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it's been a bumper crop of dandelions and clover this spring in Midwest. And my sully Titan has been gorging himself on both; along with at least 7 different grass types. I know that both are high in plant protein content; and was wondering if that is why I am seeing more urates being...

Hawthorn tree; Five are fairly common to Iowa: downy hawthorn, cockspur, pearhaw, punctate haw, and red haw. I am not sure what species in in my immediate area; but last night a storm brought down billions of of their flowers and not one place in my yard is not covered with them. This tree...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house; All the critters were stirring and one flying mouse..... Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. (ps...the visiting bat was taken to wildlife rehab. and will be released in mid April close by)

well for 2 years you could almost set your watch to defecation time for Titan. But last week things changed. 6 days passed with no voiding of pooh.......eating. drinking and active as usual; urinating and the occasion passing of very thin urates. But no pooh. I tried cactus; aloe; and...

It's been a few months ; and with an ailing computer; and a family house to clear out and put on the market; I just was not around. But we're back. My sully Titan has grown like a weed since I was last here. Lots of sunshine and good food.....hate that cooler weather is moving in and we have to...

Had to lurk in the cyber shadows the last few months as I forgot my password; and did not have access to my PC where it was automatically stored. In late November I left cape cod and returned to Iowa for a few months remolding a family home. At 12 months; Titan weighed in at 580 grams. Now at...

to paraphrase the famous line: "LOVE finds a way..." Happy Valentine's Day from Jurassic Joranson

Climb to the highest dune and turn around to slide down. Did it multiple times; so I have to assume it was some sort of tortoise play.

In all the time I have spent on Cape Cod I never witnessed such an influx of "peanut bunker"; common name for a juvenile menhaden. (In my best impression of Carl Sagan) Billions upon billions of them swarmed the shallows of almost all beaches; bay and ocean side. Stranded by the tides or...

Back in the heartland after 6 months on Cape Cod. Titan jumped in weight from 550 grams to 900 grams....loved the beach grasses and weeds; not to mention the abundant sunlight. Lots of tales to tell and questions to be asked; but internet system I had just would not let me get here (or any...

a road trip of almost 1800 miles has found us back on the sandy beaches of Cape Cod; MA. With keeping up routines; the drive out took a little longer; but no changes in eating; or activity levels. Both indoors and outdoor enclosures are almost identical to ones in Iowa; so I don't think hes...

I have had my cockatoo and my dog on a pet health insurance policy; so if there is ever a problem; it won't break the bank so to speak. I just added a policy for my tortoise. I hope I never have to use it for any of my animals; but I do sleep a little easier at night; knowing that it will be...

My 8 month old has been going through an increase in weight and size over the past 5 weeks. 284 grams to 504 grams as of today. At the same time I have noticed an increase in urates. All still smooth and creamy.; to just a creamy cloud with urine dischage. I have reduced any high protein food...

Is the red line that goes through the center of the plastron; that appears during growth spurts; actually some sort of blood supply that is supplying the shell with nutrients for growth? I notice that is branches off at each plate. And on that note I would point out that my tortoise has gone...

the velvet ant also called the "cow killer," (Dasymutilla occidentalis occidentalis) are actually a wingless wasp and has a painful sting. They are nectar feeders ; and only will sting to defend themselves. But if you have a tank of a tortoise; there can be consequential encounters.

With grazing and grassy diets; there is one side effect......known to star trek fans as klingons; or if you are a fan of rock band; the Danglers. Grass often comes out relatively unchanged from when it went in. The stool has been passed; but there is grass still inside. I was doing a enclosure...

for fellow tortoise owners who are trying to rid their enclosures of substrate gnats; this is a rolly polly aka pill bug, (Armadillidium vulgare). Under rocks and wood piles they make excellent natural control of the gnats; and stay put in the enclosure.

all the grasses here are going to seed. Titan seems to pick up alot of them as he grasses. Have to wonder if they spread seeds like this in the wild.

Busted....Mulberry Lips. As good as the leaves are for sulcatas; the fruit (like all fruits) are not so good. He found ripe fruit laying in the yard; and had himself a go. Surprised to see this as he has never eaten any fruit before; even when offered.

For weeks not; mulberry leaves have been a favorite.....But now that the tree is bearing fruit; he seems to have lost interest in the leaves. And I noticed the leaves have a more waxy look to them. Any ideas?