The "RARE" Giant of the redfoot community -

Redfoot NERD

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10 Year Member!
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Seen here also - https://turtletary.com/bolivian.html

Bolivian Redfoot Tortoises
*****

Extensive tutorial of Bolivian locale redfoot tortoises.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
( compared to other locales )

The purpose of this tutorial is to show the unique / intense beauty and diversity of..
Bolivian locale Redfoot Tortoises!
[email protected]


One reason they are called "Giant" - shown next to the breeders' size 12 foot -
50+(?) year old male.. [ over 18 inches ] from 1982 import!
( that's not my foot )

( shown shortly after the Florida storm in August 2017 )


1TTBOBigfoot.jpg


Another 18+" male -

1bigmale.jpg


Their extreme 'concave' plastron -

1bigbelly.jpg


And one of the "Matriarch's" from 1982
[ how old is she? - she makes 2+" babies! ]

1bigmomma.jpg


A couple of the early 5 year olds -

1ttDuos.jpg


Not easy to determine which of these 'young adults' are males -
all in 10+" range.. hatched at breeders' facility.
[ no waist ? ]

1ttbolivia2.jpg


NOTE:
Exclusive characteristics to look for!
Virtual covering of head with colors and patterns..
large yellow "blotches" on carapace thru old maturity..
extreme dark "non-marbled" plastron.. and
no supressed waist of mature males.
+++
It is not known why these grow to be so large.
There are some of us that believe -
because parts of Bolivia is on a plateau / higher elevation..
it is unlikely that there is "hybridizing" with Brazilian's
[ that have the 'marbled' plastron ] in the wild..
not knowing 'collection-location' compounds the confusion also!

1BoliviaMap.jpg

+++

From May 25th '19.. shortly after 'out-for-the-summer'.
Current 'young' mature group..
has taken 3 years to find and acquire.

1BOTrio5252019.jpg


These above are in the 10" ~ 11" SCL range..
still VERY young!!!
"Bubbles" has laid a total of 6 eggs.. none were fertile. It is
unlikely she was with a mature male over the past 3 years.
More on these below.
+++++
It's been another 2 years searching.. and nothing! THEN..!
"They" appeared - a couple 8+" SCL MALES!

1ttM1RC.jpg


1ttM2RC.jpg


+++
Now in Texas with 2 females..

1tt820RFTH.jpg


IMHumbleO there is not a "Brazilian" out there that could compare..
with these "Bolivians" !!!

1tt820RCTaped.jpg


"TRUE" Bolivian MALE -
> note.. no plastron marbling <

1tt820RP.jpg


Typical 'wide-anal' scute and "male-tail" starting to show on this 8+" SCL young male.

1a820Tail.jpg



*******
*****
My "BO Red"

1BORed5252019.jpg


"Bubbles"

1BubblesFace.jpg


"Kupa"

1KupaRF.jpg


1BOTrio5252019.jpg


From May 25th.. shortly after 'out-for-the-summer'!
*****

First and foremost is the extremely rare "melanistic"..
a true 2% - 3%'er ( only 2 or 3 out of 100 hatch like this ) -

1TTFFaceLegs.jpg


1TTLFC.jpg


1TTRCPro.jpg


Hatched early April 2019.
++++

May 25 - loves canteloupe!
( all that canteloupe is strictly for "photos" )


1ZMFTH.jpg


1ZMLFFace.jpg


Yellow 'legs' .. even bottom of feet and tail !!!

1ZMLP.jpg


1ZMRF.jpg


*****

This little girl Bolivian Redfoot is the 2008 hatched by D. Beard -
( none of these below were raised by me..
is why they are 'pyramided' to some extent )

1ttBored08hatch.jpg


This is how she looked in June 2016 - she came to me as a trade..
I call her 'Bo Red' -

tt08BOFRF.jpg


tt08BOFRP.jpg


AND now in November 2017 with new camera!

1ttBoRedLFC.jpg


1ttBoRedLC.jpg


And she has a new 'boy-friend' along with his 'girl-friend' to make a nice trio!

