Phil's Thread

[MarginatedMooney]

I was looking through the pictures on my phone the other day and I realized most of my pictures are of Phil, my baby marginated tortoise.

So, I'm thinking I'll start this thread to post occasionally on how he's doing and to share some of my favorite pictures of him.

Currently he's 8 months old, weighs 80g, and is 7.5cm (3 inches) long. He seems to be growing fast. He's now officially doubled in length, from 1.5 to 3 inches since we've had him.

 

[Chalkie]

He’s adorable and I look forward to his progress reports.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

It's time for an update on Phil!
He'll be 10 months old next week. He hadn't gained much weight the past couple weeks and was around 91-93g. I think he was between spurts because he hit triple digits today and now weighs 100g! ?
I think he's starting to outgrow his 2' × 3' enclosure. He's been roaming around the perimeter a lot more, practically every day the past couple weeks except for pellet day when he goes into what we call a "pellet coma". I'm starting to get materials together to build him a new PVC enclosure and expect that I'll be working on that in December when I have some time off work.
He's still as friendly as ever and when we have him out, he'll typically either climb up into my lap or he'll try to burrow underneath my wife.

 

[Chalkie]

Aww sounds like your little one has a great personality, he’s adorable. He sounds and looks like from the pics, that he’s doing great.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Awesome pix! Thanks for sharing.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Phil is 1 year old today! He's still just a sweet, friendly little guy and he still seems to enjoy snuggling with his mommy and climbing up into my lap. He's currently 9.2cm (3 5/8 in) long and weighs 131g. It's crazy how tiny he was when we first got him 1 year ago compared to how big he is now. I've added some pictures to show that comparison.

 

[Chalkie]

Happy Birthday Phil. I’m sure he had a spoilt day. ??

 

[TaylorTortoise]

It's time for an update on Phil!
He'll be 10 months old next week. He hadn't gained much weight the past couple weeks and was around 91-93g. I think he was between spurts because he hit triple digits today and now weighs 100g! ?
I think he's starting to outgrow his 2' × 3' enclosure. He's been roaming around the perimeter a lot more, practically every day the past couple weeks except for pellet day when he goes into what we call a "pellet coma". I'm starting to get materials together to build him a new PVC enclosure and expect that I'll be working on that in December when I have some time off work.
He's still as friendly as ever and when we have him out, he'll typically either climb up into my lap or he'll try to burrow underneath my wife.

Such cute little face he has. Love the shaking butt video. How did you create it?

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Such cute little face he has. Love the shaking butt video. How did you create it?

I recorded a video on my phone and my phone has a feature to turn videos into GIFs so that's what I did.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Phil is now 1 and half year old! He's 12.1cm (4 3/4") long and weighs 283g. His appetite this week has been huge. It's the first time I've seen him eat all his food during the day and then I fed him more later and he ate all of that too.
He's still a friendly tortoise and seems to enjoy head rubs and sleeping in my lap or on my wife's chest while wrapped in a blanket. He's been enjoying his enclosure I built him back in December. Some days he's much more active than others and that depends on whether he's had pellets that day or not. He tends to go in a "pellet coma" and sleep for most of the day after eating pellets. When he's being active he'll also climb over his poor fern and spider plant sometimes. Little booger.

 

[MarginatedMooney]

It was a nice day today here, with a high of 78F. So Phil got some outdoor time!

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Phil turned 2 years old today! Happy birthday little buddy!
He currently weighs 543g and he's 5.8in (14.9cm) long. He continues to grow at a steady rate.
He's still a sweet little guy that climbs up into my lap and likes shell rubs and head rubs.
He has certainly learned now that we are the providers of food. His appetite has been bigger than ever.
Also, he flashed us for the first time while in his bath the other day so I'm 100% convinced he is a male!

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Phil is continuing to grow, he's now 796g and 17.3cm (~6.8") long. We've noticed some changes in him recently.
He flashes his male part routinely in his bath now. I think he's realizing that he's a male.
He also has started trying to bite our toes and fingers; He never used to do that.
He also has stopped pooping in his bath lately and he seems to just sit there and enjoy his bath. He'll poop whenever we take him outside though. I don't know why, it seems like a ploy to get outside.

 

[Krista S]

He’s absolutely gorgeous! 😍

 

[Posiewosie1]

Phil is continuing to grow, he's now 796g and 17.3cm (~6.8") long. We've noticed some changes in him recently.
He flashes his male part routinely in his bath now. I think he's realizing that he's a male.
He also has started trying to bite our toes and fingers; He never used to do that.
He also has stopped pooping in his bath lately and he seems to just sit there and enjoy his bath. He'll poop whenever we take him outside though. I don't know why, it seems like a ploy to get outside.

Wow his so smooth and beautiful
What is his age? Beautiful tortoise. His shell just Looks so perfect ❤️

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Wow his so smooth and beautiful
What is his age? Beautiful tortoise. His shell just Looks so perfect ❤️

Thank you! He's 2 and a half years old now.

 

[Posiewosie1]

Thank you! He's 2 and a half years old now.

Did he grow quite fast as he looks so much larger then mine?

 

[MarginatedMooney]

Did he grow quite fast as he looks so much larger then mine?

I still remember when he was tiny and could fit in the palm of my hand. He's not so tiny anymore and I almost need two hands to pick him up now. So to me, yes it feels like he's grown fast.
They all grow at different rates though, so I wouldn't worry too much. It could be that Phil is a big boy.