Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a new tortoise owner, and would like to breed my SriLankanStarTortoise sometime in the future.
Can one ethically breed a "StarTortoise" with a "SriLankanStarTortoise"? What is the difference? I've only heard that one tends to be larger then the other.

I don't think there is an "ethical" question involved with attempting to interbreed Indian and Sri Lankan Stars (unless you tried to pass-off offspring dishonestly).

The question is "how successful might such breeding be?"

No one really knows the answer to this question on the whole.

The reason is that mainlands themselves display a wide-range of genetic and phenotypic variance. The differences between certain mainland populations are often more striking than between Indians and Sri Lankans.

Unless you are running a release breeding program where animals are released to the wild (presumably, you are not) I don't think there is an ethical imperative to prevent interbreeding between two populations of the same species.

In fact, part of the hobbyist pursuit involves the human element of guiding and developing the physical traits of offspring. Unless those traits (or the pursuit of them) harm the animal in some way, I think breeders are all in the moral clear.

ScottE- Thanks for answering my question. I've been waiting for a reply for awhile.
I admit to being very ignorant in the tortoise hobby. Nevertheless, willing to learn & passionate to it. I've owned tortoises for less then 5 years. I inquired this question because I recently purchased a "SriLankanStarTort" from a reputable breeder. The star is less then a year. Naturally, because he is absolutely beautiful and belongs to me, it would be for conservation reasons a thoughtful decision to find a future mate to carry on his genes. I've been researching StarTorts and I've seen, especially in classifieds: "HighWhiteStars", "BurmeseStarTorts" and "StarTorts". I just wouldn't want to breed my "Sri" with a "Burmese" if this was viewed as ethically wrong or "just not a thing to do". Or viewed like trying to breed a RadiatedTort with a Star, just because their obvious characteristics would produce quite possibly an incredibly personable pet. It's an issue I am sure breeders of any animal ponder. Afterall, the morphs being produced in some snake production in a sence cross these boundaries. And in the canine area, Dobermans developed from Rottweilers and a type of GreyHound. It would be interesting to hear from more experienced and knowledgable perspectives. I hope this thread will be added on to by many in the near future!

Just to clarify--Sri Lankans and Indian Star Tortoises are the same species (G. Elegans). The stars on Sri Lanka have been isolated from the mainland star populations for quite sometime, and have begun to develop distinct characteristics.

It is possible to breed animals from very different populations if they are the same species. The question of desirability to do so in captivity is a question for the hobby.

Burmese Stars, however, are a different species than the Sri Lankan/Indian Stars, and both species are quite different from Radiatas (which actually come from a different continent).

Technically, if were were old-school adherents to the definition of "species" these three species cant breed with each other, but populations within them can. (Think about the subspecies distinction you see among spiders and leopards).

Given that you started under the assumption that these species can interbreed, you may not find this controversial--but I think that G. platynota (Burmese stars) and G. Elegans (Indian Stars) probably could interbreed, were they to "get over" behaviorial/mating differences.

In fact, I think it is HIGHLY unlikely Elegans and Platynota did not share a *very* recent common ancestor, and equally unlikely that the two populations that ultimately formed the two species did not interbreed with each other until external forces were applied (read: people).

Of course, I speak from pure ignorance as to whether a concerted effort has been made to experiment with the two.

Given the highly endangered status of the Burmese star, an "ethical" question of sort does arise, I suppose.

Is preserving genetic "boundaries" an imperative when you are breeding threatened tortoises?

It be a good question for the general tortoise forum, but traffic is a little light in this one.

>>ScottE- Thanks for answering my question. I've been waiting for a reply for awhile.
>>I admit to being very ignorant in the tortoise hobby. Nevertheless, willing to learn & passionate to it. I've owned tortoises for less then 5 years. I inquired this question because I recently purchased a "SriLankanStarTort" from a reputable breeder. The star is less then a year. Naturally, because he is absolutely beautiful and belongs to me, it would be for conservation reasons a thoughtful decision to find a future mate to carry on his genes. I've been researching StarTorts and I've seen, especially in classifieds: "HighWhiteStars", "BurmeseStarTorts" and "StarTorts". I just wouldn't want to breed my "Sri" with a "Burmese" if this was viewed as ethically wrong or "just not a thing to do". Or viewed like trying to breed a RadiatedTort with a Star, just because their obvious characteristics would produce quite possibly an incredibly personable pet. It's an issue I am sure breeders of any animal ponder. Afterall, the morphs being produced in some snake production in a sence cross these boundaries. And in the canine area, Dobermans developed from Rottweilers and a type of GreyHound. It would be interesting to hear from more experienced and knowledgable perspectives. I hope this thread will be added on to by many in the near future!