Spot the baby tortoise!

Tortoises instinctively dig down at night and hide uder things. It helps them regulate their temperature and keeps them safe. Vida my new hatchling Hermanns tortoise knew exactly what she should do from the moment she hatched. Hunting for little one's always makes me smile. I thought it might make you smile too. Can you spot Vida as she began to surface this morning?

 

 

 

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Quick... One more post before the end of the year!

So so sorry it has been so so long.  It seems that things don't go to plan and then I am scuppered to know what to write and then I leave it a little to long and then I lose confidence in what I should or can write.  Silly I know, but hey ho.

So the tortoises... well five hatched and the suspicious looking twin like egg did not.  This was relief in many ways as I was very nervous about performing open egg surgery to separate them, but after a further 8 weeks  I became concerned over what to do with the egg.  I didn't want to just throw it away in case there was still some form of life in it.  I didn't want to crack it open as Mother Nature had obviously decided that hatching was not a good idea.  Eventually after much discussion and deliberation, I said goodbye to the egg and then wrapped it up and placed it in the freezer.  If there was some kind of life still living, it would go to sleep and then slowly stop.  Sorry I didn't post about it a bit sooner, the heart seems to get in the way of writing in a rational manner.  I wasn't sad, more nervous or apprehensive and disappointed, because over the early weeks there had been lots of movement in the little egg and life had definitely begun to form.

The five hatchlings are doing really really well.  These pictures were taken by their Aunty Claris when they visited her whilst I was on Brownie pack holiday, getting little to know sleep!

As you can see from the first picture, I marked each hatchling with a different colour dot of nail varnish, this was to identify each one.  I was keen not to name them because I had decided that I would not be keeping any of them this year and I didn't want to become to attached.  Purple and Pink marks moved out just over a week ago.  A work college has bought them and I am delighted as I will still have news of them.  This is the first year I have sold my hatchlings and it is hard but so far not as hard as I thought!

News from the Incubator

Well I promised I would update you on the tortoise eggs and it seems that the update is very much wanted, thank you for the lovely comments and it feels lovely to know that other people are sharing in my excitement.  As you know I was shocked to discover that all six eggs were fertile, this has never happened before.  The good news is that all six eggs have continued to develop and they should be ready to hatch in about ten days time. 

 

I am afraid the above picture is very grainy, but you can see the shadow at the bottom of the egg, but this is no ordinary shadow it is a baby tortoise.  The eggs is just a bit smaller than a golf ball and the tortoise is now about the size of a two pence piece.  All of the eggs look similar to this one, with the exception of one...

The tortoise is this egg looks very small, smaller than a peanut. Round the other side of the same egg, (which I struggled to photograph as you must not move a tortoise egg) there is a much bigger tortoise shaped splodge and I think this egg is a twin tortoise egg.  I have never had an egg containing twins before and I have to say I am very worried about it.  Generally twin tortoises is not good, they need to be separated as they share a yolk.  I think it is clear that one of these tortoises has not developed properly and the chances of survival are therefor minimal.  I have to admit to feeling very apprehensive.  Not long to go now.

I hope the bank holiday has been enjoyable for all.

 

Tortoise Season

Hellooooo!  Any one still there?  I wouldn't be surprised if you have all given up and gone on your way, it has been a long long time.  I am truly sorry about that but life is proving very hectic and difficult to maintain, let alone the blog and all the added extras in life.  The truth is that at this very moment I am supposed to be writing a dissertation and I have very little time left, but I have some news I am just desperate to share with you!

As the title says, it is now Tortoise season for me.  They are all very busy and active and needing lots of food.  I generally forage or grow food for them, feeding mainly wild plants and flowers, otherwise known as weeds.  The Maggie dog loves accompanying me on food foraging walks so it is a win win situation.  On Tuesday the tortoise season really ramped up when I popped home from work for lunch and discovered Persephone laying eggs!

Persephone my whitiei Tortoise laying eggs

She was very kind, to wait until my lunch break because she is such a brilliant Mum, she re-covers and hides her eggs so that I would never find them if I hadn't seen her laying them.

Six Tortoise eggs

Six eggs were laid in total and they are now in an incubator at 32 degrees Celsius.  The sex of potential tortoises is dictated by the incubation temperature.  With my species: at 28 to 30 degrees males are most likely. 30 to 31.5 degrees is likely to produce males and females and 32 degrees is likely to produce females.  

I hope one or two of the eggs will be fertile.  Last year she laid two eggs and one was fertile.  The year before she laid eight and two were fertile.  Time will tell how many are fertile this year, normally within five days you can see by candling the egg.

Candling an egg is easy, I simply shine a small light onto the egg.  At the moment they all look clear, but lets just see if any change by the weekend... fingers crossed.

Testing, testing 123

I thought I would write a quick test post to see if I really can do it from my iPhone and so see how the finished product looks. So here goes, some simple makeover photos of the Maggie dog following her visit to the beauty parlour yesterday for her spring clean!
Before.....


After...


