FINALLY... I have Manouria emys emys!!!

[Kristina]

I figured you guys would start to think that I made it all up, lol.

But no, they FINALLY arrived Thursday, 13 months after I originally started trying to get my sticky little fingers on them!

To anyone that has never owned these tortoises, they are almost indescribable. They are called the Asian "brown" Mountain tortoise, but at this stage of the game (they were hatched September 27th) they are emerald green, a deep deep green, just beautiful. Their "baby scutes" and plastrons are covered in a fine marbled pattern.

I have never had a young tortoise be so confident so fast. They look at you very solemnly, you can see them sizing you up. Just a very, very cool tortoise.

Am I forgetting something???



Oh, yeah! PICTURES!!!

Here are some close ups that show the marbling that I was talking about.

The spurs that give them the nick-name, "The six legged tortoise."

This one wasn't entirely approving of the photo shoot, lol.

Speaking of close ups, I got some AMAZING pictures. I was stretched out on the grass with the camera lens no more than an inch away when I took these. Blew my mind.

Let me know what you all think!!!

 

[coreyc]

Congrats the long wait is over they look great

 

[Edna]

What sweet little faces! I love all the pics, but those close-ups where the tort is eyeing the camera are the best!

 

[pizza guy]

Awesome tortoises.Look up Burmese Mountain Tortoise care it has more results.

 

[Jacqui]

I knew you would love them! Dwight sends some great babies doesn't he?

 

[pdrobber]

congrats they're pretty cute. I always thought they were kind of boring but these pics are turning me...keep us updated on them.

 

[tobibaby]

very cute

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Holy cow! What did you do, rob a bank? I know those babies aren't cheap. I raised one until she was a yearling, and while she was not friendly at all, she was just active enough as to stay alive. She totally had me stressed out as I thought she was going to die and I know Yvonne wanted her bad. We named her Emmie and I will forever remembered those reversed scutes. Sunken in scutes. I was so convinced that she would die. So you are very lucky Kristina...

 

[dmarcus]

They are some great looking tort, and they sure are giving you the eye....

 

[Kristina]

Thanks everyone I do feel very very lucky to have them, I waited for a long time, but they were worth the wait!

It's funny, the info that I got from the guy that bred them was a bit contradictory from what I have read about them, particularly in terms of temperatures, but he is breeding/hatching/raising these guys pretty darn well I would say!

Maggie, I remember Emmie and the pictures of her. I often wonder what causes those sunken scutes, and I have a theory it might have something to do with the mother and calcium, but I really don't know. It is so frustrating when you are doing EVERYTHING you can and still think a baby is going to die, I have been struggling with my baby Leo, but it certainly feels better when they start to take a turn for the better. My Leo has and it is a big weight off my shoulders, and my heart.

 

[tortoises101]

They're incredible tortoises. How lucky you are to have them!

 

[Yvonne G]

I love those close-up face pictures. So pretty!

Just FYI: Manouria emys emys - Burmese (or Asian) brown or forest tortoise
Manouria emys phayrei - Burmese (or Asian) black or mountain tortoise.

 

[kbaker]

Beautiful Green!!

I am glad you did not go completely insane waiting for them.

 

[RianSeeking]

So pretty! I love the green! So glad they finally came.

 

[Torty Mom]

Yay!!! How excited you must be, have you been looking at them all day? They are sooooooooooo cute!! I am so happy for you! Yippeeee!!!

 

[african cake queen]

hi, i think i have just fallen in love! what little faces, and those eyes! well worth the wait don't you think? wow. lindy

 

[Millerlite]

they are very fun tortoises to keep, just wait till they start really recognizing you and coming out of there shell. also they love sprinklers, turn those on for a few mins. and they will be walking around everywhere. lol

 

[Tom]

... tortoise envy.

I have it. I have it bad...

Please, tell us what the breeder said about the temps and such. That's what's preventing me from getting these.

 

[Millerlite]

Temps. Tom? you live in so cali? i live in so. cali. and keep 4 in my backyard year round. no problem.

 

[Isa]

Congratulations They are gorgeous!! Their shell is beautiful!! You must be one very proud tortoise mommy !