Seems that cats aren't the only fan of large cardboard boxes.
Grabbed Herman out of her pit. She's really slowing down despite it being warm, winding down ready for hibernation in a few months time. She decides in July that she doesn't want to do anything, won't eat anything unless it's naughty fruit and doesn't get out of bed. While I can't fault her logic, we know it's not that good for her!
So I have to drag her out of bed, give her a bath so she can have at least a drink, offer food that's refused and watch her walk around the garden once then take herself back to bed. Dull life being a tortoise that's for sure.
This is a (California Desert Tortoise)?! I had them for years, both in Arizona and later, in California...finally passed them along to a friend who wanted to continue raising them. Have you fed him tofu? A good protein source and wet; mine loved it! Also, they loved hibiscus stamens (that were readily available almost anywhere in California), Cantaloupe, cut away from the rind, broccoli flowerets (that I Iightly steamed for them...smelled better and really drew them in!) Chopped apple and a ripe plum...also favorites! Lettuce doesn't have enough nutrients...a treat, but not a meal! All that said, I have no idea what "naughty fruit" is! My adult tortoises reproduced nearly every year, and yes, they decide where they want to sleep for the winter there's no dissuading them! I had one that wanted to come inside and sleep under the guest bed. Note: functions shut down while hibernating, so nothing to clean up! Lucky you...I loved having those little prehistoric animals around!
@Weezilou Neck - yeah, she loves all that. Shell patted/rubbed, tickle under the chin, bless!!
I didn't realise you had so many and bred them! I love the one that slept under the bed, lol. Did the central heating not keep it awake?
This is a Mediterranean tortoise, plucked from the wild and shipped over to the UK in 1972, piled high in crates, awful. Pleased to say they stopped that practice in the 80's.
Tofu, nah, never given. I was told by our reptile vet that too much protein is really bad for tortoises, they only need about 15% in their diet and they get enough from the veggies. She used to be fed dog food by her old owner (father in law) in the 70's when she first woke up, but then didn't know what we know now.
Naughty fruit - Herman has a huge sweet tooth. She's not supposed to eat much fruit, if any, but she loves it. Handy for getting worming meds down her though, lol. She will kill for watermelon. Never liked broccoli, but she does like white cabbage, spring greens, weeds, rocket, lambs lettuce, clover, dandelion etc. Sadly she does like little gem lettuce and radicchio, luckily for us those are the best two to buy for nutrients out of the lettuce family. Every year since we've had her though she stops eating even when it's warm and only wants fruit!! We know she survives hibernation though and we are careful to make sure she goes to sleep with nothing left inside her fermenting so no treats for the last month before bedtime!
@blightygal What a great reply! Breed them? I had nothing to do with it; they had it all figured out themselves! I was a teenager in Tucson and, while it wasn't illegal, I'd bring some home from the desert; we had a large yard. They'd go into the garage for the winter months and emerge when they were ready! We'd suddenly find babies walking around the yard! In California, I wanted one, so contacted The Turtle & Tortoise Club of Orange Cty. They had just received 4, so after checking me and my yard, we were the recipients. Once again, after a year, we started finding babies! After that, if I saw "activity", I'd keep an eye on the females, and if I found them laying eggs, I went back, marked and lifted the eggs into an egg carton...put it in a box in a warm garage, and nearly all would hatch! I'd find homes for them, but sadly, the mortality rate was somewhat high. My family loved having them, but, eventually, with more traveling, it was difficult to find people willing to look after them. When a friend, who had several turtles and tortoises asked for "one", I said he could have them if he'd take them all! We see these friends, now years later, and he always has a report about them! If I can find the photo, I'll post one of my daughter when she was young, sitting with a bunch of the babies! Fun sharing this information with you!
Just reread that you asked about central heating waking her...no, it didn't. She was under the bed, unseen, situated nearly directly below the pillow of the guest. We had to let them know they were sharing the room with a tortoise... You'll likely relate that they sleep soundly for long periods, but once.in.awhile. they do a deep inhale that might bring on a heart attack if you didn't know what was under the bed!
Oh my goodness, do you have any pets that aren't complete fusspots?? I love his list of likes and dislikes. Tortoises are just the most amazing creatures, and so long lived. @Weezilou I just love the idea of walking into my local Sainsbury's and asking where the hibiscus stamens are kept 🤣
@boxplayer The tortoise is fussier than the cat and that's saying something! When she lived at Ed's dads, she had a diet only of cucumber, iceburg and carrot. Clover out the lawn and nothing else. We introduced her to so many more foods and she has become mega fussy with it, lol. I grow a lot of veggies for her on one side of the lawn too, so she can help herself but rarely does.
@Weezilou Ha, an amazing story with you and your tortoises! Glad they went to someone as keen as you :-) Hope you find the photo of your daughter, very cute.
Can't really leave them to get on with things here like you did as it's normally not warm enough. We have a UV lamp and heated outdoor house etc for Herman for the times where she needs help, ie, 80% of the time thanks to UK weather :-)
@boxplayer@blightygal Oh you two!!! What a great morning belly laugh that gave me!!! In So California, hibiscus are often grown in public places as hedge rows, so, when I'm leaving Costco, for instance, the long road to the main street is lined with them! I'd have a bag handy, and as I unpacked groceries, we all ate well! (You two!!! Still laughing!!!)
@blightygal@boxplayer I found the photo of my 9-y-o daughter with our first tortoises before they "began to bear children" haha I'll place it on one of my earlier blank spaces. And wait until you see their hibiscus feast!
I didn't realise you had so many and bred them! I love the one that slept under the bed, lol. Did the central heating not keep it awake?
This is a Mediterranean tortoise, plucked from the wild and shipped over to the UK in 1972, piled high in crates, awful. Pleased to say they stopped that practice in the 80's.
Tofu, nah, never given. I was told by our reptile vet that too much protein is really bad for tortoises, they only need about 15% in their diet and they get enough from the veggies. She used to be fed dog food by her old owner (father in law) in the 70's when she first woke up, but then didn't know what we know now.
Naughty fruit - Herman has a huge sweet tooth. She's not supposed to eat much fruit, if any, but she loves it. Handy for getting worming meds down her though, lol. She will kill for watermelon. Never liked broccoli, but she does like white cabbage, spring greens, weeds, rocket, lambs lettuce, clover, dandelion etc. Sadly she does like little gem lettuce and radicchio, luckily for us those are the best two to buy for nutrients out of the lettuce family. Every year since we've had her though she stops eating even when it's warm and only wants fruit!! We know she survives hibernation though and we are careful to make sure she goes to sleep with nothing left inside her fermenting so no treats for the last month before bedtime!
I hear you over the hibiscus! :-)
Can't really leave them to get on with things here like you did as it's normally not warm enough. We have a UV lamp and heated outdoor house etc for Herman for the times where she needs help, ie, 80% of the time thanks to UK weather :-)