Please read every word at face value.. thank you all.
Early on - late 1998 - I started raising 3 redfoot tortoises from 2 month old hatchlings.
There was limited info then, especially the internet, and some writings in books at the library.. but still very generic - most all tortoises were painted with the same brush.
As time went on the information base grew, more "species specific" info became available and the WWW became the 'main' source of knowledge(?)/reference!
By the early-mid 2000's these 3 hatchlings were becoming young adults and a WC male was added [ July 2003 ] to what appeared to be 3 females.. although still wasn't sure about one of the females. ( 2 were 10" SCL and she was barely 9" SCL at best ) Anal scute ID was still foreign to me then. At this time I was still relying on 'limited' info and these girls were developing a carapace "look" that was entirely different than the new WC male. He was smooth and even developed and they were [ now commonly know as ] pyramided. Everything else seemed to be fine.
In May '04 this male realized that he had a 'captive' harem.. and hasn't stopped since!
Early July '04 an adult 1.2 was added and the 'learning' began. Due to issues resulting from 'poor' feeding habits the alpha female could barely walk. I went to 'Herpforum' ( Kingsnake ) and asked for help.
Thanks to TerryO the link was found - http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=511274,511274&key=2004
As a result of that "search" I met [ mainly thru email ] a few actual real "hands-on" redfoot keepers/breeders. How much "field" experience any of them had was not a concern to me.. my only concern was "Do they know how to maintain redfoot tortoises to be healthy and happy enough to pro-create?".. in my back yard.
And one even endured my ignorance and took the time to help incubate the eggs so they did hatch! [ even tho' he denies it and will accept the credit ]
So....... when the "basics" are established well enough so that they are happy enough to make babies.. and the babies grow to be healthy and happy and have the same over-all appearence as their WC counter-parts.. that's good enough for me.
If it works don't fix it - maybe that's old-fashioned and an 'out-dated' mindset..?? And as a result it may appear I'm not willing to hear or even consider what others have experienced or said [ or even viewed by some as even accused those as being totally wrong ].. but considering we're dealing with redfoot tortoises that are virtually "bullet-proof" they are capable of enduring most anything. Good or bad.
I am always striving to make 'it' better.. like everyone else. As Carl once told me a few years back.. 'We have much to learn'!
I am and always have been open to information that will make "IT" ( caring for redfoots ) better. But I'm not as good at researching as Mark is.. I'll be happy to read the info if/when I can find it.. but you'll have to help all of us find it first. Surely you don't buy into everything that is out there.. books and/or the internet.
I don't have the years of experience as Carl does.. nor the patience or diplomcy that he has.
And few [ if any ] have the years and shear numbers that Tom Mc has - he was there when the first "Cherryhead" came into the states! How many years ago was that Tom?
Every once in awhile I take a decent picture.
And I stuck my neck out and wrote a Caresheet { determined to raise SMOOTH babies } for the world to see.. one that would be usable for any age or locale - how bright was that?
The point of this is: as long as the 'basics' are met - temps, humidity ( below and above ), lighting, space and diet are met - these little beasts have proven that they can handle a multitude of variables that they have been subjected to from humans.. over how many decades?
Whether we agree or not.....
NERD
Early on - late 1998 - I started raising 3 redfoot tortoises from 2 month old hatchlings.
There was limited info then, especially the internet, and some writings in books at the library.. but still very generic - most all tortoises were painted with the same brush.
As time went on the information base grew, more "species specific" info became available and the WWW became the 'main' source of knowledge(?)/reference!
By the early-mid 2000's these 3 hatchlings were becoming young adults and a WC male was added [ July 2003 ] to what appeared to be 3 females.. although still wasn't sure about one of the females. ( 2 were 10" SCL and she was barely 9" SCL at best ) Anal scute ID was still foreign to me then. At this time I was still relying on 'limited' info and these girls were developing a carapace "look" that was entirely different than the new WC male. He was smooth and even developed and they were [ now commonly know as ] pyramided. Everything else seemed to be fine.
In May '04 this male realized that he had a 'captive' harem.. and hasn't stopped since!
Early July '04 an adult 1.2 was added and the 'learning' began. Due to issues resulting from 'poor' feeding habits the alpha female could barely walk. I went to 'Herpforum' ( Kingsnake ) and asked for help.
Thanks to TerryO the link was found - http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=511274,511274&key=2004
As a result of that "search" I met [ mainly thru email ] a few actual real "hands-on" redfoot keepers/breeders. How much "field" experience any of them had was not a concern to me.. my only concern was "Do they know how to maintain redfoot tortoises to be healthy and happy enough to pro-create?".. in my back yard.
And one even endured my ignorance and took the time to help incubate the eggs so they did hatch! [ even tho' he denies it and will accept the credit ]
So....... when the "basics" are established well enough so that they are happy enough to make babies.. and the babies grow to be healthy and happy and have the same over-all appearence as their WC counter-parts.. that's good enough for me.
If it works don't fix it - maybe that's old-fashioned and an 'out-dated' mindset..?? And as a result it may appear I'm not willing to hear or even consider what others have experienced or said [ or even viewed by some as even accused those as being totally wrong ].. but considering we're dealing with redfoot tortoises that are virtually "bullet-proof" they are capable of enduring most anything. Good or bad.
I am always striving to make 'it' better.. like everyone else. As Carl once told me a few years back.. 'We have much to learn'!
I am and always have been open to information that will make "IT" ( caring for redfoots ) better. But I'm not as good at researching as Mark is.. I'll be happy to read the info if/when I can find it.. but you'll have to help all of us find it first. Surely you don't buy into everything that is out there.. books and/or the internet.
I don't have the years of experience as Carl does.. nor the patience or diplomcy that he has.
And few [ if any ] have the years and shear numbers that Tom Mc has - he was there when the first "Cherryhead" came into the states! How many years ago was that Tom?
Every once in awhile I take a decent picture.
And I stuck my neck out and wrote a Caresheet { determined to raise SMOOTH babies } for the world to see.. one that would be usable for any age or locale - how bright was that?
The point of this is: as long as the 'basics' are met - temps, humidity ( below and above ), lighting, space and diet are met - these little beasts have proven that they can handle a multitude of variables that they have been subjected to from humans.. over how many decades?
Whether we agree or not.....
NERD