Turtle Tricks

Outside when it is sunny and warm and inside when it is cool and cloudy -- such is the life of Frankie.

The other day, when it was cool and cloudy, Frankie had fun pushing the box turtles (in their plastic enclosure) around the room. The box turtles are unharmed as Frankie cannot get inside the container, but it doesn't keep him from pushing them around occasionally. To avoid this, I put a piece of newspaper over the box turtle's enclosure and Frankie cannot see them. If he cannot see them, he doesn't bother with them.

The little boy box turtle, Bama, got out of his enclosure and found his way into Frankie's heated night pad. Frankie must have found him and chased him behind the toilet (which is near Frankie's night pad). I found Frankie sitting under the front of the toilet, first thing in the morning when I came in to water the gecko. That is when I discover Bama under the back of the toilet, avoiding Frankie's overly friendly greetings.

Sometimes, Bama and Frankie get along great. I have found them sitting quietly together, no aggression at all. Still, I can't always trust Frankie. Bama weights less than a half-a-pound. Frankie weights in over 35 pounds.

New Year's Greetings

Happy New Years to All, geckos and turtles alike.

Frankie is okay. The next day, after sleeping 24 hours, he was awake and ready for the day when I went downstairs in the morning to water the geckos. He ate a good breakfast, walked around the room and just acted like a good tortoise should. Today, he got out for only an hour before the sun went behind clouds and temperatures dropped to the 40's F.

Sleeping In

It is Saturday and apparently all are choosing to sleep in. I got up at 9:00. Greg didn't get up until 11:00. Frankie the sulcata (three years going on four) was really sleeping in. I checked him periodically all day and still he did not get out of his box. He didn't even turn around from his "head against the wall" sleeping position. At 3:00 pm, I wondered if something was wrong.

I went and poked him gently on his back foot and there was just a little response. I decided that I better turn him around and see if anything was wrong. I did get him to turn around (no cooperation from him) and sat him on his heat pad. He was sleepy but seemed okay. I went back at 3:45 and he was snoozing. Was there something wrong? I was fearing that Frankie had eaten something he shouldn't and was lethargic. I decided to try a food test.

I cut up 1/2 of an apple and offered it to him. To my relief, he got up and ate it. It is now 4:15 p.m. which is past Frankie's normal bedtime. After sleeping all day will he just go back to sleep or stay up for a while? I water the geckos at 5:00 pm so I can check again on him. I am a bit worried still. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring back his old spirit and he will be charging about the gecko room, knocking things over.