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Turtle Feast!

lauram

By lauram

10 comments


Large turtles eat large amounts of food, and sometimes that takes a big chunk out of one’s income. I have about 100 turtles and tortoises. Years ago I worked for a non-profit turtle conservation group, and when we ran out of money and had to close, I took a bunch of the animals who couldn’t be placed elsewhere. I’m beginning to understand why we ran out of money. Feeding them is expensive. I had a deal with one of the local grocery stores for several years; they gave me all their overripe and wilted produce. But when the economy soured last year, that stopped.
So the other night I posted on Freecycle, asking for any unwanted fruits and veggies. A wonderful woman named Teresa responded. I visited her home and her beautiful garden this morning and returned home with bags of apples, pears, tomatoes and cucumbers. Here are some photos of the tortoises enjoying their feast!

These are Burmese brown tortoises. The largest is about 55 pounds. Ond, a 40 pound female, laid about 35 eggs on June 3 and they should begin hatching this month.

Redfoot tortoises are always ready to eat. They especially like tomatoes.

The elongated tortoise is an endangered species from Asia. This group produced one hatchling last year. They’ve had other eggs but none have hatched.

More blog posts by lauram

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Next post: Please send good thoughts to my Tiger!



Comments

 

wow plz swop place's

3 Aug, 2010

 

Oh they are beautiful. I'm so glad you found food for them. I'm sure if u keep that post going you might find a lot more. Maybe take picture of them and pay a visit to the stores in your area.

3 Aug, 2010

 

good on you,wish i was near

3 Aug, 2010

 

Incredible creatures aren't they, don't see them in England though. Good luck with them all!

3 Aug, 2010

 

Wow they're lovely, bet they do cost a fortune to feed, lucky things having someone like you to look after them, wish I was nearer too, the allotment has far more veg than we can eat at the moment.

3 Aug, 2010

 

Wow, what a lot of hungry mouths to feed. I only have 3 tortoises and I know how much it costs to feed them. I hope you find more kind suppliers for your 'gang'. Good luck.

4 Aug, 2010

 

Gorgeous Lauram, lucky you having so many of those lovely creatures, we only have one now, a female who has never laid an egg in her life, we have had her over 40 years, my wife and children always hoped we might have some babies but no luck. They certainly look hungry, ours is always ravenous in hot weather. Do you hibernate them all? that would be quite a big job.

4 Aug, 2010

 

Doctorbob: These don't hibernate. Most of mine are tropical species so I only have a few hibernators, thankfully. Those I leave outside in the winter as long as possible & then put them in a cold room for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, our winters are so damp here that fully hibernating them outdoors is impossible, but they do stay in their doghouses well into December & then generally they have to be brought in when the heavy rains start.
40 years is a long time! Have you had her from a hatchling?

5 Aug, 2010

 

Well Lauram, that makes things slightly easier for you. No, she was fully grown when I bought her, so must be quite elderly by now. She is still full of energy and has a terrific appetite, we have had to give her her own little area as over the years she has escaped a number of times, she will get out of almost anywhere, she once went missing for a week and was then found by the daughter of the house a little way away right on the edge of their swimmimg pool. A relative gave us a male tortoise as a companion for her about 38 years ago, he chased her all the time but she would have none of him, he died sadly about 25 years ago, probably from frustration. LOL.

5 Aug, 2010

 

My oldest is about 35. I've only had her for 5 years. We know her exact age because she'd been purchased as a hatchling. Some of the others may very well be older, but in many cases we don't know where they came from or even when they were brought into this country.

5 Aug, 2010

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