Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2013 17:46:14 GMT -5
This is Swifty's sister wife. Her name is Megatort. She's was my first and is likely 35 years old. 42# last I checked. She got the name because she was the largest I had ever seen 20 years ago. Now I have had three the same size! The third 'Purple' died last year of unknown causes.  Soon, 'Loverboy' will be after these two and I will see him more. Then I can share images of him too. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2013 19:47:52 GMT -5
Megatort LOL. 42 pounds!!Sherman tank.That is a very pretty girl.I see why you would have an attraction to her.Bet she is spoiled.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2013 21:38:05 GMT -5
Thanks Jim!
My wife spoils them. All the veggie trimmings from the kitchen go to them. Plus they graze the lower levels of the grape vines. The grass you see her grazing on is full of dutch white clover. I literally haven't touched them in years. I just watch & enjoy.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 22, 2013 5:55:09 GMT -5
What does Megatort mean?Ah-mega tortoise-forgive Georgia brain cells are slow.I am below 3 dogs and 2 cats.Must be rough being below a turtle,as low to the ground as it gets:>
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2013 17:38:31 GMT -5
mega = large yes...
tort short for tortoise yes....
megatort = large tortoise. I thought she was huge when I got her. Now I think she is normal.
|
|
|
|
Post by beefjello on Apr 23, 2013 19:51:02 GMT -5
Very cool Scott! Is Megatort a desert tortoise? I dig the ridges on her back. How can you tell the age?
|
|
bhiatt
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2012
Posts: 1,532
|
Post by bhiatt on Apr 23, 2013 20:04:14 GMT -5
Swiftys sister wife is killer looking also. Really fancy looking shell. Pretty cool that they just roam around your yard. I bet they are happy.
These big ol snappers come across the yard here and they get to scootin, really moving. When I see one I go and try and pick it up but they are pretty aggressive and are very powerful. They are hard to pick up when they dont want to be picked up.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2013 22:12:53 GMT -5
Brian, one cannot tell the age of a tortoise or a turtle by counting the ridges of the scutes on the shell. We also cannot cut them in half like a tree. The only way to know how old they are in be there when they are bor. Or know someone that was!
I got Mega 20 years ago at this size. The dude swore she was 5 years old. That was part of my surprise at her size. I'll bet she is much older. Maybe 35-50 years old. Her colors used to be bright and contrasty like Swifty, but now she is fading. That, to me, is a sign of late middle age.
Mega and Swifty are both East African Leopard Tortoises (Geoichelone pardalis babcocki)
Brian, Brad and eberybody, thanks so much for your comments. Just a little piece of my paradise I wanted to share. Loverboy is next. Hoping to start seeing him soon.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 24, 2013 9:49:03 GMT -5
I learned how much of a torque converter a turtle was when i put one in the floor board behind front seat.When i got home the carpet was completly torn out from that burying machine.They are powerful and i bet at that size they are real strong
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2013 11:11:25 GMT -5
They are super strong and have shields of scales on their front legs. When they pull their legs in to the shell you CANNOT see the head, nor can you even think about pulling the legs out. They co-exist with lions and hyenas. Somewhere there is video of a teenage lioness playing with a 20 pounder (or so). Batting it around like a tennis ball. No doubt the tortoise simply waiting until the battering was over, opened up and walked away. The high dome on the spine is to make it easier to right themselves if turned over.
Oddly enough, this species does not burrow! The prefer to spend the night under a bush or in my backyard they go under a dog house or two. Summer they graze the grapevines into a roof like structure that they love.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 24, 2013 19:11:32 GMT -5
Cool pet.It is lucky to have you too
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2013 23:48:43 GMT -5
thx Jim.
Now only if loverboy can knock her & swifty up I'll have 20-100 babies to start the next generation!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 25, 2013 3:21:56 GMT -5
Try curry
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2013 17:07:04 GMT -5
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 25, 2013 21:13:36 GMT -5
|
|
bhiatt
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2012
Posts: 1,532
|
Post by bhiatt on Apr 25, 2013 21:29:01 GMT -5
yes try and get a picture of loverboy when he comes around. Them are some cool looking tortoises. Preferably pics before he lives up to his name. No love makin pics.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2013 21:32:45 GMT -5
What?? No tort porn???  Thanks Brad. It is Brad, right? |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 26, 2013 6:23:12 GMT -5
Tort porn.Dang it man.You never know about Hollywood.Or is it Chino?
|
|
