I think it was about Feb. 2008 a co-worker was looking for someone to take a turtle her brother had "surprised" her mom with. I take my animal responsibilities very seriously. Apparently they had it about 2 weeks, it was a turtle and not a tortoise. I think they are adorable, but as I started to research it (something they did not bother to do any of), and found out all the care requirements, I am thinking "no way". But I must rescue this poor turtle. If I could not keep it, I would find someone who could.
She shows up with the turtle...a red eared slider. Its in a dishpan of grass, with a big chunk of carrot and apple.
I stop at the pet store on the way home, get a light, a floating platform, some actual turtle pellets and a little booklet. I go home, see if the big aquarium someone had given me for a small mammal years ago would hold water. Just put a little in at first to see, but it was more than it had before. I call the turtle and tortoise group number, get a recording that they all all volunteers, and it may be a few days before they get back to me, so I decide to see how I do.
Well, luckily for vegetarian me, the older they get the less meat type stuff they need and the more veggies. That's a plus. But they are supposed to have a large expensive filter, and frequent tank cleanings, and a very specific temp. range, and a heater, and thermometer, etc, etc. Feeling pretty over whelmed by it all.
But darn if Fred was not just getting cuter and cuter, and was an amazingly good listener. He just seemed to hang on every word I said. I thought he was a male, he looked like a Fred, and to me looked like the pic of the male turtle.
Time goes on, get more and more attached....gradually get more and more stuff for him, and am apparently keeping him. Two expensive vet trips when he stops eating several months later, and develops some gross worm parasites I treat him for.
Back to doing well, eating good. But often acted like I was holding him prisoner and he wanted out. Do people take their water turtles out to play? I don't know. Its not like he is a gold fish. So once in a while I would take him out for a while.
Oh, and they need sunshine, so I had a little tub for him to go outside on nice days. A few times I would take him with me as I was gardening to play in the dirt. Is that dumb? I did not know. But I found out if I blinked he would quickly bury himself up to his tail, and I would have to search for him, so I did not take him out that often.
Ok, a year goes by. He seems to want out even more than usual. Cleaning his tank one day, I find egg shells! A couple days later she is so frantic to get out, I am afraid the heater is malfunctioning, so I grab her out, and soon after she lays an egg on the floor!!! Fredrika does not have the same ring to it. So she is still Fred, and I switch back and forth between he and she...bear with me.
A few weeks later, out gardening again, think it would be a great day for Fred to go play in the dirt...maybe lay some eggs, get that out of her system. Its early, I have plenty of time to crawl around on my hands and knees looking for her before it gets dark. That was March 15, 2009. I did not find her. I looked and looked and looked. I have an average size yard (she was in the back, and I didn't think she could get out front), but when she did not turn up out back, I started out front. Put up signs, talked to the neighbors, called the Humane society, etc. I was sure she would turn up, but as time went on, I eventually about gave up, and just hoped she did get out and was living ok with some one else.
I had never taken her tank fully apart, just a little of the stuff was removed. Could not bring my self to.
So yesterday I go out back to do some gardening, hear a rustle in the leaves. I figure its little birds, but NO! There is Fred walking across the back yard!! My eyes about popped out of my head. Where the heck had she been? How did she keep from drying out? They need to be in water to eat. Seems unlikely that she hibernated for 9 months, including the summer. Shocked and amazed. Its a Christmas miracle. She looks pretty good. Is not eating yet, I imagine she swallowe
d quite a bit of dirt, but hey, she survived that, she will be ok. I am sure now. Welcome home Fred.
