Is this a good place to buy a Russian tortoise?

[Noah101]

Do you guys think this is a good place to buy an adult female Russian if not could you recommend a better place that ships to nj or I can pick up close to nj?

 

[Megatron's Mom]

I don't know anything about that breeder. But my daughter uses MorphMarket all the time. MorphMarket does try their best to keep out scammers.

 

[Tom]

Do you guys think this is a good place to buy an adult female Russian if not could you recommend a better place that ships to nj or I can pick up close to nj?

I don't know this seller, but I already see one problem. They are advertising a "female baby Russian tortoise". There is no way to sex a baby. They can be surgically sexed as babies, but that would cost much more than the selling price of this tortoise. If incubated on the warmer side, in theory, you should get more females, but only sulcatas have been studied in a lab, so sulcatas are the only species where the exact temps to produce all males or all females is known.

I would recommend buying from one of the many breeders on this forum that are up to date on current and correct care info. I personally know and highly recommend the first three here. I don't know dovelett15, but I remembered seeing an ad recently.

@TylerStewart
@biochemnerd808
@HoosierTort
@dovelett15

 

[wellington]

I know the same as those above. No experience with them.
I agree with Tom though.

 

[Noah101]

I don't know this seller, but I already see one problem. They are advertising a "female baby Russian tortoise". There is no way to sex a baby. They can be surgically sexed as babies, but that would cost much more than the selling price of this tortoise. If incubated on the warmer side, in theory, you should get more females, but only sulcatas have been studied in a lab, so sulcatas are the only species where the exact temps to produce all males or all females is known.

I would recommend buying from one of the many breeders on this forum that are up to date on current and correct care info. I personally know and highly recommend the first three here. I don't know dovelett15, but I remembered seeing an ad recently.

@TylerStewart
@biochemnerd808
@HoosierTort
@dovelett15

Okay thank you so much!!

 

[Noah101]

It said their 3-4 years old maybe the baby part is just a misprint because on morph market the diet also sometimes misprinted so I think it may be a misprint should u still use a different source?

 

[Noah101]

I don't know this seller, but I already see one problem. They are advertising a "female baby Russian tortoise". There is no way to sex a baby. They can be surgically sexed as babies, but that would cost much more than the selling price of this tortoise. If incubated on the warmer side, in theory, you should get more females, but only sulcatas have been studied in a lab, so sulcatas are the only species where the exact temps to produce all males or all females is known.

I would recommend buying from one of the many breeders on this forum that are up to date on current and correct care info. I personally know and highly recommend the first three here. I don't know dovelett15, but I remembered seeing an ad recently.

@TylerStewart
@biochemnerd808
@HoosierTort
@dovelett15

How about this one. he’s a rescue?

 

[Tom]

How about this one. he’s a rescue?

Are you looking for an adult or a baby?
Are you looking to buy one or rescue one for free?
Do you mind dealing with the potential disease and parasites of an imported animal, or does a CB animal that is more likely to be disease and parasite free better suit your interests?

 

[Anastasia 22]

I was recommended to use Morph by people from the exotic pet stores. I couldn't find Russian tortoise locally and they told me to check with Morph. I saw pictures of three baby Russians there and it said one was for sale (it didn't say which one though). I don't know but something told me not to deal with them. I found my Russian boy in a pet store and I didn't mind to drive for 6 hours to get him....

 

[Noah101]

Are you looking for an adult or a baby?
Are you looking to buy one or rescue one for free?
Do you mind dealing with the potential disease and parasites of an imported animal, or does a CB animal that is more likely to be disease and parasite free better suit your interests?

I’m looking for a captive bread adult and I was going to buy one but if I can rescue one that is close enough to nj to pick up or get delivered to me I’m okay with rescuing one as long as it doesn’t have any health issues

 

[Tom]

I’m looking for a captive bread adult and I was going to buy one but if I can rescue one that is close enough to nj to pick up or get delivered to me I’m okay with rescuing one as long as it doesn’t have any health issues

CB adults are seldom offered for sale. When someone buys a baby and raises it to adulthood, they usually want to keep it. Sometimes people's life circumstances change and they end up needed to re-home a tortoise like this, but it is not the norm. Keep looking and you might get lucky.

