I thought it was time that I share with the world the reason that Wednesdays are nearly wordless. This is for Gilly, who never fails to wish me a Happy Tortoise Day. Here’s insight into the secret life I lead. On Wednesdays, I volunteer in the reptile department of my zoo. I soak feces from endangered species. Truly, I am living the dream. Here are some of my favorites.
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Cape speckled tortoise, also known as a Padloper. The smallest tortoise species. It is also one of the prettiest.
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Pyxis arachnoides. A sub-species of spider tortoise from Madagascar. And it's dinner time. I don't feed. I deal with the aftermath. Professor of Poop, that's me.
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Manouria impressa. The prettiest baby I have ever seen. This one is about the size of an oreo cookie. But don't eat it. It's sharp!
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My boss holding one of the baby Aldabras. That was 4 years ago. The tortoise is now five times this size.
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Eventually that baby tortoise will grow into one of these. Hey, Tex, you've got something on your face. It's hardly noticeable.
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Chow time! Don't feel sorry for the little guy. He may be outweighed by several hundred pounds, but he gives as good as he gets.
Happy Tortoise Day! May all your poop-soaking dreams come true in the new year.
Gilly
January 4, 2012 at 9:07 am
I loooooove the pics!! From the big guys to the spike-y Oreo cookie sized. I could eat them up! But I won’t!! No, I won’t. HAPPY TORTOISE DAY!!
I am so jealous of your poop soaking Wednesdays!
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 9:08 am
Who knew that poop-soaking could be so great? But it really is. It’s the highlight of my week!
Sara no "H"
January 4, 2012 at 9:16 am
Wow..that is pretty insane (in an awesome way). How cool for you.
I don’t handle poop though. Don’t ask me how I dealt with my kids until they were potty trained.
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 9:42 am
Insane might actually be my middle name.
Sandra Parsons
January 4, 2012 at 9:45 am
That is absolutley awesome! I dig turtles and tortoises (even though I never know how to pronounce them properly). I used to be a turtle ranger in Cape Verde which was endless stress but sooooo cool! And only yesterday I went to the local zoo with the little monster and our giant tortoises put on a mighty mating scene, specifically for me. I swear!
My favourite pic is of the spider tortoises feeding. No pushing, no misbehaving, just peaceful, geometric feeding. Too cute!
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 9:56 am
Our aldabras do a little mate-y dance all the time. But they are males. This past summer, we had females that were on loan from another zoo. It was the best summer of poor Tex’s life. His role of hapless victim was put away for a few months.
rose
January 4, 2012 at 10:08 am
I like turtles for some reason. I think they are incredibly ugly and prehistoric looking. We have those huge snappers that look like they are a thousand years old around our place because of the river. My dad used to get us baby turtles to raise when we were younguns. That was fun.
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 12:32 pm
They really are prehistoric looking. Like dinosaurs. That won’t eat you.
GingerSnaap
January 4, 2012 at 11:53 am
Oh.My.GAWD! These guys are precious! Best job ever- can’t be much different than handling human baby poop, right? Moms are EXPERTS at that!
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 12:31 pm
It’s waaaay better than dealing with human-child poop. I find it much less satisfying when Squish slips a floater when he soaks than when the tortoises do it.
EduDad
January 4, 2012 at 12:32 pm
I didn’t realize you actually worked in a zoo. That’s awesome. I have a funny zoo story about poo.
A zoologist I know was inspecting elephant feces and in the distance he heard a mother saying to her son, “See. That’s where you’ll be if you don’t pick up your grades, cleaning up crap in a zoo.”
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 12:34 pm
What’s really funny is that if he doesn’t pick up his grades, he’ll never get to pick up elephant poo. Elephant keeping is the pinnacle. Most people never make it that far up the ladder.
EduDad
January 4, 2012 at 12:40 pm
That is a cool fact that I will definitely be passing on to my students. I teach Grade 3 and any conversation about poo is always a big hit.
Jo Lynn
January 4, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Ok I have to know what you mean by “soaking” the poo?
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 12:41 pm
I soak them in warm water until they poo. Just like a day at the spa. Which may explain why I’ve been banned from the spa. My bad.
Jo Lynn
January 4, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Oh so you soak the turtles! What a relief, well for me and the turtles I suppose. I will remember the spa etiquette advice.
