RE: 🌴🌴🌴 My Weekly Travel Photo #24 🌴🌴🌴
Absolutely awesome. I love turtles. About 20 years ago, my wife and I inherited a desert turtle. According to the vet he's between 45-55 years old at this point. And, may live to 80 or 100 or even longer since he is in a protected environment.
Because of our climate, he goes into hibernation in October/November and usually comes out in late January or early February. This year, he awoke in December for 2 days and then went back to his den. He just came out yesterday, March 17. A long siesta for sure.
Here are a couple of pictures. This first one is where we put him in warm water so that he can drink and warm up.
This second one is where we are feeding him, just a little at first.
It always takes him a few days to get active. But when he is fully warmed up, he moves pretty fast.
Its been a long time since we weighted him, but he's probably between 20 and 25 lbs. A side note, my neighbor, about 5 houses up the street, had several large turtles. One was about 100 lbs. I know, but he/she got out one day and came for a visit. We had a hard time getting him back.
Thanks for sharing @hvr.
Thank you @guysellars for sharing the history and pictures of your turtle. With the very good care you are giving him he might well live to be 100! They are fascinating animals and lots of fun to watch. The species in my photo originates from Madagascar but was brought to the Seychelles by pirates where they are being kept in enclosures. They can indeed move quite fast despite their enormous size and weight. Wishing you lots of joy with your turtle...