Most expensive turtles and tortoises?

Danimal

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My wife is wanting an Aldabra , so I was poking around the interweb looking while we were waiting to move. I remembered watching a youtube video that lead me to this site, I remembered seeing how much he was charging for breeding trio's, I got lucky and found it again.

Screenshot 2021-02-28 183646.pngScreenshot 2021-02-28 183736.png
 

queen koopa

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Forgive my ignorance... really. But I know very little of the differences between US and Canada. ?‍♀️?‍♀️ So are these $700 hatchlings from private breeders? Or commercial?
 

Farcryjj

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Forgive my ignorance... really. But I know very little of the differences between US and Canada. ?‍♀️?‍♀️ So are these $700 hatchlings from private breeders? Or commercial?
Commercial. Private breeders sell them slightly cheaper, but not by much. Because there are very few private breeders. The main reason that the tortoises are expensive in Canada is because the custom rules forbid any form of tortoise importing, not even to bring them in as your existing pet. Only Canadian born captive bred tortoises are allowed to be sold.
 

queen koopa

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Commercial. Private breeders sell them slightly cheaper, but not by much. Because there are very few private breeders. The main reason that the tortoises are expensive in Canada is because the custom rules forbid any form of tortoise importing, not even to bring them in as your existing pet. Only Canadian born captive bred tortoises are allowed to be sold.
Oh I see. Thank you! I like the mitigation of importing tortoise. And maybe $700 may make people think twice about getting their kid a baby tortoise on whim.
 

Farcryjj

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Oh I see. Thank you! I like the mitigation of importing tortoise. And maybe $700 may make people think twice about getting their kid a baby tortoise on whim.
I agree on the non-importing part to protect the wild population. Even the turtles are subjects to the same rule, which is why the turtles are very expensive also. Common turtles like redear sliders are $150+. Mud turtles are $350+
 

ZenHerper

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I agree on the non-importing part to protect the wild population. Even the turtles are subjects to the same rule, which is why the turtles are very expensive also. Common turtles like redear sliders are $150+. Mud turtles are $350+

Yeah, OK - that's just crazy!

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Danimal

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I went to a buddies wedding in LeDuc, AB and they took my 2 contraband apples I had for snacks. :) FYI foreign apples not allowed in Canada, eh!
 

Farcryjj

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I went to a buddies wedding in LeDuc, AB and they took my 2 contraband apples I had for snacks. :) FYI foreign apples not allowed in Canada, eh!
Vice versa. US border agency doesn't allow any veggies, fruits, even firewood to go into the States also. ?
I always suspect some Canadian breeders of trafficking baby tortoises/ turtles from US to Canada for sale... Some particular individual seems to have a lot of babies of different kind comparing to the size of the operation he/she runs...
 

Kapidolo Farms

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I would argue going to jail/prison for an illegal animal is the most expensive - into 100's of thousands of $$. I know of a few people who have experienced this kind of cost.

Large well proven Galops or Aldabras easily $100K each.

Legal or illegal?

Yes, some large Aldabras and Galapagos can easily go for $25k+. It's highly dependent on size.

Illegal trade in species like plowshares/yniphora have supposedly been in the $30-50k+ range, particularly to rich people in Asia.

Maybe a better question would be what price per pound of tortoise?
 

JeffR

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A non-pet keeping friend asked me today which are the most expensive turtles/tortoises. I wasn't sure what to tell them other than maybe Aldabra.
Any ideas and price ranges? This is ENTIRELY idle curiosity on my friend's part, but hey- any time anyone wants to talk about turtles I feel duty-bound to tell them far more than they probably wanted to hear!!!!! ?



There is certainly a black market for galapagos
This Former Zoo employee there is going to jail
 

Relic

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Depending on what additional costs you usually incur to placate your wife, i.e., new furniture, new jewelry, a remodeled kitchen, or perhaps a new car, even run-of-the-mill sliders can be prohibitive. I find that turtles and torts that camouflage well in their habitats are the cheapest...
 

TeamZissou

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There is certainly a black market for galapagos
This Former Zoo employee there is going to jail

Looks like he got probation, community service, and a fine:

"United States District Judge Bernard Jones sentenced Lucas to serve three years of probation, perform 100 hours of community service, and pay $32,500 in restitution to the Oklahoma City Zoo."
 

Moozillion

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Looks like he got probation, community service, and a fine:

"United States District Judge Bernard Jones sentenced Lucas to serve three years of probation, perform 100 hours of community service, and pay $32,500 in restitution to the Oklahoma City Zoo."
I think he should have gotten a stiffer sentence- but unfortunately the judge didn't phone to ask my opinion...:mad:
 

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