HELLO FROM CAPE BRETON. (EASTERN CANADA)

Hello, My name is Jim and I live in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton) , Canada. I myself am 40 years old and I have had just about every type of pet imaginable except the beautiful little tortoise. Only because I never had the chance to buy one.
Now that my two daughters are getting older they have the same love for animals that I have so I want to finally get some tortoises to go with the other pets we have and learn all about them with my daughters.
I am not sure about shipping them to Canada or anything else so any help would be appreciated. I would also eventually like to have the breed for me but I understand that is a long time from now. But we are willing to learn and we are willing to do whatever it takes to give the little guys or girls the perfect home and conditions.
We have done some searching and I have found a breeder for just about every type of tortoise and maybe he is a member here or have you guys heard of him? His name is Marcin Makarewicz. He said he is located in New Jersey.
Anything you may be able to help us with or any helpful beginner information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Welcome to the forum Jim

Welcome, JIm! I am also a new member from Fisher Branch, Manitoba. I bought my red foot a week ago at a local pet store in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am sure you can find one closer to you there so that you can see it before you buy it. There also appears to be a breeder of tortoises here from Alberta but I don't know if he ships or not (I just noticed him in some of the forums).

There is a lot of good advice here and the people are very helpful and friendly. Good luck with your search!

Hi Jim:

Welcome to the forum!!

Canada has some pretty strict regulations about importing tortoises. You would be better off looking for a breeder or seller in Canada.

Here's a thread for you to read:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ses-eggs-into-Canada-is-illegal#axzz1I7iGmMKT

emysemys said:

Hi Jim:

Welcome to the forum!!

Canada has some pretty strict regulations about importing tortoises. You would be better off looking for a breeder or seller in Canada.

Here's a thread for you to read:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread...ses-eggs-into-Canada-is-illegal#axzz1I7iGmMKT

Click to expand...

Thank you. That thread was very helpful with understanding the laws. I appreciate it.
But on the other hand, as I mentioned, I found a breeder of several breeds of tortoises in the US and he said it was no problem to ship into Canada. Now I know you said that it is illegal so I want to make sure I do this right and I will not get into any trouble. I want to really embrace this hobby of raising tortoises but I want to make sure I do everything right.
I have worked at pet stores for about 15 years total and I have seen and heard some really grewsome stories regarding all pets. Cats, dogs, reptiles, amphibians, etc!! Its just terrible the things some people do just to make a quick buck. I truly believe its because of people like this that make it difficult for responsable pet owners to enjoy the hobby and enjoy there pets.
So any information will be appreciated and if any of you can provide me with more information about this subject or even provide me with reputable breeders here in Canada that would be amazing.
Thanks for the help thus far. This forum is awesome and I have been here only one day and you guys and girls have been so great and I thank you.

Welcome to TFO JIM!!

I would also like to add that we are the proud owners of 5 turtles as well and I will try and get some pics posted. We have a Florida Red Belly cooter, one mississippi map, one oshawa map, one red ear slider, and one yellow belly slider.
My daughter and I recently adopted them for Little ResQ here in Canada. The turtles themselves didnt cost much and the shipping wasnt too bad either. We have a delivery service here in Canada called reptile Express and its overnight shipping.
So if any other members here are from Canada and are interested in saving a little turtle, please send me a PM and I will send you the information.
Thanks again guys, Its appreciated greatly!!

welcome!

Hi Jim:

I wouldn't chance it. We've had people in Canada come on the forum and tell us that they sent their money to a seller in the U.S. and never got their tortoise, with no contact from the seller.

(Isa: Do you remember who that was? I'd like to do a search for the thread)

Welcome. Hope you find exactly what you are looking for!

Hi, and welcome Jim

Hi, and welcome Jim

It really is next to impossible to import torts across the border.

Depending on which species of tort you are looking for will depend on whether they are available in Canada. There are very few breeders in Canada of torts but the most common species are Red Foots, Sulcata occassionally Leopards.

Because of the adult size of some of these torts and their habitat requirements you will find 3 + year olds offered on Kijiji quite often. You will also see Russians once in a while for sale.

