Numbers kept: 1,1,1
I imported 1,1 (about 17-18 cm) in June of 1998 ago from Germany.
It was quite an experience (not too much red tape on the Canadian side - I am
sure that if I had to take them back to Germany there'd be a lot more paperwork!)
getting them through the baggage checks. Of course, both in Munich & Amsterdam
security wanted to see them and I had to take them out of their linen bags and
present them. As stressed animals tend to relieve themselves in a variety of
ways, this was a bit on the unpleasant side.
My advice: If you need to travel with turtles do not feed them for a few days
prior to that!
They have settled down quite well in their temporary shelter (they sure love
the "Greek" weather we have had over the last three weeks, not a day
below 35° C) - the male being out and about almost the whole day, while
the female tends to only take short strolls, mainly for feeding purposes. Tonight
I finished their permanent summer quarters and tomorrow they will move in.
I have dedicated 50 m2
of our back yard for them - fenced in board, with a concrete cave
(inside a mound of soil) and some shrubs I dug up in the hills behind our house.
Now they will receive full sun from sunrise until about 18:00. I made their
cave opening facing east - they really love to be out and about with (almost)
the first sun.
They both have gained about 100 g since their arrival and I hope they will continue
to increase their weight a bit because they are a bit on the lower side of the
Jackson Index curve. I am also going to have a feces float done to see whether
they have worms.
...
It's been another week now and they have adjusted well. The female is still
much more shy than the male. Today, upon being caught out in the open by me,
she had to run toward me (and almost crawled over my feet!) in order to reach
the cave. This "strange" behaviour is certainly due to the fact that
the shrubs I just planted do not yet supply proper hiding places.
The weather has continued to be fabulous - slightly cooler, yet not a day below
30 °C with a pleasant 15 - 17 °C at night.
Not a drop of rain in weeks, so I finally installed a water dish from
which they yet have to drink even though they instantly checked it out when
they first encountered it. Being quite "nosey", they (especially the
male) inspect all new items in their enclosure immediately, sniffing from as
far away as 15 - 20 cm first, then cautiously proceeding.
...
The female laid a clutch of 4 eggs on May 1, 1999. Three eggs went bad
during incubation but one hatched on July 7, 1999. She laid at least one more
clutch in June (her weight curve told me that) but I did not find them or any
hatchlings that might have emerged from those eggs.
...
All three (1,1,1) animals are hibernating outside this (1999/2000) winter in their cave. So far (January 2000) the winter has been very mild with a bit of snow which acts as a welcome additional insulation.
Updated 9.August 2000