Arizona "yard pets" - Orchid Board

EdinAZ · #1 07-13-2008, 06:19 PM

With the monsoon (rainy) season here, our two tortoises are out and looking food food. During much of the year, winter and very dry times, they hibernate in thier burrows, but rain brings them out instantly.

During this time of year they eat like little pigs. We have lots of the native plants that they like, and a small patch of grass strictly for tortoise food. In about a month, the prickly pear cactus fruits will be ripe, and they REALLY love those. Most be tortoise candy the way they attack them.

They get water from the plants they eat (strictly vegetarian), but whenever there is an opportunity for a "real" drink, they take it, so we leave a saucer of water in the yard for them (birds enjoy it too).

They are VERY tame, and will take food from our hands (or anyone's hands, if they have food) and come to my wife when she calls them, or follow us around the yard "begging" (in thier own quiet way).

By the way, they ARE a protected species, but ours are from a state-sponsored "adoption" program, so ours are "legal". Legal or not, many people around here have tortoises as yard pets.

Ed

flhiker · #2 07-13-2008, 06:27 PM

How cool is that! I was total unaware that people kept tortoise. Although we have small Gopher tortoise around and they are endangered and illegal to have. Do you have to keep them in a pen or do they stay near by naturally

Chubidubi · #3 07-13-2008, 07:56 PM

That is so cool to have those little critters around.

JennS · #4 07-21-2008, 11:55 AM

They are so cute! I love tortoises, but have never attempted to keep them (either in yard or outside). I have never seen the Gopher Tortoises that are native to Florida either, but hear about them. Do you know what kind of tortoises they are? That is such a neat idea to participate in the adoption program and help a protected species out.

EdinAZ · #5 07-21-2008, 05:14 PM

You have to keep them enclosed, and since they burrow, you need wall footings or similar that go down a couple of feet. When we first got ours they spent the first two years just circling the yard and banging on our gates, trying to get out. After that, they accepted it as "home" and now are all over the place. We are still careful to keep our gates closed, since you never know when one might get the wanderlust.

Ours are Gopherus agassizii, and i believe the ones that live in Florida are Gopherus polyphemus. Both of the gopher tortoise genus, but different species.

Ed

John D. · #6 07-21-2008, 06:04 PM

Very cool photos

montium · #7 07-21-2008, 07:56 PM

I have few yard pets as well. Tortoises are awesome pets if you have the space.

Junebug · #8 07-23-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdinAZ

With the monsoon (rainy) season here, our two tortoises are out and looking food food. During much of the year, winter and very dry times, they hibernate in thier burrows, but rain brings them out instantly.

During this time of year they eat like little pigs. We have lots of the native plants that they like, and a small patch of grass strictly for tortoise food. In about a month, the prickly pear cactus fruits will be ripe, and they REALLY love those. Most be tortoise candy the way they attack them.

They get water from the plants they eat (strictly vegetarian), but whenever there is an opportunity for a "real" drink, they take it, so we leave a saucer of water in the yard for them (birds enjoy it too).

They are VERY tame, and will take food from our hands (or anyone's hands, if they have food) and come to my wife when she calls them, or follow us around the yard "begging" (in thier own quiet way).

By the way, they ARE a protected species, but ours are from a state-sponsored "adoption" program, so ours are "legal". Legal or not, many people around here have tortoises as yard pets.

Ed

I enjoyed your turtle photos. They are so cute, quite intelligent, and trainable. I used to have a Gopher Turtle hole in my back yard. Our family would leave bananas next to his entry way. Before long you could bang on the ground and he'd be out in a flash waiting for his banana treat.