frustrated (too many sulcatas)

christykindness

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We have a terrific Tort. rescue near us that focuses on Sulcatas. A few days ago they had to post that they can't take any more sullys until spring because they have gotten so many in the past few weeks; yet I still see a ton of ads for breeders selling sullys. It just makes me sick. If anyone is looking to rescue: http://www.tortoiseacres.com/
 

Bambam1989

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We have a terrific Tort. rescue near us that focuses on Sulcatas. A few days ago they had to post that they can't take any more sullys until spring because they have gotten so many in the past few weeks; yet I still see a ton of ads for breeders selling sullys. It just makes me sick. If anyone is looking to rescue: http://www.tortoiseacres.com/
Their site only listed one sulcata available for adoption..
I looked into adopting a sulcata originally. I seriously could not find any or the adoption requirements were absurd (I was turned away by a local rescue because I own big dogs). I actually think that when properly cared for the breeders are doing a great thing. Sulcatas are endangered in alot of their natural habitat. These breeders are helping to keep the species going even if it is only in captivity.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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yet I still see a ton of ads for breeders selling sullys. http://www.tortoiseacres.com/

This is in part why I only bred my sulcata one season. Easy to breed, easy to incubate eggs, but then comes the time of parting ways with the babies and making the judgement call if the person would follow the needs of a sulcata and keep it for their very long life and then will they make arrangements for the tortoise after they’ve moved on to the next “place”. Too often I’ve had folks suggest that their children will care for the tortoise when really who’s making lifelong decisions when 8 years old?
 

Bambam1989

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This is in part why I only bred my sulcata one season. Easy to breed, easy to incubate eggs, but then comes the time of parting ways with the babies and making the judgement call if the person would follow the needs of a sulcata and keep it for their very long life and then will they make arrangements for the tortoise after they’ve moved on to the next “place”. Too often I’ve had folks suggest that their children will care for the tortoise when really who’s making lifelong decisions when 8 years old?
This is a great point, but I believe that this is a responsibility that belongs to the individual making the commitment of owning the tort. Breeders can only point out the size, lifespan, and labor that is expected. These torts that sadly end up at rescues can't be blamed on the breeders.
 

Millerlite

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I can see why a rescue can be frustrated with breeders of the species when So many already need homes. Poor tortoises
 

JoesMum

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Half the problem with Sulcatas is their size. People see the cute baby and don’t get the message that Mom and Dad weigh 100lb each and didn’t take long to get that size.
 

christykindness

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No not at all. The original poster seemed frustrated at the breeders to me. I was defending them(breeders).
no, I am not upset with breeders. They are tort lovers, and I realize many are friends here. I'm upset at these folks that pick up the babies because they look so cute, they don't do their research, don't care for them properly and the poor tort suffers. I was not lashing out on breeders, and apologize for coming off that way. If so many are surrendered, how many are disposed of or just released? Our sully was given to us by some folks that had no clue. no light, bad food, no soaking, she lived in an aquarium. They were bored with he and wanted to set her free in the desert- because "that's where tortoises live in the wild" She's pretty deformed because of the ignorance. we have her seeing a vet now, and she is doing much better. My heart was just heavy yesterday I didn't voice it well. sorry for any hurt feelings.
 

Tom

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Half the problem with Sulcatas is their size. People see the cute baby and don’t get the message that Mom and Dad weigh 100lb each and didn’t take long to get that size.
This might be the case some of the time, but I see the opposite. I see people buying them because they get so huge. Kind of like the burmese and reticulated pythons.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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Kind of like the burmese and reticulated pythons.
“And if they get too big, we can let them loose there’s enough raccoons and possum around here for food.!” Or a personal favorite, “Dude, it’s a tortoise from Africa. Of course it can survive without water.” Sorry, but I’ve heard these and funner(?) ones.
And I’m with Tom here. I got my first python because I had gotten tired of the restricted size of colubrids.
 
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Pia B

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I got one because I want a huge tortoise . Can't wait till he is like 60 pounds or more . I however ended up with a midget . 17 years 35 # very healthy very active . I think I did make a mistake not keeping him warm enough once he was out of his juvenile stage :( SO maybe that is why he is smaller he never stopped eating . Will he catch up ? I don't know hope he will .
 

Tom

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no, I am not upset with breeders. They are tort lovers, and I realize many are friends here. I'm upset at these folks that pick up the babies because they look so cute, they don't do their research, don't care for them properly and the poor tort suffers. I was not lashing out on breeders, and apologize for coming off that way. If so many are surrendered, how many are disposed of or just released? Our sully was given to us by some folks that had no clue. no light, bad food, no soaking, she lived in an aquarium. They were bored with he and wanted to set her free in the desert- because "that's where tortoises live in the wild" She's pretty deformed because of the ignorance. we have her seeing a vet now, and she is doing much better. My heart was just heavy yesterday I didn't voice it well. sorry for any hurt feelings.

Thanks for this second post.

We've discussed this issue many times here in the past. I wonder, can you tell us what the adoption policies of this rescue are? Do they require a yard inspection? Contract that states they can repossess the tortoise at any time, among other things? What is their "adoption fee"?
 

christykindness

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Thanks for this second post.

We've discussed this issue many times here in the past. I wonder, can you tell us what the adoption policies of this rescue are? Do they require a yard inspection? Contract that states they can repossess the tortoise at any time, among other things? What is their "adoption fee"?
http://www.tortoiseacres.com/Adoptions.html is the link to their adoptions page. They require a two page application, a care and feeding class, and you must provide pics of enclosures. The site has better info than I can give
 

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