The tales of the Wizkids

It's the little things that I have been observing lately. The butterflies in my garden as well as some strange looking bugs I had never seen before. I have a Monarch cocoon on one of my plants. It is a Monarch because of the gold spots and lines on it. I have been watching it so I don't disturb it or accidentally knock it off the leaf. Grasshoppers, Crickets, GoldFinches? and the resident Cardinal all have been sticking around the garden. The baby rabbits have hopefully moved on. I haven't seen them in several days and I hope that they are surviving.

The baby turtle is finally eating on its own. It likes red wigglers and small night crawlers cut in small pieces. It is slightly bigger than a quarter now. I'll have to take a few more pictures soon. I dropped some small crickets in the tank this morning. Hopefully it will get hungry and hunt. I do the same for the adult turtles. I just release crickets in the room and let the turtles hunt. There usually is a sly one who will survive by finding a good hiding place that the turtles can't get at.

The hermies are doing quite well. Lately the Wizkids have been eating everything in their food dish. As soon as a put fresh food in, they come out of their hiding spots and crowd the dish. One day there were four in the dish with a couple walking away. They literally cleaned their plate. I really haven't been giving them anything different. The Big Guys have recently done this as well. They seem to pig out one day, then take a rest for two days. They also like to eat at night when no one is watching.

My project list is getting smaller, though I still find things that need to be done. I have been in a trashing mood. Shredding old bills, old tax forms, old this and old that. Trashing things I haven't used in years and putting things in boxes for Amvets. You would think my house is becoming sparse, but that is not the case. There is still more to go through.

I am limited in my time frame because I do have a job this school year. It will be a hectic year as I already have 33 students on my list and the parents are still coming in to register as they move into the neighborhood. I only hope that schools get better funding and accounting so we don't go through this again.

By WhizKidsMom on Sat 24 of July, 2010 18:01 CDT

Well, almost. The calendar made me realize that I hadn't posted in a while. I've been busy with worry and projects. The worry: not being sure if I have a job come September. And if I make it through the cuts this year, will I make it through the next year's cuts. The uncertainty can drive a person nuts.

But then I have baby turtle to worry about as well. It is doing fine, but not eating on its own yet. I will need to go digging in my garden for some small sow bugs for it. It hasn't been interested in worms or mealworms.

The hermies are doing fine. One in the Wizkids tank is intent on escaping. Trouble is he meets up with the window screen that is across the top of the tank and can't get out. Itsie, my baby E, has grown quite a bit. She is still a pretty blue, but Digger the bigger E is a tan. They are my only two E's which makes it easy to tell them apart from the others.

The guys in the Big Guys tank have been pretty quiet which makes me wonder what they are planning. The saying quiet kids could mean trouble is true of hermies as well.

I made a list of projects I wanted to get done and my list is half crossed out. That makes me feel that I have indeed accomplished things. The one troubling problem is usually I find another project that needs to be done first and it isn't on the list. Or I didn't put something on the list, and I end up doing it a little at a time - like shampooing my rugs. I have two rooms done, but the rest will have to wait.

The heat, then the thunderstorms have limited my outdoor chores. I try to plan them around the weather, but it hasn't worked out too well. An example is mowing my lawn. It was to be done today, but between last night and this morning we got over 6 inches of rain. Now the lawn has to dry out some and geez, it looks like it grew 6 inches with the help of the lightening and rain water.

I do have good news in the baby animal department. A rabbit dug a nest in my back yard lawn and since May I have been avoiding it. I put a stake by it to remind me not to mow there and not to walk there as well. Well, sure enough, three baby rabbits came out late last week. They are hiding under some of my big leaf plants. Mother rabbit must feel her babies are safe in my yard.

Yes, I am a turtle grandma. It's rather a strange title, but it is unique. I've posted pictures on my web site here. Two other eggs are still being incubated. I haven't come up with a name yet. I think I'll wait for his/her personality to come out. The eyes are black right now, so I can't determine sex until the eye color comes out. Red eyes are generally males. The shell colors are slowly showing so it is only a matter of time.

He/she can not be placed with the adult turtles since he is so small and his shell is still in the soft stage. I am going to have to set up a tank for him with soft substrate and a very shallow water dish. And I have to start making baby food for him. Chopping up a small piece of worm in my kitchen is a site to see.

The hermies, I think, are jealous. They have begun trashing their tanks. The Big Guys keep digging near the food dish and not watching where the pile of substrate ends up. They normally are not like this. It could be they are telling me that they don't like what's left in their dish. In the next few days I have plans to do a cleaning of their tank and giving them fresh ecco earth replacing some already in the tank as well as giving them fresh coral sand.

