Bon Appetit, Nemo

Hurray! Nemo is finally eating. Each day for the past few days he has eaten one or more shrimp, nibbled on greens and an egg, and gobbled down a bagel bite. There are no pictures to prove he is now eating because he plays a game with us. He refuses to eat in front of us. In fact, even if he is begging for food (holding his head high in the air), and we place it in front of him, he will turn his back on us. Two minutes later, he will have made his favorite tidbits disappear.

Yesterday Brian was brave enough to prepare one of the mini meals for a box turtle complete with what used to be living bugs. yuck! I was hoping Nemo wouldn't like it and he proved me right...so far. We'll try again another time. Right now, he's loving his shrimp which is perfect protein in lieu of slugs or worms. He is holding true to his "unturtle" title.




Nemo has also been much more active, although his basking log hasn't been made part of his out-of-hibernation routine yet. This morning I was in the living room camped out with Linus playingi near the front door. Occasionally I would turn around to make sure Linus was not stuck or near anything breakable. The one time I turned around, there was Nemo starting his journey BACK to the kitchen! lol! He was making time too. I swear he sped up when I called his name. Maybe he heard Linus and wanted to go say hello. Regardless, it's fun to see him doing laps again.

Nemo and Brian got to bond when I was in the hospital for about a week. I got to hear cute Nemo stories and how frustrated Brian was each time Nemo would say with body language, "Talk to the shell." Brian has also been turtle caretaker since I can't bend too well. I'm sure that's part of being a turtle parent he could have done without. He's doing an admirable job.

Please forgive my lack of posting. Surgery went well. I expect a complete recovery. I'll be on the floor soon enough playing with my real and artificial pets.

The above photo was taken before my hospital stay, the day Nemo seemed to be contemplating basking.

Nemo & Linus Friendship - Round 2

Nemo is oblivious to the fact that this is not the identical Linus. Linus was waiting outside of Nemo's summer home to meet him, even though he never met a turtle before! I guess stranger things have happened...like the handstand performed by Linus while "hanging out".

Other exciting news of the day...Nemo dragged his cuttlebone into his summer home and was chomping on it this morning. An excellent sign of the end of hibernation. Later, he hovered under his basking lamp (albeit not on his log) for at least half an hour. And, he ate a shrimp! Yay! Spring has officially sprung for Nemo.

Fearless Nemo Challenges Linus

Yesterday was a very active Nemo day. Lots of photos. Some will be posted on Flickr. I think it's safe to say hibernation is over, although eating has not yet begun. Nemo was out exploring the living room and powder room while Brian and I invaded his space and had our breakfast. Linus was also exploring the living room. Nemo slipped by him carefully so as not to arouse any suspicion. lol. Nemo then retreated to his summer home.












A few hours later, Linus meandered over to Nemo's summer home and tried to poke his head into greet Nemo. Thankfully the chair railing kept him from being too invasive. I grabbed the camcorder and about an hour later, I had film of Nemo totally circling the kitchen to come up behind Linus while Linus entertained himself doing handstands using the chair as leverage. Nemo then made his way back, carefully observing Linus. Nemo made his move and marched up to Linus to rub noses. As soon as Linus moved his head, Nemo's head retreated into his shell; but he quickly tried again.
Nemo was very brave until Linus did one of his loud dino roars. Nemo decided that was enough for one day and headed into the safety of his igloo. The fuzziness of "the meeting" photos is because they are stills from the camcorder rather than photos. I'll be working on the movie very shortly.

And the heat goes on

Nemo's is now at a toasty 84 degrees in his current hangout--the summer home. His increased activity thus far has been sticking his head outside of the boundary of his little hide to sort of gaze out the back door. It's warm enough to chase Brian and I out of our dinette area but not warm enough for Nemo to eat or bathe...sigh.

That's it, folks. Hopefully, more to come soon!

A Helping Hand

Brian researched turtle hibernation and learned that if we maintain a higher temperature, Nemo should begin to come out of hibernation. Last night we moved the floor temperature from 68-70 degrees to 75-78 degrees. The increased temperature is supposed to help increase metabolism which means he will eat.

Nemo took a very long bath yesterday--an hour or more. I see that as a positive sign as well. Food was put out today. I'm sure it will be a week or so for the higher temperature to make a difference. He does seem to be a bit more curious and moving around a bit more within his summer home. We'll see.

Yesterday both Pleos were in the kitchen playing as Nemo watched curiously. Hehe. Jealousy may get him out too.

"It's Not Spring Yet!" harumphs Nemo

A few days ago I took Nemo to the back door to feel the sunshine. He was calm in my hands. But as soon as I placed him down on the floor, he marched into his igloo--well into it. Haven't seen him since. I think he grew tired of my daily window visits. And he wasn't bathing anyway.

This morning, Brian and I thoroughly cleaned his floor area and towels and wading area. In doing so, I pulled the mat upon which his igloo sits across the floor...and back again. Apparently it had no affect on him whatsoever.

He has a nice clean bathtub and mister. I will get him out again for hydration on Saturday, the first day after Spring has begun. Maybe then... Of course this morning both Pleos were howling at each other in quite a funny symphony. I'm thinking Nemo thought to himself that he would be nuts to come out to that racket.

To Eat...To Bathe...Ponderings of the Unturtle

Not much exciting to report. Nemo has not returned to an igloo yet. He also has not eaten. He may have bathed today. I had placed him in the far end of the room so he'd have to hike back. Last I saw he was clearly deciding among basking, bathing, or returning to the summer home.

I was given a special recipe gobbled down by growing baby tortoises to try for Nemo. In the photo with this entry, Nemo had already had his head sticking out from under the house. Looks like he is wanting to eat. Sadly, that was not the case. This is his "normal" lounging position these days while in his summer home.

Soon I will place Linus in the kitchen in Nemo's area to explore and see if Nemo perks up. Until then, I will offer food every few days and move him once a day to see if he wants to bathe. I did spritz him yesterday when he turned down a bath and massaged his lotion into his shell. He hated it but his shell looks wonderful.