Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the most commonly kept tortoise in the United States? And how quickly is the hobby of keeping tortoises growing? I talked to a friend who is a manager of one of the large franchised retail pet stores and he said that more and more customers are coming in looking to purchase turtles and tortoises. Anyone have any statistics?

No statistics whatsoever but I would guess a lot (too many) people sucker into buying sulcatta babies in the petstore because they're cute and cheap. That's why there are so many of them at turt/tort rescues. Just a guess (by sucker I mean not ready for the responsiblity of keeping a giant tortoise).

"What is the most commonly kept tortoise in the United States? And how quickly is the hobby of keeping tortoises growing? I talked to a friend who is a manager of one of the large franchised retail pet stores and he said that more and more customers are coming in looking to purchase turtles and tortoises. Anyone have any statistics?"

Please, please, please, beg your friend to NOT sell any wild-caught chelonians, or sulcata tortoises, or red-eared sliders. THIS is what shows up in rescue the most - that which grows too large for the "average" consumer (slider and sulcata), and that which becomes ill very quickly (wild-caught).

In which store is he located? We could recommend a rescue in his area so that he can send potential adopters there. Let me explain why it's better FOR HIM to send them to rescues than to sell the turtle:
Whenever I get a turtle in for rescue, I play it straight with the owner surrendering the turtle. I explain if the animal is wild-caught, and how big the animal will eventually grow, and how much work they really are. The owner at this point becomes irrate with the store for either lying, or for withholding information, and decides never to go back to the store. On the other hand, a store that recommends rescue and is honest with customers is likely to have a repeat customer. If I know a store is sending people to me, I recommend them to other people for supplies!

I'm just one small rescue in one state, and I get asked to find homes for 40-100 turtles and tortoises a year - I actually place about 70-80% of that. Roughly 1/3 to 1/2 of those offered for adoption are a single species - red-eared sliders.

Katrina

Could anyone start a rescue operation and are these rescues some how networked. To established rescues help others to start or support those interested. Just curious but interested.

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

np
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Not quite. A rehabber typically has a license and formalized training from a state department of natural resources to take in injured wildlife, heal them, and then release them back to the wild. The training might include apprenticing with a licenced rehabber for a year or two, classes on various aspects of rehabbing (medication, caging, transporting, captive husbandry, ect.), and testing.

"Rescues", humane organizations, and other "adoption agencies" may or may not be licensed depending on state and local laws and ordinances. Some states require licensing for native species, but not for non-natives. Typically there is informal networking, although some rescues are part of animal welfare groups, conservation societies, and the like. Skill and knowledge levels vary. Some rescues are part of parent groups or not, some are 501(c)(3) non-profits or not. Some reptile rescuers are also rehabbers, some are not. I've seen some "rescuers" that were better than some "rehabbers" (in terms of husbandry, cross-contamination, ect.), and some rehabbers that were better than rescuers. Licensing does not always indicate skill, IMO.

Katrina

I'm aware of the problem of unwanted torts/turtles. The friend I mentioned only because of the large size of his franchise and the amount of customers that come through. My question is for my curiosity not his. So let me ask again with that in mind. What is the most popular tortoise kept in the United States. My guess would be the Russian because of their size, price and personality. Please comment, thanks.

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

np
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

I would say a Russian based on size and price. That is most often sold in the MD pet stores, anyway. As for turtles, box turtles are more often kept as pets than tortoises, because people still find them crossing roads here. Sliders are the most commonly kept turtle, IMO, because of the extremely, disgustingly cheap price of the animal, and that price appeals to those who do not do their research before aquiring a turtle.

If your friend would like any help with caresheets, contacts in his state, ect., please let us know. I don't mind stores selling turtles, so long as they are honest with customers and make an effort to sell captive-bred animals that the average person can care for in the long-term.

Katrina