Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Pookie, Pebbles Hoover & Humphrey's big day


(This is a loooooonnnnnngggg post lol)


Here you see Pookie (smaller turtle on left side), Pebbles (larger turtle on right side), Hoover (pleco on left side) and Humphrey (pleco on right side). They have been living in my 125 gallon tank. The turtles are Red Eared Sliders. Yesterday was a full day for them, but let me give you their background story first.





When I got Pookie he was about 2 inches long. His previous owner was a 5 yr old kid whom the parents never should have given the responsibilities of a turtle. Poor baby was malnourished  living is a little bitty tank with 1/2 inch water, no basking lamp (turtles need to bask to digest food). Needless to say he was one pathetic little turtle. I put him in the tank and found out he didn't know how to swim, didn't understand basking etc. In desperation I went to a reptile store I know asking what I could do since he wasn't doing well at all. At the time I didn't even know he was a male since he was so small. And it is against the law to sell turtles who are under 4 inches across the shell (from head to tail not counting head and tail). It was recommended that I get another turtle to help him learn to be a turtle. So this is how Pebbles came into the picture.



Pebble was right at 4 inches and a happy outgoing turtle. She did her job well and taught Pookie how to be a good little turtle.

They also shared their tank with 2 plecos. Hoover who I got from my ex's nephew. Poor Hoover was sitting in a plastic container on top of the toilet. I asked if he was planning on committing suicide lol. They had gotten rid of his tank and didn't know what to do with him. So Hoover came home with me (I think this was back in 2004 or so). He was quite happy hanging out in my 55 gallon tank with some goldfish.


My parents moved to Houston and bought a house. Well the house came with a filthy tank (20 gallon). In it there were 2 big plecos and several smaller fish, no filter, there was sooo much algae etc that we didn't even know what all was in there until I cleaned it out. My sister took 1 of the plecos (Hannibal) and I took the other one (Humphrey). Humphrey moved in with Hoover and what fish I had at the time and were both pretty happy. Hoover is about 8 inches long and Humphrey close to 10.


I upgrade their tank from a 55 gallon to a 125 gallon last year.

6 feet across, with custom basking area, and the mother of all filters Fluval FX5. A lot of work but so worth it. Both the turtles and the plecos were doing well, eating, growing. Overall who wouldn't want to live there lol.

If I had a yard I would have built a pond for them.

Fast forward to last week. I come home from work and walk the dogs etc, feed the cats and dogs, then check on the turtles. I do a head count and realize I'm a turtle short!!! OMG Pebbles had figured a way out of the tank. It looks like she squeezed thru a small opening on the basking area, and took a jump down. I'm frantically looking for her everywhere. I call my sis up to come and help me. saying Pebbles has run away. She calmly tells me that Pebbles is a turtle in a 125 gallon tank and can't have run away. Well she had lol. I finally find her on the other side of the apt happily walking around having the time of her life. You'd think my 2 dog and 2 cats might have be interested in her or something. No such luck lol, they totally ignored her.


I put her back in the tank, fix the hole and think that is the last of it. Unfortunately Pebbles had now had freedom and she had no intention of staying put.

This is when I realized things had to change. I talked to a friend of mine who lives on a bunch of land and who had 3 huge ponds with turtles in them. She was more than happy to take them. Knowing they would fit in nicely and would have all the space they needed.


So when I got both turtles out of the tank I measured them to see how much they had grown. Pookie went from barely 2 inches to good sized 5 inches. And Pebbles from 4 inches to 8 inches. My reptile vet gave both of them a clean bill of health so they were good to go. I was really sad to see them go but know they will be so much happier with my friend. She promised to get pics for me.

I decided that at this point I didn't want anymore fish or turtles. So I sold my tank and the guy who bought it took Hoover and Humphrey too. He was the same guy who had bought my old 55 gallon tank, so I knew they were going to a good home.

So my zoo is a bit smaller today. It was weird going into the living room and not see the tank there. I'm going to miss all 4 of them but know it was the best for them.

30 comments:

Kaz said...

Awww, but it was for the best. You're a good mommy!
Glad that the other pets left Pebbles in peace on her adventure.

Anonymous said...

You are a remarkable person AK. I mean that from the heart.
I hope all your babies will be as happy in thier new homes as they were with you!!!
Pebbles what a sneak!!!

amy

cindy said...

Oh AK that is a wonderful thing you did for them, sorry to hear that you had to get rid of them but hey a huge pond to call all their own...... what a way to live.
I cant believe that pebbles escaped that tank looks amazing....
I know how hard it is to let go of one of the family, last week I had to take the cats in to their new homes, I am so allergic to them and now so is Katiebug so it was hard to let the kitties go but both of us feel so much better and as compensation for tearing them away from the kids I got them a Guinea Pig named Miss Piggy..... I think they are happy with that cause the kids love trying to take care of her..... So now I am down to 1 dog and one guinea pig, I feel better and know the kitties are having a blast in their new home with their new owners....
CindyMac

Qwill said...

You are wonderful! What a great thing to do for your turtles. We'd love to see pictures of them in their new home!

Michele Bardsley said...

Aw! It's so hard when we have to do the right thing for the animals we love. WTG! I know your turtles will be happy in their new home.

