Tortoise Town

Elizabeth Restat

New Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
6
Hi there - Has anyone here worked with / order from Tortoise Town? They're Abscome, NJ, and my concern is that their web and facebook reviews are all relatively new.
 
Joined
Oct 17, 2016
Messages
86
Location (City and/or State)
Gulf Coast of Florida
I ordered a baby Greek tort from Tortoise Town. Transaction was smooth and tort was overnighted with a hand warmer in the box. It was a beautiful tort. I soaked the tort upon opening and placed in enclosure. For the next three days, tort didn't eat, was lethargic, and didn't open eyes much. I emailed with the breeder who assured me this batch of babies was healthy. He told me he feeds his babies Mazuri + romaine only (I didn't ask this before ordering). He also told me a MVB was a bad choice for a tort (I use a MVB). The tort died after three days. Breeder offered to replace tort but would not offer a refund although we were willing to eat the shipping cost. We did not go with a replacement, but instead acquired a tort through Craigslist which is doing well. I am not blaming the breeder specifically, but I don't think the baby was healthy as all my husbandry is on target. I wouldn't buy again. I have read other stories of this, although there are many good reviews on Facebook. I think I just got a sick baby.
 

Reagan

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
55
Location (City and/or State)
New Hampshire
Hi there - Has anyone here worked with / order from Tortoise Town? They're Abscome, NJ, and my concern is that their web and facebook reviews are all relatively new.
Yes, I got my 6 mo Eastern Herman from there. Very smooth transaction and he was very helpful. Shipping was good and I got a very healthy baby. I only got mine from here because it was closer than all my other options...

I know this is a little late of a response , but hope this helped other people.
 

Greta16

Active Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2017
Messages
378
Location (City and/or State)
Western Maine
I got my Eastern Hermanns from Tortoise Town on March 16. Very easy shipping...at the tail end of a blizzard. They're answered all my questions regarding care and have told me all the same things the experts on here have recommended.
 

tortuga33

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
Northern California
I just paid $279 for a normal leopard tortoise hatchling that was sold as an "ivory" leopard tortoise. I have called them and messaged them on Facebook with no response since this morning. Very disappointed. I would never do business with them again!!
 

tortuga33

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
Northern California
I'm so sorry this happened to you. I just purchased a leopard hatchling from Tortoise Town that was labeled as an "ivory" but is really just a regular, run of the mill babcocki leopard. I paid $279 for it. They haven't responded to my phone call or Facebook message, and I fear as someone suggested on the leopard forum that I've been taken for a ride :(
 

tortuga33

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
Northern California
I just purchased a hatchling leopard tortoise that was sold as "ivory." Forum members confirmed my suspicion that this baby is really just an average babcocki leopard and the price tag of $279 was not justified. I messaged Tortoise Town and am eagerly awaiting their response. If they make good by giving me a price adjustment as I requested, then I will report back. Here is a photo of the tortoise I received.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8149.JPG
    IMG_8149.JPG
    158.7 KB · Views: 171

KevinGG

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2013
Messages
1,119
Location (City and/or State)
Santa Cruz, CA
Tortoise town has gone by many other names. Mass producer not interested in proper care or health of turtles. In the future, buy from someone on this forum. You can verify the care and make sure you buy from someone experienced.
 

Shuo

New Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
11
I'm so sorry this happened to you. I just purchased a leopard hatchling from Tortoise Town that was labeled as an "ivory" but is really just a regular, run of the mill babcocki leopard. I paid $279 for it. They haven't responded to my phone call or Facebook message, and I fear as someone suggested on the leopard forum that I've been taken for a ride :(
I wish i have read this article earlier
I just ordered the same tort as you from tortoise town 3days ago and I paid the same price
The price is overcharged if there is no ivory one
But so far my little leopard eats and sleep ,and looks very healthy to me , so I'm happy with it
 

j_caouette

Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
65
I got a baby cherry head from them about 2months ago, he came in great shape and good health! Everything was smooth with the transactions and questions.
 