The Wizkids are just digging holes all over the place. Going down in one place and coming up another. Digger was perched on top of another hermie's shell one night. When I saw that, I looked at him (through the glass) and said "What do you think you are doing?". Digger scurried off the shell and went to hide in one of the coco huts. Guilty, but of what I am unsure of.

One of my online stores had a new item that I couldn't resist. Whole cork bark - not just pieces. When they came, I had to think about how to use them. Of course, it took a few days and into the garage I went looking for a saw to cut the bark. I sliced it into 4 1/2 inch tunnels, then boiled the pieces in salt water. One piece broke as I was cutting, but it was still usable.

After a cool down, I placed a broken half in the Wizkids tank and one of the whole pieces in the Big Guys tank. It didn't take long for the hermies to realize something new was in the tank. Time to investigate.

The Big Guys must have smelled the cork as they slowly came out of their corners to investigate. One got there first and tried to move it. A second hermie decided to go inside and just sit. The third hermie took his time walking down from the second level to check it out.

In the Wizkids tank, I noticed a shell hanging on the inside of the bark upside down! A second hermie was on the top side taking a sample taste. I am sure they will all be coming out just to see what the commotion is all about. It is amazing how something simple will excite these guys and gals.

The turtle eggs are incubating well, though I am still not sure if they are fertile. I really don't want to disturb them while in the comfort of warmth and humidity.

The warm weather made me get out to tend to my garden. The roses are in bloom and they are beautiful. Working in the garden has always been a kind of therapy to me. My only frustration is that my hubby is not here to share the beauty of our work. The back yard was all grass when we moved in and we created the flower beds from scratch. Sigh

By WhizKidsMom on Sun 16 of May, 2010 08:02 CDT

The Wizkids' tank has seen a lot of activity suddenly. Changing of shells. One of my E's, Itsie, changed shells! This is a milestone as once she finds a good set of clothes, she keeps it. With the larger shell, she looks like she has grown a lot. Itsie is my smallest hermie. She is the sweetest one as well. She doesn't run and hide as often as she use to, either. I kept her old shell in the pile just in case she changes her mind and so far (a week later) she is still in her 'new' shell.

The rest of the hermies have been active. Lately I have counted 6 hermies walking around and conversing with others. Sweetness came too close to Harry last night. Harry stuck out a leg and pushed Sweetness away. Sweetness just turned around and walked away.

They all have been piggies as well. I put fresh food in their dish and within the hour, three are in it eating away. The same thing is happening in the Big Guys tank. You have to picture two very large shells (1 1/2 inch openings) pushing against each other to get to the best part of the food dish. This is the first time the food dishes are actually empty after a couple of hours.

Now the question is... Am I feeding them their favorites and they are licking the dishes clean? Or have they decided that if they don't eat what I put out, they may starve?

The turtles are doing well. Those eggs are being kept warm and humid. I don't want to handle them too much and disturb the warmth, humidity and the babies if any. To answer the question of blank turtle eggs, reptiles - especially turtles, will lay eggs whether they are fertile or not. Once their body produces eggs, they have to be laid to make room for next year's eggs.

All three Big guys were down for a molt at the same time. They came up this week fresh and hairy. They are not as frisky as they were before the molt. They haven't trashed the tank or made a mess. Calm is good. I wonder about the bully and if he is still at his games. I have read that demeanor can change after a molt, but I haven't observed this - yet. I am seriously thinking of moving the three to the bigger tank. I think I will give it a test run during the summer when I am home during day to watch over them.

The wizkids are doing fine. They do like the fresh moss I give them. They are my sentries. In the evening a couple of them are sitting near the glass just watching me. They do seem so much happier in the bigger tank.

As for the turtle eggs, it does take 50 to 90 days of incubation. I tried to candle them the other night and saw nothing in the way of growth. It could be those eggs are blanks or I didn't candle them correctly. Turtles can lay unfertilized eggs. I will just have to wait a couple more weeks before I can tell if they are 'good' or not. I'll keep you guys posted.

Hey - Happy Mother's Day to all mothers here.

By WhizKidsMom on Sun 18 of Apr., 2010 06:40 CDT

It seems that just about every hermie has dug down. The Big Guys have been hiding for the last week, not even coming up for food. It's nice not to have to fix a trashed tank, but a person does get worried when you don't see them or evidence of them being up. This morning showed some good evidence that they are moving. The humps in the substrate have changed. Isn't it ironic how the little observations make us happy?

The Wizkids seem to be in the same mentality. A couple are up on the surface and try to hide when I check on them, but there are more that are 'down under'. My first worry is if the substrate is wet enough for them. Then there is the 'I hope they aren't being bothered if they are molting' worry. I put out their favorite food last night (in both tanks) so hopefully the smell will get them up.