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 12:46 pm
@Edudad – I taught a class at the zoo called “The Scoop on Poop.” Giraffe poop comes in pellets about the size of a thumb. Or smaller. The first nugget of a grizzly bear after hibernation is about the size of a man’s arm. You’re welcome.
EduDad
January 4, 2012 at 2:24 pm
We live in Grizzly Bear country so this fact is going to win me big points. Awesome! Thank you. Ha ha!
Elyse
January 4, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Poop-soaking is now all the rage, thanks to you!
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 1:01 pm
I am nothing if not a trend-setter. Or maybe I’m an Irish Setter. I forget.
Balsillie & Associates
January 4, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I used to have a pair of red eareds as a child
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 1:30 pm
They are so personable.
Patrick
January 4, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Happy Tortoise Day! You’re fulfilling a childhood dream of mine – I’m so jealous. Those are some amazing critters.
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 1:21 pm
What child doesn’t dream of tortoise turds?
Craftwhack
January 4, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Oh my. Happy tortoise day, and you are a brave soul. I love all things reptile!
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I’m making up for a childhood that was sorely lacking in scaly friends. My kids have no idea how lucky they are!
Chris Sheridan
January 4, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Thanks for making it so much fun to come here. I never know what to expect, and I really enjoy that. This just isn’t the same old sh*t at all, and you are becomingcliche in name only!
becomingcliche
January 4, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I never know what to expect, either. I surprise myself. I’m fun to play hide-and-seek with, too.
Sarah Wilken
January 4, 2012 at 9:11 pm
OK, my son really wants a Russian Tortoise. Is this a good idea or should I say no? If I do get one, what would be the requirements to take proper care of said tortoise…size habitat, and accessories?
becomingcliche
January 5, 2012 at 8:17 am
Check your state laws. It’s not always legal to have them. They will also outlive you if you care for them properly, so make sure your family wants it THAT bad.
You’ll want ultra-violet light and a heat lamp, and I’d get a big tub that landscapers sink into the ground and use as ponds. Fill it with sandy soil. They don’t eat fruit at all, nor do they eat crickets. Strictly veggies and grasses. If you can keep them outdoors, so much the better.
They are very, very personable. Our red-foot tortoise was like a dog with a shell. My daughter used to paint her feet with tempera paint and let her walk across paper. She saved the “paintings.”
ceciliag
January 4, 2012 at 9:26 pm
WOW.. WOW.. that is tremendous, you really do live in a zoo. once a week! How fantastic.. hats off!! c
whatimeant2say
January 4, 2012 at 10:25 pm
OK. I’m afraid to ask, but I will. Why do you have to soak them in warm water until they poo? Are they constipated or something?
Great pics!
becomingcliche
January 5, 2012 at 8:19 am
They are desert tortoises, and they only get water once a week in captivity (it’ s still more water than they would see in a year in the wild). So we soak them to let them get a drink, and then it all slides out.
adalamar
January 4, 2012 at 11:07 pm
I have nominated you for the Kreatve Blogger Award! http://adalamar.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/kreative-blogger-award/
becomingcliche
January 5, 2012 at 8:20 am
Thank you so much! That’s amazing. I’ll be by to check it out in a bit!
"M" is for Marriage and Motherhood... And for Me
January 5, 2012 at 12:09 am
Love the pictures! But I like better that I am your 667 follower and not the preceding number
becomingcliche
January 5, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I’m so glad you slipped in there right after the Beast!
omawarisan
January 5, 2012 at 8:19 am
So cool that you do that for the zoo, and yourself!
becomingcliche
January 5, 2012 at 8:20 am
It really is a gift to myself. I am a different person after Tortoise day. It’s like a day at the spa.
lorrelee1970
January 6, 2012 at 12:48 pm
So prehistoric looking. Hey….The job sounds interesting and pretty unique.
becomingcliche
January 6, 2012 at 4:20 pm
It really is like touching a dinosaur. So amazing.
northerntortoise
January 7, 2012 at 8:57 am
What really amuses me? January 4, 2012 is the day I bought my leopard tortoise.
Do you happen to have any advice on what kind of diet will ensure he has a slow, sustained growth?
becomingcliche
January 11, 2012 at 7:24 am
They tend to grow fast, no matter what. They need lots of grasses and very little fruit. I love tortoises so much. Many of them become surprisingly responsive to the humans that care for them.