The Mayerhoff children, Henry, Mary and Burke, do their best to take care of Tortoisaurus Rex.  “Mostly all of us like to watch him eat,” says Henry. “He has a teeny tiny tongue, and no teeth just like Triceratops.” Rex is a Russian Tortoise, and prefers hot, dry climates like Texas. Russians can live up to 40 years in captivity, but don’t get much bigger than a dinner plate, making them convenient, long-term companions. Rex is a tortoise of taste, as he prefers the more expensive wood shavings and spends little time on the discount ground cover. As Rex munches food, Henry, seeing no difference between sharing with his sister and his tortoise wonders, “Can I eat some of his kale?”

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