Seen here also - https://turtletary.com/bolivian.html
Bolivian Redfoot Tortoises
*****
Extensive tutorial of Bolivian locale redfoot tortoises.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
( compared to other locales )
The purpose of this tutorial is to show the unique / intense beauty and diversity of..
Bolivian locale Redfoot Tortoises!
[email protected]
One reason they are called "Giant" - shown next to the breeders' size 12 foot -
50+(?) year old male.. [ over 18 inches ] from 1982 import!
( that's not my foot )
( shown shortly after the Florida storm in August 2017 )
Another 18+" male -
Their extreme 'concave' plastron -
And one of the "Matriarch's" from 1982
[ how old is she? - she makes 2+" babies! ]
A couple of the early 5 year olds -
Not easy to determine which of these 'young adults' are males -
all in 10+" range.. hatched at breeders' facility.
[ no waist ? ]
NOTE:
Exclusive characteristics to look for!
Virtual covering of head with colors and patterns..
large yellow "blotches" on carapace thru old maturity..
extreme dark "non-marbled" plastron.. and
no supressed waist of mature males.
+++
It is not known why these grow to be so large.
There are some of us that believe -
because parts of Bolivia is on a plateau / higher elevation..
it is unlikely that there is "hybridizing" with Brazilian's
[ that have the 'marbled' plastron ] in the wild..
not knowing 'collection-location' compounds the confusion also!
+++
From May 25th '19.. shortly after 'out-for-the-summer'.
Current 'young' mature group..
has taken 3 years to find and acquire.
These above are in the 10" ~ 11" SCL range..
still VERY young!!!
"Bubbles" has laid a total of 6 eggs.. none were fertile. It is
unlikely she was with a mature male over the past 3 years.
More on these below.
+++++
It's been another 2 years searching.. and nothing! THEN..!
"They" appeared - a couple 8+" SCL MALES!
+++
Now in Texas with 2 females..
IMHumbleO there is not a "Brazilian" out there that could compare..
with these "Bolivians" !!!
"TRUE" Bolivian MALE -
> note.. no plastron marbling <
Typical 'wide-anal' scute and "male-tail" starting to show on this 8+" SCL young male.
*******
*****
My "BO Red"
"Bubbles"
"Kupa"
From May 25th.. shortly after 'out-for-the-summer'!
*****
First and foremost is the extremely rare "melanistic"..
a true 2% - 3%'er ( only 2 or 3 out of 100 hatch like this ) -
Hatched early April 2019.
++++
May 25 - loves canteloupe!
( all that canteloupe is strictly for "photos" )
Yellow 'legs' .. even bottom of feet and tail !!!
*****
This little girl Bolivian Redfoot is the 2008 hatched by D. Beard -
( none of these below were raised by me..
is why they are 'pyramided' to some extent )
This is how she looked in June 2016 - she came to me as a trade..
I call her 'Bo Red' -
AND now in November 2017 with new camera!
And she has a new 'boy-friend' along with his 'girl-friend' to make a nice trio!
He is known as 'Kupa' - by his former keeper...
can you believe this young 11" SCL Bolivian redfoot?
( from group of 5 above - had an opportunity to acquire
the other male and didn't do it .. talk about stupid!!! )
They love chopped collard greens -
And the first of a few pics of 'Bubbles' -
she is currently trying to nest for the 2nd time -
her first clutch was 3 eggs! Seldom are 'first' eggs fertile.. they weren't.
And outside..
Kupa and Bubbles display a somewhat different plastron..
although still covering from head to toe with no 'marbling' -
'Kupa' ( note wide anal scutes and no 'hourglass' waist ) -
And 'Bubbles' -
*****
It's now late May 2019.. and they are finally outside and
enjoying canteloupe.. along with the American Violets
and small Rose of Sharon trying to grow in the enclosure
with the "preditor-proof" 'lid' with 2"x 3" welded-wire security.
Our man "Kupa" -
The girls -
They are in the 10" - 11" range now.
Bubbles -
With BO Red .. also enjoying canteloupe.
BO Red -
Some day they will make babies (?) !!!
*****
"True" Bolivian Redfoots have been rare in private collections until now -
mainly because only 2-3 breeders exist today.
This 'blood-line' reportedly came into the U.S. in 1982 consisting of less than 150 total..
( an almost "non-existent" number - compared to the multitude of
those from other locales from early 1970's until now. ).
That was the ONLY shipment.. until 20 years later .. when maybe 20 were brought in.
Where the adults and their hatchlings went.. only they know?
In case you hadn't noticed.. I'm trying to make a point -
" These are truly rare beauties !!! "
I managed to make a trade to acquire 'Bo Red' .
