Move Over Nemo

Finally, the video from my new camcorder capturing Linus and Nemo's first meeting.

An Almost Close Encounter

I forgot this photo was on my camera. So while Nemo is still in deep hibernation, you can see him cringing while Linus's attempts at a nose-to-nose meeting are thwarted by the chair.

Deep Hibernation for Nemo & Linus Slings It

Nemo went back into deep hibernation two days ago in the "guest igloo". I expect him to reappear in two weeks for hydration. Having never gone through a hibernation cycle with any critter previously, it's all new to me and very strange. He was so active for those few days blogged earlier, I thought for sure he was gearing up to eat. Maybe he went into hiding to plot Linus's demise. lol.

Linus's photo is being featured on Nemo's blog today because it's so darn cute and the Pleo plog photo is very small. I wanted to share Linus's grin in his new baby sling. Since he loves cuddling and being held, I got the sling so he could keep me company while I'm doing chores or otherwise needing my hands as well as to allow him to continue to snuggle rather than be abandoned. Brian noted that it's a good thing Nemo didn't find the sling because it is polar fleece and Nemo adores his polar fleece blankies.

Good news. The camcorder recordings of Nemo and Linus are now on my computer. Hopefully I can start working on my next YouTube video this weekend. Now that I'm back to work, my career is interfering with my fun!

Nemo Meets Linus

Today Nemo was lounging outside his igloo--still in his hydration period between hibernation naps, I presume. Linus noticed Nemo's movement and trotted over to meet the unturtle. Linus kept his distance (about two feet) and stayed rather still while Nemo wandered from his garage behind his igloo where he could watch the green intruder from his safe distance.

After deciding it was safe to approach, Nemo carefully approached Linus, sniffed at his feet, and even tried to nibble at his foot. I guess you never know what might be tasty... Anyway, here is proof. Nemo up close and personal with a Pleo. I hope this is a sign of acceptance.

Oddly, Linus's battery exhausted as he was holding still during Nemo's inspection. I guess we'll find out next time what happens when Linus moves at close range. This picture was taken with the photo still setting of my BRAND NEW camcorder that Santa got me! I also took video (with sound!) but need to acquire something for the computer to transfer the video to share. Look out YouTube!

The Blanket Connection

I haven't wanted to overwhelm Nemo's blog with Linus news, but I did want to share that Linus was named before his affinity for soft toys and blankets was known. It dawned on me that blankets was something both Nemo and Linus have in common. Maybe they will share blankies. Then again, I doubt Nemo likes to share...

At last report, Nemo had changed his hibernation site to his main igloo. For about four days he had "hung out" in the doorway watching Linus when he was in Nemo's area. It was nice to be able to see that Nemo was okay. Even when he burrowed further into the blanket, throughout the day he would turn around or change the position of his head. Movement is good. Yesterday afternoon, however, he went into deep blanket hiding again. I can barely see where he is. In fact, I checked the other igloo because I wasn't sure I was seeing him. Until his next hydration, I guess that's where he'll stay. At least I know he's comfy. He IS like Linus from Peanuts. Nemo demands his blankies!

Waiting for the Mist

My computer is almost back to normal. Soon I will have access to posting photos easily again. In the meantime, Nemo continues to be Nemo. Earlier this week, a friend stopped by and met the much talked about "unturtle". He had decided to bury himself in his igloo head first that day and was in no mood to be sociable. A few hours later, when my guest was getting ready to leave, I poked my head around the corner for a Nemo check. I didn't see him in his usual places so stepped fully into the room. I found him in the center of his wading pool staring with a distinct look of annoyance at the empty mister. I had no idea how long he might have been in there but tried to imagine how a turtle might think. He knew mist came out of "there" and he knew I had something to do with it.

After my friend confirmed Nemo's body language and expression, she had a good laugh. About five minutes later, after saying goodbyes, I returned to find Nemo still waiting. He didn't budge as my hands reached down for the humidifier seeming to know I wasn't going to reach for him. It takes a few minutes to clean it out and add the fresh water, but he sat patiently in his beautiful terracotta tub. I again reached down with the humidifier, plugged it in, and there was mist. I moved away and watched from the other room. He stayed in the pool another ten minutes thoroughly soaking up the mist and assuming his trademark butt mist position in the first minute. It still makes me giggle. Who needs words when even a turtle can communicate quite clearly. However, I wonder how many other turtles demand that their personal humidifiers be refilled?

