Anna Westphal
Member
Hey everyone. I hope this isn't too long of a post, but I am in need of moral support. I obtained my Sulcata tortoise August of last year. I consider it sort of a rescue, although I paid for her. I had stopped by my local pet store to say hello to my friend who owns it and saw her living in a plastic tub. I was told she was 5 years old and had previously spent her life living in a bathtub, but got too big so the family took her to my pal. I spent a sleepless night thinking about how I needed to get this magnificent creature out of there and went back first thing in the morning and brought her home. It was an impulse decision, but one I could not fight. I have had lots of experience with turtles, but Stella was my first contact with Sulcatas, so I had a lot to learn. I have since found out (traumatically) she is a male. After soaking her one day I picked her up and thought she was dying from a prolapsed uterus. After reading the forum and hearing about others experiencing something similar, I googled "tortoise penises" (I am probably on an FBI watch list), I quickly realized Stella was a fella but I think she identifies as female so her name is still Stella. Hope you all understand the humor here.
I have done everything I can to make sure Stella has the very best life possible, which I have always done for any animal in my care. I live in the Colorado high desert and built an enclosed indoor area for her in my workshop with proper heat and humidity and she did very well over the winter. She has significant pyramiding from her dry childhood but it seems to be leveling out a little as she grows. Stella has gained about 8 pounds since I got her. Now that it's warm enough for her to be back outside during the day she has access to 2 very nice big areas where she can graze and burrow. I built a walk-in soaking area for her, which she never uses so I still soak her. I planted the recommended seed mixes for Sulcatas that were recommended on the forum. We have lots of dandelions and hibiscus and pickly pears and board leaf weeds. I supplement with Muzuri and am trying to introduce her to Timothy grass. She still goes inside at night to her moistened coco coir and heat. Basically, I have been reading the forum daily and taken the advise given here and done my very best to do the right thing for Stella.
So, here's my concern/question. Even though she has lots of room to roam during the day, she spends a great deal of time walking the boarder of the fenced areas (wooden and not chain link) back and forth. I understand this is something these tortoises tend to do but it feels like all she wants to do is escape. We have 5 acres and when I take her outside the fenced areas she beelines for a certain corner of the property. I am feeling terrible for her and don't want her to feel like a prisoner. I am used to my animals being very happy with the environment I have provided for them. How do you justify keeping an animal like this in a situation where they just want to get out? Would she have a better life elsewhere? Any support will be appreciated. I love Stella so much and don't want to feel like a captor instead of a care-giver. Any ideas on what more I can do for Stella will also be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I have done everything I can to make sure Stella has the very best life possible, which I have always done for any animal in my care. I live in the Colorado high desert and built an enclosed indoor area for her in my workshop with proper heat and humidity and she did very well over the winter. She has significant pyramiding from her dry childhood but it seems to be leveling out a little as she grows. Stella has gained about 8 pounds since I got her. Now that it's warm enough for her to be back outside during the day she has access to 2 very nice big areas where she can graze and burrow. I built a walk-in soaking area for her, which she never uses so I still soak her. I planted the recommended seed mixes for Sulcatas that were recommended on the forum. We have lots of dandelions and hibiscus and pickly pears and board leaf weeds. I supplement with Muzuri and am trying to introduce her to Timothy grass. She still goes inside at night to her moistened coco coir and heat. Basically, I have been reading the forum daily and taken the advise given here and done my very best to do the right thing for Stella.
So, here's my concern/question. Even though she has lots of room to roam during the day, she spends a great deal of time walking the boarder of the fenced areas (wooden and not chain link) back and forth. I understand this is something these tortoises tend to do but it feels like all she wants to do is escape. We have 5 acres and when I take her outside the fenced areas she beelines for a certain corner of the property. I am feeling terrible for her and don't want her to feel like a prisoner. I am used to my animals being very happy with the environment I have provided for them. How do you justify keeping an animal like this in a situation where they just want to get out? Would she have a better life elsewhere? Any support will be appreciated. I love Stella so much and don't want to feel like a captor instead of a care-giver. Any ideas on what more I can do for Stella will also be appreciated. Thanks in advance.