Request for photos!!!!

[Moozillion]

I want to spread tortoise awareness, as we all do.
Whenever I see my physical therapist, he always asks about my tortoise. Yesterday he asked what my favorite tortoise was and what the most expensive tortoise is.
I told him my fav are the Burmese stars and tried to describe them to him, but a picture is worth a thousand words!!
I would like to be able to show him photos of Burmese stars as well as ANY beautiful tortoise!
I made a wild guess at most expensive, and said Aldabra (he'd never heard of them, of course) and said $1,000. He was shocked at the price! In retrospect, I think $1,000 was too low.
SOOOOO...
I'm requesting photos of not just Burmese stars, but ANY tortoise you think is especially beautiful!
I'm also requesting photos of expensive tortoises and the cost (or approximate cost).
I seem him again this Thursday, 8/9.

Thanks!!!

Mooz

 

[wellington]

Aldabras are 2000 for a hatchling. But the Galapagos is the most expensive that can be owned, but not easily.
The Radiated I think is the most beautiful.

 

[zovick]

Here are some beautiful Radiated Tortoises. These would have been in the $4K to $6K each price range a few years ago before it became almost impossible to get permits to sell them across state lines. Not sure what the value would be today since the sales possibilities are now limited.

 

[zovick]

And here are some very nice Burmese Star Tortoises. These had about the same value as the Radiated Tortoises when I first began breeding them. Not sure, but I think they would still be quite valuable today because most of the ones you see are not as colorful as these.

 

[zovick]

Here are the results of my three generations of breeding Sri Lankan Star Tortoises. The breeding sized adults with colors like these were worth $3500 or so each when I was breeding them in the early 2000's.

 

[wellington]

@zovick those prices, were they for hatchlings, juniors or adults?
Back when I would run across some Rad hatchlings for sale, they were around the same as Aldabra hatchlings, around 2000.00. Some less but they, the Aldabras, were imports.
I also didn't know they ever could go across state lines. That must have been before I got into tortoises, which was 2010/2011.

 

[zovick]

@zovick those prices, were they for hatchlings, juniors or adults?
Back when I would run across some Rad hatchlings for sale, they were around the same as Aldabra hatchlings, around 2000.00. Some less but they, the Aldabras, were imports.
I also didn't know they ever could go across state lines. That must have been before I got into tortoises, which was 2010/2011.

The prices I mentioned would generally be for animals which were older than hatchlings but not yet adults. Proven breeding stock would be a bit higher in price.

Just FYI, if a person wishes to buy or sell any species of tortoise which is listed in the US Endangered Species Act from anywhere outside of his/her state of legal residence, he/she needs to possess a Captive Bred Wildlife Permit (CBW) which is issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This law has been in effect since 1976 or 1977 as I recall. I got my first CBW Permit in 1978 and held one until 2019 when I stopped breeding any of the species which required it. Persons who hold these permits are required to report all births, deaths, sales, trades, and any other transactions involving the species covered by their permit ANNUALLY to the USFWS. The permits used to cost $100 for a two year period, but I believe that now they are $200 for five years. I'm not positive of that number, though.

I gave up my permit and the breeding of endangered species because, due to a change in directors, the USFWS began denying most peoples' applications for both new permits and renewals of their existing permits starting in about 2017. Without a CBW Permit, one can buy or sell endangered species only within their state of legal residence. This drastically reduces the ability to sell these species and is the reason almost all ads for endangered tortoises today state that the animals are offered only with the state where the seller resides, which is probably why you thought they could not cross state lines. They can do so, but ONLY IF BOTH THE BUYER AND THE SELLER HAVE CBW PERMITS, which is most unlikely today due to the reason I mentioned above.

 

[wellington]

The prices I mentioned would generally be for animals which were older than hatchlings but not yet adults. Proven breeding stock would be a bit higher in price.

Just FYI, if a person wishes to buy or sell any species of tortoise which is listed in the US Endangered Species Act from anywhere outside of his/her state of legal residence, he/she needs to possess a Captive Bred Wildlife Permit (CBW) which is issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This law has been in effect since 1976 or 1977 as I recall. I got my first CBW Permit in 1978 and held one until 2019 when I stopped breeding any of the species which required it. Persons who hold these permits are required to report all births, deaths, sales, trades, and any other transactions involving the species covered by their permit ANNUALLY to the USFWS. The permits used to cost $100 for a two year period, but I believe that now they are $200 for five years. I'm not positive of that number, though.

I gave up my permit and the breeding of endangered species because, due to a change in directors, the USFWS began denying most peoples' applications for both new permits and renewals of their existing permits starting in about 2017. Without a CBW Permit, one can buy or sell endangered species only within their state of legal residence. This drastically reduces the ability to sell these species and is the reason almost all ads for endangered tortoises today state that the animals are offered only with the state where the seller resides, which is probably why you thought they could not cross state lines. They can do so, but ONLY IF BOTH THE BUYER AND THE SELLER HAVE CBW PERMITS, which is most unlikely today due to the reason I mentioned above.

Thanks for clarifying that. I had only ever read, on here, years ago, that the breeder/seller and buyer both had to have the permit, but still could not sell out of state. Either I read the incorrect info or I interpreted it wrong.

 

[zovick]

Thanks for clarifying that. I had only ever read, on here, years ago, that the breeder/seller and buyer both had to have the permit, but still could not sell out of state. Either I read the incorrect info or I interpreted it wrong.

Hard to say which might be the case. I will say that a lot of people misinterpret the law, so perhaps what you read back then was incorrectly stated.

At any rate, the post I wrote has all the correct information based on 41 years of dealing with the CBW Permit requirements.

 

[Ink]

A Leopard tortoise maybe not the most expensive, however still so beautiful. I purchased Ink 17 years ago...so I can't give you a price for a hatchling. He is priceless to me🥰

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I may be biased, but I LOVE my sully! Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder in this case lol.

 

[wellington]

I may be biased, but I LOVE my sully! Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder in this case lol.
View attachment 359998

There is no ugly tortoise. They are all beautiful! Love the way he is looking at you, great pic.

 

[wellington]

A Leopard tortoise maybe not the most expensive, however still so beautiful. I purchased Ink 17 years ago...so I can't give you a price for a hatchling. He is priceless to me🥰

Love the leopards. I think they are beautiful too. Yes, mine are absolutely priceless.

 

[Moozillion]

Here are some beautiful Radiated Tortoises. These would have been in the $4K to $6K each price range a few years ago before it became almost impossible to get permits to sell them across state lines. Not sure what the value would be today since the sales possibilities are now limited.

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Aldabras are 2000 for a hatchling. But the Galapagos is the most expensive that can be owned, but not easily.
The Radiated I think is the most beautiful.

I might include Egyptians in that ballpark as well.

 

[Moozillion]

And here are some very nice Burmese Star Tortoises. These had about the same value as the Radiated Tortoises when I first began breeding them. Not sure, but I think they would still be quite valuable today because most of the ones you see are not as colorful as these.

And THANK YOU, AGAIN!!!!

 

[Moozillion]

A Leopard tortoise maybe not the most expensive, however still so beautiful. I purchased Ink 17 years ago...so I can't give you a price for a hatchling. He is priceless to me🥰

YES!!! He is gorgeous!!!

 

[Moozillion]

I may be biased, but I LOVE my sully! Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder in this case lol.
View attachment 359998

Sullys are wonderful!! Thank you!!!

 

[Cathie G]

I only have my little Sapphire 🤗🐢. He's priceless.

 

[Moozillion]

I only have my little Sapphire 🤗🐢. He's priceless.View attachment 360001

Another beauty in my eyes!!!