New Desert Tortoise Caregiver, Southern California

Slowhand1964

New Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Temecula, California
Howdy!

California Turtle and Tortoise Club Adoption Committee entrusted a Desert Tortoise into my custody, permit and all. She is about 10 inchs in shell length and appears happy and healthy and was told she was perhaps 10 to 15 years old. I named her Sir Henry Rollins, III (I know but she will never know). I have about a 2000 square foot backyard and yesterday she must have put in 5 turtle miles exploring her new surroundings. Today, she left her hutch, basked in the sun for and hour, then back into the hutch....

I look forward to researching the posts here to answer the many questions I have. So Cheers
KRW
Temecula, CA
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Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
Watch out for the bunny some are known to have "Giant Pointy Fangs!" Welcome from Richmond, VA with relations in Sun City and Santee!
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,405
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Hi, and welcome! Desert tortoises are among my very favorite species.
 

dmmj

The member formerly known as captain awesome
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
19,698
Location (City and/or State)
CA
Lots of desert tortoise lovers here(I just like them). That is a nice looking tortoise.
 

Slowhand1964

New Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Temecula, California
Very nice welcomes...While I am a newbie caregiver, I do have some history with the CDT. Allow me to digress:

My dad owned a couple of acres in east San Diego which would become our family home. Around 1958, a few years before I was born, my father had a section of the property cedar fenced off due to the critters killing his Goldfish and Koi. That next spring, he noticed a CDT grazing in the fenced area. He subsequently studied the critter, with the help the SDSU, and over time created a "natural environment" for the now named Henry II. In 1961, they said he was between 10 to 20 years old, based solely on his size..

Henry II was completely free ranging with little human involvement, especially with natural brumation. The substrate was decomposed granite and about 10% clay and sand. He had dug at least 10 burrows, but gofers later moved in and displaced many. Henry II would disappear in the fall, though it was not unusual to see him grazing in late November into mid December, then thankfully reappear in the spring with much father fanfare. So much so, in the 1980s my dad would hold parties when Henry II reemerged, declaring spring has begun!

My dad last saw Henry II in the fall of 1995. Though dad is gone, family lore believes Henry II burrowed out to live in the CA protected area behind the family house and is still ruling his empire.

That said, my Henry III is acclimating to her new environment (now 4 days) with the usual hurdles. We have no idea of her history, free ranging or plate feed (lettece, etc), though she has paint on her shell indicating a not so cool place.. Today 10/17, she has been running her *** off, 9 hours today. 3 stools, and they looked normal. Her water intake is encouraging and surprising, she drank a 1/3 of the 8 inch dia terracota platter.

Our goal is/was to free range roam her (2000 sq ft) with no plate food. She has been roaming hard and while her intake has been sparse (as it should be this time of year), mainly consisting of the clover grass and fiscue, she did get into the garden Jalapeno plant today...pic below. LOL................

Her water intake is good, and the soakings (2 so far) are keeping her active. Due to the clear nasal fluid she has displayed (not constant, I think stress), and the warm temps predicted for the next week (ground temp is still only 64 degrees), I am still deciding what to do in regard to brumation.. My intent is to allow her to tell me. Her burrow is 8 inches below grade, more with w/the dirt piled on top, and rain proof in regard to the slope and drainage .....I will take this to another thread but this, at least for me should be an educational and worthwhile journey.....

I love input...so please opine

Cheers
Kurt
 

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Slowhand1964

New Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Temecula, California
10/19, well Sir Henry III was out of her burrow by 9AM, basked for an hour, now grazing, but only on the clover. Showing very little signs of slowing down but it is still warm and It is forecasted to get into the mid 90s (low 60s) this week. Her water intake is exceptional, and she is now soaking herself in a large terracotta potting dish. I find it funny that her favoirte pooping place is right by the garden....which is far from her burrow....good manners?

Don't think she is ready for her long sleep......

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