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| New Tortoise House |
| July 31, 2005 by Stuart |
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Thanks to the generosity of some of Fear-No-More Zoo's supporters we are very happy to have recently completed a new, much larger house for our two Aldabran Tortoises, Yes and No.
When Yes and No arrived here in January 1996, they each weighed 33.5 pounds. Today, nine years later and at 15 years of age, they weigh about 160 pounds each, and have outgrown their original house. Aldabrans can grow to 400 or 500 pounds.
Their new winter / night house has a much larger floor space, skylights, and a large clear-glass frontage. Since we did not have the funds to build them a permanent structure at this time, we opted for this durable (and for them temporary) kit building, which will amply provide for them for another five or more years.
When funds permit we will build the Aldabrans a permanent night and winter house with under-floor heating, an egg-laying pit, and other features to enable their winters to be really comfortable. Once their permanent house is in place, the present temporary structure will be used in other ways.
In their enclosure, which will also be greatly expanded in coming months, Yes and No have the pleasure of a small hot-spring mud hole where, in winter, they can wallow deep in the mud to warm up even on cold days and nights. They always have the choice of going into their heated night-house or staying out in the warm muddy spring (with a portable roof placed over their backs).
Yes is the female of the pair. She is very friendly toward visitors, always approaching people for some contact and gentle neck stroking. She loves contact and relationship. No, the male, is less gregarious, although friendly. More independent, he is less inclined to relate with people. The two of them are very close. I will write more about their unique characters in a future article. |
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© 2005-2006 The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as trustee for The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam.
All rights reserved. Perpetual copyright claimed.
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