Any rescue and almost all adults offered for sale are going to be WC tortoises. Unfortunately, when they are WC, health issues come with the territory. Many diseases are suppressed and only come out in times of stress. Some of the diseases are difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose in a living animal and can only be confirmed with a necropsy. Its a gamble.

The safest bet is to buy a well started baby from one of the sellers I mentioned. If you don't mind the risk and possible expenses, you can probably rescue a long term captive near you for free.

 

[Noah101]

CB adults are seldom offered for sale. When someone buys a baby and raises it to adulthood, they usually want to keep it. Sometimes people's life circumstances change and they end up needed to re-home a tortoise like this, but it is not the norm. Keep looking and you might get lucky.

Any rescue and almost all adults offered for sale are going to be WC tortoises. Unfortunately, when they are WC, health issues come with the territory. Many diseases are suppressed and only come out in times of stress. Some of the diseases are difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose in a living animal and can only be confirmed with a necropsy. Its a gamble.

The safest bet is to buy a well started baby from one of the sellers I mentioned. If you don't mind the risk and possible expenses, you can probably rescue a long term captive near you for free.

It said it’s captive bread do some people just say that so they can sell for more ?

 

[Noah101]

CB adults are seldom offered for sale. When someone buys a baby and raises it to adulthood, they usually want to keep it. Sometimes people's life circumstances change and they end up needed to re-home a tortoise like this, but it is not the norm. Keep looking and you might get lucky.

Any rescue and almost all adults offered for sale are going to be WC tortoises. Unfortunately, when they are WC, health issues come with the territory. Many diseases are suppressed and only come out in times of stress. Some of the diseases are difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose in a living animal and can only be confirmed with a necropsy. Its a gamble.

The safest bet is to buy a well started baby from one of the sellers I mentioned. If you don't mind the risk and possible expenses, you can probably rescue a long term captive near you for free.

It said it’s captive bread do some people just say that so they can sell for more

It said it’s captive bread do some people just say that so they can sell for more ?

they said it was given up by its owner

 

[SinLA]

I 100% recommend getting a rescue, there are so so many Russians in need of homes. BTW I see you are in Cedar Grove, I'm originally from Verona

So as an example, here's one from down the shore: https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/for/d/neptune-male-russian-tortoise-for-sale/7760864909.html

this tortoises life as been really crappy. He's in one of the 2x3' Tortoise houses they sell on the internet that are 1/6 of the space they actually need, he's got a water dish that can kill him, and his teeny tiny house is otherwise taken up with so much stuff I'm surprised he can walk at all.

Get this guy, and you can feel great about giving a tortoise that's had a rubbish life a really good one...

 

[Tom]

It said it’s captive bread do some people just say that so they can sell for more ?

Some people do that, but more likely is that the place where they got it from told them that it was CB. Most of the chain pet stores do this. They call them "farm raised" imports and tell their customer they are CB. If the original owners raised it from a baby and it grew from tiny to this size with them, then I would believe it was CB.

 

[Noah101]

Okay thank you

 

[Noah101]

I 100% recommend getting a rescue, there are so so many Russians in need of homes. BTW I see you are in Cedar Grove, I'm originally from Verona

So as an example, here's one from down the shore: https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/for/d/neptune-male-russian-tortoise-for-sale/7760864909.html

this tortoises life as been really crappy. He's in one of the 2x3' Tortoise houses they sell on the internet that are 1/6 of the space they actually need, he's got a water dish that can kill him, and his teeny tiny house is otherwise taken up with so much stuff I'm surprised he can walk at all.

Get this guy, and you can feel great about giving a tortoise that's had a rubbish life a really good one...

Okay thank you so much!!!

 

[biochemnerd808]

Do you guys think this is a good place to buy an adult female Russian if not could you recommend a better place that ships to nj or I can pick up close to nj?

The tortoise pictured in that ad is definitely wild caught. And likely about 5-10 years old.

