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 My Tortoise, Molly

    Last September, I decided to take a big step in my life and become the mother of a baby Russian tortoise. Although I had done a lot of research, caring for a tortoise, especially a baby, takes work. They require exercise, the proper diet, vitamin supplements, correcting heating and lighting, bi-weekly baths, and almost constant supervision. For the first year I had Molly, I felt as though I was constantly fighting natural selection. She loved jumping off cliffs, such as my bed or the desk, and she was constantly flipping herself onto her back (which can cause them to overheat if under their lamp). Additionally, Molly's favorite food is rocks. As her mother, who would like to avoid invasive surgery, I have to keep a constant watch over her when she's outside to ensure she does not eat any hazardous snacks. Although being a tortoise mom is a lot of work, I love Molly and am so grateful to have her in my life. 

The day I got Molly

Diagnosed Sassy

   I had always told my friends that Molly was sassy and had quite the attitude. They would challenge me and ask how a tortoise could be sassy. However, my claim was supported during winter break when a veterinarian diagnosed her as "sassy." I returned from work to find both my parents on their hands and knees in a panic. They explained that Molly had escaped and fallen almost 4 feet down to the floor. When we finally found her, we rushed her to the emergency vet hospital. Tortoises are tricky animals to care for because of their shell. Even simple tasks like obtaining a heart rate can be challenging to get on a tortoise. When the doctor finally saw Molly, she came in and said, "Well, Molly looks fine, but WOW, she is the sassiest tortoise I have ever met!" Although I was relieved to hear that Molly was alright, I was disappointed that she gave the doctor attitude. We then got Molly home safe and fed her some carrots (her favorite food) while we reinforced her enclosure to prevent future escape missions. 

Molly and I in the waiting room at the vet hospital

 

Molly on a different day, still trying to escape

A Curious Cat... or Tortoise

   Molly is adventurous, so I always do my best to keep her engaged. In the wild, Russian tortoises live in harsh conditions, where they may have to walk a mile just to find food. A mile may sound like a long way for Molly's short little legs, but sure enough, she will walk around for hours when given the opportunity. I take her outside almost every day to help her get exercise and engage with her environment. Molly loves being outside and will try to sniff the leaves and eat the rocks. One of my favorite memories with Molly was when I took her to the Great Sand Dunes on a road trip. She climbed a whole dune by herself and loved being able to dig around in the sand. Since her life expectancy is 50 years, I look forward to all the time we will have to explore together. 

Study Buddy

Molly at the Grand Canyon

Molly in the car

Molly at Christmas

Molly Sandboarding 

Molly staring down her Halloween ghost