Breeding High Yellow Radiates

[zovick]

Yes it the straight carapace length, have your high yellow breeding group made any progress yet?

Can you post a current photo of that male next to a ruler? I would like to see how he looks now.

 

[Radmaster]

Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town for a couple of days. He is around 9.5 - 10 inches in length.

 

[zovick]

Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town for a couple of days. He is around 9.5 - 10 inches in length.

Thanks for the photo. He looks very nice. He still needs to grow about 3 to 4 inches (8 or 10 cm) to be breeding size.

 

[Radmaster]

Thanks for the reply Zovick! Much Appreciated!

 

[Radmaster]

I held back a couple of these youngsters which were hatched in the early to mid-2000's from the best producing pair of adults I have known in 40+ years of breeding the species. They are just now getting to breeding size and age. An adult photo of one of these babies is also shown. He is now 16" and weighs 30 lb. and he has been breeding with several females this season. Hopefully in 6-9 months, I may have a good answer for your question.

Bill Zovickian

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Hi Bill, I hope you are well, it has been a while since I am active on this forum. My female just produced her 1st batch of eggs. So I was wondering how your high-yellow selective breeding experiment went?

 

[zovick]

Hi Bill, I hope you are well, it has been a while since I am active on this forum. My female just produced her 1st batch of eggs. So I was wondering how your high-yellow selective breeding experiment went?

Unfortunately, I had to let all of my Radiated Tortoises go on to other breeders. A couple years ago, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis after getting two fractured vertebrae in my back and my doctor told me not to lift anything over 30 pounds. I disregarded that instruction for a year or so, but then hurt my hip and back while lifting my largest male one day. My four biggest adults all weighed from 30 to 37 pounds, so I decided I would have to part with them. Knowing the younger ones would grow up into large adults one day, I sold them as well.

One fellow got almost all of the adults from me, and he is hatching some gorgeous babies now.

 

[queen koopa]

I would venture to say that tortoise will be a pretty nice looking adult, even with the foot injury. In the US, for the size, coloration, and age it is now, the price could range from $3500 to $4500 depending upon how badly the buyer wanted to own it.

Bill Zovickian

Holy crap! If them tortoises only knew what humans pay for them But all your guys torts are awesome! I usually only read Sulcata stuff, now I'm interested these yellow beauties

 

[Zerostar2410]

Unfortunately, I had to let all of my Radiated Tortoises go on to other breeders. A couple years ago, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis after getting two fractured vertebrae in my back and my doctor told me not to lift anything over 30 pounds. I disregarded that instruction for a year or so, but then hurt my hip and back while lifting my largest male one day. My four biggest adults all weighed from 30 to 37 pounds, so I decided I would have to part with them. Knowing the younger ones would grow up into large adults one day, I sold them as well.

One fellow got almost all of the adults from me, and he is hatching some gorgeous babies now.

Who did you sell to? By chance are they in California? Looking for someone who sells in CA since I don’t have a CWB

 

[zovick]

Who did you sell to? By chance are they in California? Looking for someone who sells in CA since I don’t have a CWB

Sorry, but mine all went to FL and NY. There are plenty of people in CA with Radiated Tortoises. Keep watching the classified ads on Fauna and Kingsnake.com and you will eventually see some offered for sale in CA. You could also try placing a "Wanted" ad on either of those sites and see what response you get.

 

[Radnoisseur]

They are just starting to breed for this year. Here is the only one I still have here that hatched from last year's eggs about a month ago. It looks promising so far.

Wonder if you still have this guy?

How he looks now would be cool to see 6 years later

 

[zovick]

Wonder if you still have this guy?

How he looks now would be cool to see 6 years later

I sold the baby tortoise in that photo on 11 March 2018 only a few weeks after posting its picture. I haven't seen it since that day, but I would have to imagine it looks quite nice today since it had fantastic bloodlines behind it.

 

[Bruce123]

Hello Radmaster,

As one who has been breeding Radiated Tortoises since 1972, I can tell you from personal experience that temperature sex determination (TSD) is not as reliable in Radiated Tortoises as it is in some of the other species. Incubating eggs at 89-90F will generally produce more females than males and using temperatures of 84-85F will usually produce more males than females. I have never paid any attention to the humidity in my incubators when incubating Radiated Tortoise eggs, so cannot speak to that part of your question.

Good luck with your plans,

Bill Zovickian

 

[Bruce123]

Hi does Bill Zovickian still breed Radiated Tortoise and if so where is he located thank Bruce

 

[Radnoisseur]

Words is the legend retired.

 

[Bruce123]

thanks

 

[zovick]

Hi does Bill Zovickian still breed Radiated Tortoise and if so where is he located thank Bruce

Radnoisseur is correct. I no longer breed Radiated Tortoises. See post #26 for details on the reason.