Looks like Tom and others have already given you good advice. My first tortoises were Craigslist tortoises (had been in the country for 5-10 years). Some of them still had to be treated for parasites.
The group I have now is all captive bred (I raised them myself), and they are friendlier, less picky about food, and because they grew up in my climate, they are adjusted to the weather here (still have to provide supplemental heat in Fall/Spring, and shade cloth in summer). Wild-caught or 'farm raised' (which is a gimmick! they only have to have been held in a 'farm' facility for 4 months to be categorized as such, and there is very little oversight in the sending countries) often have a hard time adjusting to US weather, almost all have parasites (pinworms, giardia, coccidia are the most common) that require treatment, and are often picky about the foods offered, because they are used to grazing in the wild.

If there is a reputable reptile rescue in driveable distance (NOT just a flipper), then this would be a good option, too. There are many deserving (mostly male, but sometimes female) tortoises in rescues. @HoosierTort often has males available for adoption that have been relinquished to him. He is willing to ship, too.

And then there is the option of buying a captive-bred baby. Be sure it's well-started and from a reputable breeder if you take this route. @Tom already posted a list (I'm on it!), I'd add @Carol S to said list, she produces beautiful babies and sometimes has yearlings available. My yearlings have all sold, but of the babies I hatched this season, 3 haven't yet been reserved.

I'm glad you're doing your research before purchasing. Best of luck as you make your decision.

 

[Noah101]

The tortoise pictured in that ad is definitely wild caught. And likely about 5-10 years old.

Looks like Tom and others have already given you good advice. My first tortoises were Craigslist tortoises (had been in the country for 5-10 years). Some of them still had to be treated for parasites.
The group I have now is all captive bred (I raised them myself), and they are friendlier, less picky about food, and because they grew up in my climate, they are adjusted to the weather here (still have to provide supplemental heat in Fall/Spring, and shade cloth in summer). Wild-caught or 'farm raised' (which is a gimmick! they only have to have been held in a 'farm' facility for 4 months to be categorized as such, and there is very little oversight in the sending countries) often have a hard time adjusting to US weather, almost all have parasites (pinworms, giardia, coccidia are the most common) that require treatment, and are often picky about the foods offered, because they are used to grazing in the wild.

If there is a reputable reptile rescue in driveable distance (NOT just a flipper), then this would be a good option, too. There are many deserving (mostly male, but sometimes female) tortoises in rescues. @HoosierTort often has males available for adoption that have been relinquished to him. He is willing to ship, too.

And then there is the option of buying a captive-bred baby. Be sure it's well-started and from a reputable breeder if you take this route. @Tom already posted a list (I'm on it!), I'd add @Carol S to said list, she produces beautiful babies and sometimes has yearlings available. My yearlings have all sold, but of the babies I hatched this season, 3 haven't yet been reserved.

I'm glad you're doing your research before purchasing. Best of luck as you make your decision.

Okay thank you so much for the help

 

[Tom]

The tortoise pictured in that ad is definitely wild caught. And likely about 5-10 years old.

Looks like Tom and others have already given you good advice. My first tortoises were Craigslist tortoises (had been in the country for 5-10 years). Some of them still had to be treated for parasites.
The group I have now is all captive bred (I raised them myself), and they are friendlier, less picky about food, and because they grew up in my climate, they are adjusted to the weather here (still have to provide supplemental heat in Fall/Spring, and shade cloth in summer). Wild-caught or 'farm raised' (which is a gimmick! they only have to have been held in a 'farm' facility for 4 months to be categorized as such, and there is very little oversight in the sending countries) often have a hard time adjusting to US weather, almost all have parasites (pinworms, giardia, coccidia are the most common) that require treatment, and are often picky about the foods offered, because they are used to grazing in the wild.

If there is a reputable reptile rescue in driveable distance (NOT just a flipper), then this would be a good option, too. There are many deserving (mostly male, but sometimes female) tortoises in rescues. @HoosierTort often has males available for adoption that have been relinquished to him. He is willing to ship, too.

And then there is the option of buying a captive-bred baby. Be sure it's well-started and from a reputable breeder if you take this route. @Tom already posted a list (I'm on it!), I'd add @Carol S to said list, she produces beautiful babies and sometimes has yearlings available. My yearlings have all sold, but of the babies I hatched this season, 3 haven't yet been reserved.

I'm glad you're doing your research before purchasing. Best of luck as you make your decision.

AHH!!! How could I forget Carol??? Thanks for adding her. She is wonderful and starts her babies extremely well.