Tortoise Town

[MMccarty]

I was wondering if anyone has ordered a tortoise from Tortoise town recently? I ordered a week ago was told they would ship my Sulcata hatchling by the end of this week as soon as the biologist cleared for shipping. No further communication, I have emailed and tried calling several times to no avail. I’m starting to worry that I was just scammed out of hundreds of dollars. I did order off of their website.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!
Tortoise Town is not a reliable source (but not a 100% scam). Here is more details on them: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/tortoise-town.226644/#post-2190007

 

[Anastasia 22]

I was wondering if anyone has ordered a tortoise from Tortoise town recently? I ordered a week ago was told they would ship my Sulcata hatchling by the end of this week as soon as the biologist cleared for shipping. No further communication, I have emailed and tried calling several times to no avail. I’m starting to worry that I was just scammed out of hundreds of dollars. I did order off of their website.

Sorry to hear about your experience.
Next time tell them you would send a cashier check or money order. That's a way to filter scammers.
p.s. I heard some horror stories about tortoises shipment. I hope it won't happen to your little tort.

 

[zovick]

I was wondering if anyone has ordered a tortoise from Tortoise town recently? I ordered a week ago was told they would ship my Sulcata hatchling by the end of this week as soon as the biologist cleared for shipping. No further communication, I have emailed and tried calling several times to no avail. I’m starting to worry that I was just scammed out of hundreds of dollars. I did order off of their website.

They charged you hundreds of dollars for a baby sulcata? That is an unbelievably high price. There are many sellers offering them for well under $100. Tortoise Town is not a breeder. He is a flipper. He hasn't shipped your tortoise yet because he is most likely trying to buy one from a real breeder so he can sell it to you for a huge mark-up in price.

Here is an ad for yearlings for $89 each:

SOLD!! - SUMMER SALE - Mali Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) CB 2024

SUMMER SALE - Mali Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) CB 2024 Mali Sulcata Tortoise / African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) CB 2024. All are eating mixed greens, dandelion, cactus pads, veggies and Zoo Med Tortoise Food. Our price: $89 each Price does not include shipping...

www.faunaclassifieds.com

And here is an ad for hatchlings for $25 each:

Sulcata Hatchling Reservation - 2025 Season

Please do not use the bottom "Quantity" option, it will not apply your discount. In order to reserve 10+ tortoises please do so through "Wholesale Reservations" Next Available: March, April, May, and June hatch dates are already sold out. Next availability is for mid/late July, reserve now to...

azsulcata.com

 

[SinLA]

You were scammed. Leaving aside what happened (sorry), the fact is if you were not aware of their reputation, that also likely means you may not done as much research as you have to care for a tortoise at all, because most info on the internet is outdated or wrong. Please be sure to visit the FAQ section of this site about caring for Sulcata tortoises just to make sure that you do have the set up that you need to keep them healthy before you purchase or this one actually arrives.

Keeping a Sulcata in Montana is going to be REALLY REALLY hard. It will be somewhat expensive and you will need a lot of heated space so it doesn’t die in the winter (you cannot let it simply roam around the house - it MAY survive that way but the odds are low)

 

[MMccarty]

Sorry to hear about your experience.
Next time tell them you would send a cashier check or money order. That's a way to filter scammers.
p.s. I heard some horror stories about tortoises shipment. I hope it won't happen to your little tort.

Omg me too! She is my Mother’s Day gift.

 

[zovick]

Omg me too! She is my Mother’s Day gift.

How was Tortoise Town paid for the baby? If possible to cancel your order and get a refund, I would highly recommend doing that. Then you can buy a reasonably priced baby from a true breeder.

If they refuse to give you the refund, and you paid by CC, you can dispute the charge with your bank and get it back that way since you tried to get a refund and it was refused.

 

[MMccarty]

They charged you hundreds of dollars for a baby sulcata? That is an unbelievably high price. There are many sellers offering them for well under $100. Tortoise Town is not a breeder. He is a flipper. He hasn't shipped your tortoise yet because he is most likely trying to buy one from a real breeder so he can sell it to you for a huge mark-up in price.

