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So as you heard on Michele's blog, we have a new turtle in the house. A yellow belly slider, which we still do not have a name for yet. If you have any ideas, post them....SCHNELL!

(please note that I am zoomed in more on the new guy so these are not to scale)

Ping Pong at about 8 months old

No Name or T2 at about 3 weeks old

And so you can see the sizes of the two of them together...

Ping Pong looks like a beast next to the baby. The two did not have an uneventful start. Ping Pong has been pretty used to the idea that he is the only thin in the tank that gets all the fish, pellets and time under the sun lamp that he wants. Enter the baby. Ping Pong has, on several occasions, walked over to the baby while sitting under the lamp, put his nose under the edge of the baby's shell and flipped him into the water. He has also shoved him off as well. He has nipped at him in the water and even uses him as a stepping stool to get out the drying box.

It used to be that Ping Pong could not get out of this box and it was convenient to leave him in it for a while so he could dry off. You never know if he actually does this on his own as he will shoot off of his little rock whenever you walk by the tank. He's either frightened or he thinks your going to feed him and rushes to the front of the tank to see what you have for him.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, he made his first successful escape from the box while it was up on a chair. We heard a thud, then a clang and then another thud. We looked over and here he was trucking across the floor away from the chair. On his way out he hit the cushion (first thud) then the rung of the chair (that would ebbe the clang) and then the carpet (the final thud) and then home free.

Normally his attempts are less successful as can be seen in the following photos of various landings and flips. Yes, he does right himself when he lands upside down. I think that this ability will fade as he gets larger though. If you wan to see him flip, go here. I posted it on YouTube.

Ha! Made it!

And he has apparently taught these skills to the new guy as well. He tries to escape just as much and even attempts it in the aquarium.

As time goes they seem to be getting along better together. I have seen the baby try to get on Ping Pong's back at least once but Ping Ping ran off the dock before he'd let him get on him. They sit next to each other now or at opposite ends of the dock while sunning.

All in all, not bad. They're getting used to each other. Or, more importantly, Ping Pong is getting used to the baby in the tank. The baby has started eating fish flakes, beta pellets and baby turtle pellets. I'll introduce him to fish next week. Muuuahahahhaa!!!