You could argue that I grew up with tortoises. Sam was my dad’s tortoise, he found him when he was a boy. When I was little, Sam lived in the garden at Nanna and Grandad’s house. Whenever he ran away (which he did, every now and then), he was always returned because his name and address were painted on his shell. He had two semi circles cut out the back of his shell; leftover evidence that someone had once drilled into his shell to make holes so he could be tied down. Sam eventually moved to live with Dad again, along with a few other tortoises that had been acquired along the way. Sam died about three years ago. I was always fond of him.
Around the time Sam died I had an idea that I’d like to have a tortoise of my own. I learned that neighbours of the in-laws were tortoise breeders. They offered teeny tiny babies who would need a vivarium and lots of care. I’m well lazy and knew I’d not be able to give them the proper attention needed so declined the offer. A few weeks ago we were told that the breeders still had tortoises ready and waiting (the same ones, in fact). They were hibernating through winter now and a lot less vulnerable, would we like them? Yes please! So at three and a half years old, Pod & Ludo have moved into our back garden (they have an indoor bedroom for night time). They are Hermann’s tortoises.
I love them. I have to stop myself from kissing them (they can carry salmonella and parasites so it’s best to refrain). They’re really cute. Ludo likes broccoli, Pod likes tomatoes. They both like having a bath.
When they have play time, they walk around the whole edge of the lawn. They’re always accompanied because there is a drop down onto the gravel. You’d be amazed at how clever they are. They know exactly what they’re doing and never blindly plop off the edge. We’ve also bought some fencing to make them a bigger, better space. I need to set it up in a place where there are no poisonous plants but half the plants in the borders are really not tortoise friendly, ugh.
There’s still a lot to learn. I got some good advice from the vet about their diet and it seems we’re doing everything correctly. They’ve been micro-chipped because people love to steal tortoises. I was told that they might cry out when they were chipped but thankfully neither of them did. I felt terribly guilty. Tortoise skin doesn’t heal the same way as mammal’s so they had to be super-glued back together 🙁
On hot days they’re very frisky and bomb it about the garden. I am still waiting for the perfect photo but they keep moving and it’s very tricky. On colder days they sleep more and I feel sorry for them. They bury themselves under their bedding and wait for the sun to come out. Whilst we don’t quite get temperatures of the Med, the UK climate is still alright for them. In the winter, they’ll have a giant snooze in the safety of a box in the shed, ready to start again when the weather improves.
I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea but I really rather like them!
xxx
How very precious!
Sent from my iPad
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Aw, I think so too! 😀
Eeeep! They are soooo lovely 😍 I always remember my friend Lucy and I finding an escapee tortoise when we were about 9 or 10. We were really hoping the owner wouldn’t be found so we could keep him/her. It was not to be.
I hope Pod and Ludo are managing to stay warm and dry in this unseasonably crappy weather. I wouldn’t blame them if they wanted to start their winter snooze already.
They are super cute! I love them but I do feel salmonella-y today.. Is it the tortoises or was it that cake I ate yesterday?!….
Some sun today! I can’t believe it!
Oooohhh love them!! I have a horsfield tortoise. They are tricky to photograph.
He s an escape artist and had to be microchiped.
Enjoy. Xxx
People don’t these cuties enough credit! They’re frisky! 😀
I love them! My dad had a turtle that escaped to his house from the neighbor’s and never went back😬He had it for quite a few years but it ended up passing away😕My cousins had desert tortoises in their back yard when we were kids🐢🐢
I remember seeing a turtle in the river Thames once. They’re not native so it was quite exciting! It must have been an escapee. 😀
You will please need a new section in your podcasts to keep us informed on the adventures of Ludo and Pod. I’m interested in knowing the source of the names as well.
Haha! To be honest, they don’t do very much! Ludo is named after a character in the Labyrinth and Pod is short for Podrick from Game of Thrones. 😀
We had an Australian long necked tortoise when the kids were wee, they loved that wee thing. I was a bit partial to it too, so I completely get your obsession Rosina, they really do burrow under your defences … tricky little blighters they are
So far, these little fellas haven’t burrowed too much. I can see them trying though! 😀
Hi…. I loved this post and love your tortoises! How old was Sam when he passed away?
We don’t know how old he was when he was found. But he was in the family for fifty years or more!
Is that Ludo as in the game or the big fluffy from Labyrinth? They’re so cute, I would struggle not to give them kisses as well!
Labyrinth!! 😀
Excellent 😀
Love them, Star tortoise 🙂 My friend had this as a pet and lost it 🙁 Reminds me of her!!
Aw, I’d be so sad to lose them!