Chris Leone- Garden State Tortoise & Hermanni Haven

Josh

Ask questions, share answers, talk torts!
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10 Year Member!
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Aug 15, 2007
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4,108
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Redlands, CA
I just received a beautiful mature female Greek from Chris. She looks just fantastic and my male is already a huge fan of her.
Thanks Chris!
 

Benito

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2016
Messages
83
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
I have 37 tortoises from Chris. His animals are amazing. I have had animals from different breeders and online tortoise companies and received a lot of animals that got sick very quickly. How is it my 37 from Chris are all perfect and it's a 70/30 gamble from most other breeders? Congratulations and good luck with your Greek. At least you know it's been given the best care from day one.
 

Nick V.

New Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2016
Messages
21
Location (City and/or State)
Keyport, New Jersey
Just wanted to leave an update, I purchased more Burmese stars and some Indian stars from him a few months back. All of which were fantastic and healthy animals; I very much look forward with continuing to purchase from him in the future.
 

jenbear

New Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2017
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
wi
I recently had a bad experience and lost my eastern hermann's tortoise that I bought from backwater reptiles after only 3 months. I talked to Chris Leone from Hermanni Haven after researching and deciding he was the best and most knowledgeable about Hermann tortoises. He was so helpful and gave me pointers which were clear and easy to understand. I purchased a six month old Eastern Hermann Tortoise from him that just arrived and boy is he a beauty. He is already so much more active and alert than my previous little guy. I think my previous one was compromised and don't think I did anything wrong. Having a comparison allowed me to see it. I highly recommend Chris if you are going to purchase a tortoise. Not only is he a great breeder and source of info but the tortoise I just bought is extremely beautiful, healthy and high quality. I wish I would have started with him. It would have saved me time, heartache and money. As mentioned above you can be assured your tortoise will have had the best care from day one.
Jenny
 

Baggagewoofer

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2018
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago and Orleans, MA.
I am new to this site and am probably improperly leaving a review, but for the life of me, I just can't figure out how or where to do it correctly. I just purchased two, four-month old, Eastern Box Turtles from Chris at Garden State Tortoise, and I just wanted to say how totally pleased I am with the transaction. Communication with Chris was excellent from the very start. He was extremely helpful with multiple email responses and afterward, additional text responses, to a myriad of questions I had about the turtles care and habitat. It was clear that Chris really enjoys his work and loves turtles because he spent way more time working with me and answering questions than the small fee he earned for the sale of the turtles to me. I like that purchasing from Chris includes "lifetime" support, and from what I've seen already, I have no doubt that his support will continue long after my "check has been cashed"! Overall, I was extremely impressed with the amount of time Chris has given me and the manner in which everything from start to finish was handled. Thanks, Chris!
 

TurtleGrandma

New Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2017
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
Minnesota
Hi All,
I received my hatchling Indian Star Tortoise from Chris about 2 weeks ago. It is in excellent health. I soaked it right away and then it ate right away also. I had several questions for Chris, all of which he answered, very fast! I am planning on ordering another one in a couple of weeks from him also. He is very passionate about what he does. I would never hesitate from buying any turtle or tortoise from him. He is the best! I also know if I have any questions in the future, he will be there to answer them! Thanks again, Chris!
 

rnchick74

New Member
Joined
May 2, 2018
Messages
28
Location (City and/or State)
Louisville, KY
Another glowing review for Chris! I read these reviews after narrowing down the type of tortoise my son & I were interested in to either a redfoot or Hermann's. After my 1st email with Chris & reading info on his website, I knew for sure that a Hermann's was for us. He patiently answered my million and one questions and made the entire process super easy. We just received Kanto today - a 3 year old E. Hermann's. He is a beautiful tortoise that will bring my son joy for many, many years. I cannot recommend Chris enough. We have a very healthy, super active beautiful tortoise who is eating, drinking, pooping/peeing right out of the box after a soak. More than that, Chris has true passion for what he does and the animals are obviously cared for extremely well.

Thanks again Chris!
 

Rayodee

New Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2016
Messages
6
Location (City and/or State)
Texas
I ordered 3 Mesopotamian tortoises (aka Golden Greeks) from Chris. They are beautiful and active. I would highly recommend Garden State Tortoise, Chris was very informative and helpful!
updated pictures
 

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kerrishell

New Member
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
14
Location (City and/or State)
Arizona
I just purchased an Eastern box turtle from Chris and she arrived this morning in outstanding condition. She is very active, heavy, healthy, and beautiful. Chris has the best customer service you will find anywhere, answers all your questions quickly, and had amazing animals. If you're looking for a high quality healthy turtle or tortoise, definitely check out garden state tortoise.
I purchased Tucker (Eastern Hermann's Tortoise) from Chris Leone in October of 2016. I am over the moon for this little guy (or gal). Tucker arrived safe and sound without a glitch and in impeccable condition Chris was patient and professional with me and my crazy emails! Thanks to the Leone family for their dedication and love of tortoises/turtles. You have truly made a difference in the world of herpetology!
 

kerrishell

New Member
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
14
Location (City and/or State)
Arizona
Awesomeness, Your boxy girl is gorgeous! I'm also (after alot of research) hoping to get an eastern box turtle from
I just purchased an Eastern box turtle from Chris and she arrived this morning in outstanding condition. She is very active, heavy, healthy, and beautiful. Chris has the best customer service you will find anywhere, answers all your questions quickly, and had amazing animals. If you're looking for a high quality healthy turtle or tortoise, definitely check out garden state tortoise.
Awesomeness, Your boxy girl is gorgeous! I'm also (after alot of research) hoping to get an eastern box turtle from garden State tortoise. Yay I can't wait!
 

