Cooper update.

[cemmons12]

No sorry needed....that is an adorable pic and what awesome spikes on those legs....beautiful....absolutely beautiful

Oh my god he is killing me with them spikes! I have a new hole and big scratch next to it from him waking me up yesterday and today! Lol! I had a real cool phone call about 30 minutes ago from a zoo in South Bend, Indiana asking me about Cooper and what he eats and about the blood work that he had done when he got really sick as a baby. So I am gonna email him the blood work papers I have and he is gonna call me next week about a book he said was cool for me to read, then I will tell him about "The Crying Tortoise" book that good ole Tom turned me on to. Thought it was way cool that he was interested enough in Cooper's big size for his age to take the time to call me. Thanks for the nice comments Angela! I will have to message u since its been like forever since we have chat'd! I promise I will get some more pic's, just been having issues with the damn camera app on this dumb cell phone! Have a great day!!

 

[ascott]

Thought it was way cool that he was interested enough in Cooper's big size for his age to take the time to call me.

Exciting to find out his reasons/motives for wanting to know? Bet it is going to be fun to see what book he will refer you to...and will look forward to your message....

 

[biochemnerd808]

What a handsome tort! It will be interesting to see just how much bigger he gets.

I have kind of an odd question about the roaming tort aspect. What do you do about tort poop/tort pee? I only have small torts (Russians and a Greek), and when they release urates while running around out of their tort tables, it's kind of hard to clean out of the carpet. I can't imagine how it would be with a sulcata...

Too bad we don't live in a warmer area, or I'd totally build a huge outdoor enclosure and keep a couple of giant torts there...

One thing that I want to say is that you give hope to all the northern folks for owning a big ol sully. Of course you have obviously devoted a lot of time to him but none the less you have proven its possible to raise a big sully up north. With as much interaction as you have with him im assumimg he has free roam of the house or at least a room?

Yeah, due to his big size, he now has about 18 hours a day of free roam. And since the waterbed is to much for my low back tumor and the Lupus, Cooper and I took over the living room floor at bedtime. He sleeps right next to me all night unless his heating blanky get to warm then he will go for a walk and either take a nap else where or just go cool off and come back. The best part is since I still bath him every night, he hasn't had 1 accident since I started this current way of doing things. He is pretty amazing and smart. Thanks for the nice comment! Always happy to get them!!
And yeah, I devote A LOT of time to him. Honestly I hate leaving him at the house when we go to mom n laws house everyday for dinner. He just gives me the big ole said eyes look and makes me feel all guilty! Have a great evening!

 

[cemmons12]

What a handsome tort! It will be interesting to see just how much bigger he gets.

I have kind of an odd question about the roaming tort aspect. What do you do about tort poop/tort pee? I only have small torts (Russians and a Greek), and when they release urates while running around out of their tort tables, it's kind of hard to clean out of the carpet. I can't imagine how it would be with a sulcata...

Too bad we don't live in a warmer area, or I'd totally build a huge outdoor enclosure and keep a couple of giant torts there...

One thing that I want to say is that you give hope to all the northern folks for owning a big ol sully. Of course you have obviously devoted a lot of time to him but none the less you have proven its possible to raise a big sully up north. With as much interaction as you have with him im assumimg he has free roam of the house or at least a room?

Yeah, due to his big size, he now has about 18 hours a day of free roam. And since the waterbed is to much for my low back tumor and the Lupus, Cooper and I took over the living room floor at bedtime. He sleeps right next to me all night unless his heating blanky get to warm then he will go for a walk and either take a nap else where or just go cool off and come back. The best part is since I still bath him every night, he hasn't had 1 accident since I started this current way of doing things. He is pretty amazing and smart. Thanks for the nice comment! Always happy to get them!!
And yeah, I devote A LOT of time to him. Honestly I hate leaving him at the house when we go to mom n laws house everyday for dinner. He just gives me the big ole said eyes look and makes me feel all guilty! Have a great evening!

Believe it or not, Cooper don't go on the floor, he gets a bath everyday at 7 or 8pm, and that's when he pee's, and he will only poo in his cage or in the bath. Its odd but its like he knows not to.. Or that he just don't want to on his heating blanky or carpet. I'm very impressed with that about Cooper, he is so smart! He will even let me clean his head and "brush his teeth" as I like to tell him with a soft tooth brush to keep his face nice and clean.

