Where to Buy Tortoises
Posted: Monday, September 07, 2009
by Ellie Bear
http://www.tortoisetips.com
If you are thinking of buying a tortoise there are a number of different factors to consider. Not least your budget as buying the tortoise may cost $50-$500, depending on the age and type of tortoise. However, this is not the end of the story! You will have to take into account the cost of setting up tortoise houses and heating, lighting, keeping it's enclosure clean and of course feeding your pet tortoise.
Who to buy tortoises from?
The best way to buy tortoises is to go to a reputable and experienced tortoise breeder. You can find these advertising usually in your local pet shop or even at the local vet. Specialist magazines and websites should have links to follow so you can hopefully find a tortoise breeder in your local area.
What to ask when buying a tortoise?
If you find a local tortoise breeder there are a few questions to ask of him. Firstly you will want to seen the parents of the tortoise you decide to buy to see if they look healthy and are well kept. The environment where the parents are kept should give you a good idea as to the professionalism of the breeder.
If you are unable to find a local tortoise breeder you may have to buy your pet tortoise from the local pet shop. You can ask the pet shop owner a few questions as to the origins of the tortoise but he may not have too much information for you. So if you want to buy tortoises from a pet shop you will have to know a little about how to spot a sick tortoise.
How to Spot a Sick Tortoise?
Eyes: They should be bright and clean and not have any coloured discharge. They should not be crusty
Shell: This should be hard (depending on the species as there are tortoises with softer shells)
Alert: Your pet tortoise should be alert and active.
Nose: This should not have any discharge or bubbles.
Mouth: Your tortoise should breathe easily through its nose not through its mouth.
General Health: There should be no obvious signs of injury to the shell or legs and there should not be any faeces around the anal area of the tortoise.
In conclusion- If you want to buy tortoises your best plan is to find a local tortoise breeder where you can view the parents of the tortoise you want to buy and see how the parent tortoises are being kept. If however, you are unable to find a local tortoise breeder you may have to buy tortoises from your local pet shop. In this case you will have to look at the tortoise you intend to buy carefully. Look for obvious injury or ill health. Even if you are not used to handling a pet tortoise you will be able to tell quite quickly if the tortoise you are handling is unhealthy.
Ideally the breeder or pet shop owner should provide you with a guarantee. This may not last for any length of time but it will enable to have enough time to take your new pet tortoise to the vet for a thorough check up. Buying tortoises can be a daunting task given the cost of the tortoise but if you follow a few simple rules you will hopefully be able to buy a tortoise which is healthy and free from disease and parasites.
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