Are there any pet expos out in Nova Scotia? I would suggest you attend those and talk to some of the more prominent reptile breeders/stores and enquire about obtaining torts.

There also seems to be other species in Canada that makes me wonder how they got into the country!!

Good luck in your search for a tort and be aware that you will pay a heck of a lot more than our neighbours would!!

Welcome to the forum That is very nice of you to come here and make some research before buying the tortoise! I can't wait to see pictures of your turtles
I am sorry I am a little late on this thread. I was the one writting the thread about the importation and I personally spoke to someone from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and they transfered me to a vet working with them. The tortoise or turtle will never cross the border and trust me the tortoise will not be shipped back to the sender. Sometimes, I order some tortoise supplies from the States and wow it takes so much time for getting them because they are stuck at the border. I am sure the breeder knows perfectly well he cannot ship to the Canada, he probably just want your money (or does not care about the tortoise and will ship it anyway). The thing is, you will not get it . I know it can be hard for us to get a tortoise but it is possible . I have 2 Hermanns and when I go to reptiles shows they sell a lot of species of tortoises. Halifax is not too far from Cape Breton so maybe you could go to a reptile show there. You could even call pet stores and ask them to give you the phone numbers of some breeders they know . Good luck and let us know how it goes
@Yvonne, I remember it happened but I forgot who .

Thank so much. I appreciate it very much. I was very excited to get a tortoise but it seems I am getting scammed???? The guys name is Marcin Makarewicz and he said he has shipped before but now I am not so sure. I am going to try and post some pics of the ones he sent me and hopefully someone has seen the same pics so I will know for sure.
Also, can you please tell me when the next reptile expo is in Halifax? Thanks so much guys and girls. I am greatly thankfull.
Here are some pics:
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/enclosure3.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/enclosure2.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/enclosure.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/red.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/untitled.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/tort2.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/startort1.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/Startort.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/red2.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/ISLANDFOCUS/TORTOISES/red3.jpg

I hope these pics work and hopefully someone on here can shed some light on this guy or maybe see if these pics are just copied from another site or member. This guy claims to have alot of different species of tortoise. Thanks so much guys and girls, I hope to hear from you soon, JIM

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I would also like to add that this guy has dozens of adds in the clasifieds here in Canada and also on Craigs list.
And lastly, if its possible for someone to fix these pictures so they show here on this thread it would be greatly appreciated.

Well guys and girls I thank you so much. I truly believe you have saved me alot of money. I did a google search on Marcin Makarewicz and "WOW". This guy has adds all over the world in every internet add place available. And in every add they say the live in a different country and that shipping is available anywhere in the world. Also, I have noticed on the forums that some tortoises are sold for thousands of dollars and this person has them listed for $150.00US.
So once again I thank you. I am so glad I have found this forum and the great people that are one here. I also hope that I will help others as well if they see these adds.
And last but not least, Maybe the mods on the forum here can post a warning about this.
I have not given up hope. I will find a repuatable breeder here in Canada and I will be the proud owner of a little tortie!!

TMG ISLAND3R said:

Well guys and girls I thank you so much. I truly believe you have saved me alot of money. I did a google search on Marcin Makarewicz and "WOW". This guy has adds all over the world in every internet add place available. And in every add they say the live in a different country and that shipping is available anywhere in the world. Also, I have noticed on the forums that some tortoises are sold for thousands of dollars and this person has them listed for $150.00US.
So once again I thank you. I am so glad I have found this forum and the great people that are one here. I also hope that I will help others as well if they see these adds.
And last but not least, Maybe the mods on the forum here can post a warning about this.
I have not given up hope. I will find a repuatable breeder here in Canada and I will be the proud owner of a little tortie!!

Click to expand...

If you google Reptile Expo Halifax you can find out info for the Expo.

If it sounds too good to be true then it generally isn't

I am going to pm you.

Cape Breton, I rode my motorcycle thru there in 2009, I love the area. Gotta keep an eye on your gas gage though, as gas stations are seen less frequently. Your national park there was great riding and highly recommended!

You must be talking about the Cabot Trail? Its one of canada's top ten tourest sites. and yep, cape breton is a beautiful place but it has no tortoises??? LOL

does this rescue you got the turtles from not do tortoises?