My Indian Star Tortoises

Never would I have thought that I'd be able to care for these amazing gems. To me, they are a dream to have; not only because Indian stars are protected species, not knowing if they would be available in Canada but also because they are very expensive to acquire. 

I scoured the internet and lucky enough, I found a reputable breeder, Tortoise Passion, who had at the time, well-started Indian star babies. Upon inquiries after inquiries, I was so excited to receive Gemini and Nova on September 21, 2022, and Luna on October 19, 2022.

I didn't imagine that they would be super tiny when I received them. From then on, I started to call them super babies =P (they were smaller than babies Jet and Pepper when I got them). 

Gemi and Nova are siblings from the same parents while Luna was born from a different pair. They are all housed in a 4x2x2 glass enclosure (in the meantime) and do not mind each other's company. They each have their own special spot in their house and are usually only found together in their basking site for when it's time for basking naps or when it's time to eat.

During the first few weeks of their arrival, their level of shyness was to the roof. They were brave to explore their new environment but quickly retreats to into their shells as soon as they sense my presence. I learned to approached them very slowly every time and I can say that that tactic paid off. Today, they are still quite shy and not as interactive as Jet and Pepper but they aren't scared to be hand-fed anymore.

Gemini is the oldest and the biggest of the trio and the most adventurous one. He loves climbing up and down what I now call, 'his bridge,' where he also sleeps at night. He is not a picky eater and he finds all sleeping positions (weird or not) quite comfortable. 

Nova, although the second oldest, have been surpassed by Luna in size. In my belief, she is suppressing her growth so that she could still fit in the crevice under the bridge (lol, I'm kidding); she loves being under the bridge, in a tight space. She also loves sleeping in what I call their castle house if she isn't anywhere between the water bowl, the basking area, or under the bridge. She is the fastest tortoise in the household (I suppose she could be named Jet v.2).

Luna is my most behaved super baby. Not much of an explorer but she gets things done. When it is time for a bath, she gives no fuss. When it is time to eat, she comes right away. When it is time to bask, she goes to bask. When it is time to sleep, she walks to her spot and sleeps. Out of the three, she's the one that takes advantage of the cuttlebone or their tortoise block. Besides that, I don't find her being involved in any shenanigans that Gemini and Nova sometimes get into (especially when it comes to food).

I love them all equally and although I wish I could closely interact with them more often, I wouldn't say that they are hard to socialize with but more so that it is a process. I mean, they are stuck with me forever, so they have no choice but to love me back =P.