Thanks for turles

Special treats all around for the turtles!

I got outside and picked weeds for Frankie and Mattie. The box turtles (none are hibernating this year) got superworms and crickets and fruit. Frankie is getting a bath so he can come upstairs and play around in the living room. Maybe by noon the temperature will be up enough for Frankie and Mattie to go outside for a while.

Happy Thanksgiving to five turtles and 246+ geckos.

Heated up

Frankie's house now has built in electrics. Greg wired electrics through our house (he drilled a hole in our garage), to Frankie's house and to a electrical outlet. Attached to the outlet is a thermostat that can be set to a specific temperature that will trigger the electricity to come on. Frankie's Kane Pig Blanket is plugged into the outlet. We have it set for 60ºF to come on.

There are some adjustments to make. We may have to add another heating pad. We still have to insulate the house. The set-up right now will do for a few more weeks.

Of course it was gonna happen

The cold front came in last night, and of course, the three out-door box turtles were above ground. I went out at 10:00 p.m. and found them under hay (only) freezing their little shells off. I brought them inside and tucked them into a large beach towel. This morning all three were happy and awake. No hint that they could have frosted thier little turtle noses off last night. I will soak them in water and leave them be for the rest of the day.

How is Frankie the sulcata? In the kitchen in a big box. I have to carry him outside when the temps reach 55º -- we have full sun outside so he is fine going outside today.

I really thought that by now the kitchen would be mine and mine alone, that the outdoor enclosure for Frankie would be in super shape and the box turtles would be six inches under ground for the winter. Instead the turtles are in my kitchen taking up 1/4 of the space -- not to mention the mess on the floor!

Actually, I am not all that angry - I got to sing the box turtle song and the Frankie song (yes, I sing to my turtles) all morning while enjoying my breakfast and working on the computer. What the heck, except for the feces, I love having my good friends around me.

One more happy note: Russ Gurley sent me his revised edition of "Sulcatas: African Spurred Tortoises in Captivity" yesterday. Frankie's babies pictures are inside on page 17 and 22. Everyone go look!