Reptile & Amphibian Forums

DragonDavy
Getting big and doing great.
I love these tortoises.....

Great looking tortoise. I am looking for a couple more. Can you tell me where you got him?

Dear DragonDavey, tell us more about G. radiata in general. These are the "Holy Grail" for many of us, uncomparable beauty in some specimens, impressive size, exotic to the extreme and valuable due in part to CITES listing. I want to have a lot of experience before aquiring such rare baubles...
What are they like, outgoing (like a Russian, Galop,RF) or shy (Stars, some leopards,), in between? What temps do you keep them at, and what do you do to get them through the Winter? How cumbersome is the permitting system? Any good references you can refer us to? We will look forward to future posts as these little gem grows. It is frightening the value attached, I heard of an armed robbery in Madagascar over this species (just hearsay to me, I can not verify.)

Well, Where to start.
These guy's are awesome. I been breeding reptiles for a long time now. The permit took me a long time to get, almost a year. You really need to know about breeding tortoises and owning them. I'm with you when you say these are the Holy Grail. They are not like the Russian,Galop,Red Foot or the Shy Star. These Radiata's are in a class on there own. They come to you when I knock on there tubs and eat from your hand and when you rub there back side they shake there rear side by side pushing back on your hand. Its so funny you need to own one to know what I mean. As for taking care of them I have these babies, well not babies better say over a year old babies, in small size Vision tubs but going to change them into the middle size vision tub real soon. I keep them in these tubs year round and as they grow the tubs get bigger, but in the Summer times I bring them out side in safe proof outdoor cages for six hours everyday and then come back in at night into there tubs. I feed them Spring mix in the winter and other greens with high fiber when they are around. In the Summer I grow my own greens and grass to feed them. I also give them in the winter with there veggies dry grass. I use 2-flo UVB lights and A Sun Spot lamp in one side. I also have a humid box for them when they are kept indoors. I soak Monday-Saturday not Sunday, I also don't feed on sunday. I can't wait till they get bigger, but taking my time with them. The temps I keep them are high around 110F one side and 75-80F on the other side. I keep them dry but have that humid box in there just in case and they are growing good. I keep them at this temp year round until I breed them, at that time I'll do any changes when they are breeding size. It sucks when a person has to go that low as to rob somone for tortoises. Hope I could help and I will post pic's as my kids get bigger.

Take care and god bless
DragonDavy
Captive Breed & Save the Wild....

Could you share with us how to get the permit? Thx.

With Radiata it seems to be easy if you have a sponsor... that is a breeder who is selling the tortoise to you.

check this out... http://www.fws.gov/permits/ for more info.

>>Could you share with us how to get the permit? Thx.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

It's even better if you know about tortoises...

DragonDavy

Thx for the info.