Learning

A Learning Process

I just read my blog from the beginning and I realized how much that have learned through this process. I now know that Rosie, Ginger and Cecil do not need an afternoon snack. If they are out and awake I can offer them some mushroom or squash but only if they are already awake. They do not necessarily have to get up at 7:30am for breakfast, all three of them actually like to sleep in until round 9:00ish. I bring them outside around 8:30 and mist their pen, then I go inside and fix their breakfast and by the time I come back outside they are all out and waiting for me to give them their bath. They seem much more relaxed this way, when they can get up on their own without me waking them up. I love to cuddle with them and rub their shell and head but only on their time and schedule. I have noticed they come out more now and they enjoy their time with me. I have read that red foot tortoises have distinct personalities and they love their humans...this is absolutely true (I didn't believe it at first either but they do)!

Everyday I feed them 3 different greens, mushrooms, oputina and squash or zucchini, twice a week they get papaya or mango and one day a week they get a small amount of tomato, on the days they don't get fruit or tomato they have carrots. I have been petrified to give them tomato since our respiratory scare but they LOVE tomato so they get a small amount occasionally. I used to give them fruit and/or tomato every other day and I quickly realized this was way too much. I have also learned a lot about their pen. When Rosie, Ginger and Cecil first came to me I didn't realize I had to "plant" the greens in their pen therefore, it was very sparse. Gabby was gracious enough to give us plenty of seeds so we can plant their food on our own. This is safer as it is organic and cheaper! I planted some seeds and then transplanted them into their pen and now they have coleus, hosta, nasturtium and dandelion in their pen. They all like to bury and sleep under the plants. I'm sure that there is a lot more for me to learn and I am ready for the challenge. Enjoy!!