The word “tropical” can mean very different things to different species. To the large shell-less beings, the tropics frequently conjures up images of pina coladas and suntan lotion. But if you have a shell on your back and hail from a tropical location, there is just one thing that comes to mind when you thinkContinueContinue reading “Day 173: When It Rains, the Tortoise Wallows”
Tag Archives: tortoise care
Day 170: Slow, Slower, Slowest
It is no secret the large shell-less beings view beings with shells as not very speedy. But when you have your own specific place and part to play in the greater “food chain o’ life,” speed is a relative term. In other words, you don’t need to be the fastest life form on the planetContinueContinue reading “Day 170: Slow, Slower, Slowest”
Day 167: Tortoise Explains How to (Not) Have Fun
Living with a large shell-less assistant can be interesting, to say the least. They have so many strange ideas. And they really don’t know how to have fun. For example, every so often your shell-less assistant schedules you for a shared activity she calls “visiting the v.e.t.” When you see this activity on the dailyContinueContinue reading “Day 167: Tortoise Explains How to (Not) Have Fun”
Day 164: Tortoise Is Chomposaurus
Everyone knows that young beings grow up fast. And by “grow up” we mean grow out….at least if the young being in question happens to have a shell on her back. In order to grow up, er, out, you need to eat. A lot. Here, it helps if you are born with a keen gustatoryContinueContinue reading “Day 164: Tortoise Is Chomposaurus”
Day 161: The Tortoise & the (Not So) Living Lettuce
If ever there was a proponent for the raw food diet, it would be the redfoot tortoise. The fresher it is, the better it tastes. If it is so fresh that your mommy literally just planted it for you, then you want to commence to chomping ASAP before anyone else discovers your stash. With anyContinueContinue reading “Day 161: The Tortoise & the (Not So) Living Lettuce”
Day 158: Tortoise Playground Escapades
All young beings love to play. Youth just seems to bring with it a natural curiosity and drive to explore, plus boundless enthusiasm and energy for both. This holds true regardless of species, which of course means that if you’ve been to the playground with one species, you’ve been to the playground with them all. InContinueContinue reading “Day 158: Tortoise Playground Escapades”
Day 155: The Littlest Tortoise Lawnmower
The large shell-less being here…. Having a tortoise in the flock is kind of like having a very specialized lawn mower. It mows alright, but not in the way you might expect. For example, it might leave whole stands of tall fresh grass waving in place and make a beeline for the pricey new sunflowerContinueContinue reading “Day 155: The Littlest Tortoise Lawnmower”
Day 152: Tortoise Is Young & Hungry
Being responsible for your own survival – shelter, snacks, the whole bit – means you have to be sharp straight out of the egg. In other words, if something tastes good and doesn’t kill you, it will probably make you stronger. So you really want to remember where you found it last so you canContinueContinue reading “Day 152: Tortoise Is Young & Hungry”
Day 149: A Tortoise and Her Mulch
If there is one thing that does not describe the red-footed tortoise, it is “gives up quickly.” Redfooted tortoises never give up. If at first you do not succeed, try again and again and again and again and again. If you do not succeed the first day (after trying all day long) then try againContinueContinue reading “Day 149: A Tortoise and Her Mulch”
Day 146: Total Tortugan (Dis)Comfort
I won’t lie. Even after spending five consecutive years together, there is so much about the inner life of a tortoise I will never understand. Say, for example, that you are out foraging vigorously on the lawn for off-limits edibles. After awhile, you get tuckered out from all that foraging. You look around to spotContinueContinue reading “Day 146: Total Tortugan (Dis)Comfort”
Love & Feathers & Shells 