Of course, I'm not surprised at their reaction. I mean, how can you not love this lil' face?
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Tortoise "Grandparents"
My parents were in town yesterday and stopped by to meet Miss Rosita Bonita. I took her out to show her off and she walked around the kitchen floor. I also hand fed her a bit of an apple. Afterward they commented that she was a lot cuter that they thought she would be. They pictured her just sitting around motionless. They also said she has more personality than they imagined.
Of course, I'm not surprised at their reaction. I mean, how can you not love this lil' face?
Of course, I'm not surprised at their reaction. I mean, how can you not love this lil' face?
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Like a fish
For an animal that can't swim, Rosita sure puts her all into drinking! She submerged her entire head underwater and drank several gulps before coming up for air. It was cool how I could see lumps moving down her throat as she was swallowing. It was as if she knew I was watching and would be impressed. Twice she stopped for a moment, looked at me, and let a few drips fall from her chin. Then she went back down for more.
Will Work for Food
I had a bonding moment with Rosita the other day. I bribed her to get into her pond - to drink or soak, either one would make me happy. Of course the one thing I can use to get her to do pretty much anything is FOOD. I put a piece of pear on the far edge of the pond so she would have to go in to reach it. It turns out that she doesn't have to get all four feet in the water to reach the other side. Her neck stretches further than I ever thought possible!
The problem was that instead of grabbing it with her mouth and eating it, she pushed it off the edge and into the crack between the pond and the wall. I felt too guilty to let her go without. Afterall, that was the whole reason she got in the water to begin with. So I put another piece on the edge, and once again she inadvertantly pushed it off. The space between was very narrow, and I could tell she was looking around wondering how to get down there. She did her neck stretch, but it was at such at angle that she couldn't reach it. When it comes to eating, she is very persistent. She was not going to give up. And it pained me to watch knowing that there was no physical way she could retrieve it. So I gave a little help. While she was extending her neck, I gently picked her up and lifted her hind half into the air at such an angle that she was able to reach it. I thought she might retreat when I picked her up, but she seemed to know exactly what I was doing. She opened her beak and grabbed that fruit like a pro!
The problem was that instead of grabbing it with her mouth and eating it, she pushed it off the edge and into the crack between the pond and the wall. I felt too guilty to let her go without. Afterall, that was the whole reason she got in the water to begin with. So I put another piece on the edge, and once again she inadvertantly pushed it off. The space between was very narrow, and I could tell she was looking around wondering how to get down there. She did her neck stretch, but it was at such at angle that she couldn't reach it. When it comes to eating, she is very persistent. She was not going to give up. And it pained me to watch knowing that there was no physical way she could retrieve it. So I gave a little help. While she was extending her neck, I gently picked her up and lifted her hind half into the air at such an angle that she was able to reach it. I thought she might retreat when I picked her up, but she seemed to know exactly what I was doing. She opened her beak and grabbed that fruit like a pro!