Franklin

This is Franklin (I sure hope he's a boy)

Franklin is a Sulcata Tortoise. The Sulcatas are the 3rd largest tortoises of the world. Franklin still has a lot of growing up to do to run with the best of them.

As I am learning more and more about this wonderful creature, I am learning that their care is about as critical and detailed as the care of a Great Dane ... just my luck, huh?

August 2007
Franklin is approx. 5 years old ... give or take a few years. He is about 6" long, but only weighs 2 lbs. 6 oz. (He is probably malnurished ... and should be weighing a lot more at his age). A full grown Sulcata typically is about 24 to 30 inches, and weighs up to 100 - 150 pounds. The largest living Sulcata weighs about 250 pounds. (Talk about a walking boulder). The Sulcatas live to be over 100 years old.

Sulcata's are the slow motion version of having a lawn mower and weed wacker all in one. Their main diet is grass and weeds. They can get some yummy veggies ... but just as a treat. They also require a constant heat source, and shelter at night.

Sulcata's, unlike other Tortoises, do not hibernate for the winter, so great care needs to be taken that they don't get exposed to the cold. (You know how cold it gets here in Southern California).

Since Franklin is expected to live a long, long time, this is the beginning of a very long relationship.

February 17, 2008
Update:
Franklin is doing very well. He has made it through our "cold" Southern California winter with only getting one little cold. He has recovered from that just fine.

Franklin now weighs 5#, 13 1/2 oz., and is 9" long. He is growing with leaps and bounds.

June 8, 2008
Update:
Franklin is now measuring in at 11 1/2 inches long. Yikes, he's growing fast.

October 25, 2008
Update:
Franklin had his annual vet visit to get ready for the winter. He was dewormed and had a good check over. This will probably be the last year that Dr. Chang will be able to deworm Franklin. He is getting so strong that it is hard to hold his head out. I am happy to say that Franklin is in very good health.

The best news is that Franklin is now weighing in at 12 lbs. 14.5 oz. (compared to the 2 lbs. 6 oz. when I first got him in Aug. last year.) Plus he is 13 inches long.

One of Franklin's behaviors when he is nervous or scared is to let loose of every ounce of pee he has been storing up in his body. That's exactly what he did at the vet's office. It was a mess ... I was holding him so it splattered everywhere. Needless to say, they weren't too pleased with him (or me) at the moment. Oops.

Franklin's Home Video:
"Franklin's 1st Adventure"

In celebration of the grand opening of Franklin's new suite, Franklin was the star of his first movie.

It's called "Franklin's 1st Adventure".

Click on the photo to see Franklin's first movie

Turn your volume up

Visit Franklin's Guestbook
and say "Hello" to him.

Click the book

FRANKLIN'S PHOTOS

A hearty breakfast of Dandelion Leaves
and Geranium Flowers

Franklin's Pen (Stage 1 & 2)

Franklin Gets an Awning ...

... an a Hibiscus Bush

There's Franklin, trying to find a cool spot

Then Franklin's new room addition: The Palatial Suite

Grand Opening: September 3, 2007

Franklin was granted access to his new suite today. He was in Tortoise heaven with all his new land to explore. He has spent most of the day navigating one end of the run to the other.

Below is the entrance to his new suite:

Inside Franklin's new suite, a retainer wall was put up to keep him away from a bad part of the fence. The poor little fellow was attacked twice by falling aluminum sheeting during the installation process (Oops!). Fortunately his hard shell protected him from harm.