The turtles have been busy. One of my females laid some eggs. This is an early lay and there just may be more eggs in the next couple of weeks. I won't know if they are fertile for a couple of days. Last spring the eggs did not hatch and I think it is because of a number of reasons. One is temperature. They have to be kept at 80° and 80% humidity. I have an incubator on order and coming soon. It will help me keep the temperature and humidity stable especially with our goofy weather lately (down to 37° last night).

Now I am sure you are going to ask just what will I do with baby turtles. Good question because I ask myself that. They are tiny when first born and they need lots of protein in the way of meat. Maybe that is the great plan to keep me busy and occupied. Funny thought - grandma to turtles.

Yes, spring is here in Chicago. Actually it is unseasonably warm for this time of year. I think it is a trick from Mother Nature, so I won't pull out the lawnmower yet.

And with spring comes the spring chores. My muscles are sore and I am not done. The garden beds are cleaned up ready for the plants to come up many of which have started. The lawn is almost finished. I have to wait for the temperature to go down before spreading the first in a series of fertilizers. Its the early spring, spring, summer and fall applications that my hubby would do faithfully. I don't want to let his hard work go to the weeds. :-)

The hermies have been hiding lately. I do believe they feel the change in the weather. The unseasonably warm weather is always followed with a good rain storm. While the Wizkids have a large space to dig and hide, the Big Guys seem to think they don't have it big enough. They are digging all over the place making a mess in their wake. Once the rains come, I am sure they will all be up and hungry.

And with spring comes the ants. Every year ants try to find a good eating source in my house. I can only guess that nature's critters like me. The trouble this time, I can't find where they are coming in from so I can deter them. In the turtle room I use cinnamon sticks. Ants hate cinnamon. I put a small piece where the ants try to come in. I have caught a few trying to get in the container with the hermie food. That is what worries me as I can't find where they are coming in and this is my dinning room ! I will get them, that is for sure.

I have been trying to cope with the loneliness. At times it is hard to get motivated, but when I do make a decision, I act on it and get it crossed off my list.

I have noticed that the blogs are quiet lately. I do hope that it is because everyone is enjoying the spring weather and not in the east where major rain storms have caused problems.

Yes, life does goes on even when something precious and dear is taken away. I am trying my best to keep busy and occupied, but some days it is really hard to stay focused. Spring is a time of new life and I am doing my best to keep that thought front and forward in my brain.

Since the change to the medium crushed coral sand, the hermies are behaving. Most of them have dug down with the change in the weather. I know they will be back up soon. Those who have decided to stay up are being little piggies, eating and drinking to their hearts content. One morning, there were a lot of holes in the substrate. That's when I put some sardines in their food dish. The smell must have gotten their hungries awake.

With the warm weather came the moss in my garden. What a treat for the hermies. I harvested a bunch, cleaned it by picking out the little sticks and leaves, and 'served' it to them. I have several second level dishes with fresh moss. One dish had five hermies sitting very comfortable. A couple were eating while the others were sleeping. Probably burping as well.

The turtles are doing well. Some days they obviously are not hungry as their food dishes are barely touched by the time I get home from work. Other days, all four of the dishes are licked clean. Their room will need a super clean soon. It is on my list of things to do.

And that list keeps on growing. : )

By WhizKidsMom on Sun 14 of Mar., 2010 07:06 CDT

The hermies are keeping me busy. Do they feel the loss? Maybe. Are they keeping me on my toes? You bet.

The big guys have mellowed out as they are not trashing their tank like previously. I guess they got tired of me putting everything back. The Wizkids are moving around more. The molter was put back in the main tank and she immediately found a hiding spot. The rest are coming up from the tunnel digging as each morning I found more holes in the substrate.

Digger was the entertainment the other morning. He managed to get on top of the water filter (that serves as a water fall) and decided to climb up the power cord. As he climbed he stopped to rest and slid down. He worked his way up, stopped, and slid down again. Take one step, slide down two. He repeated this several times. It was hilarious. All he needed was a crowd under him to watch and encourage him up. He finally made it to the top of the tank. I am sure he was tired from that trip.
Itsie has been up to her old tricks, doing laps around the tank and scurrying away when I walk by. I bet she is afraid of her own shadow.

I did notice that the hermies do not like the new coral sand I got them. This bag was a fine crush of coral and sea shells. They dug under the fine crush to the bigger pieces. I got the hint and went back to the store for the medium crush. Now the job is to take out the old coral sand and replace it. I have to clean the plain water pool anyway, so I have a chore to do.

Thank you for all your sympathies. It is hard to adjust to life without your best friend. While I try to take the 'take charge' attitude, it is hard to plan the spring work for the garden without him, let alone make important decisions. I just plug along and hope that things get easier for me.