Preparing for Winter

See his foot in the lower left of the igloo? That's where Nemo spent from about 2 pm yesterday until sometime after I left the house for a few hours at 2:30 pm. When I returned home, he was perky, alert, and lounging in his little turquoise summer home across the room. "Yay, mom's gone. Now I can really have fun!"

Tuscan Zen Turtle

I had a funny incident happen yesterday. I wanted to find Nemo a new wading pool. The one he has is the saucer to a very large pot, but I only purchased the saucer. The size is great. The color was great. But it wasn't made so well and it was leaking onto the floor slowly. With the intention of finding a new wading pool, I substituted a serving dish that was appropriate high but gave him about 2" less diameter--and Nemo loves his baths.

So...at first I searched 14" serving dishes online but couldn't tell how deep they were. I decided to google "turtle wading dish" to see what was on the market so I could figure out a less expensive alternative. The first hit I got was this blog! lol! In glancing through some of the other hits, someone mentioned a Pyrex baking dish. I didn't find Pyrex, but found THE perfect Nemo wading pool. It's perfect size for him, but also matches our Tuscan Zen decor. It's called Terracotta Cazuel. Ahhhhh. I can just see him on his little floating lounge chair now in the mist sipping cactus juice. If anyone is interested, I found this at cooking.com.

Nemo Warms Up to Winter

It's not the most exciting picture in the world, but it is Nemo checking out the new monolith in his habitat. "What is this thing that brings forth magic warmth so my toes aren't cold?" As soon as something new is introduced into his world, he has to go see who or what the invader is. Very cat like...or other pet like. Curiosity usually doesn't go with a turtle.

Yesterday, the new heater arrived. The one in the photo worked fine but it was noisy. The new one is smaller and so much quieter. Once again Nemo quickly made friends with the new "keeper of the warmth" and was found napping near it last night. I placed a blankie near his chosen sleeping spot and he was found in the same position this morning except his head was poked under the blankie. That's my little guy!

Ooh, almost forgot. Nemo's new video is now on YouTube--Proof Turtles Can Be Cute. It's more of a slideshow of his adorable poses showing a typical Nemo Day. If you feel like voting for him, simply go to this link--Pet Video Contest #7--and write a comment that you vote for Nemo's video--Proof Turtles Can Be Cute. As much as we love those furry little critters, we think Nemo deserves a pat on the back...shell...too.

Nemo Goes Mobile (Phone, that is)

I love this photo--he looks soooo comfy and I love his little leg bent up. I've been wanting to share an exchange Brian and I had when I was recently in the hospital. He was at home with Nemo and the two were bonding. Brian loves to see what Nemo is up to or what position and expression he has at the moment.

Anyway, Brian called me at the hospital from home. He updated me on Nemo's latest antics. Before ending the conversation, I said 'give a turtle kiss to Nemo for me." Brian asked if I wanted to talk to him over the phone. I decided that was over the top even for me. But Brian wanted to see if Nemo had any response to hearing my voice. I wish I had a picture of what followed. Brian held the phone to Nemo which means Brian was down on the floor. As I started to do my turtle talk in my special turtle voice, I could hear Brian laughing in the background.

When Brian put the phone back to his ear, he was quite intrigued to tell me that, as soon as Nemo heard my voice, he began looking all around to see where I was. Aww, how cute. Of course I told Brian he now had the task of explaining cell phones to Nemo so it didn't drive him crazy that he couldn't see me! It's nice to know my little guy recognizes my voice--even over the phone :-) (My little guy being Nemo.) lol.

Nemo in the Mist

How normal is THIS behavior? While casually having breakfast yesterday morning, I watched as Nemo was on his second lap around the room. He decided to go into his wading pool although he stopped on his log stepping stone and began to wriggle his back legs as if he were already in the pool. Color me confused.