He is known as 'Kupa' - by his former keeper...
can you believe this young 11" SCL Bolivian redfoot?
( from group of 5 above - had an opportunity to acquire
the other male and didn't do it .. talk about stupid!!! )

1TTKupaRProC.jpg


1ttKupaRPro.jpg


They love chopped collard greens -

1ttKupaFace.jpg


1ttKupaLCPro.jpg


1ttKupaRF.jpg


And the first of a few pics of 'Bubbles' -
she is currently trying to nest for the 2nd time -
her first clutch was 3 eggs! Seldom are 'first' eggs fertile.. they weren't.

1ttBubbles%20face.jpg


And outside..

1TTBubblesRC.jpg


Kupa and Bubbles display a somewhat different plastron..
although still covering from head to toe with no 'marbling' -
'Kupa' ( note wide anal scutes and no 'hourglass' waist ) -

1TTKupaRP.jpg


And 'Bubbles' -

1TTBubblesRP.jpg


*****
It's now late May 2019.. and they are finally outside and
enjoying canteloupe.. along with the American Violets
and small Rose of Sharon trying to grow in the enclosure
with the "preditor-proof" 'lid' with 2"x 3" welded-wire security.

Our man "Kupa" -

1Kupa5252019.jpg


1KupaRF.jpg


The girls -

1BubblesBORedFaces.jpg


They are in the 10" - 11" range now.

Bubbles -

1BubblesFace.jpg


With BO Red .. also enjoying canteloupe.

1BubblesBO%20RedMunch.jpg


BO Red -

1BORed5252019.jpg


Some day they will make babies (?) !!!

1BOTrio5252019.jpg


*****

"True" Bolivian Redfoots have been rare in private collections until now -
mainly because only 2-3 breeders exist today.
This 'blood-line' reportedly came into the U.S. in 1982 consisting of less than 150 total..
( an almost "non-existent" number - compared to the multitude of
those from other locales from early 1970's until now. ).
That was the ONLY shipment.. until 20 years later .. when maybe 20 were brought in.
Where the adults and their hatchlings went.. only they know?

In case you hadn't noticed.. I'm trying to make a point -
" These are truly rare beauties !!! "

I managed to make a trade to acquire 'Bo Red' .

*****
These are a couple females ( thank you Chris H. ).. from hatchlings acquired from
2000 shipment - Chris acquired these from 'show' in 2011 - note the diversity.

1TTChris%20H%20FRC1.jpg


1TTChris%20H%20FRC2.jpg


1TTChris%20H%20FP2.jpg


Chris H. acquired a couple 2017 hatchlings from the 1982 stock..
He really knows how to raise them -

1TTCHraisedLF.jpg


1TTCHraisedRF.jpg


****
Due to the storms that hit Florida - late summer 2017 -
there were very few that hatched in 2018.
( just now in 2019 .. beginning to recover )

****

Early 2017 was given the opportunity to acquire a few hatclings..
AND I could pick the ones I wanted !!!
Was actually able to acquire from breeder.. that has pairs from the
ONLY ( only one group ) imports from 1982!

My choice - two 2017's on left and 2018's on right -

tt1BOBunch2.jpg


How 2018's looked at about six months -

tt1BORFDown.jpg


tt3BOLFPro.jpg


( They are known as 'Mango' and 'Crown' - see below )

And the other two ( 2017 hatched ) from May 2019 -
( these two pics show closest to actual colors )

1TT2017DotsLF.jpg


1TT2017Red.jpg


Now May 25 2019 - 'Mango' and 'Crown' - they love canteloupe -

1a18RFBite.jpg


Caught him just right "in bite" !

1aLFPro.jpg


( No head movement )
Mango is really growing up to be a beauty!

1a18RC.jpg


And "Crown" !!!
Knew when I saw him first time.. he was a "keeper"!
( every pic he was taking a bite.. head blur ) -

1bRC.jpg


1bLFBite.jpg


There is so much "color" on the top of his head..
can barely see individual scales!!!

1bRFC.jpg



These 2017's are now almost "burnt-orange"..
the truest colors were shown above in the clover.

( The flash really compromised / lightened the colors below..
a considerable darker "red" actually )

1a17RFFBite.jpg


1a17LFBite.jpg


I usually don't choose a 'blurred-pic' .. but liked this "bite" pic!

