Rising with the sun!

[Katherine]

Thought this little man may have breached the enclosure last night but turns out he is just better at burrowing than I am at finding! He made quite the little nest under a big clump of grass. So happy to see him coming out to meet the sun!

 

[mary t]

Wow, how big is he? I am great full that as of now ( only had mine for about 3 months) he hasn't decided to dig yet. He is 6 yrs old and I think just grateful to be outside during he day. His outdoor house should be installed by he end of next weekend and even though he is about 13 pounds. I'm a little nervous to leave him out all night. The outdoor box will have a lockable door until he is bigger but having him in the back porch at night just keeps me sane. I'm so scared something will happen to him and I would feel horrible since I rescued him. I think I maybe being a little over protective.

 

[Katherine]

Mary I don't think you are being over protective; just keeping your baby safe! Mine seem happiest outdoors and I seem to be able to keep the predators at bay so I allow them as much outdoor time as possible. The babies enclosures all have overhead wiring to deter hawks and other birds of prey ( the major concern when I live). It took me a long time to develop a routine and an enclosure that allowed me to feel comfortable leaving them outside and at the end of the day I could still make the argument that they would be safer indoors; but I feel like as far as being outside (in a well built enclosure) is concerned the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. I bet your little man will be excited to explore his upcoming home, maybe you got lucky and did not end up with a digger but I would bet once he gets settled the burrowing will begin ; ) All of my sulcatas looooove to dig, always adorable but sometimes quite frustrating too!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Great digger.

 

[Tom]

What are your night temps there now?

It is amazing how well those little buggers can hide.

 

[wildponey21]

as of now my two don't dig and i hope they stay that way

 

[SulcataSquirt]

gotta love when they do that little stuff to make you smile. Is that picture at a funny angle or does the rear of your tort have a little dip going on?

 

[Katherine]

Outdoor nighttime temps have been in mid fifties to mid sixties for about a week now. Brisk to say the least.

I was going to remark that I am jealous of anyone who's sulcatas do not dig...but it kind of makes them who they are! I can deal with the digging. This was def the cutest little nest I had seen in a while!

And no it's not the camera angle this tortoise is severely deformed- I think I posted pics of his crazy malformed shell somewhere on this forum.

 

[BrinnANDTorts]

Outdoor nighttime temps have been in mid fifties to mid sixties for about a week now. Brisk to say the least.

I was going to remark that I am jealous of anyone who's sulcatas do not dig...but it kind of makes them who they are! I can deal with the digging. This was def the cutest little nest I had seen in a while!

And no it's not the camera angle this tortoise is severely deformed- I think I posted pics of his crazy malformed shell somewhere on this forum.

He is still super cute mine love to hide under leafs
It's still warm enough where u live to have the babies out during the night ? That's crazy it's like below 40 degrees in Texas At night right now

 

[Katherine]

Thanks I think he is adorable. We should be in the 40s a few nights at the end of this week per my iPhone weather app, : ( The torts have heated 'dog' houses outside to keep them toasty on the even chilliest of evenings- I let my adults chose where to sleep unless we drop below 45 but if the little guys decide not to sleep in their warm house I will physically place them in it ( unless they evade capture by hiding so well I can't find them! ). They usually go in the warm house on their own, I only have one who repeatedly parks somewhere impractical.

 

[mary t]

Well thanks. My enclosure is dug down 3 ft with chicken wire and concrete, like I said though we have had long talks together about him not digging. My dads neighbor has one that has almost dug there house foundation out. They are having major house issues and in Florida sink holes are an issue. He may have to come visit me when the insurance adjuster visits... Wait that's a great idea.. Lol.. I love that Willie is big but having a little guy would be cool though then I would be a nervous wreck. I think I'm more protective of Willie than my twin boys...lol

 

[Katherine]

How big is willie? I like to let my bigger kids dig bc I feel like its normal and makes them happy but get nervous when they burrow. I only have one large female who prefers to burrow and maybe once or twice a year she gets in deep enough to make me nervous; we have concrete and iron in their favorite "I'm trying to escape" spots but laid sandbags down around the fence line everywhere else in our adult pens and they are awesome! Once they dig deep enough to hit the sandbag they rip a hole in the bottom of the bag and gravity pulls the sand out of the bag and into the hole as they dig it. No one gets out, no one gets hurt, and the torts keep digging, they just don't get anywhere : ) next time they start a hole I will have to video it.

 

[mary t]

Willie is 6 yrs about 13 pounds. I think he should be bigger but I have only hard him for 3 months now before that he lived in a fish tank. He was also only fed lettuce. A half a head a day.. Not sure what kind but now he has grass and gets a huge verity of greens. I keep a list of everything torts can eat and go o the farmers market on Saturday mornings and buy whatever I can find from the organic people. Im going to start a new thread and get info on what and who o order other food from that I can grow myself. I do have a few seeds started but not ready yet.

 

[BrinnANDTorts]

Willie is 6 yrs about 13 pounds. I think he should be bigger but I have only hard him for 3 months now before that he lived in a fish tank. He was also only fed lettuce. A half a head a day.. Not sure what kind but now he has grass and gets a huge verity of greens. I keep a list of everything torts can eat and go o the farmers market on Saturday mornings and buy whatever I can find from the organic people. Im going to start a new thread and get info on what and who o order other food from that I can grow myself. I do have a few seeds started but not ready yet.

I would agree with Willie being a little tiny , Fluffy is four years old and 15 pounds . I think that is a little small too idk though.

 

[mary t]

Well I have spent the last couple hours on the web and have to say I'm thinking Willie is a girl...

 

[lynnedit]

Willie is 6 yrs about 13 pounds. I think he should be bigger but I have only hard him for 3 months now before that he lived in a fish tank. He was also only fed lettuce. A half a head a day.. Not sure what kind but now he has grass and gets a huge verity of greens. I keep a list of everything torts can eat and go o the farmers market on Saturday mornings and buy whatever I can find from the organic people. Im going to start a new thread and get info on what and who o order other food from that I can grow myself. I do have a few seeds started but not ready yet.

Carolina Pet supply has free shipping on tortoise seeds right now...good for seeding outdoor enclosures and growing in flats for your torts. Buy 1/2 or 1# bags.
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/ca...id=509&zenid=bba5461549e8b9db94a44ab85291f891

 

[Katherine]

Well I have spent the last couple hours on the web and have to say I'm thinking Willie is a girl...

Post some pics of willie/willow's plastron and we can help you decide : )

 

[mary t]

I did on the other thread...

 

[elvis]

Katherine, my little guys shell looked exactly like that when I got him as a hatching 6 years ago. Today his shell is perfect. I was really surprised how the huge dip toward the back has evened out

 

[Katherine]

Katherine, my little guys shell looked exactly like that when I got him as a hatching 6 years ago. Today his shell is perfect. I was really surprised how the huge dip toward the back has evened out

YAY!!!!!!!!!! Awesome awesome awesome to hear that! I was very concerned about how life as a deformed adult would be for this poor little babe! Maybe he won't be deformed at all : D