There's actually quite a bit in situ information on Chacos. There's a really good paper... email me at epirog@comcast.net and then there is a book... South American Tortoises by Vinke and Vetter... probably the best information you are going to find on the species.



All of the keepers I know that work with this species are very low key. I'm still finding groups that have been kept for years and I've been keeping them for about 10 years now.



>>Thanks for that detailed reply. I'd really like to get involved with captive breeding of the species. For myself, on a small scale, but with an eye toward ensuring that a genetically diverse, stable/growing captive population exists. Maybe set up a U.S./Canada studbook, like the Radiated people have? Seems like a good idea. Seems there are a lot fewer Chacos out there than Radiated, or maybe Chaco folks are just lower-profile? I don't know. But very few people have had any kind of response to my numerous inquiries about the species. Kicking myself now because there was a group of Chacos come up for sale on Kingsnake last year and I wasn't ready to commit. I really don't want to do imports unless they're captive bred. Knowledge of the species in situ seems so limited, there's a lot of taxonomic confusion/conflict and photos I've seen show different shell shapes, colors, even different head markings. One link in turtle forum is from a girl who bought a Sulcata in a petshop for $40 and was worried because he "wasn't growing;" turns out it was a Chaco! I wish I could be so lucky!
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers

Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

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