Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to expand my redfoot tortoise stock this winter so that I can produce enough offspring to keep me in business this spring and summer. I currently own a 1.2 and was thinking of adding a 1.6. I think it is almost impossible to find reasonably priced CB adults. I have found freshly imported adults that have not been treated for only $100. I have also found LTC adults for $175 each. Is it a better idea to pay the extra $$ to get some well started torts, or to try to treat them and all on my own? It would mean a $500 difference in the price, but there are also allot more risks with fresh imports I would think. I just wanted to know if anyone has any experience in these matters, and find out peoples opinions on what they think the best course of action would be. Thanks, and Merry Christmas

According to Tortoise Trust recommendations / experience, a wild captured animal might very well make up and exceed the savings in initial cost with vet bills during the first few months.
I guess it is a matter of which risks you want to take.
Somebody like Ed, who has imported lots of tortoises, might give you a better analysis on this.

Do you know what the risks are? I mean, like what could possibly go wrong? You obviously have to worm them and stuff. Do you know how to do that and where you can get the medication?

I don't know about animals straight from an importer, but animals at pet stores and reptile shows have often been exposed to other animals, which could include bacteria, viruses, and parasites - that could in turn infect your current animals. They may have gone for extended periods without food and water, could have organ damage as a result of this and other improper conditions during capture and transport, and could refuse to eat. I don't know about redfoots, but I've seen WC hingebacks from reptile shows that refused to eat until the day they died months later - even after being dewormed and a feeding tube was inserted.

Katrina

All this can apply to CB animals as well.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Ed,

I've just never had to have a feeding tube inserted in a captive bred animal, though. Maybe it's just that the vast majority of animals in "rescue" (excluding sliders) are wild-caught.

Katrina

While I don't import as many animals as some people think I do have some experience with imported animals.
If you are lucky enough to get a fresh import you are less likely to run into problems depending on the species, of course.
Here are some of the benefits.
You can get a good sized adult at a good price.
The bloodline will most likely be pretty removed from the present captive population. (This can sometimes be seen as a selling point.)
You pretty much know what sex you are getting. (This can be an important point if you plan to breed them)
Now here are the drawbacks.
If you don't get a healthy animal it can cost a fortune to get it healthy.
You are taking a bigger risk adding it to animals you already have regardless of the quarentine period.
WC animals are sometimes difficult to acclimate.

I believe those are the main points.
If you are looking to raise RFs for money I'd suggest you get a paper route instead because there is no way you can depend on anything breeding for you with any consistancy.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I know that you cannot count on them for a living, I just wanted to try to increase my profits by adding more.

n/p

Although I have no experience with this sort of thing, I'm do wonder if you will be buying WC directly from an importer. If so, please let us know how it goes.

Katrina

I bought 1.2 yellow-foots from exoticrus off the kingsnake classfieds, straight from ray, directly imported, had them under a week, i got them, the male was great, the other female was extremely heavy and the other female was extremely light, one of the females was egg bound and died, and the other female refused to eat, and had to be taken in to be tube fed, and had a blood clot the vet told me, she ended up dying, the male is still going strong to this day, but i also buy adult red-foots 12" when ever i can get them at reptile shows etc or online, and have NEVER had a problem with a fresh import red-foot, but the yellow foots were a nightmare,

Andy

RedoFootMan@yahoo.com

Thanks to everyone who helped and for all the info. I am still undecided on what to do. The $500 I could save sure would be nice, but I do not know if I want to risk even more than that on untreated imports. I know that you should worm all of your imports, but is their anything else that should be done? Also dose anyone know where to get de-wormer? Thanks again.

Your vet is a good supplier for the dewormer. If the animal is eating, you can inject Panacur into a piece of fruit, or if the powder, just sprinkle it on the food. BUT, if the animal isn't eating, you'll want a vet to tube-feed the stuff (using a canula attached to a syringe). A fecal is desirable, to determine exactly what you need. Nematodes, flukes, and amebas are all posibilities in chelonians, and each requires a different medication.

Katrina

So you think the only way to get the meds needed to deworm would be from a vet? Because I do not have a very good vet, and he dose not deal with reptiles properly. Last time I brought a cham into him he handled like a dog and stressed it out so much, I think that is what it died from, not its ailment. If you could tell me where I could get non-prescription de-wormer that would be great!

Redfoots seem to be one of the few tortoises that carry the least worry. That is they are usually 'dirty' animals. Meaning that as imports they have tons of parasites as a rule. This can be a good thing in that they seem to be very strong and resistant.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

When you say they are very hardy, do you mean that you do not have to treat them, or they handle treatment very well? Also, if you know where you can get any non-prescription meds that would be great. Thanks.

They are just tough tortoises as a general rule.
You need to prepare to take them to a vet or find a local tortoise keeper that will guide you through the process. This is something that you can't really pick up off the net. There are too many 'ifs'.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Ok... Is there any kind of network that helps tortoise keepers find other tortoise keepers in their area? Thanks
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Walter McAndrew
Crazy Creations
281 851 3291
Contact Me
My Website

Depending on what state you are in you can hunt down the local Turtle and Tortoise club for starters. You might also ask on this list if there is anyone close to you that might be willing to help.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Thanks, I think I will try that in a little while, or at least once I get the torts.
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Walter McAndrew
Crazy Creations
281 851 3291
Contact Me
My Website