My youtube channel has hundreds of videos about the care of hingeback tortoises - please do watch them if you are interested. That's my outreach. That's why I posted this video. To help people learn about them. My aim is to drive people interested in Kinixys to my video outreach and...
I like to make personalized recommendations based on the owner's climate, housing and resources. While care sheets can be helpful, I tend to think they lead to group think and absolutism.
Did you know that all of the native south american tortoises likely shared a common ancestor with Kinixys? The hypothesis is this ancient ancestor floated across the Atlantic west from Africa to South America. Hingebacks are more closely related to the redfoot and Galapagos tortoise than they...
Hi Wellington - I do have those types of outdoor enclosures. However, some species of hingebacks hate grassy enclosures- because a grassy enclosure would mean that enclosure is in the sun. That type of enclosure would simply be too warm and too bright for some species of Kinixys like Kinixys...
I'm sorry for your loss. Was this your first tortoise? Sometimes, hatchlings fail to thrive. Did your tortoise grow at all? Did you consistently monitor his weight? How much did he weigh when you got him and how much did he weigh before he passed?
Hi Tammy - I don't use soaking pools- I use waterers designed for baby chicks- this makes it difficult for the tortoises to defecate in the water, but believe it or not, they can still do it. Thanks for watching the video.
Aaron Johnson joined me last evening to talk about the Bell's Hingeback Tortoise and his experiences managing TINC, Testudine Intranuclear Coccidiosis, in Tortoises.
https://www.youtube.com/live/CtvWd54Z5do?si=JBB4I_wmPrNMD7bM
It's possible Rich - It sounds like you are doing a great job - Have you been keeping her for 28 years? Shoot us a photo and we can help you identify her - that will be a good first step. When females pace or start looking to get our of their enclosure, that's often a sign that they need to...
I suppose we all have our bad days Steve! I thought that video would stand on its own merits, and I certainly didn't think others would have to defend it, but perhaps TFO has become more of a bastion of "Groupthink" than I realized.
Hi Jacqui- It's unfortunate that some experts lack the confidence in their own abilities that they poo-poo ideas that community at large has. I've seen it happen over, and over, and over again. To date, we have not yet established any stud books.
Aaron Johnson wasn't able to attend TTPG in person but he put together a succinct presentation detailing his efforts to manage a population of Kenyan-exported Kinixys belliana infected with TINC. It's an amazing, must-see TV for all tortoise owners, not just those that are Kinixys nuts like me!
Curious if anyone is working with the Anamurensis locale of greek tortoise. Is Andrew Hermes the only one with producing adults or are there other people producing them? I have a hatchling that I received from Andrew last winter. Thanks!
I have animals available with Jay Frewer at turtlesandtortoises.com If you used to keep the old "Bell's Hingebacks" back in the 90's, here's your opportunity to work with this species again. I will be producing up to four bloodlines in the years to come...
Got it Melissa - It's definitely good to keep an eye on your tortoises poop! Also, just by looking at it, I think you may have a female - could you share photos of its tail? The tortoise you have is VERY special - they are quite rare today!