Malti’s eyes often look black, especially when she is sitting in the sun. It took a long time to realize her eyes are actually brown! But it didn’t take me nearly so long to learn that her eyes work really well. For example, she can see in the ultraviolet light spectrum, just like her parrotContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Eyesight”
Tag Archives: tortoise
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Repurposing
I grew up with parrots. They are small and quick and LOUD. I also cared for a group of rescued water turtles as a child – they weren’t loud, but they were also small and quick. Malti is just the opposite. Malti is large and slow and very, very quiet. Or, she is quiet whenContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Repurposing”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Basking
Malti hails from South America. Redfooted tortoises are native to the country, and they can be found in diverse habitats, including grasslands and deep, lush forests. The forest redfoots don’t see a lot of direct sunshine. This is both because they are under so much greenery, from giant trees to bushes and ground-hugging vegetation, andContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Basking”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: New Things
I can’t remember where I read it, but early on in my journey to learn how to become a tortoise mama, I read somewhere that tortoises don’t like it when you change their environment. Unfortunately, I moved a lot the first couple of years Malti was with me (she is turning three and a halfContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: New Things”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Furred Beings
Here at Casa Feathers n Beak n Shells, we have always had quite a diverse little flock. There is Pearl, of course, our 18-year-old “alpha” flock leader. Then there is Malti, and Bruce, of course. And then there is Flash Gordon, our two-year-old standard wire-haired dachshund. There is me, the large featherless, shell-less assistant. AndContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Furred Beings”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Interior Design
As mama and official “enrichment coordinator” to two small shells, I take habitat decor quite seriously indeed. This past winter, both Malti’s and Bruce’s habitats were completely wiped out. Between the rain and the snow (sleet really, but still) and the freezes, each habitat was a total mud ball by the time some warmer daysContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Interior Design”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Going IN
I’ve shared in previous posts here how Malti has a thing for fences. If she sees a fence, she wants to go OUT. From the time she was a tiny tort (something she definitely isn’t anymore!), she has had a “zero tolerance” policy for confinement. Even if the fence is totally open-ended – like moreContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Going IN”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Treats
It took me awhile to figure out that Malti didn’t find everything equally tasty. Pretty much from day one she was what tortoise breeders like to call an “enthusiastic eater.” Tortoises in the wild are opportunistic feeders, which means they will eat – overeat even – when they find something really good. This is becauseContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Treats”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Adventure
I’ve always been worried about tortoise enrichment. Before I became Malti’s mommy, my only other experience caring for reptiles was from when I had five water turtles as a girl. Those active little shells swam and congregated, basked and splashed, staying active for most of the day, every day. Malti was quite different. Her favoriteContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Adventure”
Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Tortoise and Hare
Some shelled beings are very fast and energetic. Take Malti’s box turtle brother, Bruce, for example. Blink and you’ll miss him. He is light and agile and flexible – practically anything I’ve ever tried to put him into, he climbs right out of. If Bruce and Malti had a “tortoise and hare” race, Bruce wouldContinueContinue reading “Malti Explains Redfoot Tortoises: Tortoise and Hare”
Love & Feathers & Shells 