was REALLY BIG, it's spikes were more pronounced and it walked very tall. It had actual spikes coming from the back of it's shell and looked totally prehistoric.

[@lisagray8932]

😢😢😢😢😢 i love the Big Boy ❤❤❤❤❤the snapping turtle 🐢❤❤❤❤❤he's soooo adorable the biggest turtle 🐢I love all the turtles soooo special ❤I'll be your friend's ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@AvengerII]

"Chief Brody" They need to put a little boat named "Orca" in the middle of Brody's enclosure. Maybe put the bait he likes in it and re-enact the poster of Jaws over and over again... Perhaps make the boat out of plant fiber Brody can digest?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Some good ideas right there 💪🏻

[@tamarrajames3590]

LOL🖤🇨🇦

[@AvengerII]

@@GardenStateTortoise The only problem is that OwlKitty did this first!

[@D2wildlife]

Great work GST!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks Marc! It was great to have you here.

[@melg8475]

Choco and nacho are stunners imo!

[@kanders7391]

One thing I noticed about turtles, if you try to get them to walk a different direction, they will most often turn around and keep trying to go where they were going. They are the ultimate stubborn animal.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Very true.

[@tamarrajames3590]

Snakes do that too…they try to pretend they are going another direction and sneak a turn back toward their original intention lol.🖤🇨🇦

[@rondisanti8928]

the pancake tortoises are great looking

[@chetchurchill9524]

Awesome!! Keep up the great work Team Leone!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks Chet!

[@mikebell7240]

That ole boy has muffin tops lol

[@aboutdawntoday]

Who doesn't like turtles? I love all of the turtles.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

❤️🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

[@melg8475]

Go Brody!!!🎉

[@theodoreyoung7946]

Remember Franz the Toy Maker? " Go away chicken fat, go away! A one, and a two, and a one, and a two!!"

[@Roukos_Rks]

i have 3 baby tortoises and thanks to ur vids i try my best to raise them properly btw one of them is my profile picture

[@barbhelle5481]

Unit is moving for sure. Here in Kansas it is illegal to have snapping turtles.

[@marblehead_1629]

Unit and Chef are definitely growing to become stars as Otis is. I remember your video about few very poor turtles or tortoises with horribly burned carapace. Any positive news about them?

[@ballistic350]

There was a monster common snapper that was seen in the Chicago river lol

[@stefanmaciolek6540]

Cool seeing a common and an alligator snapper together. Here in central jersey aquatic turtles seem to be doing well. Box turtles are a different story though, this whole states gonna be a giant parking lot soon at the rate theyre destroying habitat

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Box turtles are def in a heap of trouble.

[@barbaragrant4579]

Brody's head reminds me of a chia pet😅

[@AJen912]

Please tell us that Marc met the famous Mr. Otis!!!! :P

[@RC_Murphy]

Ah yes, a new goal in life: to get an A in Turtle like that's normal and achievable.

[@cjg1482]

Do you know anyone of your caliber in the Denver area? I need to find someone to watch my hingeback a few times a year when we go out of town.

[@chrisester2910]

Gee, maybe you should try giving Chief Brody some cat food... lol! He is a gorgeous George kind of guy, but still a bit skinny. Maybe consider stocking his pond with goldfish... many years ago my mother had a snapper move into her garden pond and he would eat her goldfish. She felt for the fish, but loved the turtle.

[@Rayraywheelz]

What are you feeding the big ones that are in outside pen/pond? Do you put fish in the pond or something

[@GardenStateTortoise]

They get a lot of whole fish, clams, crabs, etc.

[@xray5043]

The people aren't devastating there habitat in a vacuum. They lived with these animals since time began. Now there is a problem not because of them but because of the economic situation the world has put Africa in.

[@budoneof15]

What do you use to mark their shells?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That was done by authorities when they were seized so I’m not sure. Most likely some kind of water based, safe paint.

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

Wow!!!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

👍🏻🐢

[@justkittensbeingkittens5892]

My house is going to be a zoo when I move out istg. Responsibly ofc, as much as I want every animal I work with my local shelter and foster cats that are often from hoarding situations so that’s always in my head. I haven’t done research into what tortoise I will get bc I don’t want the temptation to buy one rn lol. If there are rescues that adopt them out that would be ideal

[@jeanninelockridge5235]

Can't help it. Snapping Turtles of any kind scare me to death. When I was a kid, one bit off my little toe when we were swimming in a lake. It was very painful.

[@theodoreyoung7946]

Can't wait to see him doing chin ups!! Lol

[@lfloyd4034]

Is Unit's shell misshapen due to his obesity, or does it just appeared flared out because of his...girth? I know bones will change shape due to the particular stress put on them, so it would make sense for a shell to be pressed out and up on the sides.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

It’s definitely a little wonky from improper growth.

[@annashockley777]

I live in south NJ. I love to visit your place. Is it public? If yes . May i have the address

[@epickingedward7378]

I had never seen an obese turtle until this guy, I hope his diet goes well

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤞🏻

[@moldytoes6006]

Omg brody weighs 5kg more than me and I'm 22 😂😂

[@Carolinareptilecenter]

Are you aware of any grants that are available to have a pond installed for rescue snappers? We’ve been on the hunt for one but haven’t had any luck. We are a 501c3

[@SauceySandwich]

Box tutrles, if you like easter egg hunting all the time

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

Slowly but surely!!?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Haha yup!

[@AabluedragonAH]

Are Unit’s googly eyes a part of their condition? I’ve been staring at them since the first video and my man has 👁️👁️

[@GardenStateTortoise]

They’re definitely bugging a little bit and also pink but it doesn’t seem to be any apparent concern. At least not yet.

[@TheGothicdolphin]

Start feeding Chief Brody canned catfood to fatten up. It worked for Unit(?) is that his name? And BTW, Unit has the most beautiful clear eyes.

[@charlesdavis2891]

I've seen bigger in Northern MN, not an alligator snapper lol

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Would love to see the photographic proof! I did some work up there with them, Blanding’s and western painteds and didn’t see any that were that big. Would be cool to see one.

[@dollylevels6753]

Unit is going to be so powerful and happy after a couple years, but do u have to be touching Unit's thunder thighs? He can't bring them in his shell if he doesn't like it. Sucks he had to endure for 12 years of mistreatment, but thank goodness he was handed off you Garden State!! Hopefully with your help he will live a healthy long life.

[@thejbcrazy]

Why doesn’t the common Snapper never make hissing noises??? Is it a wild snapping turtle only thing ???

[@wendysomers810]

I had no idea that turtles could become overweight!

[@xray5043]

I can help him. I have some expertise. What's your po box I'll send some ozempic 😂

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣 💉

[@xray5043]

@@GardenStateTortoise 😂😂😂

[@specteractual1]

I knew nothing of that facility in Cross i live like 30 min away

[@GardenStateTortoise]

👀🐢

[@michaelhband]

👍👍👍❤❤❤🐢🐢🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🐢👍🏻

[@MitchellDavis-zu8vu]

Hi

[@GardenStateTortoise]

👋🏻

[@Lonesome__Dove]

I'm saddened by units shape of shell

[@wendysomers810]

How does a turtle get fat???

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

🕊🇺🇲💕