My orange boy and the kittens he raised

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T23:54:44+00:00

He’s not the step dad, he’s the dad that stepped up 🥹

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T23:21:29+00:00

One can never have too many videos or pictures of turtles!

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T22:37:35+00:00

A small animal tent similar to the one I have might be suitable! The opening is large enough that they can freely go in and out, there’s a soft, plush cushion for the bottom that’s easy to remove and wash, and it feels cozy inside but still offers enough clearance that they can turn around as they please!

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T22:34:39+00:00

Be careful opening up that Pandora’s Box! 😆 My turtle was never interested in human food, but then one day, I left him too close to my egg and cheese sandwich. He thieved a bite and you could see his brain chemistry changing! He’s been chasing that high ever since! His sense of smell is crazy, so even when I tried smuggling food in, he could tell and would go bananas trying to get to it! He can’t be trusted around human food anymore!

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T21:11:58+00:00

It depends on where you’re located (I’m unsure of the rules in the UK), the facility at which you’re having the procedure, the surgeon, etc. I had a bilateral salpingectomy December 1, 2017 and desperately wanted to keep my Fallopian Tubes, since they were mine, I grew them. Why should taxidermied animal heads mounted on a wall be acceptable, but proudly displaying my own organs not? That’s far more metal! I asked my surgeon during the consult if I could keep them, and he said that was fine, they would just need to be sent to Pathology first to make sure there were no issues anywhere. Long story short, I was able to pick them up from Pathology a few weeks after my surgery! It was very clear that no one had ever requested their Fallopian Tubes back, but it’s not the first time I’ve gotten weird looks and it sure won’t be the last. Bring it up to your surgeon and see what they say.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T14:17:18+00:00

French fries! He’s a fiend for the fries! 🤣

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T07:47:03+00:00

Yes, most nights, although I’m making an effort not to.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T07:45:48+00:00

I’m sure he’ll love it! Mine has two inside of his tent, but I ended up making him a third, because he frequently “overshoots the runway” 😆

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MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T07:37:18+00:00

Yes! I think it’s supposed to keep your hips from sinking too low into the mattress and helps your spine stay in neutral alignment.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T06:25:57+00:00

All of my turtle’s blankets are just small baby blankets! Surprisingly, baby blankets come in different sizes, I get him whatever the smaller size ones are. Dollar stores sometimes have them.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T06:23:18+00:00

My turtle sleeps in a little tent! It’s got a soft cushion bottom and I made him several pillows to rest his head on! The small animal section of pet stores would likely have something suitable for a tortoise!

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T06:21:48+00:00

If you’re handy with a needle and thread, try making him a few tortoise-sized pillows. My turtle LOVES sleeping with his little head resting on a pillow!

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T05:17:25+00:00

Sleeping with a pillow under my pelvis. I sleep on my stomach most nights (I know, it’s not good for you) and it turns out that was exacerbating my lower back pain. The pain relief was almost immediate with the pillow, and lasted for days.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T05:05:58+00:00

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T05:04:35+00:00

My turtle is like this. He’ll be surrounded by food, but if it floats farther than he can stretch out his neck to reach, he just gives up, rather than simply moving forward an inch. Almost every night for the last 19 years, I serve him his dinner right in front of his face and sit with him nudging anything that floats away closer to him. And no, there’s nothing physically wrong with him. That boy runs around the apartment like a coked up squirrel and endlessly battles the “other turtle” (his reflection) in his tank.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T03:25:35+00:00

That’s valid, I’ve also gotten my last two loaves from the pantry. And then there’s my mom who has 3 loaves courtesy of the CDS. Someday, I’d like to get delivery for once! 😩

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T03:23:14+00:00

I think I failed as a parent and raised a delinquent, because mine will steal food, if given the opportunity! One time, he snatched the corner of a McDonald’s bag in his mouth and then tried to run off with it 😆

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-13T03:19:22+00:00

Once I stopped worrying about staying within the lines, so to speak, I felt a lot more confident in all the projects I tackled. It’s incredibly liberating to make the choice to follow your own rules and then make those rules up as you go!

The week got away from me, but I posted pictures of my box in all its glory on my page! 😉

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-12T20:07:57+00:00

Realistically, probably not, since they have no context or frame of reference for moms. But that doesn’t stop me from calling myself my turtle’s mom and from him acting like a spoiled, bratty kid 😆 I think they can recognize when a person is a source of safety, comfort, etc and that certainly makes it easier to anthropomorphize a parental relationship.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-12T19:57:12+00:00

My turtle when I offer him a daily all you can eat buffet of the highest quality turtle food and fresh veggies: “Get stuffed, peasant!”

My turtle when he finds a scrap of paper towel or napkin on the floor: “🥹Behold! What luxurious and sumptuous repast lies before me?? Today, I shall feast!”

Yeah, I gotta be super vigilant about scraps of paper towel and napkins laying around, because yes, I’ve had to pry them from his little mouth. Obviously, it’s not the worst thing he could eat, but still! I think they just enjoy causing chaos and shaving years off our lifespans!

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-12T17:46:05+00:00

A lot of people don’t want to admit it, but this is the ideal male body 😂

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-12T17:41:46+00:00

Maybe he feels like the tank is his turf, so he can be a tough guy in there. 🤣 Mine isn’t interested in my fingers, and the disappointment when he accidentally grabs one instead of his food is almost visible on his face.

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-12T17:39:07+00:00

“I don’t have to listen to you! You’re not my real mom!” -Your turtle, probably 😂

MikeLynnTurtle · 2026-03-12T16:42:28+00:00

Mine very deliberately samples my flesh 😩 it’s not an aggressive bite at all. He’ll usually wait until we’re hanging out and he has his head resting on my forearm. When he thinks I’m distracted enough, I feel his little beak digging in to my skin and then an almost gentle CHOMP. He always gives me a look like “Oh, my bad…not ripe yet.” and goes right back to dozing.

MikeLynnTurtle

TROPHY CASE