1a17RC.jpg


++++

1a172RFTH.jpg


And the "white" spots are unique on this guy -

1a172LFTH.jpg


1a172RC.jpg


Think there's any chance they will grow up to be nice?

*****
A few other examples of the incredible 'Giant' Bolivian Redfoot Tortoises!
( from 2017 )

1ttDuo1.jpg


1ttHiWOW.jpg


1ttSpecks2.jpg


1ttWOWBite.jpg


1ttSpecks.jpg


These are the "off-the-chart" for 2018 !

My Keepers" !!!
Know as 'Crown1' and 'Leg-legs'...

1tt2018Keeps.jpg


And other late August 2018 -

1AugBOLFCtt.jpg


1AugBORFCtt.jpg


Note the solid "eye-brows" on this one -

1BO8Crowntt.jpg


Early Sept. [ last for 2018 ] -
sorry 'bout the camera flash-out..

1OCTBOsDuott.jpg


1BOs3Dotstt.jpg


Look at those legs!!!

1OctBORedLeggstt.jpg


HUGE babies!

!2ttBOCtape.jpg


!2ttBOP.jpg


( true colors.. above and below )

1OctBOsDisplay2tt.jpg


++++

Our breeder calls these Bolivians "Peach colored"!

++++

Early 2019 enjoying dandelion greens -

ttRTHC.jpg


ttLFFace.jpg


tt3RF.jpg


tt3LF.jpg


And canteloupe on May 25 -

1MLFBite.jpg


1MRFC.jpg


1M2LFTH.jpg


1M2RFTH.jpg


1Z2LFTH.jpg


1Z2RFTH.jpg


And a couple "nice" ones hatched early May..
shown June 8 -
1C608.jpg

The "flash" has done it again!

1ProFaces.jpg


++++

The intense beauty and diversity of..
Bolivian locale Redfoot Tortoises!
 

jsheffield

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Thanks for sharing all of the great info and pictures!!!

I wonder if my Darwin is a full or partial Bolivian, as she’s ginormous for just 3 years old.

Jamie
 

dyugs666

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Joined
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Is it possible that my redfoot is Bolivian? 😅
Your opinions would be greatly appreciated! 🙏🏼
10719441-8209-4F9D-9031-ADCDC2458ED2.jpeg
 

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Yvonne G

Old Timer
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Old thread. Plus we haven't seen redfootnerd here for quite a while.
 

pacific chelonians

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Is it possible that my redfoot is Bolivian? 😅
Your opinions would be greatly appreciated! 🙏🏼
View attachment 348949
Although terry has really stepped back greatly in the pas few years everything I know about Bolivians came from him directly and I even ended up with a few of his Bolivians this being said judging by the growth and plastron shape aswell as coloration he is not a Bolivian here is what make me say that

1. He appears to be a wc adult and wc Bolivians have not been brought into the us in over 15years although it is possible very unlikely that one true Bolivian slipped in

2.although the plastron is very dark it is not completely black and the concavity is nothing compared to a true Bolivian

3. Although not always Bolivians do tend to have orange heads thats not a determining factor just one that can help sometimes

4. Finally being that he is an old/Wc individual he would be much larger by now a true Bolivian would be about 2x that size

Although he is not a Bolivian he is still equally as awesome of an animal and weather he is Bolivian really doesn’t matter they are still the same species and have the same care
 

dyugs666

New Member
Joined
May 2, 2022
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Manila, Philippines
Although terry has really stepped back greatly in the pas few years everything I know about Bolivians came from him directly and I even ended up with a few of his Bolivians this being said judging by the growth and plastron shape aswell as coloration he is not a Bolivian here is what make me say that

1. He appears to be a wc adult and wc Bolivians have not been brought into the us in over 15years although it is possible very unlikely that one true Bolivian slipped in

2.although the plastron is very dark it is not completely black and the concavity is nothing compared to a true Bolivian

3. Although not always Bolivians do tend to have orange heads thats not a determining factor just one that can help sometimes

4. Finally being that he is an old/Wc individual he would be much larger by now a true Bolivian would be about 2x that size

Although he is not a Bolivian he is still equally as awesome of an animal and weather he is Bolivian really doesn’t matter they are still the same species and have the same care

Thank you so much!!! Much appreciated! 😍🙏🏼
 
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