Yup! Where I am, a baby Russian or Hermann’s is usually $700.00. Redfoots are around $1000.00.You haven't heard the price of babies in Canada yet. $2000 for an Egyptian tortoise, and they are sold out quickly. Any tortoise babies, including Russians, are $500+
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.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?
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.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.
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+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+
Vice versa. US border agency doesn't allow any veggies, fruits, even firewood to go into the States also. ?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!
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?
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!!!!! ?
Former Oklahoma City Zoo employee sentenced after pleading guilty to trafficking endangered Galapagos tortoises
A former employee of the Oklahoma City Zoo was formally sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to a wildlife trafficking charge for selling Galapagos tortoise hatchlings from the Herpetarium.kfor.com
There is certainly a black market for galapagos
This Former Zoo employee there is going to jail
I think he should have gotten a stiffer sentence- but unfortunately the judge didn't phone to ask my opinion...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."