Rottie_mom said...

Kaz,

Thanks, I knew they were going to get bigger just didn't expect such an adventure lol.

Rottie_mom said...

Amy,

Thanks, I really would have loved to keep them but I want them to be happy and healthy. And since Ms Pebbles had found freedom she had no intention of staying in the tank LOL.

Rottie_mom said...

Cindy,

I know lol if I was a turtle I'd like it too LOL. But they are what they are and really have been great pets and I know they are in a great place so that helps a lot.

Im so sorry about your kitties. I know how hard it is to have to do that. Good to hear both of you are feeling better.

Rottie_mom said...

Qwill,

Thanks when it comes to pets in my life it tends to be an adventure. I'll def post pics when I get them!

Rottie_mom said...

Michele,

Thanks, sucks to do the right thing sometimes lol, but it is the best for them. Can't wait to see you in March :)

Brandy said...

Aww, Anne_Katherine, you are a good woman with a good heart. I'm sure your babies will have a good new home. Because you found it for them.

Dru said...

aaawwwww, you did the right thing and I know you'll miss them. Are they near so that you can visit?

Melissa McClone said...

They are going to be so happy out and about. It's a hard, but wonderful thing you're doing for the turtles. And sounds like the fishies lucked out too!

Sandi Shilhanek said...

WHat a nice thing to do for your pets. Now what nice thing are you doing for you?

Rottie_mom said...

Thanks Brandy. It was hard but I knew that they would be sooo much happier out in a pond and with warm weather soo many months of the year here in Houston all is good.

Rottie_mom said...

Thanks Dru. It shouldn't be too hard to go and visit them. Im happy with their new home and the lady who will be taking care of them.

Rottie_mom said...

Thanks Melissa. I'd hoped to have a few more years with them before having to take the next step. But can't get in the way of a determined turtle lol.

Rottie_mom said...

Thanks Sandi. Well the nice thing I did for me was get a netbook and just received my kindle 2 lol.

Crazy Lady said...

You're such a good mommy! And obviously you did a good job with them all. And my gods, those plecos get HUGE and FAST! Mine outgrew the 10 gallon tank I had in a matter of weeks, I think! And sadly, I agree - the life of my pets is more exciting than MINE any day...

Rottie_mom said...

Thanks crazy lady. The plecos grew about 1 inch in the years I had them, I think they would have kept growing in that tank since it was sooo much bigger.

Georgeous said...

My Mummy is known as Pooky! She said you'd like to hear this story: that one of her previous Rotties just adored watching fish tanks! In the V. E. T's he'd just sit and watch the tank whilst all the dogs barked at him. She said he'd even fell into a pond when loking at fish.
Love George

Rottie_mom said...

Oh George what a great story!!! Love to hearing about things like that!

Mack said...

Oh I guess you are JUST the person I need to talk to!! I am starting up a tank myself (This is Mack's mom BTW!). It's only a 5 gallon and I haven't even started cycling it yet. I am having problems with heaters. I can't get either one of my new ones to work. But anyhoo, I am thinking about getting a Betta. Can't wait!
But you definetly did the right thing for your water babies! If you ever think about starting a tank call me! I have oodles of EcoComplete you can have!

Mack said...

oooh you have a Kindle?? My hubby wants one so bad. He has a birthday next month too....


-Amy

Rottie_mom said...

Hey Mack's Mom, Hope you get your heater up and running. I had a betta but unfortunately when I moved something happened and he died within a few hours of getting set up.

Would love to see pics when you are up and running. Have you heard of this great site
http://www.bettatalk.com/

For now I'm waiting on setting anything else up lol.

Oh I love my kindle, it is so nice having all those books at my fingertips and the downloads are so easy. Best part is the price, cheaper than buying actual books.

♥MONA + MOMMY TOO♥ said...

Hi,

Things have been so hectic around here and very busy, sorry we haven't stopped by in awhile. Saturday, I'm going to go to the invitation stuffing party for our Spring Fling in April. Maybe you might like to come. Are you going to be at Paws in the Park in Pearland or is your Mom. It wouild be great if she was there. I need to have her tell me whats going on with Mona.

Sarah

Rottie_mom said...

Hey Sarah,

Sorry didn't see this last week. Not sure if I'll make it to Paws in the park, can you send me the info about it? My mom is pretty much booked every weekend up for the next 6 months or so.

Is Mona doing something different?

You can always contact her thru her website, her email and phone number are on it.

http://www.freewebs.com/lai-psychic/

Selba said...

Hello...

This is our first time in here :)

Our grandma loves turtle, in fact, we have 2 turtles with very loooongg neck in our house, their name is Max and Moritz.

Can understand clearly how you miss your turtles right now but as you said, it's the best for them :)

Licks,
Adele, Vincent & Bella

Rottie_mom said...

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the internet. I do love turtles and of the 2 I really miss Pebbles the female (bigger one) She is very friendly and outgoing.

I'd love to see pics of your babies too!

~THE OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST ~ said...

Awe it really was for the best! It must have been hard for you.

My pleco ( Leonard ) got so big I took him in to Balt to the Aquarium. They were thrilled to get him. He was way to big for my tank.

Hugs~ Linda~