K8E K

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2017
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
N. CA
I would also not recommend this place as a first choice.

I ordered a "burmese brown" (which would usually go by 'MEE', there was no actual reference to either MEE or MEP), and a lovely MEP arrived. They charge an extra $10 for sexing the tortoise, which I can't imagine is accurate unless they really have their hatching temperatures down, so that strikes me as funky. They did communicate pretty promptly with me- they charged my card for a "well started" hatchling, and then shipped a month or so later. My inquiries were met with "you're paying to hold your place in line", though nothing in their site noted this would be the case. Also not the worst, but when you're planning to make sure you'll be home to immediately open a shipped tortoise- not ideal. Also, kind of sketchy, at least without upfront communication.

That said, they were relatively responsive, shipped me a heathy (I believe) and active MEP, and as far as I can tell she is in fact "well started". I would not use their care sheet or information, but that seems par for the course.
 

KevinGG

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2013
Messages
1,119
Location (City and/or State)
Santa Cruz, CA
I would also not recommend this place as a first choice.

I ordered a "burmese brown" (which would usually go by 'MEE', there was no actual reference to either MEE or MEP), and a lovely MEP arrived. They charge an extra $10 for sexing the tortoise, which I can't imagine is accurate unless they really have their hatching temperatures down, so that strikes me as funky. They did communicate pretty promptly with me- they charged my card for a "well started" hatchling, and then shipped a month or so later. My inquiries were met with "you're paying to hold your place in line", though nothing in their site noted this would be the case. Also not the worst, but when you're planning to make sure you'll be home to immediately open a shipped tortoise- not ideal. Also, kind of sketchy, at least without upfront communication.

That said, they were relatively responsive, shipped me a heathy (I believe) and active MEP, and as far as I can tell she is in fact "well started". I would not use their care sheet or information, but that seems par for the course.

Seems unlikely that they would sell you a rarer, more expensive turtle. You might want to start a thread to get opinions.
 

K8E K

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2017
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
N. CA
Kevin - He actually did that when he got it. It is a MEP!
Hah! You saw my thread :) I totally did- I was sort of astounded. It's a new species for me to keep so I immediately doubted myself. Thank goodness for this forum :)

Half of the issue with leaving a review is that I'm (maybe not so secretly) thrilled to have an MEP, so my excitement of nerding out on a new species colors my feelings about the experience- had it been a brown rather than a black (if I'd specifically ordered a MEP), or an unhealthy tort, I'd of course have very different feelings.

The description refers to "Burmese Mountain Tortoise" and "Burmese Brown" several times, but with no speciation...so I just assumed MEE, since they said "brown". I also received a fairly friendly email (after ordering) warning me off the species all together, which by itself isn't bad- I like to err on the side of really knowing I can care for something well and to be absolutely sure of that, including openly listening to warnings from knowledgeable current keepers. That, in combination with their recommendations on temp (that was a species specific recommendation in an email to me- their actual care sheet is general and not species specific, which I have big issues with, that's another thread)- ran hotter than any other information I could find- including on the forum (which I trust more)- it makes me think maybe they have issues with the care?

It was a nice surprise, but all in all I have some reservations on this place and wouldn't order there again.
 
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
38
Location (City and/or State)
Stamford, CT, USA
I am okay with tortoise town. I got a red foot hatchling from them once and I know they are supposed to be inactive as a hatchling but literally all he does is sleep and eat! But they have smooth delivery but I would not use them as a first choice. Better to get from someone on the forum or a local reputable breeder.
 

Andrea Campbell

New Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2017
Messages
1
Location (City and/or State)
Rochester New York
Hi there - Has anyone here worked with / order from Tortoise Town? They're Abscome, NJ, and my concern is that their web and facebook reviews are all relatively new.


