I am the adoptive mom of two Sulcata juviniles, one being 3 year old Malificus and 2 year old Obsideon. These wonderful boys belong to my Daughter, she bought them as babys in North carolina and has since moved back home to Iowa. I had more time and a ready made area for them so they are staying with me. ( for now)....I WANT to keep them, but I know eventually my girl will get a place ready for them and they will move to the farm. I got on-line just the other day looking for advice on what to do if your tortoise gets out and you have to look for them! Obsideon did that, he was missing for 5 days. I would go out and call to them like I do everytime I go out to see them, they usually always come out of hiding when they hear me, so thats all I could think of to do besides looking under things and in tall grass. I was so sad that I had not known that he had dug his way out.He had dug next to a board and bulldozed it up so he could fit under. I felt so terribly guilty and logged on to this sight looking for help,....then out of the blue I got a phone call from my sister next door, she asked if I had lost a tortoise,..I said YES!...she said , well I think he's right here on my back porch!...I ran over to her place and there he was! I brought him home, scrubbed his shell with cool water and conditioned him, then brought him fresh dandelion leaves and clovers, he didnt seem hungry, he just wanted to dive down into the burrow they have dug under the 8 by 4 foot enclosed pen that I have for them. He and Malificus have an outdoor run area of 16 by 12 foot, they have pretty much mowed it down so I bring them their food.I have read a lot about them since I have taken over caring for them, their diet before was too rich in protein and they were getting too many store bought greens and bananas as well as dry tortoise food. Now they get to mow the lawn for us and they get dandelion leaves 3 times a day.
I want to get them a bale of good grass hay and start them on that so as to get them used to it for the winter. We live in Iowa and the hardy dandelions stay green even past a few frosts but eventually they get covered with snow. I have re-enforced the out door enclosure with heavier boards and placed a huge hollowed log in there so that may hold his interest for a while I hope! gawd, they sure can go and go ! I am impressed and I have a whole new respect for them, they are crafty and pretty much little Hudinis.
