Hi I've been looking at speckled cape tortoises and beaked cape tortoises in books and websites and i was wondering if there are any fans out there
anybody keeping these guys as pets? i know they are rare
i've heard that they can be kept in captivity with difficulty and do best in dry enclosures
i'm not thinking of getting one this year, but does anyone know any breeders? does anyone have any interesting facts about them?
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cape tortoises
FindaratoT
Apr 23, 2004 05:05 PM
Replies (3)
johlum
Apr 23, 2004 09:38 PM
I have been looking for any Homopus species and Chersina (Angulated) torts for 3 decades without luck. Have only come across Chersina once about 15 years ago and the fellow who had a small group said they were a very hardy species for him. Have never met anyone who ever had any Homopus species.
Good luck finding any.
cwilder
Apr 24, 2004 09:02 AM
Hank Molt has some cape tortoises for sale. They are not cheap. Check his website out and you will see them. I think it's global herp or something. I know it's under the breeders section on kingsnake.
CW
janah
Apr 30, 2004 12:15 PM
I do not have any tortoise or other lizard, but I am interested in them. Here is my opinion on hardyness of these tortoises.
Most hardy: Chersine angulata
They are the most hardy torts from all. The imported ones have a survive chance over 70% in good enclosure (for Ex. an succulent glasehouse for Kalahari plants). It exists minimum 1 breeding colony here in Czech Republic, last week I have read an offer for CB2004. But origin of parents is problematic.
More sensitive: Homopus
They are sensitive, the survive chance for imp. animals is around 20-30% (in really good conditions), but if they survive first 2-3 years in captivity and are in good condition, they can be a long time pets. I do not know about breeding succes in CR, here are kept mostly only individual animals.
Most sensitive: Psammobates
Their survive chance for imp. exemplars is 0-5%. The most of them die in the first year, only a few animals have reached 3 years. Even a ZOO in Plzen had no succes with them. In 1999 were found 38 Ps. oculifer and 22 Ps. tentorius in an packet from SAR. They were kept in the botanical part with very sensitive plants from south Africa and today is only 1 exeplar still alive.
Some individual animals are among privat breeders, but with high mortality.
Jana
