CruinndracFarms Forums

When I was introduced to this little community within the fandom, my first thought was that I wanted to be a part of it. My fellow local wyrm handlers showed me their lovely adopted creatures, and I was smitten by their cuteness and personality. The last day of the Furpocalypse convention, I made up my mind. I was going to get my first wyrm. So I approached the table, and I was able to snag the last egg. Shadra presented me with Truda, my orange Tunneler. I couldn't stop smiling! She was perfect. A little piggy face that I showed everyone I met. I was, and still am, so proud to call her my first wyrm adoption.

However, I was a little... unprepared. Wyrms are special, whimsical animals, and I wasn't expecting some of the things they did. Their... quirks, if you will. About a week ago, I woke up one morning as usual. I started to go about my day, making breakfast and whatnot. When I went to check on Truda to see how she was, she was not in her sleeping space. My Tigerdile, Martini, only stared up at me with straying, googly eyes. He was no help. I checked some places that might be a cozy hiding place for a wyrm; shoes, nope... Sweater pocket, nope... Dresser drawers, no dice. I started to worry.

What I did not know was that I left my closet door open. I usually close that door when I put my clothes from the day away. But there it remained, open a crack. It wasn't until I heard Truda's distinct snuffling snore that I found where she was hiding. I have a basket of socks that stays there in the bottom of my closet. Wouldn't you know it, my tunneler found a place she could tunnel in. Looking back on it, I should have guessed that's where she would be. It made me realize how important it is to give my wyrm something that feeds their natural instincts.

If anybody else has suggestions about how to better the indoor life of a tunneler, I would love to hear some.

Your fist wyrm sounds like a great intro to the wacky world of wyrm-handling!

SandySchreiber wrote:Your fist wyrm sounds like a great intro to the wacky world of wyrm-handling!

She is indeed! And I couldn't be happier. ^^ I'm looking forward to watching my squirm grow.

Well, Tunnelers are a sort of wyrmy cross between a boar and an eastern hog nosed snake. So anything they can burrow in to feel safe is a good bet. I know before she went to Furpoc, your little fluff had a tendency to burrow into the laundry basket when it was filled with fresh, warm laundry from the dryer. As a rule Tunnelers seem to really enjoy warm areas to burrow and dig. Once the warmer season comes back, a patch of sandy ground will make her happy. Until then, maybe a small box filled with dry peat moss?

HopefulMonster wrote:Well, Tunnelers are a sort of wyrmy cross between a boar and an eastern hog nosed snake. So anything they can burrow in to feel safe is a good bet. I know before she went to Furpoc, your little fluff had a tendency to burrow into the laundry basket when it was filled with fresh, warm laundry from the dryer. As a rule Tunnelers seem to really enjoy warm areas to burrow and dig. Once the warmer season comes back, a patch of sandy ground will make her happy. Until then, maybe a small box filled with dry peat moss?

I'll have to let Truda nose around the next time I do laundry. Thanks so much for the advice! I'll look around outside once the weather dries up to see if I can find things for a nice habitat. Until then, I'm allowing her all the time she wants to root through my socks.

My Tunnelers have discovered my giant mixed bead box and love rooting around in it. I guess a mix of size 6, 8, 11 and 15 seed beads (6s are big, size 11 and 15 beads start to resemble sand crystals in size), 3 and 6 mm bugle beads (tubes), size 11 triangles and a few assorted and sundry other beads (stone mostly) is a good place to root around in. Since I keep it in the warm area of the apartment (Texas insulation practices lead to warm and cold spots), the beads are always nice and warm. I guess they don't like competing with the cats for the warm laundry.