I recently posted about my first Desert Tortoise, Doris. You can view that story here. (If I got that linking thing right) A year or so after Doris became part of my family, I was asked to adopt Doris' mom. Her owner was trying to cut down on the number of tortoises he had. Momma Tortoise is big and grumpy, apparently she wasn't raised to be close to people like Doris was. I took her in anyway (how could I turn away Doris' mother?), and my husband and I built her a nice habitat 
adjacent to Doris'.
Desert Tortoises are solitary animals, spending most of their long lives alone. When put together, they will often fight for their territory, so each enclosure has a 2' high cinder block wall around it, and they are about 30' x 30'. I'm lucky enough to have a big back yard that has plenty of room for the tortoise habitats.
There seems to be some kind of secret code among tortoise owners that I was not aware of. Once you get one, you are likely to acquire more because word gets out. Not long after I got Momma Tortoise, one of my colleagues
asked me if I could adopt his Desert Tortoise, Speedy. He was getting a divorce, was moving into an apartment, and his wife did not want the tortoise. I couldn't think of a reason to say "no," (however, my husband has since given me reason to say NO to any additional tortoises....)
We built Speedy his own habitat in the back of our property next to Doris and Momma Tortoise. It turns out Speedy was apparently an Olympic gymnast
in another life... the 2' high cinderblock couldn't contain him, so for his own safety, he has our whole backyard to himself... the last thing I wanted was to find Speedy upside down in 120 degree heat from trying to climb over his enclosure wall. Speedy has a great personality and loves people. He is easily identified by a misshapen plate in his shell - normally they are all 5-or-6 sided, Speedy has one shaped like a triangle.
Speedy has been a great addition to our family, and the 3 tortoises give me hours of amusement..... stay tuned fo
r more tortoise adventures....
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Comments: 37
Take care... ;-)
They look so cool.
Very cool. We used to get box turtles in our yard but I haven't seen them in years.
Those are so cool. Great pictures.
You've done a good job with them, they look nice and healthy! Please share with us at The Wildlife Reserve.
Thanks, folks!
"Speedy", what a great name for a land terrapin.
Mugg, you would not believe how fast Speedy actually is - it's incredible!
Hmmm . . . I know somebody with a fairly sluggish rabbit. Maybe we could stage a race? ;o)
Count me in! I'm puttin' my bet on Speedy all the way!
How cool! Thanks for sharing about your tortoises. Off to meet Doris.....
A beautiful album and story, Heidi, and a backyard adventure to treasure for ages! Speedy looks like a mobile stained glass window with his colorful shell. Mama Tortoise exhibits the mysterious gray colorations and textures of antiquity.
What a beautiful comment - thank you so much!
This post is great, Heidi! Actually, I had no idea tortoises were so individual when it came to personality.
Do you think they'd like a mascot - a cat named Iris? A secret society found us, too, this one of stray cats!
Let's see... I have 3 horses, 2 dogs, 3 tortoises, a snake, 3 aquariums, a cat, and baby tortoises that Momma had in October - I don't think I'd notice another cat!
Good for you for all that care and love expended.
You can pick up Iris at my house anytime! Chuckle Chuckle
:o)
what beautiful tortoises! someone i know at work has tortoises too! 10 for you!
Those are great pics! Now I can see why the hare didn't stand a chance.
they are amazing ... it would be very sad if speedy tried to climb the wall and was upside down!
Great shots ... I'll be looking forward to more future adventures!
Thanks, again, everyone!
I love turtles. I had a turtle ring from Hawaii I had made. I loved it. It looked like this picture but I had to keep my power on one year and guess what... SUPER PAWN GOT IT! I was never able to get it back.. Thank you for this picture!
Thank you, Leigh...
what pretty turtles, we use to have box turtles when the kids were little
Thanks, Angela!
Love the pictures!!! We (in Florida) have the plain ole turtle and huge Sea Turtles.
Thanks, Nancy! I just love all tortoises and turtles - I wish I lived near sea turtles! I went swimming with them once in Mexico, it was fun to hold onto their shells and they swim you around...
Delightful story and photos, Speedy is beautiful.
Thank you, Ruth! ...beautiful?...a face only a mother could love! ;o)
I loved your story about Doris, Momma and Speedy. Speedy sounds like quite a character... an Olympic gymnest....wow.
He is! Thank you, elizabeth!
Wow what a combination, horses and tortises..great pictures.
I have a zoo at my house, Minipin!