Her undercoat is strawberry blonde!! I know she looks a little bald at the moment, but in a few weeks her scruffy bits begin to show through again!



Thanks for your time. I am off to see what this looks like on a 'proper' computer.
X

Tortoise talk and so on....

Thank you far the appreciation of the baby tortoises bathing.  They are in deed my pride and joy! The tortoise is the first picture is Talullah.  She was the first tortoise to move in with me and she is still here.
 Penny asked if the babies hibernate and the answer is yes and no.  They could hibernate at this young age, but so far I haven't had the courage to do it.  I wondered if perhaps you would indulge me in a few more torty pics and talk!  Its the next best this to having them out of hibernation!  I thought you might like to see the very beginning of my babies lives.  Well, not quite the beginning, I might just blush showing you pictures of both Mummy and Daddy having their moment together!! But then Mum (Persephone) laid her eggs, she buries them brilliantly and so if I don't catch her in the act, I miss the opportunity to incubate them as I would never find them and they would never hatch in the UK climate!

The eggs were incubated and after 68 days...

They hatched.  The next pic show the belly, where the yolk is absorbed, if you are squeamish scroll past it quickly!  But its not too bad!!

This is where the yolk is absorbed and this is crucial.  If the tortoise ruptures the yolk when hatching it is likely to be fatal.  The yolk provides all the initial nutrients needed and as a result it can be a few days before a tortoise hatchling needs to eat.  Once it does start eating they eat the same foods as an adult tortoise. Within a few days the area where the yolk was absorbed seals over and becomes shell.

This is Adah, my first ever hatchling.  Her name means beautiful addition, I think it's an apt name!

Any way onwards.  I finished the gift cushion mentioned in my previous post just in time. Well actually I was a half hour late for my class frantically trying to finish it off, but I think it was worth it and I think it was gratefully received!

 Good night one and all!

Missing My Babies (tortoise) and a Thank you Cushion for a Special Friend

Afternoon all!  How are you finding your Sunday afternoons?  Mine? Well not bad thank you for asking!! LOL

The weather is a wee bit unusual at the moment with blustery yet warmish days feeling more autumnal than wintery.  I am hoping that this weather will continue and that Spring will spring out sooner than spring has sprung in the past!  Although maybe this wish might be a little foolish as overall our climate really ought not to be changing quite so quickly.

Spring for me means Tortoises, lots of them, waking from hibernation, munching mounds of weeds and doing the spring time stomp around my garden. I can not tell you how much I am looking forward to that!  It seems too long ago now that they all went into hibernation.  Poor old Astrid with her snotty nose has kept me busy, but I think she has had enough of being cooped up indoors too.  Then there are the babies, they are all up and doing well, but I am sure they would prefer the spring time sunshine too!

From left to right we have Adah, Alba and Bronte.  Adah and Alba were 2008 babies, Bronte, 2009.  As you can see they are taking a little bath, which they do every day.  Water is very important to tortoises, you can see Alba in the middle is having a little drink.  Yet pet shops often tell prospective new owners that they don't need water as they get enough liquid in their food!  As you can see that is rubbish!  Many tortoise owners that I know of,  regularly fall out with local pet shops over the  awful husbandry advice they give out.  Its seems many pet shops suggest expensive glass tanks and all sorts of rubbish commercial foods when actually they are more harmful than helpful!  Sorry, rant over!!

   

As you can see this little WIP is going to be a Granny's Garden Cushion by the Royal Sisters.This is the second full cushion I have made in this pattern and I have also made an "in the style of" cushion which I will show another time.  It's a great little pattern, easy to follow and very rewarding.  But this cushions is a special thank you cushion.  A lady I  knew to chat to some years ago through work, turned up at the same quilting group as me.  We started chatting again and then the other day she gave me walking foot for my sewing machine, explaining she never got on with a walking foot and now she is having a new machine.  Now a walking foot is not cheap and she would not accept any money, so I thought a thank you cushion was in order.  It needs to be done by Wednesday, I best get hooking!  X

Let Sleeping Tortoises Lie

Could it be the clocks changing that is causing my tiredness?  I really don't know, but I think what ever it is, my  little ones are feeling it too!  They are sparked out under their heat lamp after a large meal and I feel rather jealous.  The littlest three were bred by me.  The slightly bumpy larger one is Phlox.  Apparently she is nine years old, but growing extremely slowly! If I tell you the largest of the other three is only a year old, you can understand what I mean.  I actually bought her from another breeder as I was concerned about her health.  I know they say you shouldn't do such daft things, but I am glad I did as she was very under weight for her size and dehydrated.  I have had her for two years now and she is much healthier and her new growth is smooth and steady.
Right I am going to give in to the call of sleep.  Goodnight one and all!

Tiny Tortoises, Textiles and Tantalising treats!

Evening all!  I have to say I am really enjoying this blogging malarkey!  I have found myself looking for loveliness to share with you and this has really helped me to notice the littlest lovely things as well as the large.  I feel I really need to say thanks for all the lovely comments, they are really encouraging.