Yes, we have purchased two Russian Tortoise hatchlings from Tortoisetown ($180 each). One in October 2016 and the other in November 2016. Needless to say after $280 in vet bills (and continuing, would be $500 but they took us on at cost) the one died (Squirdle) in June 2017 and Shelby is degrading fast. My vet is part of the reptile forum at Cornell University in New York and they took this case on as a "research" study. First, they informed me that it was illegal to sell the hatchlings that small (so fragile). Second, they were diagnosed them with the reptile version of Herpes Virus (respiratory virus). This is a virus that they were born with and you can never cure them but try to give them a comfortable life by having a routine of antibiotic injections on-going. Squirdle started first, over a month she slowed down, was not moving around and eating as much. We started seeing her eyes swell more, underside of carapace getting softer etc. We brought her to the vet, they we shocked as they are reptile specialist and never saw a tortoise hatchling as a pet this small. They contacted the biologist at Cornell for advice. We brought her to vet again 2 days later, and started a series of antibiotic shots at Cornell’s advice (a series of 4 shots administered every 3 days), but she did not survive (was too sick). We immediately started the series of 4 shots every 3 days with the other hatchling, Shelby in June. At the vets advice we also started hand feeding her baby food from a syringe 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks. My other half has a Ph.D in Biology and more experience so he took the lead, I am not sure I could have done it, hand feeding these little guys is not easy. Shelby bounced back to full strength two weeks after shots. Although two month later (August) started showing signs again. Cornell said she was not growing and was most likely too small to make it through the virus. If she did survive she would be a pigmy tortoise (small) and only live a portion of her life expectancy. We did 4 more series of antibiotic shots anyway ($100), she was good for 3-4 days then back to being lethargic. Now it’s a waiting game......she will most likely pass in the next week. We will continue to fight for her to the end regardless.


Tortoisetown has ignored my messages and will not acknowledge these issues. My heart breaks for the little guys they breed and my son who is so sad because these where he babies who he waited 4 years for. We made sure he was educated and old enough to handle this responsibility. I write this up in hopes that other do not fall into the same situation that we did. I hope that TORTOISETOWN does not continue to breed tortoises with the Herpes Virus.



Best of luck,

Andrea
 
Joined
Jul 9, 2017
Messages
41
Hi there - Has anyone here worked with / order from Tortoise Town? They're Abscome, NJ, and my concern is that their web and facebook reviews are all relatively new.
I have a baby Russian from them I got about 3 mos. Ago. He's doing well. Took about a week for them to ship him out because they were concerned about high temps in NY
Also ordered cactus that came later and was mushy and rotten. They promptly sent out another which was packed on cold packs and was good. Happy with them however my vet doesn't approve of them because they get their torts from hundreds of breeders so you really don't know where they're coming from.
 

Versace

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2017
Messages
20
Location (City and/or State)
New England
I got my first tortoise, jasper, from tortoise town about four months ago as a hatchling. I ordered a male, but I’m not totally sure if he is one, and after reading these replies I might have to check... Either way, I ordered a cherry head and while i eventually figured out that he was actually an eastern red foot, he is healthy, active, and strong. He did seem slightly weak and his shell was kinda dull when he arrived, but it may have just been his young age, and after a few weeks of love and care he became the sharp and feisty boy he is today. I love him, and even though he isn’t what I ordered, it was a happy mistake because he is the best tort I could ask for :)
 

Versace

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2017
Messages
20
Location (City and/or State)
New England
I got my first tortoise, jasper, from tortoise town about four months ago as a hatchling. I ordered a male, but I’m not totally sure if he is one, and after reading these replies I might have to check... Either way, I ordered a cherry head and while i eventually figured out that he was actually an eastern red foot, he is healthy, active, and strong. He did seem slightly weak and his shell was kinda dull when he arrived, but it may have just been his young age, and after a few weeks of love and care he became the sharp and feisty boy he is today. I love him, and even though he isn’t what I ordered, it was a happy mistake because he is the best tort I could ask for :)
*northeastern whoops
 

Gmoran

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2018
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Pa
I purchased an eastern hermann's from them last year. He arrived on-time and healthy. He's been doing great ever since. Overall, my experience with them was good, although their prices are a little on the high side.
 
Top