OliveW
Well-Known Member
Tortimer has been a member of our family 3 weeks today. He's not a beautiful little baby star, he's a very bumpy rough looking big dude, but we couldn't love him any more than we do! He is perfect for us!
Anyway, he has gained exactly half a pound in this short time. I was so shocked that I weighed him three times. He was 5.2 lbs when we got him, he is 5.7 lbs now. His shell is still exactly 10". Same scale, and I waited until after he pooped to weigh him today. He usually poops during his walks or in his soak. Today, it was on his walk because he found a bunch of our little pea sized grapes that blew down in a storm, and was gobbling them up before I could move him. He's quite smart, he knew I would move him from that area quickly. He got so excited that he pooped.
Tortimer spends a LOT of time walking. My husband is an early riser, and he is usually out of his burrow walking around his enclosure, so he takes him out and follows him around the property for an hour or so. I do the same every evening. I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I'll video tape it one day - Tortimer comes out of his burrow for me. I call him like I do the cats, with "Kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty." and he comes out. 😂
My question is, can I wash his shell in any way? He is a mega burrow digger, and always looks rough and dirty. I'm going to use a gentle nail brush on it today, while he's in his soak, with just water. If there is more I can do to help his shell, please let me know.