Here is an ad for yearlings for $89 each:

SOLD!! - SUMMER SALE - Mali Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) CB 2024

SUMMER SALE - Mali Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) CB 2024 Mali Sulcata Tortoise / African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) CB 2024. All are eating mixed greens, dandelion, cactus pads, veggies and Zoo Med Tortoise Food. Our price: $89 each Price does not include shipping...

www.faunaclassifieds.com

And here is an ad for hatchlings for $25 each:

Sulcata Hatchling Reservation - 2025 Season

Please do not use the bottom "Quantity" option, it will not apply your discount. In order to reserve 10+ tortoises please do so through "Wholesale Reservations" Next Available: March, April, May, and June hatch dates are already sold out. Next availability is for mid/late July, reserve now to...

azsulcata.com

$250 including shipping

 

[Tom]

$250 including shipping

That is insane. I agree with Zovick. Get a refund ASAP.

Here is some info that I wish you have found first:
1. Sulcatas are the wrong species for almost everyone. They get too big and too destructive and there is no practical way to house them in the frozen north once they outgrow their baby enclosure which needs to be 4x8 feet.
2. You need to pick a species that can be housed indoors over winter, and/or a temperate species that can brumate over winter.
3. Most of the care info found from most sources is all wrong. Please read these for the correct care info:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

4. Most breeders do not start this species correctly. The result of this is that a large percentage of them die weeks or months after purchase and then the seller blames it on the buyer, claiming it was fine when they had it. Here is what is happening there. I post this so that you can avoid this scenario:

"Hatchling Failure Syndrome"

I've heard this term for many years and I don't like it. Its a way to excuse our ignorance and failure. I will agree that an occasional hatchling is born that is just not going to make it no matter what anybody does, but MOST of them, if they make it full term and hatch, SHOULD survive and...

tortoiseforum.org

5. If you still really want one and think you have the means, space, and wherewithal to house a giant 150 pound destructive bulldozer that needs 80-90 degree temps all year long, then find a breeder who starts them correctly like @NorCal tortoise guy

All your question are welcome. Don't let this be your house:

 

[MMccarty]

That is insane. I agree with Zovick. Get a refund ASAP.

Here is some info that I wish you have found first:
1. Sulcatas are the wrong species for almost everyone. They get too big and too destructive and there is no practical way to house them in the frozen north once they outgrow their baby enclosure which needs to be 4x8 feet.
2. You need to pick a species that can be housed indoors over winter, and/or a temperate species that can brumate over winter.
3. Most of the care info found from most sources is all wrong. Please read these for the correct care info:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

4. Most breeders do not start this species correctly. The result of this is that a large percentage of them die weeks or months after purchase and then the seller blames it on the buyer, claiming it was fine when they had it. Here is what is happening there. I post this so that you can avoid this scenario:

"Hatchling Failure Syndrome"

I've heard this term for many years and I don't like it. Its a way to excuse our ignorance and failure. I will agree that an occasional hatchling is born that is just not going to make it no matter what anybody does, but MOST of them, if they make it full term and hatch, SHOULD survive and...

tortoiseforum.org

5. If you still really want one and think you have the means, space, and wherewithal to house a giant 150 pound destructive bulldozer that needs 80-90 degree temps all year long, then find a breeder who starts them correctly like @NorCal tortoise guy

All your question are welcome. Don't let this be your house:
View attachment 390663

We are prepared for a Sulcata, the amount of work my husband has put in and has planned is pretty amazing. He’s a contractor. Just feeling duped on my purchase, they were suggested to me by someone who had a seedless experience, apparently that’s not the norm….ugh!

 

[Tom]

We are prepared for a Sulcata, the amount of work my husband has put in and has planned is pretty amazing. He’s a contractor. Just feeling duped on my purchase, they were suggested to me by someone who had a seedless experience, apparently that’s not the norm….ugh!

Where will you keep it in winter when it gets large?

Where did you get your info on how to care for a sulcata? Most of the care info out in the world is just plain wring.

 

[Tom]

We are prepared for a Sulcata, the amount of work my husband has put in and has planned is pretty amazing. He’s a contractor. Just feeling duped on my purchase, they were suggested to me by someone who had a seedless experience, apparently that’s not the norm….ugh!

Our goal is to get you all the correct care info so that you can make an informed decision about what species is right for you. Most people don't realize what is involved in caring for a tropical giant reptile until it is too late. We want you to have a positive tortoise keeping experience and a happy healthy tortoise. Cooped up in a shed or basement for several months a year does not accomplish that goal.