As a beginner would it b smarter to start out w a hatchling or a older, larger (10"-15") sulcata?
For a beginner
- Thread starter Amanda81
- Start date
Either one is easy if you set them up right and get them from the right source.
Great! I have always preferred to start out with babies and watch them grow (I have a koi pond and it's been so rewarding to watch them grow from the 2" babies they were to the large gorgous fish they r now) I have read every article I can find on hatchlings and the beginner mistake articles and I have surfed this forum for weeks reading everything everyone has wrote on their hatchlings and their experiences with them. And thanks to a detail description w pics someone have me on here of the items I will need I feel secure enough to start looking for a little guy.
Read "Hatchling Failure Syndrome" before you buy. This will tell you what to look for and what to avoid.
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- Oct 28, 2012
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Hey, You are talking to Tom he sells sulcata's . I could not think of a better place to get one from . Just saying .
Well this is a nice detail to know. I was hoping I could luck up and find a great breeder on here so I wouldn't have to purchase from a store. Again I have read way to many things about getting one from a pet store.
Thank you. Sounds like Tom is who I need to b asking.
He really is. He's handled hundreds of them. If you deny his advice, it's really bad. He's very knowledgable. He doesn't just say to do whatever "just because that's what everyone does" but he explains why it's good for the tort as well. He can seem to come on hard at first, but he's only looking out for the tort's best interests.
Yes I read that one couple days ago. I have also read multiple other things that say not to buy from a pet store to find a breeder and go through them directly.
Not just any breeder. The RIGHT breeder. Unfortunately most breeders still start them much too dry, and many also still skip the brooder box step, and instead leave them in the incubator eating the substrate. You will need to look to find the right breeder.
I thank you and everyone else for the vote of confidence, but I'm just a guy on an internet forum. Lots of people know how to raise sulcatas. I find the best threads where I learn the most come when two or more experienced keepers disagree on a subject. Reading about what they disagree on, why they disagree, and what they base their assertions on, is where the learning can really take place.
Is there a breeders u would recommend? I will travel to Georgia or Florida or any of those surrounding states if need b. I would rather not do shipping, I think that would b scary for the little guy and personally don't think it's healthily. Plus I would like to see how the breeder is set up and everything they r doing with theirs. Plus I would like to be able to select one personally.
There are several good breeders right here on this forum. Don't be afraid of shipping. We've been doing it for decades and there is almost never a problem. Torts are dropped off for shipping in the afternoon and arrive at your door the next morning. Most breeders are not going to allow a stranger to come to their place. Too many wierdos and thieves out there in the world and no way to tell the many good guys from the few bad until its too late. So please don't be put off if a breeder doesn't want you to come to their place. I let very few people come to my ranch. Feel free to find one near you and try though. At this point you know all the right questions to ask.
I can see where that makes sense. The number of weirdo's do continue to grow. I did read through the review section and there was a lot of good reviews on a couple different places and I did check their websites out so maybe I will log back on a few and check into the shipping. A shipping charge will be way less expensive then all that gas I would have to use to drive too. Lol. Do u ship yours?There are several good breeders right here on this forum. Don't be afraid of shipping. We've been doing it for decades and there is almost never a problem. Torts are dropped off for shipping in the afternoon and arrive at your door the next morning. Most breeders are not going to allow a stranger to come to their place. Too many wierdos and thieves out there in the world and no way to tell the many good guys from the few bad until its too late. So please don't be put off if a breeder doesn't want you to come to their place. I let very few people come to my ranch. Feel free to find one near you and try though. At this point you know all the right questions to ask.
