Pet of the Day

January 22, 2005

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Tom, the Pet of the Day
Name: Tom
Age: Twelve years old
Gender: Male
Kind: Red eared slider
Home: Brooklyn, New York, USA
 
   I got Tom when I was about six years old as a birthday gift. He was about the size of a quarter. Tom and I grew up together. I don't know what my life would be like without him. He always brings me happiness when I am down, because no matter what happens, He is always waiting for me at home, with a smile on his face! Tom is a very intelligent turtle. He is not only my pet, but he is my friend. I know him well, and I can tell when he is in a happy or bad mood. Whenever I enter the room, he dives off of his rock and starts splashing. He is always happy to see me.

    When Tom was a few years old, I discovered that when I point a pencil at his nose through the glass, he raises his claws and flutters them in front of his face. I called it "tapdancing", at my also young age, because it made little tapping noises on the tank. Whenever someone came over to visit, I couldn't wait to show them my infamous "tap-dancing turtle". When I got older, I later read in a book that this act is actually a mating ritual used in the wild to attract females. I thought about getting him a mate, but I decided it would be a bad idea, because Tom is very territorial. When I clean his tank with a net, or put any new objects in his tank, he attacks it! But, even so, he knows me, and never bites my hand.

    Tom is my baby, and I love him as a family member. I hope that he has many good years of health ahead of him, because without him, my life would be dull.

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