My New Tortoise Trio!

Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
27
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego
I was never able to own a pet as a child. My entire life, I wanted a dog or some kind of interactive pet. When I was in elementary school, walking down the street with my mother, we stumbled across a turtle strolling down the block. We took the turtle in and I was able to keep the lil turt for a week until it was taken from me. People on the corner said they let their turtle out into the street and roam every now and then. They said, "it always comes back." I was sad to see the turtle go. It was my first and only opportunity of having a pet as a kid.

I always wanted a dog. My mother and I are allergic to dogs so I was never able to own one as a child. I recently graduated from university and a dog seemed unrealistically unattainable for me. That's when I rediscovered my love for turtles and tortoises. I engrossed myself in literature and YouTube videos about chelonians. I favored the tortoise to the turtle as I disliked the water element and eventually wanted to have torts roaming around my yard for years to come. I came to the conclusion that I was going to stop at nothing to own my very own tortoise.

I searched the web tirelessly to find a proper tortoise for me. Still very new to the hobby, I had little knowledge about the best means of acquiring a tortoise. I came across a craigslist posting of a baby Indian Star tortoise for sale which would include: ceramic heating element, uvb hood and bulb, an automatic thermostat connected to the che, some water bowls, a food bowl, two vivarium plants, two thermometer hygrometers, two hides (a black plastic one with a doorway and a wooden half log), seeds for clover, and Mazuri tortoise pellets. I had the entire set up needed to house a tort and I was getting one of the most exotic torts to boot! The transaction seemed amazing.

I had to drive several hours to pickup all the tortoise supplies and the little baby but it was well worth the trip. I returned home, took an entire day to set the entire fixture up, soaked my tort, and moved him back into his forever home. The tort was doing wonderful for a week and a half until tragedy began. My little Indian Star tortoise, Ferrari, stopped eating, sleeping all day, and could no longer open his eyes. He passed away two weeks to the day I got him. The temperature, humidity, diet, water, soaks, everything I did was by the book. After discussing with others, I came to the conclusion the lil tort was a victim of Hatchling Failure Syndrome. His shell was very dry when I got him and he looked to already have pyramiding, even as a baby. Rest in peace little Ferrari, gone but not forgotten.

Luckily, this story does not have a sad ending! Less than a week later, determined to not let lil Ferrari die in vain, I began my search again for new torts, better torts. After asking people who's opinions I trust, I bought a Leopard Tortoise Trio from Tortoise Supply. A couple days later, my tortoises were at my doorstep. I unboxed the trio and gave them their first soak and from then on, it's been nothing but fascination and awe. Three beautiful Leopard tortoises: Cougar, Jaguar, and Bobcat. I never fully grasped the sensation of owning my own healthy little torts, but I do now. I love tortoises and can't wait to build them an outdoor enclosure as they grow. I can't thank Tortoise Supply enough for the customer service and restoring my faith in owning my very own pet tortoises. I also can't wait to see what the future holds for my brand new tortoise trio!
 

Hutsie B

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
471
Location (City and/or State)
NC
hi and welcome to the forum, sounds like you have some nice torts to take care of. Sorry for your loss of the first one. I hope these three do well for you.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,660
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Welcome. Leopards are great. Now hopefully you forget all the info you read in books, YouTube and any other place and read and follow only the newer info on this forum. Read the caresheet and follow it. Also be prepared to separate the torts if you end up with 2 or more males.
 
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