The Elephant In The Room

At long last, I have finally done a top notch job in providing our turtles (how long have we had these guys- 15, 20 years?) a nice place to live? Reptiles are strong and reptiles are messy. We raised them when they were as small than the size of a quarter. Nursed them from the lethargic state that they had been in by rubbing meat on those mouths until they ate, provided a sun lamp to charge them up and gave them clean water. Llater a filtration system to keep their water reasonably so. Sold in the streets of Chinatown in little plastic cartons piled ten units high in rows of six or seven but with no instructions on how to provide care and life for these near lifeless babies.



Of course the realization that these guys (actually two females- occasionally laying an unfertilized egg or two) may outlive us. Over time their habitat have grown in size but because of their natural messy reptilian ways, the sunlight bringing algae on the sides of the tank and recently, the lack of a working sink (that's the big one!) in their area has made their home kinda funky. For too long. Now the size of a pot pie (smaller turtle) and a mini pizza (larger) I've been relieved that their shells are hard and healthy. Eyes clear and appetite present except in the winter when they hibernate ,eat and move less.



I know Maria has stayed out of the room feeling that the turtles, unofficially named Bud and Lou were not doing well. Dexter has decided that he wants to use this room as his room so it's been time to make it a good room. Dext has also been persistent in getting to me to tackle the task and this Saturday we dedicated ourselves in doing so. The past weeks spent accumulating supplies but now I could not stall any longer.

Devising a plan of transport (buckets of liquid sludge with intentionally blurred vision and slow breaths) using various tools for intense cleaning, we were able to wash their habitat surprisingly thorough. However, the state of the tank was worn; the seals were stripped and while probably still very functional, the thought of turtle waste leaking is not an appealing (nor healthy) one. So Sunday we went out to get a new habitat.

Going spare with the design; room to swim, room to sun, with a quiet powerful filter. It looks great to us. We think they like it and despite the changes in their usual quiet of winter, Bud and Lou are once again back in the groove. The elephant has left the building.