Now I know we have already played hunt the tortoise recently, but please just humour me for a minute.  Often when I get up in the morning this is how I find Bronte, my little hatchling in her enclosure.  Can you see the tiny tortoise?  She is there, honest!

Found her?  Her little nose is sticking out and her eye is open, right in the middle of the pic.

Anyway,once I have turned her lamp on, she then emerges fully to bask, like this...

This morning, Bronte, was awake and waiting for me!  I have never had a hatchling climb quite like this before...

She has certainly found her feet.  From the day she hatched I said she was a feisty one, after she climbed out of the little tray I always bathe hatching's in for the first few months!
On with proceedings... Progress on the hexagon blanket is speedier than expected due to enforced house arrest at the end of last week and over some of the weekend.  I am up to 97 hexies now, I intend to make 150 so I am getting there.  The hexies were more than happy to pose in front of the window for a photograph! You can see why I made these colour choices.

Work has been a little tricky over the last few days and with the previous poorliness I knew I had to go shopping after work this evening.  I was not in the mood.  I always find that the best way to manage this is to treat myself and go to Waitrose.  It's always much quieter and peaceful and there are never any queues.  It is more expensive and so I just get the vital bits and maybe one treat.  Can you guess what treat I bought?

Oh Yes!  The cutest of cute cupcakes!!!!

I am popping round to a friends for a cuppa in a bit, I think she might enjoy this treat too!

Ooh before I finish, I want to add one more photo.  It is for Penelope, who mentioned that she loved Heidi because she is a survivor.  Thank you that was a lovely comment.  I have friends who can't bare to look at her!  She has a great personality and is simply lovely.  This picture is her in the bath this evening.  Tortoises need very regular bathing before they hibernate as they need to be well hydrated.

Hibernation Hide and Seek!

Over the last few days the rain has been falling pretty much constantly here.  Hibernation time is getting ever closer and the tortoises sense it.  Obviously tortoises are not designed to live in the UK and so they need a little help.  My lot have heated huts and at night I always like to check they are safely tucked up.  I normally pop down the garden at dusk and do a head count in the huts.  The Hermanns tortoises are really good at getting themselves in and I rarely have to hunt about for them, but the big old Spur thighs are less reliable, although once I know who is missing, I know them well and I know where to look, so its not too difficult. 

Thursday night the plan some how went a little wrong.  I went to the Theatre and didn't get back until 11pm.  I popped down with my torch just for peace of mind as it was cold and raining.  All the spur thighs were tucked up, but when I checked the 'relliable' Hermanns, there was one missing.  Iris my smallest at just 400g had gone AWOL.  I set too in the rain hunting round with my torch , scared I would stand on her in the dark, but she was no where to be seen.  After about twenty minutes I decided that I would have to trust that her instincts were strong and that she had dug down in the ground for the night.

On Friday I got up early to look in the rain, I came home frome work at lunch time to search and had to change before retuning to work, I was so wet!  Last night, again in the rain I hunted, but Iris was well and truly hidden. 

Thank God for the Sunshine this morning.  I collected all the other Hermanns tortoises up and put them in the bath for a soak ( don't worry it's good for them).  Maggie the dog, went into hiding under the arm chair, thinking the bath might be running for her.  I didn't dare tell her that I had worse than that planned for her today... a wash, cut and blow dry at the poodle parlour!!

With all other Shelled beings safely out of the way and armed with my plastic trowel, the forensic style scour of the land began.  Can you see a tortoise?

Thankfully, the sunshine had done it's trick and Iris was on the way up from her underground shelter and so much easier to find.  She had strayed to an out of bounds area, by digging under a little fence I had made.  The weather had probably truned mean and cold and Iris didn't have enough energy to get back to the hut.  Thankkfully her instincts are good and she had dug down.  I am actually over the moon that she did this as she spent the first three years of life in an artificial glass tank environment before coming to me and I wondered if she still had tortoise style abilities.

She sat in my sink to be cleaned... Yuck!

Before heading back out with her mates.

Iris is the one at the bottom of the picture!

Introducing the Tortoises

As this blog is named after my Urban Tortoises I think it is time to introduce them, particularly as very soon they will have dissappeared into hibernation for the winter.  I don't want to bore non tort people so I will try and keep it brief, whilst explaining why I like them.

Despite tortoises being fascinating to watch, I also enjoy the care side of things.  I try to give them a nautrual diet of weeds, plants and flowers.  I forage for these, normally whilst walking the dog.  Last week the dog and I went for a wonder and came home with three carrier bags of foraged goods! There was a bag of tortoise food, a smaller bag of blackberries and then some apples too!  This is a photo I took a few weeks ago of the tortoise food I picked one morning.  Beautiful, don't you think?

I keep two groups of torotises, a breeding pair of Algerian spur thigh tortoises and three of their babies and a group of young Hermanns tortoises aged between four and twelve, in years to come I hope these might breed too.

I also have some recuse tortoises, I will introduce them on another occassion.