Galapagos, Aldabra, & Radiated Tortoises (DRAMA-FREE & LOTS OF PIX)

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gummybearpoop

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These are some old and new photos of Radiated, Galapagos, & Aldabra tortoises I have worked with.

This is me (6' tall) with over 1000 lbs of tortoise
1000tortoise.jpg


This one is 650 lbs! Supposedly imported into the states in 1901!
600male.jpg


3 juvenile galaps
3juvies.jpg


Female aldabra
200807lowdome.jpg


A lazy afternoon nap
alazyafternoon.jpg


A female aldabra
aldabrafemaleshadewallow.jpg


You see this more with aldabra females than males....shyness.
aldabrafemale.jpg


Elephantine feet...check.
aldabrafoot.jpg


650 lb. male aldabra with 200+/- female galap
aldabramaleandfemalegalap.jpg


Let me eat in peace!
aldabramalecarrot.jpg


aldabramaleface.jpg


The shells of large males end up getting baked because they will stay in the ponds for long periods of time...thus baking the shells in the hot arizona sun
aldabramales.jpg


Behavior enrichment is important for all tortoises
behaviorenrichmenttwo.jpg

behaviorenrichment.jpg


Show me a giant tortoise who doesn't love opuntia cacti pads
bigbite.jpg


CHARGE!!!
charge.jpg


Chow line
dinnertable.jpg


Even male aldabras get facials.
facial.jpg


Female galap being silly
galapfemalefoodonface.jpg


Female galap relaxing
galapfemale.jpg


In your face!
galapmaleface.jpg

inyourface.jpg


Chomp!
galapmalemouth.jpg

messyeater.jpg


Mudbath ain't just for the piggies
mudbath.jpg


muddywallows.jpg


Special Invite
peace.jpg


Who invited you?
whoinvitedyoutodinner.jpg


Peek A Boo
peekaboo.jpg


Female Galap
pumpkin.jpg


Male Aldabra
readyfordecapitation.jpg


Female Aldabra
readytorumble.jpg


The spa
spa.jpg


Spa buzzkill
spagone.jpg


The hangout spot
thehangoutspot.jpg


1.2 Aldabras
twofemalesandamale.jpg


Who ordered the stripper?
whoorderastripper.jpg


Just because we are over a century old, doesn't mean we can't get it on.
bw.jpg


Don't worry girl... a little drool ain't gonna hurtcha
alittedrooldoesnthurt.jpg


Even the big guys need some loving...
thebigguysneedlovingtoo.jpg


And sometimes guy get it wrong
gettingitwrong.jpg

gettingitwrong2.jpg


It may take several tries to get it right
gettingitwrong3.jpg


Patience pays off...or is it persistence?
gettingitwrongfullyright.jpg


We are anti-viagra....

On land
land.jpg


In mud
mud.jpg


In water
water.jpg


We are exhibitionists....so we don't mind a crowd
withacrowd.jpg


My chelonian passion
radiata.jpg

radiata_0221c.jpg

olderanimals.jpg

radiataDSCN3259.jpg

radiataDSCN3261.jpg

radiatae.jpg

radiataDSCN3368.jpg

radiataDSCN3289.jpg

radiataDSCN3280.jpg

radiataDSCN3277.jpg

radiataDSCN3266.jpg


This pic was inspired by Aldabraman's window view pic:
This is my view. Not as impressive, but makes me smile
radiataview.jpg
 

onarock

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Awesome!! Love those Radiata Norm, they are looking great. I would love to have some myself.
 

DocNezzy

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Such amazing pics. Thank you for sharing. Can't get over how nice the radiated looks!
 

kbaker

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Great pictures!!


Aldabraman-
Did you notice all the nuchal scutes?
 

Yvonne G

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Oh great! A drama-free zone! :p

Great pictures, as always, Norman! Thanks for sharing. I just love the feet on those giant tortoises.
 
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Scooter

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These are wonderful pictures, thanks so much for posting them! :)
 

DeanS

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I LOVE IT! Great shots! Thanks for sharing, Norm!
 

ALDABRAMAN

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kbaker said:
Great pictures!!


Aldabraman-
Did you notice all the nuchal scutes?

Yes I did, They are fantastic. :D:D:D:D



Norm, those are fantastic pictures and your radiateds are beautiful. Thank you for posting.:)
 

NEtorts

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Amazing.....some of the best pics I have seen.. i LOVE the close ups of the faces!!!!thank you for sharing
 

TylerStewart

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Very nice photos... I'm pretty impressed by that weed patch in the last photo... Which mix is that?
 

gummybearpoop

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Thanks everyone!

jeffbens0n - Yes they were.

Tortuga_terrestre - I entered a photo of a pair of Burmese Stars for the 2010 contest, which is in the calendar. In the 2009 calendar, I submitted the photo of a radiated tortoise. I don't remember what months the photos are on.

Tyler - I have a lot going on in there. I have alfalfa (which is really good for them despite what many people think, but just needs to be with a varied diet), a few species of clover (nitro persian clover does decent in our deserts), dandelion, malvia sylvestris, pineapple weed, shepherd's purse, chickweed, collard greens, turnip greens, Autumn Sage (provides cover and tortoises love flowers), Chapparral Sage(good cover and torts love the flowers), close to 10 species of grass including deer grass which is native (other ornamental grasses aren't good because they end up establishing in the deserts and are more prone to cause wildfires), fig tree, hibiscus, yellow bells, opuntia cacti, chia, south african honey suckle, banana yucca, aloe verde, a few species of plantain, grapes, chicory (which I prefer over dandelion in the desert - chicory doesn't need as much water as dandelion-which tends to die out in summer), filaree, various lettuce species, nasturtium, california poppy, bachelor buttons, and more than I can't think of now.

I have picked out a lot of species that can live in the desert without crazy water bills- though planting location is important too. I plant the hibiscus close to the house where moisture stays around longer - same for the clovers, plantains, dandelions, etc. I planted the tecoma and salvia species near a wall where they will get some afternoon shade. The vegetation will only grow better next month.


I prefer to feed my tortoises a lot of variety and they can eat at their own leisure. Though, I do supplement the tortoises' diet with a mixture of mazuri/repcal/zoomed commercial tortoise diets a few times a month just to ensure they are getting all their nutrients. I have fed my tortoises strawberries/tomatoes/blueberries about once a year. So fruit really is a treat....wait I take that back, they get fruit in the form of zucchini/yellow squash about once a month. Also, mushrooms every few weeks. Spring a few times a month.
 

ChiKat

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Wow these pictures are unreal. Thanks for sharing!
 

dmmj

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Pics took awhile to load, but definitely worth the wait. Do they have some type of breeding program going with the torts? If so what do they do with them,sell them? give/loan to other zoos? Does anyone else feel bad for the female torts who look like they are getting squashed by the males? And lastly they look like they get tired out by hauling all of that bulk around , LOL

Nice pics I think I would volunteer at the LA zoo if I knew for sure I could work with the giant tortoises. Of course my problem would be trying to resist sneaking on or two out in my pockets, LOL
 

Jacqui

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dmmj said:
Nice pics I think I would volunteer at the LA zoo if I knew for sure I could work with the giant tortoises. Of course my problem would be trying to resist sneaking on or two out in my pockets, LOL

:D That's what I warn any tortoise person whom I am about to visit. :D

I too had wondered, Norman is the Phoenix Zoo getting eggs from these guys?

Norman also wanted to say, as always your tortoises are such wonderful optical illusions to look at. Just so simply stunning.
 
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