pet connection

One of the first posts I wrote for Pet Connection (a year and a half or so ago) was about Onyx. I rescued Onyx, a box turtle, twenty some years ago when I was called out to a house to pick up an abandoned sulcatta tortoise. Onyx had been sharing a burrow under the house with this huge tortoise.

At that time, a herp veterinarian guessed that Onyx was more than a hundred years old. Although she was very healthy, my husband and I decided that Onyx would live out the rest of her years with us rather than be adopted out to a new home. Well, Onyx is still doing great but we are seeing some changes due to her age. Turtle and tortoise shells put on growth rings – like a tree – as they grow. Onyx’s shell is very smooth. She’s no longer growing at all, and the ridges are worn down.

In addition, for many years she laid several clutches of eggs each year. We have several of her offspring and have adopted out many more. However, a few years ago, we saw a decrease in her fertility. She was still burying clutches of eggs, but there were fewer viable eggs each time. The last year and a half or so she hasn’t laid any eggs at all. Onyx is through menopause, I guess.

But Onyx is healthy, eating well, and still charges towards me every time she sees me. Apparently life is still good for the old girl. I wish she could talk, though. Can you imagine the stories this old girl could tell?

The other geriatric box turtle who will be spending the rest of his life with us is Old Man Turtle. I wrote about him recently when he joined our household. He was a very scared, very thin, beat up old box turtle.

Although he’s still a little worried and is quick to dash away when frightened, he doesn’t scare as quickly as he did when he first joined us. He’s established a comfort zone spot in the backyard, under the sunflowers. I’d love to share a photo of him in that spot but he disappears when he’s in there.

I said in my first post about Old Man Turtle that I would be happy when he learned I’m the giver of food; well, it seems Old Man Turtle is a quick learner.  He’s not charging my feet as the long term turtle residents do but he’s stopped running away. The photos in the first post about him were quick snap shots because Old Man Turtle wouldn’t let me get too close. As you can see by the photo here, he’s letting me get much closer without interrupting his eating.

And he is eating well. He once ignored bananas but now loves them. He also likes strawberries, but ignores tomatoes. He acted like I was poisoning him when I offered him some fish the first time, but now chows down on it.  In fact, he loves salmon. He digs through the compost heap, catching and finding grubs and earthworms. He loves snails and enjoys – with much gusto – slugs. If it moves and looks even remotely insect-like, he’s after it. Of course in my organic back yard, he must think he’s in heaven, and that’s good.

Several other box turtle rescues are in quarantine right now. They, too, are learning that they’re in a good place. In this photo, you can see salmon all over their faces! “Ah, life is good!”

Images: Onyx, Old Man Turtle and Three turtles chowing down, courtesy Liz Palika.

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