Friends have asked if I can take care of a new hatchling CDT for five days. Sounds like fun but I take this very seriously! I need advice on hatchling care!
Thanks
Alex gave us a good scare. He was lethargic but awake yesterday and didn’t’ move from one spot. He was doing wide yawns and alternating whistles, gasps, and hisses. I looked deep in his mouth and throat and it looked clear, but his neck seemed swollen. I fed him some tiny bites of lettuce and...
Hercules had a very large bladder stone removed on May 2nd.
He was weak when he came home but he seemed to be recovering. Almost every other day he was less active and had less appetite, but on the other days he seemed to be OK.
Now he has has several low energy days in a row and today he...
Duncan and Hercules are enjoying a sunny day between rainstorms in Southern California.
It's not unusual for them to come out and drink from puddles, then return to the burrow to hibernate until April.
I make sure they stay dry in the burrow.
It's nice to see them, I miss them during their...
Hercules is a Desert Tort who doesn't really hibernate. He comes out and eats grass every day, and usually crawls into his water dish fir a drink and a soak.
We indulged him with a little lettuce, a few carrot shreds, and a couple of dandelions on Thanksgiving and he seemed to enjoy it!
Duncan gets a few shredded carrots to help him store fat for hibernation.
He goes into the burrow at the middle of October and stays down for four months.
He is at least 80 years old.
I take care of three rescued adult desert torts. Last year at a routine checkup, I learned that Hercules has a very large bladder stone. He showed no symptoms, so I decided to watch and wait.
Last week he wasn't walking well and had little appetite. One day he seemed agitated and uncoordinated...
Early this year (2014) I agreed to take over the care of three male Desert Tortoises.
The previous 'owner' of Duncan had cared for him for a full fifty years, and he and Duncan were teens when they met. Duncan is probably about 65 years old!
Duncan is pretty savvy and established himself at...