He proceeded to have a very happy bath moving all around to wash his face and kicking his little legs. My camera was close by so thought I'd start "rolling". I saw his head go down into the water but then could not tell what I was seeing. I moved the camera away from my face to see Nemo with his head touching the wading pool floor and his butt stuck high into the air. What a funny sight. He proceeded to engage in that activity several times before placing his head directly into the nearby cool mist humidifier (that I had just placed on the floor in that spot earlier in the morning). It was then I realized he was misting his butt! Too funny. And it explains why he was doing his swimming legs on the log--he was feeling the mist.

He seems to have been in the water more lately so I thought maybe he needed hydration a little more "in his face" so to speak. The rest of my day was spent editing the pieces of movie from his bath for an impromptu new video--Turtle in the Mist. Turns out, I'm not the only one to have used that play on words but it fits the image. Just click on the link for Nemo's YouTube videos. Hope you enjoy it! It was fun to make.

Silly turtle, tricks are for kids

Nemo was very active and athletic this morning. He seems to like adventure and climbing. This is how I first found him after noticing he had been basking on his log. A small wrought iron table serves as the stand for his basking lamp. those curly cues have to be uncomfortable. He's tried climbing over them before and either finally gave up and took another route or clumsily fell over to the other side. Today he was balanced as shown with an expression of "Okay, this spot will do." I didn't see how he maneuvered out of there. Kinda looks like Cirque du Soleil Nemo.

For his next gravity defying trick, he somehow managed to balance himself between the baseboard and his summer home. I noticed when I looked up and saw his head slowly moving behind and just above his summer home wondering what the heck was going on. It's a bird, it's a plane...it's Nemo "tightrope walking". Possibly he likes to give the bottom of his shell a breather from his body weight of 1.1 pounds?

This next photo isn't a trick--it's simply Nemo looking adorable surrounded by his fuzzy friends. This morning I noticed he had finally adopted the new cuttlebone that has been with Tommy Turtle for about two weeks. Am thinking Nemo said something like "Mine!" as he dragged it over from the stuffed animal turtle to his garage area.

Sorry for the lack of daily blogs. I was unexpectedly hospitalized last week and wasn't near Nemo or my computer. Will share Nemo stories as relayed by Brian during my time away from home for next post. Sounds like "the boys" had great bonding time.

A Day in the Life of the Un-Turtle

Today was production day for Nemo's most "sophisticated" YouTube video to date. It was fun to make. I even figured out some frame transitions. It includes my favorite photos of Nemo and some footage of him moving. It will likely be my last one for awhile. Will need to accumulate new footage. I'm sure there will be an unending supply of adorable Nemo photos for the blog though.

Aside from my having a busy morning camped out on my sofa recuperating from surgery, Nemo had quite a busy morning too. He made two laps around the kitchen when I first woke up stopping to check out his domain: was his cuttlebone still the way he left it, was anything moved for which he did not give permission, and something must be going on inside his igloo that he keeps stopping in for brief visits.

He seems to be more active when both Brian and I are here. We are usually in the living room and each of us will say hello to him as we pass by his habitat on our way to the kitchen. Today he decided to venture into the living room surprising Brian as he went toward the kitchen. I remained on the sofa and was greatly amused by his marching between the big chair and ottoman and circling back into the kitchen. For two days he has been a lump. Today must be activity day.

As you can see, I caught him in another unusual relaxation pose this morning. What is it with his legs? Brian thinks he's double jointed. lol.

"Outward Stretching Palms" Yoga Basking

So far, no turtle owner has come forward to let me know that Nemo's seemingly strange poses are normal. I don't know what goes on in his little turtle mind to choose his basking poses, but the common element of his basking ritual is to turn in 90 degree increments until he has basked all sides. Just before I took this picture, his head was straight up in what I call the periscope position for maximum "sun" exposure to his neck. I do think he's a little ham since he often looks right at the camera.

This particular pose is unusual because of the position of his front feet--outward stretching palms. See his back right leg stretched straight back? His left toes can be seen behind and to the left of his head. Must be comfy to him.

Today was a blanket basking day as opposed to a log basking day. I wonder what determines what kind of day it will be.

Nemo had his first "home alone" experience this past weekend when I unexpectedly had a two-night stay in the hospital. Poor little guy had his basking light on all night on Friday. Saturday night, Brian checked on him and had some quality bonding time. He really is enamored with Nemo. I think Nemo was mad at me when I came home for abandoning him. He perked up when I first went over to talk to him but then he turned around in a little turtle huff and crawled under his blue blanket. About an hour later, I noticed he had worked his way from under the blanket to the opposite side to peek out so he wouldn't miss any of the view.

