Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have had Bonny a CB 1 year old now for 4 weeks and she is as shy as ever. SHe does take food from my hand now and has wandered alittle in her 4'x4' habitat, but she still hides for 21 hours at a time until I get home and gently find her in the cypress mulch/spag moss/coco subsrtait. Then she baths/basks for a couple of hours; then eats more and more each day;then finds a hide and digs in. This is a "wonderfully challenging species" who does exactly what she wants. WIth minimal contact with humans as a baby, I'm sure the plane ride, a new habitat indoors, different humidity and heat sources and no brothers and sisters have shocked her. Not to mention this monster who keeps picking her up and trying to feed her and push her to do things.

We keep the area quiet adn as natural as possible. We are waiting for a good calm/hot day to put her into her new outdoor habitat for alttle while( its got a view to die for of the whole San Francisco bay, really)but the pacific ocaen has not been kind to us this spring: afternoon temps in the 70's and winds everyday 25 to 35 mph; so we do not put her out yet. The Hermanns love it thought, they dig in and hold on as the winds blow over there shells.

The Burmese has shown me that I'm not the master of anything and I'm here to serve and understand. To get a positive response from her is a joy, but they are few and far between at this stage. I can see now what a human mother must go thru during child rearing and all that; I never had any kids but this has been a real learning experience that I really needed and it has changed me forever.
My wife loves the Hermanns and that is her thing, I wanted the Burmese after studying all the details of what is going on in the golden triangle area to them and how difficult it is to keep and be successful with this species. I guess I thought it would have less mental effect on me, but its made me more of a tortoise rights activist to try and keep these reptiles in there natural world and leave them alone! Like all humans really want for themselves! It would be wonderful to raise then release back into a safe natural habitat, so lets all get together and buy a preserve in southeast asia.

Terry

I also keep this species. I have three phayrei and three emys. I purchased two recent imports late last year and they were such a challenge to acclimate. The two that I received were 6" and 8" in diameter. They flatly refused to eat anything that I placed in their tub enclosure. They were badly infested with red pinworms that my vet had never seen before. I soaked them everyday and even though they would not eat in their enclosure they began to eat FROM A SPOON in my kitchen. I hand fed them through all their worming meds and they learned to love soaked Mazuri from the spoon. The larger of the two was so shy and slept in the enclosure 24/7. I feared that they wouldn't survive. But they did. Now they are outside in their pen and thriving. The larger watches for me to arrive every morning and immediately comes stomping for her breakfast. They are again gaining weight and loving the sunshine. Because they were so difficult at first they have become my favorite torts. They do take time to adjust but when they do they're fantastic.

All the troubles/questions your having are what make them soo interesting. I've had my two year olds almost one year and they are now just starting to grow for me. Seemed like when I first got them, they didn't want to do anything. But like someone else said, one they are settled in (WC or CH)they really seem to take off.

Good Luck!!
Barry

1, the kidos:... aren't you glad you didn't have to wear ear-plugs at least with your tort.
2, your Burm: ...he/she will eventually wants to sit on your lap all day until you can't take it no more!!!
3, southeastasiawestand:...a piece of it? wonderful idea...if we can rid of all the craps & corruptions that came with it.
4, ...be patient... ...be patient... ...be patient... ...be patient...