Michael Meluskey
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2016
- Messages
- 1
Greetings, first time post.
We have a 25 year old, 100lb male Sulcata named Cheeba. We got him 3 years ago, because he ate his way out of every home his original owner (a co-worker of mine) could find for him on St. John. A few years ago we put him in a wooden pen and transported him 40 miles south on a fast boat to St. Croix where I live. We have 16 acres of pasture....since grass is their favorite food, no danger of him going hungry.
Before he arrived, I considered building a fence, but instead glued a radio transmitter to his shell. He roamed to neighboring properties a few times, but I retrieved him (no easy feat, picking a 100lb squirming tortoise and putting him on your ATV seat) but then he found a friend / worthy opponent.
Wilbert the mini pig.
I assume it is a territorial dominance thing, Cheeba will spend an hour chasing the pig, butting into him and generally harassing him until he gets bored or hungry. The pig groans and carries on like its the end of the world.....then they often cuddle up and sleep together. Cheeba has not wandered since they started this game years ago. Even Category 5 Hurricane Maria didn't phase him, after I had to drag him to high ground when his sleep area flooded.
So a possible solution to a roaming male, give him a worthy opponent to fight for his territory, and he will stick around.
We have a 25 year old, 100lb male Sulcata named Cheeba. We got him 3 years ago, because he ate his way out of every home his original owner (a co-worker of mine) could find for him on St. John. A few years ago we put him in a wooden pen and transported him 40 miles south on a fast boat to St. Croix where I live. We have 16 acres of pasture....since grass is their favorite food, no danger of him going hungry.
Before he arrived, I considered building a fence, but instead glued a radio transmitter to his shell. He roamed to neighboring properties a few times, but I retrieved him (no easy feat, picking a 100lb squirming tortoise and putting him on your ATV seat) but then he found a friend / worthy opponent.
Wilbert the mini pig.
I assume it is a territorial dominance thing, Cheeba will spend an hour chasing the pig, butting into him and generally harassing him until he gets bored or hungry. The pig groans and carries on like its the end of the world.....then they often cuddle up and sleep together. Cheeba has not wandered since they started this game years ago. Even Category 5 Hurricane Maria didn't phase him, after I had to drag him to high ground when his sleep area flooded.
So a possible solution to a roaming male, give him a worthy opponent to fight for his territory, and he will stick around.