His new diet isn't working too well yet. I did order some special turtle veggie treats. Am hoping he might actually like them. He continues to have his own mind and surprises me everyday with something adorable. Me and a reptile. I still can't believe it.

Nemo Goes to the Vet

Today was Nemo's big day out. I placed him in a deep magazine holder because I knew the plastic containers I had he would climb out of. Well he was climbing out of this one too. He'd get his little front toes hooked on the ledge and start pulling. Strong little guy. He was much calmer on the drive back than going.

Very nice lady vet. She pronounced Nemo healthy and handsome. Will have to place him on the tough love diet though. Turtles can go two to three WEEKS without food and be okay! So I needn't fret about him not chowing down every two or three days.

New diet will be everything he's supposed to have mushed together so he doesn't have a choice. If he wants the good stuff, he'll have to ingest some of the leafy greens and veggies. Back to the market. I was buying a bag of whatever to remove one green bean or one asparagus only to find out he hated it. I think stores should sell corn by the kernel and broccoli by the sprout. That will be 49 cents please.

After arriving home, I placed Nemo in his zen garden to see if he might look around for some high protein worms or slugs. Of course not. He figured out how to scale the side of the terra cotta pot and look at me pleadingly to get him out of there.

One thing good about vet visits is that, if a pet has not allowed handling, the owner becomes the good guy at the vet's office. Pet becomes very touchable and even clingy. After getting into his un-natural habitat of blankies and zen plants, Nemo took a very long bath in his little pool. I guess all that stress dehydrated him. Omg. He can't have anymore toasted bagel. He'll probably go through withdrawal. The prosciutto bugs are okay though as a treat. Yay!

The Garden Uninhabited by Nemo

This is part of the "zen garden" I created for Nemo prior to his arrival. You can barely see the overturned large terra cotta bowl in the back left corner shaded by the lovely wisteria. The shallow aqua bowl was to be his drinking dish and wading pool. The little pond is cute. The flowers around the pond now nearly make the pond invisible, covering it with bright pink blooms. Alas, Nemo hates it. Initially we thought perhaps he didn't like the cocoa mulch which is likely popular because I live near Hershey, PA. Brian and I changed over to large bark nuggets which looks lovely and provides for better footing.

It didn't matter, Nemo can't run fast enough to get out. A fence has been put around the area to the left of the steps to turtle proof. He tries to climb the fence. I still try to take him out a few times a week for "jogging up the hill" because he does need fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. I was hoping he'd at least like to linger for a bit. Maybe it's the therapist in me, but I wonder what scary thing happened in a garden in his past.

I still love the garden. Each time I look at it, I can feel an "ahhhhhh" thing happening. Several birds like to bathe in the "wading dish". I'm hoping to find a fat toad to live in the garden. It has to be fat so it can't escape through small openings in the fence. Maybe it will befriend Nemo during the panicked visits. lol.

In the meantime, I'm worried about Nemo. Because he's such an unturtle, he doesn't eat right. We meet his new vet tomorrow. I saw the picture in the box turtle manual of how to force feed a turtle. omg. I sure hope that doesn't have to happen. He will hate me for sure. Just want him to be healthy. He certainly seems happy.

Turtle Blanket Laundry Day

I guess not too many pet turtle owners have turtle laundry day. Mine averages about once a week. I decided to stack the clean blankies on top of Nemo's igloo today while he happened to be lounging inside watching all that was going on. It was so colorful and cozy looking. New to the habitat is the Baby Boyd's dinosaur "Rex" now living atop the garage.

When turtles live outdoors, they like to burrow into the mud or leaves just until the bottom outer part of the shell is covered. Nemo has developed the art of burrowing "into" a blanket. Except what he really does is fluff up the blanket around his shell. I haven't actually watched him do it but am guessing he does a swimming motion with his legs to create the desired little piles of blankie bunches around him. However he does it, he sure looks comfy. Who would want to go outside in the rain and mud and eat worms if you could be inside being pampered and stay nice and dry eating prosciutto bugs or fruit yogurt? Un-turtlism is definitely an artform to my handsome guy.