ShirleyTX

Active Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2017
Messages
139
Location (City and/or State)
Canyon Lake TX USA
I have just received my Egyptian Tortoise (t. kleinmanni) from Chris at Garden State Tortoise.

Egyptians differ from other Mediterranean species in many ways, and information about them is scarce. In my research, I kept coming back to his care pages as the foundation for my setup. (By the way, Chris will help you prepare for your tort - it matters to him that they have good homes.)

My 2yo tort arrived this morning, alert and apparently unfazed her travel. She’s moving about and undeniably the most beautiful tort on the planet.

I recommend Chris wholeheartedly.
 

Salspi

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
339
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago
I have received a pair of Testudo Kleinmanni Hatchlngs from Chris. They are in phenomenal condition. Both immediately drank and went to bathroom in the soak water. They took a nap for about an hour and then they cruised the enclosure. They both ate mazuri and herbal hay mixture after that. Hard to believe they ate after only 2 hours. Truly healthy babies.

Not only is Garden State Tortoise the best place to get Testudos but they are significantly cheaper than everyone else! It’s a no brainer to get your tortoise from Garden State Tortoise. Not to mention how helpful he’s been to me with setting them up correctly! I couldn’t recommend Garden State anymore than I already do... Wonderful experience.
 

gracemarimba

New Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2018
Messages
1
Location (City and/or State)
Needham, MA
I purchased my first tortoises, (2 Greek hatchlings), from Chris at Garden State Tortoise. From beginning to end, he was a extremely helpful and answered my endless questions. In fact, when i first contacted him it was just with questions about another tortoise I was going to buy. Eventually I figured out he was the one to work with. His passion, knowledge, and expertise were amazing. The babies arrived in perfect condition, and Chris even assisted in settling them into their new home. I can't recommend Chris highly enough. I would purchase another tortoise from him in the future without a doubt.
 

Pealow127

New Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2018
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Catskills NY
Ten days ago I received a 2 month old Tunisian Greek baby from Chris. It was a seamless transaction and absolutely perfect tortoise. I did not realize how small he was but it was a pleasant surprise. I heard that these guys are delicate but so far he is well. There is so much conflicting info on these guys but I am keeping him according to what Chris tells me. Garden State Tortoise is a highly recommended seller!
 

mark1

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
1,932
Location (City and/or State)
ohio
i'm not a complaining person , you have to really make me feel cheated to get me to complain ……the reason i'm putting this here is it's true information …. I have seven 6-7inch male blanding's turtles ……. I saw "garden state tortoise "/chris advertise " I have a trio of what appears to be 1.2 Blanding's turtles" ' no guarantee on sex …….. I heard he was a reputable guy , with exactly what I was looking for , I need a female , 2 would be a homerun , and i'm home 2 days this week for shipping ...... as far as guessing sex , I figured the guy was good at what he does , probably better than me ……... he stated no guarantee on sex , and I got no problem with what it appears to me I got in that regard , my bad for figuring he knew more or as much as me , probably just grabbed any three as he obviously had more than "a" trio ……. the problem is he didn't send me the turtles pictured in the add , one of which did appear to having a chance of being female from the size and flatness of the plastron in the pic , but pics are not the same as in hand , they don't have perspective and the tail was not visible , none of that matters because he didn't send me the turtles pictured in the add anyway …….. one is not 4 inches ,he said "They are between 4 and 5" and are flawless"……. two have some shell rot or residual scarring of shell rot , " flawless"………. I've dealt with kevin olbrytch , billy gangemi and underground reptiles in the past . I've seen all 3 get bad reviews on fauna BOI , all three of them sent me exactly what they told me and showed me I was buying , billy 3 times , bought an adult male wood turtle from underground , when I opened the box I was stunned , he was absolutely beautiful , truly flawless , puppy dog tame ………. this guy chris doesn't got a clue if he actually thinks those animals he sent me are "flawless", probably knows better …...…. I guess flawless can be a perspective thing , so i'll give him that too , still not the implied one trio of pictured animals ……. after I bought them he left the add up which was closed to replies ,I had an inclination he was full of s*** at that point ,i'm guessing he had a bunch of couple year old turtles he was looking to unload , he just grabbed random groups of three at 1500 a pop , ……the smaller one I could have grown in one year , I have …… soon as they settle down and eat i'll get some better pics ……..
answered my emails in a shot until I got the turtles , he had my $1500 ,and I emailed him and told him they weren't the pictured turtles , never heard from him again , not much he could say anyway …….. this isn't a refund disagreement , or health argument , although the smallest one is continuously yawning ,could be stress , but most of you all know what it could mean , that doesn't matter to me either , if I get them and they're alive i'm half way there ……. I got a rule I never lend or send more money than I could afford to get taken for , so that don't bother me either ...... a refund is more effort than it's worth , if you could even get one from the majority of these cons dealing animals for a living ……. I guess he could have sent me nothing , this is obviously better than that …but I still got cheated …had I had an accurate description and pictures of what he sent me , I wouldn't have wasted the time …I expected better given his "reputation"… I understand him not answering my e-mail , i wouldn't respond either , it's indefensible dishonesty , used car salesman tactics ....... it's not like a mistake , it's a con , "I have what appears to be "A " trio of blanding's" , "some pics for now", " e-mail for additional photos" , this is indefensible dishonesty ,no matter what experience any of you have had with the guy , I got one experience and the guy cheated me …..hopefully they eat and are healthy ………….. the add is quoted below

