O lord didn't think about that. She's calm in her enclosure just doing things she didn't before. Like lifting her front legs to try and climb. When she is on flat ground her walk is 1 1/2 times faster.
Could it be that she is very confused about what has happened - suddenly she feels quite different, and she doesn't know why? It might be a bit scary for her! Is she eating ok ?
She has calmed down alot. Maybe it was the device. Kinda like the rider on a bull, her being the bull. She is eating better to be honest. I use mazuri pellets and count everyday how many pellets per tort. It is easy for me to keep track of their intake as well as not waste food. Some days they eat most and some just a little. Jo Jo has increased her intake. She was on a good day at 8 pellets but most days 4-6. I noticed the day after she ate all 8 pellets, the next 10, she is grazing on natural stuff as well. The image that keeps popping up is when Forest Gump starts running as a child for the first time. Jo Jo wanted to move and I don't know if it was scared or just pain free.
I think that the experience of my wife and I flipping her over and all the other stuff involved was different for her. Meaning it was the first "bad" experience she had with us, all other was comforting or caring experiences. So she's not as receptive but just yesterday she was lifting her head and looking right at my wife. My hope is this is a sign of her coming back around to realizing were only here to help. Her eye is the same, we continue with the mineral oil and vaseline to cover it.
You are a Truly Sweet person. I've got some good news for you ... Yesterday when Jo Jo was in her outdoor pen I walked up to check on her. When I looked down at her she tilted her head to the right, so she could look at me with the left eye. It was a Beautiful moment, It almost brought me to tears. To watch her looking at me with the "Bad" eye was a great feeling. I just couldn't wait to tell you.
We do have Predatory Birds so the large leaved plant is a great idea. Consider it done, not yet in the spring. My best friend and neighbor passed a little over a year ago, Scott Macabe. The last week we have had a Peregrine Falcon on our property. My wife SWEARS it's Scott. It (when noticed) will fly to his property then fly/follow us to our new property. I also worry about the Crows or Ravens, they are very large here.
I don't know if they're the CHIEF killer of small tortoises, but crows and ravens kill many, many young tortoises in the desert. It's wise to watch for them and chase them away. Make it uncomfortable to come to your property.
I get what you mean about pushing on Jo Jo's eye - and how important it is to protect it. But knowing that she can actually use it - and is possibly getting better at doing so, is a great incentive, isn't it ! I really do admire Jo Jo - after all she has been through, to make so much progress is amazing. I wonder if there is an eyelid there, but sort of squashed under her eyeball, which might become unstuck in time ? I don't know anything about stuff like that - did the vet say anything ?
Thank You for the conformation, Had a feeling but didn't know it was such a big thing. These Crows are big, the kids call them Pterodactyls. Absolutely no more outside unless someone is there or in a enclosed area with bird netting. Tomorrow the chicken pen is getting covered with it, looks like we are getting more.
The Dr. was not sure about an eye lid, but did say it was not something she could do. She could give a referral to a vet that does eye surgery's, but not a tortoise necessarily. Maybe we'll go to the Dr. recommended here Dr. Boyer in San Diego. Coating her eye a couple times a day is well worth it. Today i made my own version of artificial tears, Mineral Oil mixed with Vaseline and it works great.
Here's a picture of her eye. This little "Glob" of stuff on her eye appears every morning, but comes off easily once soaked. She has calmed down alot leaving me to believe you all were right. She did not like the support device. Kinda kicking myself for not thinking of that. I just ran with "o she's in less pain so she's moving more." She still does walk faster than before but alot less urgency in it I guess. The Orchid bark is not good for a substrate right now. It continues to get stuck in her supports, so today I had no choice but use sand. I do not feed her in that enclosure so I'm thinking it will be ok. On a funnier not ... she loves her chin to be rubbed, lightly and slow. There are little things like this that give me confidence that she is not scared or intimidated by the constant handling. The color coming back to that area of her face is a plus as well. It's starting to look more like a tort face, instead of a burn patient. I feel real lucky that there is Mazuri to add to her diet. We have seen big growth since using the Mazuri with our other torts. It makes me feel good to that her diet is "Well Balanced" and she isn't lacking any of the vital nutrients she needs. This has to be a big help for her healing Plastron.
You are right ... I ditched the sand for the irritating reason. We went with a dish strainer mat, one of those that dries easily. Jo Jo is enjoying the new Tortoise (and 2 turtles) Room. I have found that she REALLY enjoy's herself at 85-90 degrees. Once her body temp gets warmer than 92 she constantly try's to get out of her enclosure. At 88 ish she just sticks out her legs and and soaks up the heat. I'm trying to get a pic of her in that position. She has been grazing (but only with me next to here) freely and enjoying this last bit of warm weather. We're in for a week of rain in the next couple days. Good call Angie on the sand.
