Posted by:
Columbia
at Sun Mar 5 21:06:59 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Columbia ]
Yes, I'm sorry to have left out the names of very established breeders of Burmese Stars. Also added to the list should be Dr. Peter Liu from Taiwan, who is very knowledgable regarding the behavior and growing patterns of the tortoises. His website can be viewed here, and should be considered the bible to all Burmese Star breeders and enthusiasts:
http://home.kimo.com.tw/foolzoo/
Concerning the extremely rare yniphora tortoise, evidence does not indicate that the Burmese Star is anywhere close to being as endangered as the plowshare. There are perhaps 250 left in the world, and although the exact numbers of the Burmese are unknown, it is estimated that there exist at least a few thousand, if not a few tens of thousands. In fact, wild Burmese are still seen occasionally in Chinese food markets. The plowshare tortoise is much much rarer than the Burmese Star. This data is from Dr. Peter Liu.
As far as concern for the Burmese goes, there are only a handful of distinct bloodlines that are owned by the lucky breeders in the US. Some bloodlines have a "high blonde" variety of Burmese, which makes them more valuable than "high black" specimens. In particular, the blonde varities with the elongated flower-petal shape pattern are often considered to be the most desirable when it comes to shell patterning.
Burmese Star prices will likely increase within the next few years. They are among the highest prices paid for any species of rare tortoise to date, ranging from $1500 to well over $2000 for babies. Juveniles, which are rarely seen in the market would likely go over $3000, and adult specimens are worth at least $8-9k in today's market. In the next few years, as wild populations of this rare and magnificent tortoise continue to plummet, the prices will appreciate significantly, and the lucky breeders of this tortoise will see their profits soar as demand remains constant.
In response to the previous poster, G elegans, especially the Sri Lankan variety is considered by some to be more beautiful than radiata and platynota, which is why I put them in the list. However, Sri Lankans are nowhere near as rare or scarce as their Platynota cousins, which is why many experts would not put them in the same category. Actually, radiata are MUCH more common than platynota as well, so perhaps there should even be a distinction among the radiated and burmese star tortoises.
As far as my own tortoises, I keep them in a laundry basket that is approximately 2x3. I feed my tortoises a variety of greens, with carrots, tomatoes, and Mazuri tortoise chow. I literally do not do anything to care for these animals other than provide them with a UVB light and heater, and bathe them once every few days in warm water. These are extremely hardy and easy to keep animals. I keep them right in my college dorm room, and they are magnificent to watch and study. In addition to being great stress relievers, I find their company fun, and every visitor I've had have complemented their beauty.. which is truly astonishing.
In short, this is a truly magnificent tortoise, and I feel truly lucky to own several specimens. I cannot wait to watch them grow and maybe even forming a breeding colony someday. If any fellow Burmese or high-end tortoise enthusiasts would like to contact me for more information or trade information, please do so. My email address is il2117@columbia.edu.
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RE: Clarifications - Columbia, Sun Mar 5 21:06:59 2006