Before reading any further, PLEASE KNOW YOUR STATE LAWS concerning this species because I am well aware of where they can and cannot be sent to.

I have a trio of what appears to be 1.2 Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii).These animals are 100% legal, captive born and bred. They are between 4 and 5" and are flawless. While sex is not guaranteed, the trio exhibits traits that suggest it is a 1.2. Feeding on mazuri aquatic turtle diet, fish chicken, insects and beef heart. They currently live outdoors here with the adults.

Price is $1,500 shipped, NO TRADES.

For additional photos (much better ones than in this ad) and measurements, please e-mail me (DO NOT PM) at:
[email protected]

For Testimonials, go here: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/ch...i-haven.98636/

Some pics for now:

blan2.jpg


blan1.jpg



here's one of your flawless ones , you can see the rear scutes are scarred or have active rot , I don't want to bother them till tomorrow , they're pretty shy , hopefully that's not an ear abscess i'm seeing here and just a blurry pic ?

DSCF4377.jpg



here's my idea of a 4-5inch "flawless" blandings turtle , a mile from what I was sent me …….. i'll get more pics of his soon …….

Aviary_Photo_131707122180113803.jpg
 

mark1

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
1,932
Location (City and/or State)
ohio
just to verify what i'm telling you , I took a look at them this morning , the little one that yawns just floats , has trouble submerging , I've read a lot of reasons for that , certainly abnormal , if it's nothing you'll never hear of it again , if it's something you will ……..

DSCF4390.jpg


this guy is worth $500 to me , 5" on the money , even with the kinked tail and broken marginal ............for $1200 I could have gotten 1 adult female blanding's a month ago , assuming it was the one pictured in the add ? didn't know if I could trust the guy , lol … so instead I paid 1500 for a 5" possible female …….

DSCF4399.jpg



flawless
DSCF4397.jpg


this male appearing one is actually one of the three in the add …he's a full 4"….. the one I wouldn't care about getting I got ……

DSCF4392.jpg



would an honest person not say e-mail for pics of actual animals ? not some pics for now , and for additional pics e-mail ? maybe he's just new to this stuff ?????
 

mark1

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
1,932
Location (City and/or State)
ohio
to be fair , because I am about as fair a person anyone of you has ever met , chris offered to send me a free turtle , I declined ……… to much work , I need to get busy building a pond for the 3 he sent me ………..
 

aj_fetterman

New Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2017
Messages
14
As apposed to the negative review of Chris, I have had nothing but a lostitice experience! I got my two baby burmese star tortoises in the mail a few days ago and both seem to be in perfect health, having started eating just hours after arriving. Chris responded to every question I had within an hour and provided me with pictures of my hatchlings as soon as they were born. I could not recommend Chris from Garden a state Tortoise any more!
 

Cuphead23

New Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Midwest USA
We purchased 2 hatchling Lebanese Tortoises (chocolate) from Chris Leone at Garden State Tortoise. That was the best choice we could have made. We asked Chris about box turtles because someone recommended we buy them. He told us the box turtles were probably not right for us after asking about our setup and experience. He recommended a few choices and we went with the Lebanese. He shipped them when he said he would and they arrived safely the next day in great packaging. We have had Cuphead and Mugman for 5 days Now and they are doing well. Eating, burrowing, and roaming their setup. Chris answers our questions promptly too. We can't be happier with our tortoises.
 

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SteveW

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 4, 2015
Messages
255
Chris at Garden State gets a lot of well deserved props for his work with Testudo, however this is by no means the extent of his expertise. I have obtained a Mee (4 years ago) and more recently a pancake and in both instances was impressed with his knowledge, husbandry, and customer service. I would highly recommend him, even if you’re not shopping for a Hermanns. [emoji1303][emoji1303][emoji1303][emoji1303][emoji1303]
 

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