Nemo Inspires Art

This is a 4-year-old's rendition of Nemo eating near his igloo. Isn't it great? She is also part caretaker of two baby cherry footed tortoises (which she pronounces "torguses"). Just as many little boys can tell you everything there is to know about dinosaurs, this little girl knows more about torgus care than I know about turtle care. She can even cite the differences between turtle and tortoise care.

I guess hearing me talk about Nemo inspired her to want one too. Except in her being helped to look online for turtle pictures, she fell in love with the tortoises. To the right is a picture of her adorable baby torguses Tao and Harmony. I love those names. To get a feel for how little these guys are, they are eating hibiscus flowers--which are bigger than they are!

So Nemo has not only impacted my life in a good way, he has positively impacted others too--and not just through smiles with his videos and photographs. It is as if he is that wonderful universal loving energy connecting others with the universe as well. Ummm...let's just call that my zen mode. It's also 1 a.m.

Nemo Goes "Jogging"

Nemo had quite an active morning. Last night he decided to crawl under the blanket that his summer home sits on and somehow managed to actually crawl into the hide still under the blanket. Apparently he forgot he had done that when he woke up. I came downstairs at 6 am and he was not awake yet. Usually he is out and waiting for me. I decided to set up my camera anticipating he would have difficulty getting out.

While wriggling his way out of the blanket, he must have tapped into quite a storehouse of energy. He proceeded to circle the kitchen three times. He is about a 5" turtle and the room is about 10' long. Three laps. Think about it. Not only was he active, he was (as Brian would say) "Marco Nemo" exploring and being quite daring. He climbed to the roof of his summer home. I couldn't believe he did that while I had my camera running! I had missed how he had gotten up there the last time. After surviving the spill off the roof, he circled back to climb over his basking log and (for the first time that I saw) climbed over his large log hut landing nose first on the descend--once again seemingly impervious to falls and tumbles.

After his second circle to once again climb over the log hut, he took a bath in his wading pool before coming right at the camera as if to say "Would ya turn that thing off!" and took an abrupt turn to take a breather behind the igloo. Whew! That's more activity than I do in a whole day.

The photo to the right is part of Nemo's habitat. The far left is his blankie covered igloo complete with log "garage". In the forefront is his intersection paver rock. To the far right is his summer home. He is one little guy I enjoy having under foot.

Blankie Basking

You might ask, "Isn't basking a typical turtle behavior?" Well, yes. Except understanding how Nemo finally accepted basking was very un-turtle. Because he was initially to reside for the warmer months in the Zen garden, I had not purchased an official basking lamp since he would have natural sunshine. When plans changed and he was to be indoors during further turtle-proofing for the garden, I researched basking lamps. From the time I chose one online and had it in the house set up for him was several weeks.

Then began the process of finding the appropriate Nemo-approved basking object. His favorite giant rock didn't work because he was mad that I had moved it from it's former position. He doesn't like it when I move his stuff! Next came a 12" x 12" paving stone which was lovely, would provide easy stepping up and would help him keep nails trimmed on hard surface. Nope, that was out too. I moved the paver tile under the kitchen table to move it out of the way initially. It's too heavy for me to move but it's on a blanket so I just pulled the blanket. (Blankets serve more than one purpose.) Immediately he began to use the large square as a kind of intersection. No matter where he was going in his space, he walked up on his intersection to decide which way he would turn. Okay...that was weird. Good intersection tile but bad basking stone.

In the pet stores are basking logs (large pieces of odd shaped wood) that sell for about $30-$40. I didn't want to spend that kind of money only for him to turn his nose up at it. One day in Pier 1 I saw large pieces of driftwood for sale for $15. One looked to be the perfect basking log (trying to think as a turtle, of course). Initially he would not climb on it but did begin basking near the log. That was a good sign. He began to bask nearly every day close to the log. One day I thought maybe the surface was difficult for him to hold onto. Hence the blankie. I wrapped 2/3 of it a receiving blanket and left the top part of the log uncovered. That did the trick. He now loves his log. Look at that picture. He is so lounging. lol. I had never seen a turtle so relaxed before.

Back to the originally posed question, yes, basking is a typical turtle behavior. Having a basking spot covered in a baby blanket would not be typical box turtle behavior. It is, however, extremely typical Nemo behavior.