Giant redfoots

[voodoochild]

I wish I could remember the show but it was some Steve Irwin wanna be, snake guy. Anyway, he was in the Amazon and he found a tortoise crossing a stream. It appeared to be a redfoot (what else would be in the Amazon?) but it was massive! Shortly after I saw a redfoot at a reptile show that was HUGE. This was a couple years ago but recently I've seen some ads for hatchlings advertised as giant redfoots, so this is a thing, right? Do any of you have giant redfoots? I mean these things were nearing sulcata proportions, or is my memory playing tricks? I'd like to know more. A 20" redfoot would be a cool addition. If any of you have pics of giant redfoots I'd love to see. Thanks!

 

[voodoochild]

Austin Stevens is his name and I guess it was a yellowfoot not a red. Still be interested in any info regarding giant red or yellowfoots.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

If you ever get over here in the Fort Lauderdale area I'll take you to a nursery/zoo that has just that type of Redfoot.
They are gigantic. I have a male that is almost 15" and these are much larger!

 

[allegraf]

Bolivians get large. It is hard to find pure Bolivian bloodlines though. Generally more expensive as well. Also, since they sell for more, it is hard to find a reputable breeder that truly has pure lines. They also tend to have all black plastrons. If you find a breeder request to see the plastron, many times, sellers will go for the quick buck and sell you a regular northern and just rename it as a Bolivian. The Bolivians also tend to have brighter colors.

Flip side of that is sometimes at pet stores you may find a Bolivian in with the regular northern at a Northern price.

 

[Rutibegga]

Austin Stevens is his name and I guess it was a yellowfoot not a red. Still be interested in any info regarding giant red or yellowfoots.

I did a Google search for "Austin Stevens giant tortoise" and came up with a brief clip, but the tortoise was submerged so you couldn't see his carapace. I'd love to see some really giant redfoot or yellow foot specimens!

 

[allegraf]

@tortadise is a great source to check for pure bloodlines. If he doesn't have any available, he may know of other reputable breeders.

 

[voodoochild]

I did a Google search for "Austin Stevens giant tortoise" and came up with a brief clip, but the tortoise was submerged so you couldn't see his carapace. I'd love to see some really giant redfoot or yellow foot specimens!

I did that search on YouTube and see the video you saw. That is the same vid but the full length version shows the tort out of the water. But it even looks huge floating in the water. Has to be 4 times bigger than my biggest.

 

[voodoochild]

Check out this yellow

http://www.turtletimes.com/forums/topic/68989-anyone-like-freakishly-giant-tortoises/

 

[Rutibegga]

Neat! I'm torn between hoping my future tort gets big and hoping s/he stays fairly small. We've already started planning a yard renovation for Spring, but if s/he gets that big, we will be moving to the country!

 

[voodoochild]

I know what you mean. I wouldn't mind having one that is that big but I wouldn't want a whole herd that size. I don't know how the sulcata people do it.

 

[Rutibegga]

I don't know that they're hard to keep if you have the space. Honestly, if we ever move somewhere where we have acreage and the right climate, I'd adopt a Sulcata in a heartbeat. It'd be like having a tortoise who was also a pony!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm going to take pictures of them if I can get over there in the morning....

 

[N2TORTS]

Bolivians get large. It is hard to find pure Bolivian bloodlines though. Generally more expensive as well. Also, since they sell for more, it is hard to find a reputable breeder that truly has pure lines. They also tend to have all black plastrons. If you find a breeder request to see the plastron, many times, sellers will go for the quick buck and sell you a regular northern and just rename it as a Bolivian. The Bolivians also tend to have brighter colors.

Flip side of that is sometimes at pet stores you may find a Bolivian in with the regular northern at a Northern price.

There are Breeders who have pure lines and keep it that way. Your right ....they can get big.
Here is a BIG Brazilin Male next to another 10" Brazilin Male....



His Head .....





Plastron Shot......as you mention More Black ...

One of his babies ...

A young high marbled Male....

Adult/Sub-Adult
Females









Huge Female ....


young Females
and lots of color ....


Even Black ...


and orange ...






" Pritchard reports that the largest red-footed tortoise on record is 17.75" long. Its shell is in the American Museum of Natural History"

 

[Rutibegga]

Gorgeous! I really like the high marbled ones! But... I like them all. I've always been obsessed with chelonians, but now that I'm actually preparing to provide a home for one, I feel the crazy tortoise person coming on!

 

[jcaporaletti]

This beast is right around 19"

 

[jcaporaletti]

Here is another picture for comparison the small one is a 12 inch female. This big one is a Surimane not a Bolivian.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

View attachment 140658
This beast is right around 19"

19" SCL???? I had no idea there were redfoots that big - I thought "big" for a RF tapped out before 16". WOW! Fantastic!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

The ones I'm going try to photograph in the morning are larger than 16". Quite a bit larger.

 

[tortadise]

I wish I could remember the show but it was some Steve Irwin wanna be, snake guy. Anyway, he was in the Amazon and he found a tortoise crossing a stream. It appeared to be a redfoot (what else would be in the Amazon?) but it was massive! Shortly after I saw a redfoot at a reptile show that was HUGE. This was a couple years ago but recently I've seen some ads for hatchlings advertised as giant redfoots, so this is a thing, right? Do any of you have giant redfoots? I mean these things were nearing sulcata proportions, or is my memory playing tricks? I'd like to know more. A 20" redfoot would be a cool addition. If any of you have pics of giant redfoots I'd love to see. Thanks!

It was Austin Stevens. That was a yellowfoot too. I recall that episode. Was a very large specimen indeed. He was in west Brazil eastern Peru.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

These are Reds unless there are Red Yellowfoot. And almost entirely jet black.