I never considered tortoises to be good pets. They always seemed boring, slow moving and of no interest. However, that all changed when Hector took up residence in my garden. At first the creature would not come anywhere near me and every time I got near her she would draw everything in – feet, head and crouch down in defensive mode.
I decided to try to make her my pet and asked around to see what sort of food she liked. Then I went shopping for lettuce and watermelon. Wow, this tortoise really loves lettuce and watermelon. The ground is covered in dry leaves at the moment and so I cleared a path for Hector from the place she sleeps (under a large bush) towards a container of water I put for her.
Then I laid a trail of lettuce for her which took her along the cleared path. She was really motivated by the food and these days, Hector actually comes towards me when she emerges from her hiding places in the cool of the late afternoon.
She has surprisingly good teeth and grabs for the food when I hold it out for her. I’m pretty sure it would hurt like hell if she caught my fingers in her mouth. This week I came home to find another tortoise (as yet unnamed) and Hector mating. There are already several clutches of eggs buried in my garden and I look forward to the rains at which time they should appear.
There are already 43 hatchlings from Hector in a pen in my garden and when the two existing clutches and the forthcoming clutch, have hatched, the hatchlings are going to be like sardines in there. But are now my favourite animals – the tortoises. My heart has been melted by them.
You can’t walk them or have them on your lap but they come to you when they see you, they are motivated by food and Hector now let’s me stroke her head, no longer shrinking away from me. I wonder if she knows she’s my pet.