Henry meets his parents

For the first time in his life, little “Henry”, our first baby Sulcata Tortoise to hatch, had the opportunity to be outside in our tortoise yard. Under close supervision he had the opportunity to meet his parents. These pictures really show you how big these tortoises get!

In the wild, young Sulcatas would never have the opportunity to meet their parents. From day one they are out to fend for themselves. Here, Henry is on top of Tinkerbelle’s shell. Believe it or not he will be that size in less than 6 years!

They can live to be over 100 years old and weigh up to 200 lbs! These grazing machines require large habitats and indoor set-ups in cooler climates. Our goal is to get all 17 babies outdoors this summer in a separate habitat. This way they can get the beneficial vitamin D3 from the sun.

For more updates follow us @ www.twitter.com/corbinmaxey

Welcome to the World!!!

A lot has been happening around here lately. Just a few days ago, Tinkerbelle our African Sulcata Tortoise’s eggs began hatching! She laid 18 of them in mid October and to our astonishment they hatched in less than five months!

We pulled the eggs from her nest due to Idaho’s harsh winters and put all 18 in a plastic container filled with vermiculite. We misted the container once a week and allowed fresh air to seep in. On February 12, 2010 we saw the first signs of hatching!

The babies can take up to 24-72 hours to hatch. They use their egg tooth to break through the leathery shell. The first one to hatch was properly named “Henry.”

Some babies still have their yolk sac attached. The vital sac is where the babies receive their food and nutrients. It generally absorbs in 2-3 days and the young tortoises will then begin feeding.

They eat a diet of finely chopped grasses and dark leafy greens like collards and kale. We then sprinkle vitamins and minerals over the top to insure the little ones get proper growth and development.

Lastly, they are all marked individually by a single colored dot. This enables us to keep track of each tortoise. Unfortunately at this age you cannot tell whether they are male or female. I guess we will have to wait several years before we can decide “who’s who.” For more up-to-date information about our new babies follow us at www.twitter.com/corbinmaxey A special thanks goes out to Melissa Kaplan’s article on “Sulcata Tortoises” http://www.anapsid.org/sulcata.html

Feeding Soni

Ever wonder what it’s like to feed a hungry gator? Here’s a sneak-peak at what I see every time I feed Soni our 6-foot American Alligator.

Soni eats 2-3 times a week depending on the time of year, his mood, and of course his appetite! Variety is the key when feeding these animals. If you think about it, would you like to eat the same thing every week?

We feed him chicken, tilapia (fish), rats, beef, and occasionally crustaceans. Just like us, Soni doesn’t like everything he’s offered. Items he has never really taken to include cockroaches and baby chicks.

He’s even trained by the sound of a clap! On feeding day all I have to do to get him out of his pool is by simply clapping my hands together once. Claps, clickers, and various sounds are all used as feeding techniques for safety and animal enrichment. For more information about alligators please visit www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-crocodile.html

5 facts you didn't know about camels

Just recently I had the opportunity to work with a camel named Clyde on News Channel 7. I learned a lot of amazing facts and decided to put together 5 facts that most people don’t know about camels. For instance: Did you know camel poop is so dry you can start a fire with it?

Did you know that camels have two rows of long, thick eyelashes that protect their eyes from the desert dust? These long lashes would make any women jealous!

A thirsty camel can drink 30 gallons of water in just 15 minutes! Contrary to popular belief camels don’t store water in their humps. Instead it’s made of fatty tissue that they can use when food is scarce.

Camels are vegetarians preferring grass and gains although during harsh times they will resort to eating bones, thorns, meat, and even their owner’s tents!

Camels don’t really spit on you (It would waste water). They are actually throwing up on you. For this and more interesting facts, watch the full segment here www.ktvb.com/video/featured-videos/Camel-visits-the-Saturday-Morning-News-81883322.html

Welcome Godzilla!!!

Here’s a sneak-peak at one of our most recent rescues! This is a 2 foot Green Iguana named Godzilla (please don’t blame me for the name…he came with it)! I rescued him last Monday in Boise where he was living in an apartment window seal. He had no proper UV lights, heat sources, or access to water.

Unfortunately, Godzilla’s owners had no idea how to take of a Green Iguana. They were informed by a pet store to feed him lettuce, crickets, and mealworms. NONE of these items should ever be offered to an iguana! They are complete vegetarians that require dark leafy greens, vegetables, and occasionally fruit.

If you look closely, you can see that his jaw is a little swollen. This is a calcium deficiency problem that can be caused by several factors including an inadequate diet, lack of UV light, and not being offered the right vitamins and minerals. If you want more information about how to properly care for iguanas, please visit our friends at www.greenigsociety.org