Tank Gilfillan

Tank Gilfillan The amazing life and times of Tank the not so common Common Snapping Turtle Tank came to us as a near hatchling. He interacts with the public with no issues.

Since that time he has been a part of our family. He shows no aggression towards anyone and even seeks us out for interaction. During feeding time he goes out of his way to be sure he doesn't bite me and on the rare occasion it has happened he immediately releases me with no injuries. Contact with my family is part of his life and he seems to enjoy it. Tank also makes public appearances at local schools and herpetological society meetings.

08/23/2026

My Brother brought me a handful of cauliflower stems. They were very tasty. Dad opened my blinds this morning, and I have been enjoying the bright sunshine all day.

๐“๐จ๐๐š๐ฒโ€™๐ฌ ๐’๐œ๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐•๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐š๐œ๐ค๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒWe got to the school about 45 minutes early, so I could get Tank settled in before the cro...
08/22/2026

๐“๐จ๐๐š๐ฒโ€™๐ฌ ๐’๐œ๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐•๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐š๐œ๐ค๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ

We got to the school about 45 minutes early, so I could get Tank settled in before the crowd arrived. But the moment we were setup I knew something was off. The Fall heat was hitting him harder than I expected. His breathing, his posture โ€” everything told me he was uncomfortable. I was seconds away from packing up and taking him home.
Moments later, families started coming in and kids were rushing to our table. And right then, I saw Tank recognize the situation. He shifted gears. Even with a few flashes of distraction โ€” those Fall hormones tugging at him โ€” he pulled himself back and handled his job like a pro. Calm. Steady. Present.
He met every kid who came to see him. He let them touch his shell, look into his eyes, and feel that moment of connection heโ€™s so good at creating. He controlled himself, even when it wasnโ€™t easy.
And when the event wrapped up, he told me exactly what he needed. He walked over, pressed his head into my chest, and stayed there.
That was his โ€œtake me homeโ€ moment.
I understood.
Tank did a great job today โ€” meeting people, staying focused, and pushing through the heat. Iโ€™m proud of him.

08/21/2026

Here I am after getting some tasty sirloin beef. Dad doesn't think I know he puts my calcium in it, but I do. He fed me then left. I'm standing here waiting for more.

08/21/2026

This is an oldie but a goodie. Check out Tank's rear leg kicks to get comfortable. This was 4 years ago.

๐“๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐“๐š๐ง๐ค?Last night at the meetโ€‘andโ€‘greet, I had Tank set up at his presentation table, and right beside him I had a...
08/21/2026

๐“๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐“๐š๐ง๐ค?

Last night at the meetโ€‘andโ€‘greet, I had Tank set up at his presentation table, and right beside him I had a small table covered in his Facebook cards โ€” each one with Tankโ€™s face and his URL printed on it. People were welcome to take them, and plenty did.

Tank, meanwhile, was showing all the signs of being in Fall heat. Focused. Intense. A little extra attitude. And that attitude came out in the funniest way.

Every so often Tank shifts around on his table to get comfortable or to move closer to me. At one point he turned and headed toward the end closest to the FB card table. He reached the edge, looked downโ€ฆ and froze.

He saw all those cards with **his own face** staring back at him.

Instant challenge mode.

He locked onto them like they were a whole crowd of rival snapping turtles invading his territory. That stare โ€” the one he uses when heโ€™s sizing up a threat โ€” came out immediately.

I picked up one of the cards and held it in front of his face, then slowly moved it back toward me. Tank followed it step for step, eyes locked, neck stretched, ready to confront this โ€œother turtleโ€ who apparently had the nerve to show up at his event.

He was having none of it.

What amazed me was how fast he recognized his own image, even though the cards were lying flat on the table. His eyesight is incredible โ€” sharp enough to pick out a tiny photo from across the table and react instantly.

Just another reminder that Tank sees far more than people realizeโ€ฆ and heโ€™s always ready to defend his turf, even from a cardboard version of himself.

Tonight, Tank visited Heartland Christian School for their Sneak Peek before school starts on Tuesday. Tank did a wonde...
08/21/2026

Tonight, Tank visited Heartland Christian School for their Sneak Peek before school starts on Tuesday. Tank did a wonderful job. He made friends with the young girl in the white top. He was very interested in getting to know her. He moved in close, touched and smelled her. She thought it was wonderful and welcomed his closeness. It was a great evening for everyone.

This is me, asking to be held. I like being close to Dad.
08/20/2026

This is me, asking to be held. I like being close to Dad.

Red Laser Therapy UpdateI have returned the original red laser device for this more compact one. It will be easier to g...
08/19/2026

Red Laser Therapy Update

I have returned the original red laser device for this more compact one. It will be easier to get into that shoulder area and it will be easier to shield his eyes from the light. This new device will be introduced the same way as the other. A week from now. I'll start his therapy.

๐”๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐จ๐ง ๐“๐š๐ง๐ค'๐ฌ ๐‹๐ž๐ ๐š๐ฅ ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌThis morning I received a call from one of the City attorneys. He told me that he put in a...
08/19/2026

๐”๐ฉ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐จ๐ง ๐“๐š๐ง๐ค'๐ฌ ๐‹๐ž๐ ๐š๐ฅ ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ

This morning I received a call from one of the City attorneys. He told me that he put in a request to move the dangerous animal code to the Animal Control office. I thanked him for the quick action on the matter. He said this part may have been fast, but his request has to be read 3 times and approved by the City Council before it takes effect. He thinks it will take at least a month before it is final. I asked him if my name or my situation would be part of that request. He said that this move doesn't mention anything about Tank or me. I'm concerned about inherent prejudice against snapping turtles swaying the vote. Time will tell how this all pans out. My hope is it goes smoothly, and I can get my waiver amended to include my Son. Tank's future is a great concern to me. Even if I'm gone, I want the best for him; he has earned it.

๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ž ๐…๐š๐ง ๐‚๐ฅ๐ฎ๐›Tankโ€™s reach in this world still surprises me. A family visiting from the Philippines stopped by our ...
08/18/2026

๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ž ๐…๐š๐ง ๐‚๐ฅ๐ฎ๐›

Tankโ€™s reach in this world still surprises me. A family visiting from the Philippines stopped by our town, and when they heard about Tank, they wanted to meet him. So I took him outside to his blanket.
They sat right down with him โ€” no hesitation, no awkwardness โ€” just pure kindness. For nearly an hour they talked to him, gently rubbed his shell, and Tank stretched out like heโ€™d known them forever. He soaked in every bit of their attention.
When they returned home, something incredible happened. They started a Tank fan club. A turtle from Iowaโ€ฆ inspiring a group halfway across the world.
Moments like that remind me how far Tankโ€™s quiet, gentle way of connecting with people can travel.

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Crescent, IA

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