Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everybody
I'm Kevin Delaplace, from Belgium. English isn't my native language, so please correct me if needed. Thanks a lot.
I just discovered this site. I'm active on a Forum from Belgium, the forum of http://www.turtle.be.
But I'll try to be active here as well.
I wanted to share these pics... These Baby Greeks (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) are bred by my friend. They were born in 2003, so they are 1 year old now

Here are some picture of the tortoises and there outdoor pen. They can't go outside every day, because Belgium is a rather rainy country :-S

Anyway: pics

an other pic...

OK that didn't go as planned...

pic

Awwwwww Man, do I know that face! Great pictures--they look very healthy.

Great pictures of some good looking tortoises. I had a Greek tort for a couple of years but it was little more than a rock with feet so I traded it away.

It's been very wet in my area lately & last night I brought the tortoises indoors to dry out.

I think that's more the exception than the rule. The greek tortoises, in general, are usually very animated. (sometimes too much so)
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

@gavigan & DaviDC
Thx for your reactions.

@DaviDC
What exactly do you mean with it was a rock with feet? Do you mean he wasn't active at all? My torts are rather active

Anyway, I"ve been looking to some ads from America concerning greek tortoises. I noticed that they are really cheap! Here in Belgium you have to do your best to find a greek. In stores, a baby greek is over 200$ That brings me to an other question... Don't you guys need papers for the tortoises? Here a greek is very protected en you need papers. You even have to chip the greek torts now!
I was wondering if you have those "problems" too?

I'm sorry for the broken English...

First, I don't think it is necessary to appologise for your English. It comes across very well and is better than many that post here.

Those pictures of the Greeks are really nice. It looks like they are doing very well and have exceptional development.

As to the prices here in the states, we have not caught up with the rest of the world. I don't know if this is good or bad but I do believe that there should be contols. I also don't think those controls should be as strong as they are in Europe or as weak as they are here in the states.

Many of the European tortoises you see on the US market are new influxes from countries that seem to have only recently discovered the benefits of free trade and seem be be going a little overboard on the export of these animals.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Hi, I'm usually more active on this forum, but I've just moved, so things are a little busy right now.

Your English is very good, and you write well, so don't worry about that.

Your tortoises are T. hermanni, correct? Here they are considered Hermann's tortoise, which is a Mediterranean species, but not the same as Greek tortoises, which are T. graeca (I think). I have a Hermann's, no Greeks, so I'm a little unclear on the various localities of Greek species/subspecies, but T. hermanni is not generally referred to as "Greek" in the U.S. So what you are seeing advertised as Greeks most likely are not the same as what you have. No paperwork required on either species here.

Very cute little guys, by the way. My Hermann's is just about a year old now, same as yours. I never get tired of watching him.

Nice to see you here!
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

I meant that my Greek had absolutely no personality & never got used to my presence. Whenever it saw me, it would draw into its shell & stayed like that until I went away. I've come to realize that mine seemed to have been the exception to the rule.

Sohni is right; those are what we refer to as hermanns tortoises, not Greeks.

I have a couple of hermanns (Testudo hermanni boettgeri), a 4 year old male & a yearling that I hope is female. They are great creatures & I've really enjoyed keeping them. Both are captive born from breeders on opposite sides of the continent. They can be bought here for as little as $75. The prices usually range from $90 to $150 for hermanni boettgeri. Hermanni hermanni (the western variety) cost considerably more.

This is my testudo herd. Clockwise from left, 2.5 year old male Egyptian, yearling hermanns, 4 year old male hermanns. The 3 year old CB male Russian (not shown) now lives by himself because he started fighting with the older hermanns. He doesn't like me at all & I have a feeling his days in my care are numbered.

Hello,
Here in Belgium, a Testudo hermanni is called a Greek tortoise. A Graeca on the other hand is called a "moor" in Dutch. I don't think it's possible to give a correct English word
So in English terms, I have Hermanns and not greeks Thx for letting me know!

Nice pic of your torts. You have a Egyptian... They are really hard to find in Europe... IF you find one, you will pay over 700$ for a baby tort.

Kevin Delaplace