Delayed update- Introducing my new "baby"!
Many of you are my friends on Facebook, so you probably know all this. But I'm just SO EXCITED that I can't stop bragging, so you'll have to deal with it. ;-)
I HAVE A TORTOISE!!!!!!!! Finally, I have a tortoise! It's not quite on the same level as if I could have, say, a SEA TURTLE, but still. He is so adorable! Just the cutest little thing EVER. He is a redfooted tortoise and his name is Tortolla.
I've had him a little over a week now. We got him at Petco, which would NOT have been my first choice. I'd have preferred to rescue. But, as someone pointed out to me, pet stores don't take the greatest care of their reptiles, so in a way I did. I could go on and on, but instead I'll just love my tortoise and forget any guilt.
These first two photos were taken the night we brought him home. Josh went to his friend's house to get the tank Justin said he'd give us. The chick at Petco warned us he would probably poo all over the place, so I didn't want him on the carpet, and I wanted him in a room where I could keep him shut away from Alex and Siliga. Plus, I didn't want to keep him in the little box he was sent home in. So I let him roam on the table until his tank was ready. For now he's in a 55 gallon tank, which is almost too small. If he gets much bigger he won't be able to get around. But Josh used our points from our debit cards to get a $100 Lowe's gift card, and he's going to build Tortolla a nice big tortoise table.
He's so silly, wearing his lunch on his face. He's very picky too. If his lunch sits in his tank for too long, he won't touch it. Then when I give him fresh food he attacks it. He's so cute when he eats. He stomps over and holds his dish down, then snaps at his food when he noms it, like his veggies are going to up and run away if he doesn't show them who is boss. :-P
This is by far my favorite picture of him. Partly because it's so clear and bright, and partly because he looks like a happy tortoise. Since Josh made a big deal about it being MY tortoise and MY responsibility *what am I, 6?* I'm the one that always feeds him, cleans the tank, and keeps his water fresh. So I think he recognizes me as "mom". Every time I walk into the room, he comes to the glass. If I sit near the tank, he comes to the end nearest me and chills. The morning I got his pic, I was walking back and forth getting ready for the Renaissance Festival, I think. At any rate, I was back and forth through the living room, and every time I walked through, he was heading into his water dish. Then he'd see me and turn around, but then I'd be gone. He finally settled in his dish, and I decided to take a picture. But of course, he saw me and started to get out. I love it though. He looks like, "Hi Mom!"
He likes his head to be petted, too. He stretches his neck out and closes his eyes, with that "happy basking" look they get. It's very cute. Josh is going to build him a little playpen too, kind of like this ZooMed one:
That one is kind of expensive, so he figures it will be cheaper to buy the supplies and make it EXACTLY how we want it. Then I can let Tortolla come outside with me without worrying about him getting into trouble.
I'm ridiculously over the moon about this little tortoise. I had to work the day after we bought him and I was so excited all day. My boss thought I was insane because "it's just a tortoise." Some people just don't understand the cuteness of turtles and tortoises.
I HAVE A TORTOISE!!!!!!!! Finally, I have a tortoise! It's not quite on the same level as if I could have, say, a SEA TURTLE, but still. He is so adorable! Just the cutest little thing EVER. He is a redfooted tortoise and his name is Tortolla.
I've had him a little over a week now. We got him at Petco, which would NOT have been my first choice. I'd have preferred to rescue. But, as someone pointed out to me, pet stores don't take the greatest care of their reptiles, so in a way I did. I could go on and on, but instead I'll just love my tortoise and forget any guilt.
These first two photos were taken the night we brought him home. Josh went to his friend's house to get the tank Justin said he'd give us. The chick at Petco warned us he would probably poo all over the place, so I didn't want him on the carpet, and I wanted him in a room where I could keep him shut away from Alex and Siliga. Plus, I didn't want to keep him in the little box he was sent home in. So I let him roam on the table until his tank was ready. For now he's in a 55 gallon tank, which is almost too small. If he gets much bigger he won't be able to get around. But Josh used our points from our debit cards to get a $100 Lowe's gift card, and he's going to build Tortolla a nice big tortoise table.
He's so silly, wearing his lunch on his face. He's very picky too. If his lunch sits in his tank for too long, he won't touch it. Then when I give him fresh food he attacks it. He's so cute when he eats. He stomps over and holds his dish down, then snaps at his food when he noms it, like his veggies are going to up and run away if he doesn't show them who is boss. :-P
This is by far my favorite picture of him. Partly because it's so clear and bright, and partly because he looks like a happy tortoise. Since Josh made a big deal about it being MY tortoise and MY responsibility *what am I, 6?* I'm the one that always feeds him, cleans the tank, and keeps his water fresh. So I think he recognizes me as "mom". Every time I walk into the room, he comes to the glass. If I sit near the tank, he comes to the end nearest me and chills. The morning I got his pic, I was walking back and forth getting ready for the Renaissance Festival, I think. At any rate, I was back and forth through the living room, and every time I walked through, he was heading into his water dish. Then he'd see me and turn around, but then I'd be gone. He finally settled in his dish, and I decided to take a picture. But of course, he saw me and started to get out. I love it though. He looks like, "Hi Mom!"
He likes his head to be petted, too. He stretches his neck out and closes his eyes, with that "happy basking" look they get. It's very cute. Josh is going to build him a little playpen too, kind of like this ZooMed one:
That one is kind of expensive, so he figures it will be cheaper to buy the supplies and make it EXACTLY how we want it. Then I can let Tortolla come outside with me without worrying about him getting into trouble.
I'm ridiculously over the moon about this little tortoise. I had to work the day after we bought him and I was so excited all day. My boss thought I was insane because "it's just a tortoise." Some people just don't understand the cuteness of turtles and tortoises.