How many people breed and sell box turtles?

jakskillz

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2017
Messages
72
Location (City and/or State)
Georgia
Hey everyone,

I joined up recently to gather more information and be able to talk to other box turtle owners. I had a small group of eastern box turtles growing up that I had to give away when I left for school but now that I have free time I started back up my favorite hobby. Finding any subspecies of terrepene Carolina has been challenging but I have managed to find a few for sale or being given away within the last month or so. I notice that all ads for box turtles do not last long and came across maybe a handful of people who did breed them but they were more just hobbies and told me they may only have a handful of babies each year. So is there any reliable source for these turtles besides hobby breeders? Years ago I used to see tons of ads for super reds, oranges, and yellows that were sold as breeding pairs but nothing recently. it really seems odd because eastern box turtles have such variability and so many other reptile species are being bred into crazy morphs that I would think it be appealing to do that with box turtles. That would also help deter wild collection of them. These are just my thoughts and if anyone has any other info on this that would be fantastic.

Thank you
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,270
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I don't have anything to offer you, but I like your way of thinking. Welcome!

I wish you good luck and I hope we get to see pics of your super reds and yellows!
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,391
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
I operate a rescue and frequently people I've adopted out turtles to give me back the babies as a donation for me to sell and help with Rescue expenses. Just recently I sent 5 luteola to my partner in San Diego to sell. I DO have a small breeding colony of easterns, but I'm not quick enough or sharp enough to see the nests and the ensuing abies. I occasionally find the three toe babies, but not the easterns.
 

Yurtle

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2015
Messages
64
it really seems odd because eastern box turtles have such variability and so many other reptile species are being bred into crazy morphs that I would think it be appealing to do that with box turtles. That would also help deter wild collection of them. .

This is a turtle species that doesn't reach sexually maturity until at least 7 years of age, making it really hard and lengthy to get morphs of this species. Other reptiles like ball pythons where lots of morphs are present, mature much faster and can start producing offspring within a year.


As for places to buy box turtles, Arizonia Tortoise Compound offers them and lllreptile also offers them periodically. I've purchased from both of these places and recived healthy box turtles.
 

drumsfield

New Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2017
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
USA
I have my own personal colony of a few turtles. I recently started breeding them. My first clutch will arrive in a few weeks.
 

Kapidolo Farms

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Messages
5,173
Location (City and/or State)
South of Southern California, but not Mexico
There are a few people that seem to be organizing themselves to breed stronger colors. or geographic variants. Many years ago I bred numerous box turtles when it was a push to sell babies at even $20 each on the west coast. Now it's crazy to me. I'm that guy in San Diego that Yvonne talked about, if you are interested in some Desert box turtles PM me here on TFO or facebook at william Espenshade or KapidoloFarms, and we can work something out.
 

jakskillz

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2017
Messages
72
Location (City and/or State)
Georgia
My brother had 3 ebt and 2 three toeds. That was the most colorful but all 5 are male. I found a place that had females and ordered two. One has been eating like a champ while the other developed an ear infection so is still on antibiotics and separated but once better I plan to have her and that red male to breed. As for the other males, I found someone selling a female three toed and she will arrive next week. The two male three toeds will hopefully stop trying to mate with each other. ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1502572129.120131.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1502572146.021241.jpg
 

ColleenT

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2016
Messages
1,293
Location (City and/or State)
Lehigh Valley Pa
OH jeez, please do not add a couple of females with a lot of males. Even one male can drive them crazy. ALL they want to do is breed, and that can harm the females if they are being chased and bred constantly. If you need to breed a female or two, keep them with only one male.
 

jakskillz

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2017
Messages
72
Location (City and/or State)
Georgia
OH jeez, please do not add a couple of females with a lot of males. Even one male can drive them crazy. ALL they want to do is breed, and that can harm the females if they are being chased and bred constantly. If you need to breed a female or two, keep them with only one male.
Yes for now they are kept separate. I don't want any breeding done until their outdoor setup is complete and it's going to be divided into two sections. Those breeding three toeds are both boys lol my girls are kept in a different enclosure and the sick one in a quarantine tank I can clean daily. I didn't expect 5 boy turtles from my brother but I couldn't just say no to them so rather than having the ratio 1:3 boy girl that I wanted I'll have to keep the girls separate and choose one lucky guy to spend time with them. I don't want my girls laying eggs inside anyway. Both females I received were already holding eggs and released them pretty shortly after arriving. I'm glad they weren't egg bound but it still just pushes me to get the outdoor setup ready.
 

jakskillz

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2017
Messages
72
Location (City and/or State)
Georgia
I honestly do not know why the male three toeds keep doing that. After the first incident I checked again that I had two males and yes they both are male so if one keeps pestering the other I may have to separate them out. One eastern male has to be fed separately because he bothers anyone else from eating. I have no problem building separate spaces for all of them but I think most of this should resolve amongst the boys when they get outside and have more room to roam around. My brother had all of them in one of those tortoise tables which is probably good for maybe 2 so I can't wait to get them outside where they can go about turtling around :)
 

MrMarg&me

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2017
Messages
258
Location (City and/or State)
Temecula California
Three weeks ago my family and I went to the annual show of the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society. They work hard to educate the public about the correct husbandry of chelonians. The Society also takes in all lost and unwanted turtles and tortoises. They put them in volunteer foster homes and provide vet care when needed. There are many homeless turtles and tortoises. My family and I adopted a female box turtle. We have room. We already care for two female box turtles. Chelonians live an extremely long time. I don't know if breeding them for fun is the most respectful path for these creatures. It concerns me that I probably will not be able to be responsible for my turtles their entire life. For they will most likely outlive me. I can make provisions for them but ultimately decades from now I will not have control over their quality of life.
 

jakskillz

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2017
Messages
72
Location (City and/or State)
Georgia
Three weeks ago my family and I went to the annual show of the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society. They work hard to educate the public about the correct husbandry of chelonians. The Society also takes in all lost and unwanted turtles and tortoises. They put them in volunteer foster homes and provide vet care when needed. There are many homeless turtles and tortoises. My family and I adopted a female box turtle. We have room. We already care for two female box turtles. Chelonians live an extremely long time. I don't know if breeding them for fun is the most respectful path for these creatures. It concerns me that I probably will not be able to be responsible for my turtles their entire life. For they will most likely outlive me. I can make provisions for them but ultimately decades from now I will not have control over their quality of life.
I do agree with that. But wouldn't that also be true with many species of tortoises as well as other turtles especially species like common and even more so alligator snapping turtles?
 

New Posts

Top