Tiny Tales

[Alaskamike]

Tiny was 17 lbs this month. I moved him into a larger surround in April. About 2x the size. But I had to abandon his buried hide box. He has a dog house now , & next winter I'll heat it.

But ... in less than a week he was digging a new tunnel along the edge of the surround. I just let it go. It must be quite cozy by now. He comes out all covered in sand. Who knows how deep it goes. He much prefers his cave to the doghouse. Lol.
I like allowing him to have his cave. That is natural to them - instinctive. I have a 50 lb rescue in my back yard who lives under the shed. That hole is large. Could be 30' long by now. That one " Sal" has the run of about a 1/4 acre. He grazes mainly on grass & weeds. Any activity in the yard & he comes to you for possible treats. He loves Optunia Cactus pads & Hibiscus. I'll try & get some photos of him soon too.

It's rained all morning, but I'll take some shots of Tiny when it stops.

 

[Alaskamike]

Here is his new home.

 

[Alaskamike]

He is sitting in entrance to the tunnel.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

He is sitting in entrance to the tunnel. View attachment 214118

Hello, Tiny.
You seem to like your new house.
I do too.
Fancy a swap ?

 

[Big Charlie]

He is sitting in entrance to the tunnel. View attachment 214118

I agree that it is nice for them to have a burrow. I wish Charlie would dig one again. This is his second summer without one, and I have to keep dousing him with water to make sure he isn't getting too hot.

 

[Alaskamike]

Seems like I always get pics of Tiny now covered in sand from his tunnel.

I'll have to wash him off and get a proper portrait soon

 

[Alaskamike]

Got a few pics that show the improvement to pyramiding since I got Tiny.
He is now 17 lbs.
shows change over time. But the middle humps in each Shute will always be there.

 

[Alaskamike]

If you go to page one , you can see what he started with.

Here he is with Natty.
She is fascinated with my torts.

 

[Alaskamike]

Getting a bath.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

The person to the top right of the photo could do with a Gerber carrot baby food bath immediately! !

 

[Yvonne G]

Natty's awfully cute!

 

[Alaskamike]

View attachment 216203 Tiny out in grazing area today.
Have an area fenced off with thick ground cover. He eats out there a could hours a day.

 

[Alaskamike]

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Try again.

 

[Alaskamike]

I am so pleased with the shell improvement of Tiny. I think if it continues it will only be noticeable , certainly not pronounced.

He is dirty here , always covered with sand coming out of his cave , but good & healthy !

 

[Alaskamike]

19lbs today. Still going deep into his tunnel nightly. But this coming weekend supposed to get down to 50f at night.

Time to block off tunnel & put in heated night box.
His usual sand covered self

 

[Alaskamike]

Wanted to show the difference in Tiny over time.
This first photo is now , 3 yrs after adoption at 19lbs.

The bottom is Tiny the day I adopted him at 2.3 lbs. I think it’s clear the improvement in the pyramiding. But it will never fully go away at that time the flares over his front legs were rubbing & cutting into his skin. I took a file to them. He hasn’t had that problem in a long time. He was also prone to eye infections , about every 4 mos seemed I was treating him with ophthalmology cream.

That hasn’t reoccurred in over a year.

 

[Fredkas]

Good job!!!