COLD DARK ROOM

MenagerieGrl

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I've had Lola for 12 years inext July,and I think he was about 3 - 5 years old then. He was found in a field by someone I worked with and all attempts to find his owner failed. My sister was supposed to give him a home so I was just going to be halfway house until I could pass him on, but unfortunately she couldn't take him at the last minute because her hubby became ill, so he ended up staying with me even though I'd never had any interest in tortoises.
At the time a vet told me he was a she - hence the name. His left rear foot is missing but it had healed over and I've no idea if it was a birth deformity or a rat attack etc. He has a bit of a wonky walk but it doesn't stop him getting into trouble.I never wanted a tortoise but wouldn't be without him now.

The last time I weighed him he was over 4300g and eats like a horse!


View attachment 397707
Well, as I said, he IS a very handsome kid you have there!, and that leg is/was JUST a temporary set back, back in the day...We ALL adapt, in order to Thrive! Thank you for sharing...:tort:🥰
 

Cathie G

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Well the fruit trees will like it. Part of the problem here on the west coast, is were NOT getting enough Chill days for the fruit trees. They, depending on the type of tree may need between 700 to 1000 hrs of temps from 32f (0c) to 45f (7c) to set the tree for fruiting the next year... with the warming climate, were not looking good in that respect,,,,
Yes same here. The native plants and even the trees need the cold. I'm in trouble 😵‍💫 that monster Crab Apple is going to be crazy this year...
 

MenagerieGrl

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Yes same here. The native plants and even the trees need the cold. I'm in trouble 😵‍💫 that monster Crab Apple is going to be crazy this year...
I had Crab apples as a kid, someone in the neighborhood had one next to a sidewalk fence, I'd snag some that were hanging over. But haven't seen a Crab Apple tree since.
 

Cathie G

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I had Crab apples as a kid, someone in the neighborhood had one next to a sidewalk fence, I'd snag some that were hanging over. But haven't seen a Crab Apple tree since.
Mine is an arbor Day foundation tree I was given. People walk by and grab an apple. All the wildlife love it oh my garsh.😁 I didn't have a clue what I was planting. It's a true Crab Apple tree. Not an ornamental. I made Crab Apple jelly one year. That was the year Ohio's fruit trees bore so much fruit it was breaking trees in half. It's growing in our front yard on a city street. What was I thinking 🤔 😉
 

MenagerieGrl

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El Sobrante, CA.
Stray question here for the CDR group.
I remember 2 or 3 years back, Not sure of the Forum, but there was a nice guy from South Africa who's parents or grand parents owned property in the "desert Brush". they were building a new home, On stilts off the ground. He'd show pictures of the house being built and of wildlife and torts. I have not heard or seen posts from him since.
He used to post the prettiest pictures of the area...Might you remember his name?
 

jaizei

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Stray question here for the CDR group.
I remember 2 or 3 years back, Not sure of the Forum, but there was a nice guy from South Africa who's parents or grand parents owned property in the "desert Brush". they were building a new home, On stilts off the ground. He'd show pictures of the house being built and of wildlife and torts. I have not heard or seen posts from him since.
He used to post the prettiest pictures of the area...Might you remember his name?

TheLastGreen

 

Ray--Opo

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I was brainwashed at a young age to relish the cold weather.
I've extracated myself from that vicious lie in the past few years.
God made me to live in 70-90F and i don't want to let him down anymore. LOL

That's after spending 2 hours outside in 26F yesterday. I was chilled, not stirred!

Meanwhile gasoline at 2 bucks in some places will probably be free next week and we have 2 brand new foreign residents who.....FAFO.
If we keep stealing Venezuela oil tankers we should get it for free. But for now we will thank OPEC
 

Ray--Opo

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I've had Lola for 12 years inext July,and I think he was about 3 - 5 years old then. He was found in a field by someone I worked with and all attempts to find his owner failed. My sister was supposed to give him a home so I was just going to be halfway house until I could pass him on, but unfortunately she couldn't take him at the last minute because her hubby became ill, so he ended up staying with me even though I'd never had any interest in tortoises.
At the time a vet told me he was a she - hence the name. His left rear foot is missing but it had healed over and I've no idea if it was a birth deformity or a rat attack etc. He has a bit of a wonky walk but it doesn't stop him getting into trouble.I never wanted a tortoise but wouldn't be without him now.

The last time I weighed him he was over 4300g and eats like a horse!


View attachment 397707
What a great story and beautiful tort.
If I stick my hand in Ms.Sullies enclosure and touch her. She will thrash and defend herself. I can't understand why a tort would let a rat chew off a leg. But it happens to torts now and then.
 

Ray--Opo

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Well the fruit trees will like it. Part of the problem here on the west coast, is were NOT getting enough Chill days for the fruit trees. They, depending on the type of tree may need between 700 to 1000 hrs of temps from 32f (0c) to 45f (7c) to set the tree for fruiting the next year... with the warming climate, were not looking good in that respect,,,,
Back around 2008 here in Florida. We had some bad cold weather. Killed tons of fish, manatees and big lizards. The strawberry farmers sprayed water on the strawberries. It put a thin coating of ice on the fruit and plants. That actually insulated the berries when the weather got into the 20,s. The strawberry yield was so good that year. They were plowing strawberries into the ground because there where to many.
 

MaNaAk

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Yes what a lovely story! Jacky was also thought to be a male until a vet said that she was female and that was why she never started a family with Daisy! Mum and Nana had Jacky a year before Daisy alongwith another tortoise. Sadly that little tortoise didn't survive it's first hibernation because it was attacked by a mouse.

Natrah
What a great story and beautiful tort.
If I stick my hand in Ms.Sullies enclosure and touch her. She will thrash and defend herself. I can't understand why a tort would let a rat chew off a leg. But it happens to torts now and then.
 

Lyn W

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What a great story and beautiful tort.
If I stick my hand in Ms.Sullies enclosure and touch her. She will thrash and defend herself. I can't understand why a tort would let a rat chew off a leg. But it happens to torts now and then.
It usually happens to torts hibernating outside. I remember reading about a tortoise left out to overwinter in a garden who lost both back legs to rats. The owners found someone to make a frame with wheels, so that he could still get about.
Leopards don't hibernate so it's possible Lola either had a nasty accident or hatched with a foot missing.
 
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