"Cupcake"

[Alaskamike]

 

[Alaskamike]

Cupcake grazing in his garden. he just finished a pretty good sized cactus pad. Now a flower for desert. !

 

[guille24]

Man ! Such a beautiful tortoise !!! I hope one day I can have one

 

[littleginsu]

Squeee! Your little one's name is Cupcake?!? OMG. That is the cutest name!

 

[TortoiseDVM]

Cupcake looks like a happy camper!

I noticed you also live in Florida and wanted to make a suggestion to look for this "weed" in your yard... Pusley (Richardia scabra)It is a very common lawn weed in Florida. It is highly sought after by our own native gopher tortoise and seems to naturally attract appetites of non-native tortoises alike!

 

[Alaskamike]

Cupcake looks like a happy camper!

I noticed you also live in Florida and wanted to make a suggestion to look for this "weed" in your yard... Pusley (Richardia scabra)It is a very common lawn weed in Florida. It is highly sought after by our own native gopher tortoise and seems to naturally attract appetites of non-native tortoises alike!

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Thanks! I'll look for some of that. Great tip.

 

[Alaskamike]

If anyone else knows of any common weed or plant down here in Florida good for my Cupcake let me know. I'll add it to his " garden"

 

[Alaskamike]

Finally got a scale. Cupcake is 1 LB , 9oz. Or. 724 grams. Today !
So since he was hatched in Jan this year , now I have a baseline to check his growth.
I think ill weigh him about once a month.

 

[Alaskamike]

Oh ... Forgot , shell is 6" today

 

[Alaskamike]

His shell is very dark. But there are small gray growth lines if you look close

 

[tortadise]

Awesome. Welcome to fat kid on the block club. Lol that's what all my volunteers and workers call our Aldabra. Chunky thighs. That guy is looking great. Desert willow flowers are a favorite of mine in it's enclosure. Any flower really, cactus and grass.

 

[Alaskamike]

Awesome. Welcome to fat kid on the block club. Lol that's what all my volunteers and workers call our Aldabra. Chunky thighs. That guy is looking great. Desert willow flowers are a favorite of mine in it's enclosure. Any flower really, cactus and grass.

I love that your into tortoise / turtle rescue - conservation Wish I'd gone that route years ago, would have made a great activity at this time of my life. Maybe I'll do it still, there seems to always be a need. It would have been a tragedy if the Aldabra had died out like so many of the large torts in the Galapagos islands. It took many years before the conservation efforts and protection was solid. Now these magnificent animals can be enjoyed for as long as this world hangs around I suppose (hope).
and yes...... Chunky Thighs would have been a good name for him hahahaha

 

[tortadise]

I love that your into tortoise / turtle rescue - conservation Wish I'd gone that route years ago, would have made a great activity at this time of my life. Maybe I'll do it still, there seems to always be a need. It would have been a tragedy if the Aldabra had died out like so many of the large torts in the Galapagos islands. It took many years before the conservation efforts and protection was solid. Now these magnificent animals can be enjoyed for as long as this world hangs around I suppose (hope).
and yes...... Chunky Thighs would have been a good name for him hahahaha

Thanks. Many people don't read about it(not much is written about it either) but the Aldabra atoll has very similar ugly pasts just like the Galapagos. There's many sub species of Aldabras on each island. In the late 1800s 4 of those were extinct just like the Galapagos. Picked up and used on ships for meat. There's still some very critically endangered sub species alive today on some of the islands like surf island.

I say go for it. Especially being in Florida, the gophers need lots of rehousing with construction ruining their habitats. Also many unwanted pets down there too. If sanctuaries were in place all over the country it would benefit the tortoise community and tortoises.

 

[Alaskamike]

Bath day

 

[Teodora'sDAD]

What an adorable tortoise!
looks like he is living the good life!

 

[Holycow]

You could plant a weeping mulberry bush. It grows fast and they can eat the leaves and fruit... but the roots can mess up pipes if you plant it too close to a house or septic tank. I've got one growing in a large pot and my torts never pass up the chance to scarf it down.

 

[Alaskamike]

Thanks. I'll look for one of those

 

[Alaskamike]

Taking walk around lanai

 

[Jabuticaba]

Congrats!!


May, Aussies, & Hermannis
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

 

[pam]

Great pictures