 

[cemmons12]

Quick question: is it normal for a Sulcata to have little pieces of their bottom jaw sort of break away, and it grow back? Cooper has this going on so I just wonder if this is normal, sort of like losing teeth and having them grow back. I can put up a pic later when I get home. I clean his mouth everyday and take a tooth brush and brush all the food off. That way I won't have to worry about any sort of rot. Thanks for any insight you can provide. Any little thing with him worries me sick! Also he does chow down on cuttle bones which I would guess help break off little pieces, so wondering if I should limit his time with his favorite chew toys? I hate worry'n! Makes me physically sick to my stomach and kicks in a bad Lupus flare up every damn time!

 

[cemmons12]

Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there? Stealing a line from Pink Floyd here.

 

[Dizisdalife]

Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there? Stealing a line from Pink Floyd here.

I don't have am answer for you, but suggest you post your question in a new thread for a better response.

 

[cemmons12]

Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there? Stealing a line from Pink Floyd here.

I don't have am answer for you, but suggest you post your question in a new thread for a better response.

Your prolly right, I just like to keep this thread alive since its mainly all about my bestest buddy Cooper.

 

[shellysmom]

Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there?

Just nod if you can hear me... Is there anyone home?

Hands down, my favorite Pink Floyd song

I do know that if the beak is growing out a bit, cuttle bone and things can help keep it trimmed, in which case it would make sense that little overgrown pieces here and there sort of break off. I would only worry if pieces seem to be falling off beyond the normal form of the beak, like this:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-56741.html#axzz2C8qJDkiD

There are a couple of photos of the tort's mouth buried in the thread somewhere.

 

[lori12386]

He is so cute! I cant wait for my three little ones to get that big!

 

[cemmons12]

This isn't so much a Cooper update, but I will say he is doing just perfect! And now he had started doing this thing where he will sort of nip at my nose. He don't bite thank god, but he just likes to sort of nip at it and stop, its so very funny!! I just need to sort of vent. I have only been in this dark of a place 1 time before, and I just want it to be over. I believe my time here has almost came to a close. I'm just sick of the pain, its almost torture anymore . Thanks to all of you for your priceless info/advice. Its meant the world to me and Cooper. And to anyone that don't understand Lupus, you can look up ton's of info on the net. Have a great evening my friends.

 

[yagyujubei]

You need to get some weed. You will feel MUCH better.

 

[cemmons12]

Lol, need the hook up!

 

[ascott]

Looking for a Chunk O Dunk update my friend How is the Coop and his Dad doing tonight?

 

[mainey34]

Hello cemmons12.....i feel your pain....i do not have lupus. But i do have that pain every single day. No matter what you do or what you take, you still have that pain. And unless you have that pain, you just dont understand it. It will put you in that deep dark place that is really hard to get out of thats for sure. But you need to look forward to your buddie every day. Focus on Cooper. Animals have a way of knowing when we are sick. Enjoy the time when he cuddles with you. I wish i could tell you there was a magic pill or a way to ease your pain, but the fact of the matter is there isnt. All we can do is deal with it the best way we know how to good luck to you. May you have pain free days...

 

[cemmons12]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! As for an update on Cooper. I weighed him last Friday and he is 21.6lbs. I need to measure him. Just wanted to give an update on his weight! Have a great day!

 

[cemmons12]

This is a picture of him in the bath, just gives ya an idea of just how big he is at 22 months!
Then just a close up of Cooper when he was about 3 months old.

 

[Baoh]

I like your animal's coloration. Does it not get a lot of time in the sunlight during the warmer months? I most commonly see coloration such as this when raised primarily inside (not a problem; just an adaptation), but there are surely exceptions.

 

[cemmons12]

I like your animal's coloration. Does it not get a lot of time in the sunlight during the warmer months? I most commonly see coloration such as this when raised primarily inside (not a problem; just an adaptation), but there are surely exceptions.

He didn't get as much time outside as I would have liked, but he does get outdoors time. His color has really changed since he was a baby tort. This coming spring/summer he will get a lot more outside time as we will be moved and the yard at the new place is fenced in so it will make it easier plus I'm gonna make a spot for him where I can put him and not worry about him getting out. I'm hoping some of his lighter spots may come back with some good sunshine! But I have never read anywhere that says yea or nay on the lighter colors coming back. And I just measured him and he is just over 16 inch's long, and 11 inch's wide!

 

[jtrux]

I like your animal's coloration. Does it not get a lot of time in the sunlight during the warmer months? I most commonly see coloration such as this when raised primarily inside (not a problem; just an adaptation), but there are surely exceptions.

I agree, even with so called proper UVB lighting the shell becomes dark. Personally I think it looks good, but that's just me.

You mentioned keeping him outdoors but seeing as how you keep a better eye on him than most people do of their kids, how long do you think it will take you until you bring him back inside? lol