Nemo's' Prickly Pear

Last year I was given a flowering prickly pear cactus pad to transplant for Nemo. He did like the one flower I got for him. Unfortunately, I killed the poor cactus. After researching different instructions for growing cactus from a pad, I ordered several pads through Ebay.

Late last summer I placed the pads in the pot shown at left, constantly moving sticks and stones to keep the pads upright. I could tell in early spring that it was getting new growth. Then about two weeks ago I got what I thought was a cactus flower bloom. Now, two weeks later, you can see the plant is growing new branches (?)...pads...all over the place! I'm hoping Nemo will have his plant provide him with delicious yellow flowers later this summer. What we don't do to try to please his palate.

A New Corner to Explore

This is how I found Nemo yesterday afternoon. Spread 'em?? He actually fell asleep in this position. He hasn't been in this corner in over six months. It had been arranged differently for his hibernation in October. I guess he is reclaiming it.

A short while later, he was lounging in this lovely setting. Guess he decided it would be okay after all.

Under Construction

Nemo is in for a treat...we hope. Brian has dedicated himself to giving Nemo an outdoor experience. Actually more like the ultimate turtle resort. Brian has begun the first tier of our very steep small backyard. Some may recall that the left side is my Zen garden shown in the photo. On the right, at the base, is the beginning of a Tuscan-paved patio area--it will be a beautiful setting for my container garden and we have a lovely water fountain picked out.

The second tier will be a 6' long, 3' high wood-beamed enclosure that will include turtle friendly plants, a small pond, earthworms, a duplicate "garage", and even a screened top to protect from predators. Even though we have a privacy fence, birds swoop and possibly a cat might get in (?). Where we went wrong last year was not realizing any open-spaced fencing is a magnet to turtles who feel they must get through. Yes, even the unturtle.

Nemo will be placed down into the raised enclosure where he can't get out by digging or climbing and won't see any "holes". It was always our intent for Nemo to have the outdoor experience until he freaked out each time he was outside. He wouldn't search for appropriate food because he was too busy escaping from having dirt on his feet (my theory). If he doesn't like his habitat, we still have a beautiful gardening space. When construction begins on the Nemo level, I'll post photos of the progress.

Nemo Takes on the World

I was thrilled to find several of Nemo's videos, some including the Pleos, on a Russian website and what appears to be a Chinese website! How exciting is that? I don't think Nemo would stand for paparazzi but I'm sure Linus & Schroeder would have no problem.

Nemo-isms

Holding down the fort.











Climbing the walls (trying to get past his garage the hard way)







Lounging under Bronsan. Somehow Nemo manages to crawl under and out from under Bronsan and never knock him over!





Chillin' in the garage. Almost.








Full view of a completed blanket tunnel system.

And the turtle will have lox & bagel

Someone who follows Nemo activities suggested I try smoked salmon as a tasty offering. I happen to love Nova smoked salmon, bagel, and cream cheese. Since I like it, it was a good bet the unturtle would like it. I checked online to make sure salmon was a safe turtle food. It was.

Yesterday morning I smooshed a piece of bagel, placed a dime-sized piece of salmon inside, and made a turtle salmon wrap. I actually made two. He downed the one while I prepared the second. A success! Nemo likes two kinds of fish.

Attempting to build on yesterday's success, today I thawed a shrimp and warmed up some box turtle pellets so they were soft. I made a little bagel panini again, this time with shrimp and just a few pellets. A second one just had shrimp in it. When I checked later, he had eaten the bagel with just the shrimp. The other he had opened up and picked the shrimp out! What a brat! Just like a cat or dog might do. I had a potbellied pig that did the same thing. Guess Nemo just doesn't want his veggies. But I will not give up!

Nemo's First Anniversary

One year ago, Nemo came into my life and slowly but surely into Brian's life. At the moment he is burrowed into his very complex arrangement of blanket tunnels and tilted house. Somehow his nose poking out of a blanket tunnel where he can bask his face all day. My friend with the two tortoises speaks of how they burrow into moss and make tunnels and "beds". I guess what Nemo is doing is the unturtle equivalent.

I'm thinking from Nemo's perspective...if he has a memory...he's probably thinking it's one year ago that he had that harrowing experience of being placed into a bag and then into a box and blindingly took a plane ride ending up at Brian's house in an unknown world. Hopefully his present life is comfy and has helped him recover from his travel trauma.

I think I mentioned before that usually I pick Nemo up about mid-day and hold him up to the back door. He looks intently at our garden scape or maybe bugs on the glass. lol. But he allows me to hold him and even stroke his head and neck while he is feeling the sun on his face and overseeing his kingdom...or however he views it. He starts squirming when he wants down and I respect that. We've come a long way from his little gated area. No more gates for Nemo. He is his own unturtle.