*****
These are a couple females ( thank you Chris H. ).. from hatchlings acquired from
2000 shipment - Chris acquired these from 'show' in 2011 - note the diversity.
Chris H. acquired a couple 2017 hatchlings from the 1982 stock..
He really knows how to raise them -
****
Due to the storms that hit Florida - late summer 2017 -
there were very few that hatched in 2018.
( just now in 2019 .. beginning to recover )
****
Early 2017 was given the opportunity to acquire a few hatclings..
AND I could pick the ones I wanted !!!
Was actually able to acquire from breeder.. that has pairs from the
ONLY ( only one group ) imports from 1982!
My choice - two 2017's on left and 2018's on right -
How 2018's looked at about six months -
( They are known as 'Mango' and 'Crown' - see below )
And the other two ( 2017 hatched ) from May 2019 -
( these two pics show closest to actual colors )
Now May 25 2019 - 'Mango' and 'Crown' - they love canteloupe -
Caught him just right "in bite" !
( No head movement )
Mango is really growing up to be a beauty!
And "Crown" !!!
Knew when I saw him first time.. he was a "keeper"!
( every pic he was taking a bite.. head blur ) -
There is so much "color" on the top of his head..
can barely see individual scales!!!
These 2017's are now almost "burnt-orange"..
the truest colors were shown above in the clover.
( The flash really compromised / lightened the colors below..
a considerable darker "red" actually )
I usually don't choose a 'blurred-pic' .. but liked this "bite" pic!
++++
And the "white" spots are unique on this guy -
Think there's any chance they will grow up to be nice?
*****
A few other examples of the incredible 'Giant' Bolivian Redfoot Tortoises!
( from 2017 )
These are the "off-the-chart" for 2018 !
My Keepers" !!!
Know as 'Crown1' and 'Leg-legs'...
And other late August 2018 -
Note the solid "eye-brows" on this one -
Early Sept. [ last for 2018 ] -
sorry 'bout the camera flash-out..
Look at those legs!!!
HUGE babies!
( true colors.. above and below )
++++
Our breeder calls these Bolivians "Peach colored"!
++++
Early 2019 enjoying dandelion greens -
And canteloupe on May 25 -
And a couple "nice" ones hatched early May..
shown June 8 -
The "flash" has done it again!
++++
The intense beauty and diversity of..
Bolivian locale Redfoot Tortoises!
Bolivian Redfoot Tortoises
*****
Extensive tutorial of Bolivian locale redfoot tortoises.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
( compared to other locales )
The purpose of this tutorial is to show the unique / intense beauty and diversity of..
Bolivian locale Redfoot Tortoises!
[email protected]
One reason they are called "Giant" - shown next to the breeders' size 12 foot -
50+(?) year old male.. [ over 18 inches ] from 1982 import!
( that's not my foot )
( shown shortly after the Florida storm in August 2017 )
Another 18+" male -
Their extreme 'concave' plastron -
And one of the "Matriarch's" from 1982
[ how old is she? - she makes 2+" babies! ]
A couple of the early 5 year olds -
Not easy to determine which of these 'young adults' are males -
all in 10+" range.. hatched at breeders' facility.
[ no waist ? ]
NOTE:
Exclusive characteristics to look for!
Virtual covering of head with colors and patterns..
large yellow "blotches" on carapace thru old maturity..
extreme dark "non-marbled" plastron.. and
no supressed waist of mature males.
+++
It is not known why these grow to be so large.
There are some of us that believe -
because parts of Bolivia is on a plateau / higher elevation..
it is unlikely that there is "hybridizing" with Brazilian's
[ that have the 'marbled' plastron ] in the wild..
not knowing 'collection-location' compounds the confusion also!
+++
From May 25th '19.. shortly after 'out-for-the-summer'.
Current 'young' mature group..
has taken 3 years to find and acquire.
These above are in the 10" ~ 11" SCL range..
still VERY young!!!
"Bubbles" has laid a total of 6 eggs.. none were fertile. It is
unlikely she was with a mature male over the past 3 years.
More on these below.
+++++
It's been another 2 years searching.. and nothing! THEN..!
"They" appeared - a couple 8+" SCL MALES!
+++
Now in Texas with 2 females..
IMHumbleO there is not a "Brazilian" out there that could compare..
with these "Bolivians" !!!
"TRUE" Bolivian MALE -
> note.. no plastron marbling <
Typical 'wide-anal' scute and "male-tail" starting to show on this 8+" SCL young male.
*******
*****
My "BO Red"
"Bubbles"
"Kupa"
From May 25th.. shortly after 'out-for-the-summer'!
