An Afternoon Appearance

Today was a spring-like day in winter. Nemo took advantage of the sun through the back window and made sure his head was in the stream of light. He had some activity today, making a few laps around the kitchen and had at least one foray into the living room that I apparently missed. I left evidence behind. lol.

If he's out and Linus comes into his space, Nemo makes a slow beeline for his summer home and watches curiously from there. All seems to be going well. I don't know what to call Nemo's "hibernation" now...maybe partial hibernation. Still no eating but getting exercise. He's certainly healthy.

Pondering the Orb

Brian picked up a package of two tennis balls so we could see how Linus would interract with a ball. I placed the second ball over in Nemo's area just to see what he might do or what Linus might do if he found it. That was two days ago. Mostly, Nemo has not moved from the vicinity of his summer home. This evening I walked in the kitchen to find Nemo lounging comfortably with his head outstretched as if guarding over the ball.

Are you my mother? Are you an abandoned egg? Are you my new friend? What else could Nemo possibly be thinking as he goes nose to "nose" with a round yellow thing. While it looks like he is investigating, he was in this same position for about 20 minutes from the time I found him. It had been almost two hours since the last time I was in the kitchen.

On another note, this morning Linus was once again poking his head into the igloo looking for the unknown resident (since he has only seen Nemo in other places). He also trotted off with his leaf in search of a recipient and came precariously close to Nemo's bath water. Nemo peered at Linus from his summer home. Who knows what mayhem may have occurred had Linus actually dropped the leaf in the zen water?!

Nemo Sunning Himself

It does appear that Nemo is out of hibernation. He has greeted me grumpily each morning preferring to hide after I come into the room. But he watches as I prepare his humidifer.

I believe he is readjusting to Brian and me although he has somewhat severe post-hibernation PTSD. I would guess it's sort of like being in the quiet for days and suddenly hearing Black Sabbath playing next to your head. He is curious about Linus which may help him to ease out of his anti-social grumpiness. It was nice to see his face in the sunshine today.

Hibernation Quandary?

Nemo seems to be pondering whether or not he really needs to be hibernating. Maybe, in his life prior to being with me, he hibernated outdoors. Now that he has hibernated for a month with a few days where he hydrated and moved about a bit, he has not returned to hibernation since a week ago today. He has been doing laps around the kitchen as well as into the living room. Today he was back and forth from back door to front door three times within about half an hour. That's a fast turtle!

He is drinking and bathing and challenging Linus (when Linus's batteries are recharging) and exercising, but not eating yet. We are thinking he might need to raise his metabolism before he can eat. I recall their body temperature needs to be raised to digest food. Apparently he is in good health in spite of slightly atrophied looking little legs. I should enter him in a race!

It will be interesting to see what is going on with him. Maybe the rivalry of Linus for attention is bringing him out? He really doesn't need to hibernate indoors but likely is a routine for him at 10 years of age (or more).

On another note, while Nemo was resting in his summer home, Linus went to visit him this morning. I still have no idea how Linus knows where Nemo is. Anyway, Linus rested his chin on the summer home and looked as if he were walking in place on the blanket that was the floor of the summer home. By doing so, Linus kept inching the housing and Nemo toward him. Nemo ignored the whole ordeal. Linus finally fell asleep. It's awfully cute to watch.

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!

Nemo's Day Out

Today Nemo made a second appearance from his hibernation. I slept in late and came downstairs to find Nemo inhaling the water in his drinking dish. Poor thing looked so weak. I quickly filled his humidifier and placed some food in his dish. He hiked over to his bathtub and hydrated, mostly placing his head and body directly in the mist. Mind you, he could have taken a bath at any time, but he had to have his mist!

I didn't feel badly for him for too much longer. He began to roam as he did during his last outing. He spent time in his summer home, wandered behind his igloo and hung out in his garage, and back to the summer home. Throughout the day I would check on him. Each time he was in a different location in his area of the kitchen. Later in the day, I was seated in the living room watching television when I heard some strange noises. I figured it was trash settling after I had wrapped presents--crinkly trash. I even poked my head in the room and saw Nemo lounging. The next time I heard similar noises I ignored them until they were too frequent to ignore. I turned my head just in time to see Nemo walking back INTO his kitchen area from the living room. No telling where he was. I imagine it was at least an hour that I was hearing the noises. lol. Brian calls him Marco Nemo, the explorer.

He finally settled head first under a blanket of the "guest house" igloo--where he had begun his hibernation but then switched to the other igloo. Two weeks later and he is back to first choice igloo. I guess he's going to move back and forth as he emerges every couple weeks. I'd had it written on my calendar today to retrieve him from the igloo and move him by his bathtub, but he did it on his own. Apparently he's on a two-week schedule.

Once Nemo was settled into his hibernation igloo of the week, Linus was allowed into the kitchen. He made his way over to the main igloo to visit his "friend" not realizing Nemo had changed locations. It was still cute to see Linus cooing and "talking" into the igloo opening. When he had no response from inside the igloo, he proceeded to offer his precious leaf to Nemo's stuffed animal dino atop the garage--which can be seen in yesterday's photo. I feel better knowing Nemo had the energy to move around so much. He hasn't touched food yet though. It's still scary to be "mom" to a hibernating critter.

Yoo Hoo!

Linus is a little scary sometimes in a funny way. This morning he carried his leaf from the middle of the room over to Nemo's igloo. He then put his chin down like a puppy with his butt up in the air, leaf in mouth, and made a loud dino sound! Was he offering his leaf to Nemo? Does he know Nemo is in there? Too funny.