Petstore vs Online vs Expo

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What is the preferred way to acquire a redfoot tortoise?

There are some semi-local shops (Petsway) in southern Missouri that have cherry heads and redfoots in stock for $299.99. They say they are captive bred. How do you verify this?

Also, there is a reptile exhibit coming to the same time in August (assuming COVID restrictions aren’t coming back), but I don’t know prices or availability.

I have also found a few online breeders, but the price with shipping is about what Petsway wants.

I haven’t found anything local otherwise and will get a tortoise this summer. I just want to optimize how I do it. Any advice? I would like to see what I get before I get it and would prefer adoption over purchasing, but that doesn’t seem to be an option here. So next hierarchy is captive bred over wild caught, and I would like to support something that isn’t a mega-business. I have preferences but no real dealbreakers at this point.
 

jsheffield

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online breeders or online distributors?

Checkout redfoot ranch in florida. I know @jsheffield has purchased a few of his torts there and I believe he speaks well of them.

I've been highly impressed in my dealings with Redfoot ranch.

Jamie
 
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I am a little lazy in my terminology. Online distributors is what is what I am thinking of. But ideally also breeder or close enough to know breeding conditions of what they are selling.
 

method89

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I would only buy from a true breeder... last year i would have bought from anyone but I was lucky enough to have been recommended to a great breeder and I've learned so much about the behind the scenes of the tortoise/turtle world (from TFO) that I will only ever buy from a trusted breeder now. Check out the reviews in the forum for good redfoot breeders.
 

Tom

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What is the preferred way to acquire a redfoot tortoise?

There are some semi-local shops (Petsway) in southern Missouri that have cherry heads and redfoots in stock for $299.99. They say they are captive bred. How do you verify this?

Also, there is a reptile exhibit coming to the same time in August (assuming COVID restrictions aren’t coming back), but I don’t know prices or availability.

I have also found a few online breeders, but the price with shipping is about what Petsway wants.

I haven’t found anything local otherwise and will get a tortoise this summer. I just want to optimize how I do it. Any advice? I would like to see what I get before I get it and would prefer adoption over purchasing, but that doesn’t seem to be an option here. So next hierarchy is captive bred over wild caught, and I would like to support something that isn’t a mega-business. I have preferences but no real dealbreakers at this point.
None of the above.

Find a breeder. A breeder that starts them correctly and knows their babies.
 

G-stars

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Find a breeder, most of those other sources only resell and don't really care about the well-being of the animals they sell. A breeder will be a much better source whether you get it local or shipped.
 

newCH

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I'm just gonna throw this out there and say that no matter its origin, the animal was created and deserves a good home.

Sure, you will find alot of newbies who cant tell the difference between a redfoot, cherry head or yellow foot hatchling. So do your research, the info is out there.

I found Sheldon at a reptile store. Honestly, his reaction when he saw me, he knew he wanted out. He literally ate from my hand on the car ride home. And he might be a quiet pet in comparison to a dog or cat, but he has loads of personality.

Many years ago, I used to have rabbits that were registered, had papers, won Best of breed with trophies etc. But I still felt that the pet store bunnies have wonderful lives to share also.

Everyone wants the best, and I know this might be somewhat off topic but I thought I should say it.
 

hellomaloy

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A little digging goes a long way in choosing a website to ship you a turtle/tortoise. From what I’ve gathered from research myself and also prior threads on this forum, CB Reptile is the same company as TortoiseTown and there are terrible reviews of bad customer service and sickly animals, some of which die. Also worthy of noting is that the company called TurtleStore is directly related to TortoiseTown, specifically stating on its website that it is it’s “sister company.” How deep that connection is isn’t well known but could possibly be the same people. Maybe someone knows more than me, correct me if I’m wrong, but it all just turns me off of them all. Please make your decisions very carefully regarding these sites. Some have had good luck, a lot have not. Don’t forget that we still have quite a few reptile expos through out the rest of this year, I’m going to one next month near here being held in Tulsa (like you said, might be up in the air but I’ve been checking for cancellations and they still appear to be coming through) This is the best way you can hand pick animals. I’m leaning towards captive breeders located near me down south or in Florida to match our humidity and will choose from the expo if they are relatively local to my area. I’m really liking Southern Reptiles and Redfoot Ranch but I’m still building my giant outdoor enclosure so haven’t ordered, plus I still want to check out that expo first. Oh, and FORGET PET STORES. My heart is breaking over this sad lonely withdrawn, probably wild caught redfoot sitting with terrible pyramiding in a glass case at PetCo. I know if I take him home he will die. He is also 50% off.... HMMM. WONDER WHY.
 

hellomaloy

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I like the people who are transparent. I know not everyone has the time to be socially active, but when I visit their website, or their Facebook, instagram, or YouTube, and I see frequent day to day posts about living conditions and normal life, where they are kept, videos or pics of them eating, etc... I feel a lot better about them as breeders so I always do look for this. Not to say that people who don’t have a frequent display are bad people, just saying I do look for it and it is admirable and can definitely help someone make their decisions.
 

Beasty_Artemis

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Go order yourself an incubator, and then look on Tortstork.com!!!! My 2 redfoot eggs arrived and hatched safe and sound, and are a couple of strong, healthy individuals now! I had great communication with Randy, the owner. I've had an amazing experience the whole time. Very cool.
 

turtlesailor

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I would pick a breeder any day, if they come to your local expo. Even better!

I don’t mind wild caught, but WC/LTC need a little more attention to care. But that my experience from keeping aquatic turtles. I would be more strict of wanting a CB tortoise. So it why in my opinion find a breeder who dedicated to which species they possessed. Make they you know they have a deep passion for who they keep in their collection.
 
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Thank you all for the responses. There is an expo next month near me that I will go to in order to try to meet some breeders. Assuming it doesn’t get postponed due to the rise in COVID cases.
 

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