*****
First and foremost is the extremely rare "melanistic"..
a true 2% - 3%'er ( only 2 or 3 out of 100 hatch like this ) -
Hatched early April 2019.
++++
May 25 - loves canteloupe!
( all that canteloupe is strictly for "photos" )
Yellow 'legs' .. even bottom of feet and tail !!!
*****
This little girl Bolivian Redfoot is the 2008 hatched by D. Beard -
( none of these below were raised by me..
is why they are 'pyramided' to some extent )
This is how she looked in June 2016 - she came to me as a trade..
I call her 'Bo Red' -
AND now in November 2017 with new camera!
And she has a new 'boy-friend' along with his 'girl-friend' to make a nice trio!
He is known as 'Kupa' - by his former keeper...
can you believe this young 11" SCL Bolivian redfoot?
( from group of 5 above - had an opportunity to acquire
the other male and didn't do it .. talk about stupid!!! )
They love chopped collard greens -
And the first of a few pics of 'Bubbles' -
she is currently trying to nest for the 2nd time -
her first clutch was 3 eggs! Seldom are 'first' eggs fertile.. they weren't.
And outside..
Kupa and Bubbles display a somewhat different plastron..
although still covering from head to toe with no 'marbling' -
'Kupa' ( note wide anal scutes and no 'hourglass' waist ) -
And 'Bubbles' -
*****
It's now late May 2019.. and they are finally outside and
enjoying canteloupe.. along with the American Violets
and small Rose of Sharon trying to grow in the enclosure
with the "preditor-proof" 'lid' with 2"x 3" welded-wire security.
Our man "Kupa" -
The girls -
They are in the 10" - 11" range now.
Bubbles -
With BO Red .. also enjoying canteloupe.
BO Red -
Some day they will make babies (?) !!!
*****
"True" Bolivian Redfoots have been rare in private collections until now -
mainly because only 2-3 breeders exist today.
This 'blood-line' reportedly came into the U.S. in 1982 consisting of less than 150 total..
( an almost "non-existent" number - compared to the multitude of
those from other locales from early 1970's until now. ).
That was the ONLY shipment.. until 20 years later .. when maybe 20 were brought in.
Where the adults and their hatchlings went.. only they know?
In case you hadn't noticed.. I'm trying to make a point -
" These are truly rare beauties !!! "
I managed to make a trade to acquire 'Bo Red' .
*****
These are a couple females ( thank you Chris H. ).. from hatchlings acquired from
2000 shipment - Chris acquired these from 'show' in 2011 - note the diversity.
Chris H. acquired a couple 2017 hatchlings from the 1982 stock..
He really knows how to raise them -
****
Due to the storms that hit Florida - late summer 2017 -
there were very few that hatched in 2018.
( just now in 2019 .. beginning to recover )
****
Early 2017 was given the opportunity to acquire a few hatclings..
AND I could pick the ones I wanted !!!
Was actually able to acquire from breeder.. that has pairs from the
ONLY ( only one group ) imports from 1982!
My choice - two 2017's on left and 2018's on right -
How 2018's looked at about six months -
( They are known as 'Mango' and 'Crown' - see below )
And the other two ( 2017 hatched ) from May 2019 -
( these two pics show closest to actual colors )
Now May 25 2019 - 'Mango' and 'Crown' - they love canteloupe -
Caught him just right "in bite" !
( No head movement )
Mango is really growing up to be a beauty!
And "Crown" !!!
Knew when I saw him first time.. he was a "keeper"!
( every pic he was taking a bite.. head blur ) -
There is so much "color" on the top of his head..
can barely see individual scales!!!
These 2017's are now almost "burnt-orange"..
the truest colors were shown above in the clover.
( The flash really compromised / lightened the colors below..
a considerable darker "red" actually )
I usually don't choose a 'blurred-pic' .. but liked this "bite" pic!
++++
And the "white" spots are unique on this guy -
Think there's any chance they will grow up to be nice?
*****
A few other examples of the incredible 'Giant' Bolivian Redfoot Tortoises!
( from 2017 )
These are the "off-the-chart" for 2018 !
My Keepers" !!!
Know as 'Crown1' and 'Leg-legs'...
And other late August 2018 -
Note the solid "eye-brows" on this one -
Early Sept. [ last for 2018 ] -
sorry 'bout the camera flash-out..
Look at those legs!!!
HUGE babies!
( true colors.. above and below )
++++
Our breeder calls these Bolivians "Peach colored"!
++++
Early 2019 enjoying dandelion greens -
And canteloupe on May 25 -
And a couple "nice" ones hatched early May..
shown June 8 -
The "flash" has done it again!
++++
The intense beauty and diversity of..
Bolivian locale Redfoot Tortoises!