Help me choose a tortoise!

[feline8]

I think the little one (3") has shell rot, but I'm not certain. I dont know if shell rot in RFs are treatable. The bigger one's (5") bio:

2008 hatchling that went to a friend that lives close-by..
and kept in a small enclosure so he didn't "start" growing and now
he's very small for his age.. and probly won't grow at "normal"
rate ever - which means I doubt he will ever be more than 8" SCL.
This doesn't mean he can live in a 10 gallon aquarium!!!

He is bullet-proof [ has lived among full grown adults more than 2X
his size for the past two years.. and has absolutely flawless growth rate!!!
Currently he is coming up on 4 1/2" SCL.


Tough decisions...

 

[Mgridgaway]

That bio is full of misinformation. First, tortoises don't grow depending on their cage size just like babies don't grow depending on their crib size. Plus, he has no pyramiding and looks quite healthy... I don't see any signs of MBD. Maybe he's just a slow grower? He's a cutie though. I like him.

As for the 3" one, I don't think that's shell rot. Looks like white out or something, which is commonly used to mark baby torts. Shell rot mostly happens on the plastron and looks like it's in the shell, whereas that looks like it's floating on top of shell.

Would you mind posting a link to the ad?

At any rate, I see no problem with either of them. Just 2 cute redfoots.

 

[feline8]

That bio is full of misinformation. First, tortoises don't grow depending on their cage size just like babies don't grow depending on their crib size. Plus, he has no pyramiding and looks quite healthy... I don't see any signs of MBD. Maybe he's just a slow grower? He's a cutie though. I like him.

As for the 3" one, I don't think that's shell rot. Looks like white out or something, which is commonly used to mark baby torts. Shell rot mostly happens on the plastron and looks like it's in the shell, whereas that looks like it's floating on top of shell.

Would you mind posting a link to the ad?

At any rate, I see no problem with either of them. Just 2 cute redfoots.

Sorry, I forgot to clarify, the bio was not from the person I am adopting from. It is form the breeder who gave the lady that tortoise. I know the information given is wrong in the bio, I was just wanted to know if there were any major health concerns about the bigger one. This wasn't an ad, just contacted someone who needs to rehome her tortoises. Thanks for your help!

 

[Mgridgaway]

Well then, as far as that picture is concerned, those are two nice looking little torts!

 

[feline8]

Well then, as far as that picture is concerned, those are two nice looking little torts!

I definitely agree! I'm leaning towards the smaller one since she is so cute. The person whom I'm adopting from said she got the smaller one from a pet shop (prob. cbb?)

I haven't made up my mind yet lol

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Smaller one is definitely captive bred. They need to be at least 4 inches to be imported into the U.S.

 

[feline8]

So the price for one of them is $125 with shipping included
I am guessing that is a very good deal
I'm shipping half the money to her tomorrow and this friday, she will ship using fedex priority overnight. Once I get the tortoise, I will pay the rest. She offered me the option to use Paypal, but I have personal reasons why I don't use that site.
Hoping this isn't a scam. She chatted w/ me on gmail for hours today about the adoption and gave me a lot of pics that show the identical tortoises in every pic. Does anyone want to more see pics of them?

I will keep everyone updated on my adoption process. I've waited so long to get one and I am determined to give her the proper care and attention she deserves!

 

[Tortoise Hub]

125 shipped is about the going rate for reds. I'm sure you could have gotten one from one of the breeders on here for that price. What day is she shipping the tortoise? Of course we want to see more pics!!! lol.

 

[feline8]

125 shipped is about the going rate for reds. I'm sure you could have gotten one from one of the breeders on here for that price. What day is she shipping the tortoise? Of course we want to see more pics!!! lol.

Unfortunately, I dont think any breeders here would accept cash.
She is shipping this Friday the 24th.

I will upload pictures tomorrow

 

[Mgridgaway]

Personally, I like the larger one. I love those orange heads!

$125 is a bit of deal for a shipped redfoot, but it's pretty much what you'd pay if you found one in person, if not a little more. Still, you certainly didn't overpay.

If the adoption goes well, feel free to write a review on the forum so that we know the person is good to deal with!

What's going to happen to that other tort you were going to adopt?

 

[feline8]

Personally, I like the larger one. I love those orange heads!

$125 is a bit of deal for a shipped redfoot, but it's pretty much what you'd pay if you found one in person, if not a little more. Still, you certainly didn't overpay.

If the adoption goes well, feel free to write a review on the forum so that we know the person is good to deal with!

What's going to happen to that other tort you were going to adopt?

He hasn't been online since the 18th, 5 days ago, so I guess he's not going to ship...
I'm starting school next week so I can't pick him up on weekdays anyways
I was really hoping to adopt that tortoise too..

 

[feline8]

Here is some more pictures...
Note that the white stuff on the shell is the smaller tortoise.
I don't think the white stuff is white out because I asked the person who I am adopting from, and she said that when she washed it, it disappeared but would later appear.
The indented shell is the bigger one

The person I'm adopting from said that the colors of the smaller one is vivid and that she has a more symmetric shell.

About the indented shell of the bigger one, is that normal or healthy? The bigger one's shell seems a little roughed up too.

So it goes down to this:
Pet shop 3" tortoise vs. breeder 4" tortoise kept in cramped conditions w/ bigger redfoots

 

[Mgridgaway]

Are these 3 pictures of the same tortoise or the two different ones? They look exactly the same to me.. the bigger tortoise.

Nothing seems terribly out of the ordinary on the larger redfoot. He's actually really smooth and looks like he was well taken care of (aside from the cramped cage you mentioned).

Redfoots have a "loaf" shaped shell. As soon as they get start getting big the shell gets less round and more bread shaped. Check out any adult on here and you'll see what I mean.

Like I said before: Just two cute redfoots! I'm still not sold on that being shell rot. Can we get some plastron pictures? That'll help a lot.

 

[feline8]

Are these 3 pictures of the same tortoise or the two different ones? They look exactly the same to me.. the bigger tortoise.

Nothing seems terribly out of the ordinary on the larger redfoot. He's actually really smooth and looks like he was well taken care of (aside from the cramped cage you mentioned).

Redfoots have a "loaf" shaped shell. As soon as they get start getting big the shell gets less round and more bread shaped. Check out any adult on here and you'll see what I mean.

Like I said before: Just two cute redfoots! I'm still not sold on that being shell rot. Can we get some plastron pictures? That'll help a lot.

The 3 pictures here are the bigger tortoise. I will ask her to give me pictures of their plastrons.

I'm not worried about the shape of their shells. There's an indent on the front of the bigger one's scutes. (Front middle scute)

 

[Mgridgaway]

Oh, that? I wouldn't even worry about it. Just looks like a birth defect to me. Think of it like a beauty mark. Or a split scute. Nothing to be worried about

 

[feline8]

Here is the picture of their plastrons. I see a bit of darkening on both. Can anyone confirm if this is shell rot?

https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...309&sads=dwLShm9CBQzlHM5RtS9FYV3oWjs&sadssc=1

 

[Mgridgaway]

Link doesn't work

 

[feline8]

Link doesn't work

Oh sorry, let me post it here.

 

[Mgridgaway]

The larger tort has a few little white spots that are consistent with very minor shell rot. Super easy to clear up. The little baby looks perfect.

The dark patches are normal and completely natural.

 

[feline8]

The larger tort has a few little white spots that are consistent with very minor shell rot. Super easy to clear up. The little baby looks perfect.

The dark patches are normal and completely natural.

Thanks! I'm going to adopt the little one. I just love her colors!