Tootles is one of the newer members of our family (we found him in our swimming pool in June 2000)  We weren't sure if he'd live because of the chlorine in the pool, but he seems to be doing just fine. I never really knew turtles to be very smart, but this little guy has already learned his name.  Whenever we walk up to his tank and call him he'll come up to the top of the water and wait to be fed--by hand!  :)

It's amazing how much he grew when we first got him (these pictures were taken two weeks after we found him.) If you notice the grey areas on the shell that is kind of separating the segments of the shell, that will give you a good idea of how much he has grown.  An adult turtle that doesnt grow much will  have little of this grey area, but Tootles has a lot!  He is definetly a red-eared turtle, but that's about all we know bout him.  It's October 2000 now, and he's still growing and happy.  He shares his fish tank with two small goldfish--which he tried to eat at first, but has
                                       given up.