I used to breed spotted turtles - Clemmys guttata

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Redfoot NERD

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Before any tortoises.. I kept and bred spotted turtles.

Yep.. that's a nickel -

Newspots3.jpg


From 2000 and 2008 I hatched 65 spotted turtles -

DSC07117.jpg


Spotted turtles are small! This is a HUGE male -

bigmalemeasured.jpg


The males are VERY agressive when there are girls around.. I have actual "combat" pics.. on land and in the water!

The eggs are about the size of a jelly-bean and took 46-48 DAYS to hatch!!!

A typical 2-3 egg clutch from my alpha female that was just 3 3/4" SCL.

TWOMayEGGS2.jpg


Most of my breeders were from South Carolina so they would nest 3-4 times a year.. compared to 'Northerns' that might nest 2x but would have 6-7 egg clutches.

I have several pics of these beauties if anyone is interested...

NERD
 

terryo

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I never knew there was a difference ....Northeren's and S. Carolina? We have Spotted turtles here (maybe they are considered Northern's?) , and I've taken in a few .....I know you don't like the word rescue. They are really beautiful turtles. I'd like to see the difference that you mention. More pictures please..........
 

dmmj

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I think spotteds are the most attractive of the water turtles a close second are of course DBT, both species I plan to own, and want to own very very much.
 

Tom

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I love these guys. Never had any. More pics please!
 

Redfoot NERD

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Young male from Michigan -

sNMale.jpg


.. many spots on each scute! This is a captive hatched beauty -

sNMaleFACE.jpg


My prettiest WC female.. [ no difference in colors between the sexes.. other than beak and chin ] -

1stSCMama.jpg


1JUNE04SCLF.jpg


1 - 3 LARGE spots per scute -

s2ndSC.jpg


Even tho' she was missing a rear foot she was able to 'nest' with the best of them!

Notice the dark face on the male -

1AlphamaleF.jpg


He was my alpha male and of course liked the prettiest girl -

1SpotLOVE.jpg


1ALPHAII.jpg


More to come......................
 

Itort

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Four of your line are doing fine pigging out on earthworms, leachs, and many unfortunate bugs. They mix very well with yearling boxies outside.
 

Redfoot NERD

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These are now "endangered/protected/species of concern" in virtually every state they are native. [ may be every state by now ] It is illegal [at best ] to keep spotted turtles from FL up the East coast states and West thru NY, PA, MI and Ohio. They are also native to Canada.

I did not ship to these states without proof of "permit"! Although there are still those that collect [ those that are left ] and ship from these states. Check the "Federal" laws before considering keeping these.

A friend of mine is the Director of Herpetology for the state of SC. I had acquired a group during '99 and '00.. before SC passed any laws. I was there during the time he 'lobbied' to get the "Species of Concern" law passed - it was not a pleasant time!

NERD
 

GBtortoises

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I used to keep and breed Spotteds also. Still my favorite turtle!

I can't speak for any other state but they are legal to own in New York State with the proper DEC permits. Up until a few years ago they were legal to possess without permits.
 

Itort

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002-4.jpg
I believe these are from Terry's last hatch (Terry correct me if I'm wrong)
 

Tom

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Beautiful turtles, Terry. Why did you stop working with this species?
 

Redfoot NERD

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Itort said:
002-4.jpg
I believe these are from Terry's last hatch (Terry correct me if I'm wrong)

Probly so Larry.. I'll have to check my records. When was that? Do you have the dates when you received them?

Terry K
 

Redfoot NERD

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Tom said:
Beautiful turtles, Terry. Why did you stop working with this species?

I knew the Q? would come up sooner or later. It was a bitter-sweet situation.. as most are after you've created "true" F2 hatchlings..

41507SPOTS.jpg


These little guys hatched early May '07 - from the very first female that hatched in '00! And Gramma was still making babies!

To answer your Q?.. all of these breeders were WC. During '00, '01 and '02 four females produced about 45 or so babies! Then they quit for almost 3 years.

Then in '05 my alpha female produced 5 clutches.. 12 eggs.. 11 fertile and 10 hatched........... between March 25 - June 29. Every 'spotted' breeder I know found that unbelieveable!

As always 'chronological pic documentation'.. open the link, scroll down and click on the last thumbnail and then hit previous as you go. Watch the dates in the lower right of the pics and see in reverse order the eggs.. as they were laid and as she dug the nest also -

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v41/clemmysman/2005 SPOTTEDS/

A couple of the other females clutched once in '05 too.

Then in the spring of '06 [ her mate ] my alpha male didn't come out of hibernation well.. and he was dead within a month. She continued making babies for the next 2 years ( '06 and '07 ).. from the mating in the fall of '05. What a girl!
BOWDOWN.gif


After that it was never the same.. and my redfoot hatchlings from '98 were making babies.. so it was time to end one and start another.
A bitter-sweet story to tell.

I'll get a few other pics.. "male-combat" and babies later....

NERD - aka "Clemmysman".. my username from years ago.
 

Itort

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Redfoot NERD said:
Itort said:
002-4.jpg
I believe these are from Terry's last hatch (Terry correct me if I'm wrong)

Probly so Larry.. I'll have to check my records. When was that? Do you have the dates when you received them?

Terry K
These girls came to me on 04-08-2008. I guess that makes them almost three years old.
 
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