Thursday, June 25, 2009

Turtle in a bucket

The other day I changed the water in Raphael's pond. I have a blue ten-liter bucket that I use to lug the water back and forth. I've sometimes wondered how the turtles would react to a little swim in that bucket. Not Raphael, he's too big, but the other two. On Sunday I decided to test it. They were all wandering around the apartment ... we had been outside on the lawn for about an hour and it was pretty hot in the sun. Raphael's tough like that, but the little guys feel the heat quickly. So I thought maybe they'd enjoy a cool dip before going back in the tank. I know, it makes no sense! I admit it, I just wanted to see one of them swim in the bucket. :-)

I tried Herman first, but he just flat out refused to go in. Nope, not going in there. Maybe the color was too weird. Whatever it was, pushing it was useless, he wouldn't do it. :-D So I tried Henrik instead. He seems to feel the heat more than Herman, or at least he shows more of a reaction to it. It has to be extremely hot for Herman to hide himself away in the shade, but Henrik does that pretty quickly. It's not too bad, though - I pour a little water on him and he's energized immediately. :-) But he is more sensitive to it. This may be because he literally has a thicker skin than Herman, so that his skin becomes stiffer as it dries than Herman's does ... which I assume may be quite uncomfortable. Anyway. I figured he'd be interested in the water. And indeed he was. Henrik was happy to try the bucket once he'd had a chance to examine it a little. He sank to the bottom, then swam up and around and eventually started nipping my fingertips. So, feeling entirely comfortable in the bucket. Although of course it was rather less spacious than the 450-liter tank he's used to. :-)

Now look at these shoddy photos I took of my turtle in the bucket. :-)

Without flash, not a great idea ...

With flash, much better.

Sniffing around ... is there anything to be found here, I wonder ...

This one came out pretty well. I wonder what he could smell in there.

Hello, twolegs!!

When in water, beg!!

8 comments:

Paz said...

cute

Leisha Camden said...

I think so. :-)

Anonymous said...

I agree, cute!

Marthe said...

I think "Turtle in a bucket" was actually the working title for "Snakes on a Plane" :-)

Leisha Camden said...

Thanks, Margo ... although these pictures of him really aren't good. But it was hard to take them, he wouldn't hold still ... :-)

Marthe: I don't know why they would change such a brilliant title ... ! ;-)

Great to see you here, how are you?? I've been looking at your pictures on Flickr, wow, they're beautiful. :-) Did you get the text message I sent you to say happy birthday? A week late, but still ... :-)

Unknown said...

«Turtle in a bucket» would be a great name for a rock band!

Marthe said...

I did get the message and am flattered that you remembered the fact that I turned older and ever so much wiser. And I'm glad to hear that you like my pictures, yay :-)

I am good (apart from a lovely cold which does, despite its cleverly misleading name, blossom in this heat). You too, I hope? I love your blog :-) Should we perhaps try to arrange a real-life meeting one day, seeing as how we are practically neighbours? I'm at home for most of July, part II of my vacation begins on August 1st :-)

Leisha Camden said...

I always remember your birthday, because it's on the same day as the Dissolution of the Union ... :-) but it took me a week to text you, so I'm not sure it's all that impressive. ;-)

Sounds like you've got a summer cold - always a blast, isn't it. I'm fine, better than you, apparently. ;-) Sure, let's meet - I've been thinking that I want to shanghai you into BookCrossing, actually. ;-) Just let me know when you're available, and I'm sure we can work something out. I'll be in the city in June, too, mostly ... my vacation is the first three weeks of August. So ... let's see if we can't make this happen. :-)

DES: you're so right, I can't believe there isn't already a band like that.