Meet Sheldon
Well, I suppose it isn’t every day that ya all get to meet a tortoise on the farm, but here we are. Sheldon became a part of our herd when he was just a wee lad. I know, I know…..he is not exactly a farm animal, but he is an important part of the team.
At first Sheldon was actually Lilly. He was so small it was hard to tell that she was really a he, but more on that later.
Sheldon is a red-footed tortoise and an intrical part of our farm program called Triple F Animal Adventures. In fact, he is the first animal we used for this program. To learn more about these Animal Adventures, click HERE.
Red-footed tortoises are very popular as pets.
If you are looking to get a tortoise, I highly recommend this species. They are easy to care for and quite docile. However, like most tortoises, they have a long lifespan, 50 plus years, so be prepared to care for them for a long time.
These handsome devils are native to South America and on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Barbados.
They have been imported for the pet trade, but now can be bought in the states from reputable breeders, this is how we obtained Sheldon. They grow large, but not quite as big as some tortoise species. Male red-footed tortoises are larger than females and grow up to 13.5 inches (34 centimeters) long and can weigh up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms). Females average 11.25 inches (28.5 centimeters) long.
Speaking of male and females, do you know how to tell the difference between the sexes?
There are a couple of ways to tell. The first is the tail. In most species of tortoise, females will have significantly smaller tails than males. Mature male tortoises often have a concave-shaped plastron (bottom shell). Females have flatter plastron. It can be difficult to tell the difference of a juvenile tortoise, so you may need to wait until your tortoise matures. This is what happened to us. Sheldon’s plastron was flat for a long time, and then started to curve. In captivity, tortoises typically reach maturity when they are between 4 and 8 years old.
Red-footed tortoises love to eat, and Sheldon is no exception.
He has NEVER turned down a meal. They are omnivore, which means that eat both plants and animals. Even though they do eat protein, it is important that they are not overfed protein sources, but rather rely mostly on a wide variety of greens, fruits, and veggies and edible flowers. Too much protein can cause his shell to pyramid. Sheldon’s favorite is probably bananas. He tends to munch on those first before eating his greens. Typical, right?
Sheldon loves the outdoors when it is warm enough in the spring and summer
He tends to be somewhat of a Houdini, and can find holes in his outdoor enclosure. He will actually circumvent his area and look for them. Yes, he has escaped a few times and about given me a heart attack when I couldn’t find him.
Sheldon, as well as the other animals, would love to come visit you. Maybe you have a birthday party coming up, or camp. Our outreach program would be perfect for you. To find out more, click HERE