Enough is enough?

[Tim/Robin]

I have a question to pose (only somewhat seriously), since we seem to be having difficulties answering it.....when is it with tortoises that "enough is enough"? It just seems that no matter how many we obtain, there's always one more tort, one more species, one more cutie, one more challenge that we think we need. And it's clearly not an affliction affecting only us. We have noticed that most memebers of this forum have more than one tort (like us). And most of us think we need more. Of course the reality of cost, space, and time is what impedes us. But they're so sweet, so cute, so interesting!

When this sort of thing happens with dogs and cats, I believe they are called "collectors". And it has a derogatory intent ;-) (wink, wink).

We've had interests that have come and gone. But animals has always been our weak spot. What is it that is so darn special about critters that makes us want them to be a part of our lives, yet we do so little to help protect their native habitat? Hmmm....

 

[redkim]

I know with ferrets we call it "ferret math". 1 becomes 2 becomes 4 becomes 7 etc etc etc. Works with everything - horses, dogs, tortoises etc.

Obviously there is something that drew us to own the first tortoise (and turtle - for the turt folks) so it makes sense that we would be drawn again and again. I know that I have only started with my tortoise and yet seeing all the pictures on here make me want more!!

It's a tough fight as I have the space and finances for more but I have to be fair and make sure I have the time to devote proper attention to my animals, both new and old. That's the only thing that reins me in!! But looking at Douglas's Sri Lankan stars that were for sale is SOOOOOO tempting!! And we haven't even counted the heartstrings that are yanked for all the rescues that need homes . . .

 

[JustAnja]

I have no clue....coming from someone with..........




300+ snakes
24 geckos
10 tortoises
3 turtles

 

[jlyoncc1]

I love my torts and there is no logical explanation for our wanting more other that I could have a few loose screws!?!

 

[wayne.bob]

i can't tell ya what it is that makes us want to love more and more Torts/Turts but whatever it is, it is very tempting. some people may call us crazy for loving our shelled friends but in this world what isn't CRAZY? i think we are all "Normal"! LOL

 

[Yvonne G]

I believe that every turtle and tortoise that I keep MUST have enough room OUTSIDE to live as close as possible to his natural environment. So the question for me is answered thusly: My property is all tortoise pens, with about half of it pasture for two really old horses. There is no more room to add another tortoise pen, and the number of tortoises in each pen fits the size of the pen. I realized that my Burmese tortoises are in a pen too small for them, so I adopted out most of my rescued leopards, and I'm now making their pen smaller so I can enlarge the Burmese pen. I won't be able to add any more tortoises until the horses attrit, and by that time I'll probably be too old to build pens, so I'm pretty sure this is it for me! I have 15 different kinds, and appx. 125 turtles and tortoises. They are comfortable in their pens and live year-round outside, with heated houses in the winter.

I don't believe a person like me, who is able to provide a natural and roomy setting for the animal, would be considered a collector or hoarder. Those people collect the animals to "save" them, but are unable to provide the proper care for the too-many animals that they collect.

Good question Tim and Robin...I'm very interested in the answers.

Yvonne

 

[Crazy1]

Like Lays Potato chips “you can't have just one”. I am a renter. The amount of torts I have depend on how I can make temp pens and the amount my landlord will allow. So far No problems. She is an animal lover and has about 15 inside cats and feeds all the cats in the neighborhood. Plus several dogs. Her husband had Boxies as a kid back east.
I have lived here 9 years and I started with a pair of Greeks. Now I have 8 Greeks. I foster currently I have 3 DT. I have fostered a sully and Russian and am currently babysitting (rehabbing) a Cherryhead. I enjoy each and everyone and would have more if I could find space especially inside during the winter for them as my Greeks don't hibernate. I don't mind getting up an hour early to pick and prepare there breakfast. My 2 dogs don't mind them and they get lots of time with me outside playing with them and watching the torts. Not really sure what sent me over the deep end (at least according to my friends). But they agree it could be something worse that I was obsessed with. I find when I watch and tend to my torts I feel a calm that nothing else has given me. And I think most of us do advocate helping them and their habitat in the wild.

 

[Jacqui]

It's not just with animals, but humans have this need with everything as a general rule. We always want more. It might be more money, a better job, a better body, more shoes, or more animals.

For me, animals have always given me so much, it's my way of paying them back. When younger I worked in shelters. I got tired of having to play "god" and decide who would live and who would get a chance to find a home.

I moved out of the city to a very small village and one where I could afford to buy my own house, so no landlord looking over my shoulder. I don't turn down any animal needing a home, but I also don't go looking for them (except my shelled guys). I know where my limits are and some how life usually keeps me at those limits. Might help that I have a weakness for old animals (and sick ones), so the years we have with each of them are limited.

I think years back I did get in too deep with the shells. Maybe not in numbers, but in knowledge of their care. So glad we have since then learned more about their needs (and continue to learn) and that we have the internet to spread the knowledge.

Right now I have eight outside pens sitting empty and still lots of room for more pens. When I lowered the tort numbers, I increased the horse pen areas, so as they die out, I will once more have even a larger area available.

That means I could go out and buy many more torts and easily house them today. I am not doing that. I do have my eyes always open for Hingebacks to add to my breeding colonies. I do have one individual tort that I would love to get the chance to adopt. Plus in September, to celebrate my 50th birthday, I have a species in mind to give a try with. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn as much about them as I can and earn some extra money for improvements I want to make so all the torts will have a better life here.

I know my limits. I am not there in numbers, but it could happen if I were to rush out and buy, buy, buy. For me, my limit can be reached if I overload myself with new bodies all at once rather then spreading them slowly out.

Plus right now, because I am out in the truck, I also have to realize the limits of my two kids who are home currently caring for the animals. I try to do things to minimalize (is that a real word?..lol) the amount of time they need to do some of the care. Such as watering the plants and pens. They are all connected, you just turn the water on. We have timers on as many things as possible. Our home visits are spent doing shelled projects. It's not perfect, but with our overall animal numbers down, lots of kid training and phone calls, preplanning, and two great kids (and one on call), it's working. We had planned and practiced this for a little over a year, before knowing that it would be workable (so far).