hellomaloy
New Member
I’m a long time tortoise owner... 2008 - 2016. I took a few years to mourn the loss of my Greek tortoise, Riko. I lost him of my own accord. I had him so many years, so many yard outings, a few moves, a gazillion pictures, a thousand hours staring, endless devotion and spoiling, what seems like a lot of life together, and also so many naps together! (He was a super lazy, non bed wetting cuddler) but one day when we were getting our last house ready to move we were doing a huge sanding job in the living room right next to him. In an attempt to save his lungs, I let him outside like I sometimes did (usually with him ?). We had a fenced yard that he had never gotten out of before and that of which I had walked over and over inspecting and fixing as needed. I had spent so much time with him out there. I knew he would be okay. That day... after only a few hours, my sweet, charming, personality filled handsome Greek tortoise Riko was gone forever. I would spend the next week scouring the yard on my hands and knees for hours on end, feeling for soft spots, looking for holes, both in the ground and in the fence, raking softly in case I simply could not see. Sobbing. Damning myself for inadequate vision as hours and hours went by and my mind no longer sharp. Guilt upon guilt compounding guilt for ever letting him out. I walked the neighborhoods surrounding our house asking around and posting flyers. I looked for his dead shell in case he was picked up by the owl who lived in the next door neighbors tree. I wouldn’t let my husband mow for a month. It wasn’t even hibernating time. Finally, we had to move. I plead with the owners that if they came across him or he ever popped up to please let me know. He was my family. I would travel to get him back. My heart still hurts for him but I was never able to find my Riko. When I first got him I knew I was bound to owning a tortoise for life, I was in love with them. I want to dedicate myself to owning and loving one once more, with a better setup and a better plan. I have a partial table set up inside for cold weather and an out door enclosure being built waiting to decide the breed of tortoise that will dictate my final touches. I no longer live in cold rainy Washington where my tortoise had to be inside 24/7. I now live in eastern Oklahoma (1hr SE of Tulsa) where a lot of the days are terribly humid and it is rainy sometimes but mainly sunny. When it is hot, sometimes it is VERY hot. Other times it is only humid. Other times it is stormy. It is hard to understand the weather since I’ve only been here 6 months. All I know is that from what I’ve witnessed and experienced, it will be hot and humid and warm about 8-9 months out of the year which is perfect for outside natural habitat with inside enclosure for cold temperatures. I researched but did not want to make a mistake. What I gathered was a red footed tortoise would fit climate here. I want less artificial and more natural for my new lifelong mate. The best of both worlds as needed and only the best. Any insight is greatly appreciated because if I do this again I am doing it whole heartedly as before, and with utmost dedication. I would also hope for breeder recommendations if you know a specific tortoise would work for me. Thank you guys for reading and thank you for allowing me to join your community ?