Hello From the Arizona Desert
 

Good Morning! I'm new to this Forum and wanted to introduce myself.

My name is Kitty (yes, real first name) and I live in Arizona. I've had various species of tortoises and turtles for most of my life. After many years of raising my personal ones as pets, I have moved forward to include rescuing tortoises in need, and have now advanced toward breeding tortoises.

My personal favorites are the Testudo graeca, which are the species I want to specialize in with my breeding program. I've been acquiring hatchlings that I am raising to adulthood and will then breed. I am also working on my own website that will provide information and pictures of each Greek subspecies so I can teach others and provide the guidance needed to take the best care.

Here is a handful of my graeca hatchlings!
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
(pictured: Testudo graeca ibera - Northern Turkey, Testudo graeca ibera - Ankara Turkey, Testudo graeca terrestris -Mesopotamian/Jordan, and Testudo graeca marokkensis).

This morning I am receiving Testudo graeca cyrenaica hatchlings.

I will be adding five more subspecies next season (Testudo graeca graeca - Moorish, Testudo graeca terrestris - Lebanon, Testudo graeca terrestris - Bodenheimer's Floweri/Gaza, Testudo graeca soussensis, and Testudo graeca nabeulensis). Still a few more after all this to "complete the collection."

All of my unrelated Greek hatchlings come from pure bloodlines, from adults that were imported directly from the site of natural origin and then raised and bred in the United States. Most of my stock is from Chris Leone at Garden State Tortoise.

I am also breeding the Russian Tortoise - my effort to provide more captive-breds and reduce the market need for "wild caught."

I look forward to getting to know other members, learning from them, and also sharing what I have learned from my own experiences and research.

Thank you!

Kitty
"Sweet Greek Torts"

Hi Kitty and welcome. Oh my word, I think you will have quite a few fans on here with your collection of graeca’s. it would be lovely to see more pictures of your different sub species.

Welcome Kitty!
What a wonderful introduction and I think you can certainly share your experience as it sounds like you have a lot. I know there’s a few of us who are fans of Chris Leone too.
As Suze says, it’ll be lovely to admire further photos. :-)

Thank you! I will work on a post to share more photos of my graeca hatchlings. May have to do it by subspecies, which may be best anyway to share an exclusive view of each and provide plenty of good photos.

Here are my Testudo graeca terrestris (Mesopotamian/Jordan) hatchlings.

*You will have to excuse my use of actual names. Because I desire to be as knowledgeable and skilled with these subspecies, I feel it's important to be as accurate about them as possible, including the use of their official names.

"Apollo" hatched on June 15, 2018, and was not incubated to encourage a specific gender, so I'm just hoping it turns out male.

"Theia" hatched July 16, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

I will be getting a second female next season. Raising my groups as "1.2 trio" for now.

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Here are my Testudo graeca ibera (Asia Minor/Northern Turkey) hatchlings.

"Orion" hatched on July 9, 2018, and was incubated to encourage male gender.

"Selene" hatched July 13, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

"Demeter" hatched July 28, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Here are my Testudo graeca ibera (Asia Minor/Ankara Turkey) hatchlings. This is a rare subspecies, directly from the heart of Ankara, Turkey.

"Hermes" hatched on August 9, 2018, and was incubated to encourage male gender.

"Athena" hatched August 15, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

"Kleio" hatched August 16, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Here are my Testudo graeca marokkensis (Northern Moroccan) hatchlings.

"Pandora" hatched June 17, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

"Rhea" hatched June 23, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

I am getting an incubated male next season.

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Here are my Testudo graeca cyrenaica (Libyan) hatchlings.

"Leda" hatched June 23, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

"Achelois" hatched July 1, 2018, and was incubated to encourage female gender.

I am getting an incubated male next season.

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Hi Kitty
Thank you for a great photo. So sweet!

Hi kitty, welcome. Look forward to seeing your hatching & watching them grow x

Beautiful babies really looking forward to see how they develop.

I think I must have posted my message just after the first photo, but now I have seen the rest.

Wonderful photographs. Just spent a lovely time on a Sunday looking at all your torts.
Thank you for taking the time to post so many pictures.

I am confused, (not hard!) No pictures when I posted? They are stunning! I particularly liked the Libyans, so dark.

Thank you! I'll be getting one more next month, and incubated male to go with the two incubated females. :wink:

And I may have posted my pictures at the same time as your first response, but they were pending approval so are now visible.

I’m only just seeing them too Lynn.

Thanks for sharing such stunning pictures, lovely to see the difference between them.

Great photos and lovely torts Kitty!

Chris at Garden State Tortoise has inspired a few people over this side of the Atlantic too.

Please keep us updated.

Here's a sampling of what I feed my Testudo graeca hatchlings. I believe that variety is key, and it gives them something different to enjoy each day.

They get plain, moistened Mazuri.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Spineless prickly pear cactus. I dice it up so it's easier for them to eat. Sometimes I also mix it with Mazuri.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Spineless prickly pear cactus blended with optunia fruit, and a hibiscus flower on the side.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Natural weeds, leaves, and flowers, grown from seed.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Organic "store bought" greens. I mix a batch consisting of escarole, endive, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, and a little radicchio.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Optinia fruit chunks, with a hibiscus flower.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/ac6...900,h:660,a:cc

Wow. No wonder they are all in the feeding dish! Lucky torts.

They are terrific. lovely write up introduction. What a life they must have and so tiny.
Are you Kitty M ? I think I may have caught up on your torts experiences elsewhere.
San Diego? ..... lovely photos , thank you CB

Thank you! And yes...I would be Kitty M! I'm also on the TFO forum, Facebook, and Instagram, so you likely have seen me on one of those. I live in Tucson, Arizona.

oh yes sorry it's on your avatar ! keep the info and pictures coming won't you. it's so interesting to hear experiences in other countries. I think I use to watch a chap on u tube who had a rescue in America too, loved reptiles but had lots of tortoises and I learnt lots. I will have to catch up on that also. I miss Steve Irwin because he was a real champion on raising the profile and plights of animals and reptiles, CB

Now that the Forum is back up, I thought I would share some updates and photos. All the hatchlings are doing great, and growing very smoothly. Some have hit the 50-gram mark, mostly the Iberas that grow bigger and faster anyway.

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b6&oe=5C78BF3C

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b3&oe=5C6C1C42

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4f&oe=5CAFB149

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...bf&oe=5C732280

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ec&oe=5CACD168

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...c9&oe=5C6FE6D5

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...63&oe=5C6BBCB9

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...5e&oe=5C6CB3DC

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...13&oe=5C72637E

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...90&oe=5C796B2A

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e0&oe=5C7089AB

Lovely, they are growing so well!

what lovely images, such nice little tortoises too. Keep them coming won't you - always lovely to see them this time of year as so many of us miss ours when away ! CB

Hatched a beautiful, dark Testudo graeca marokkensis this weekend. I have never seen a darker Moroccan Greek before, so wanted to share.
Produced by Tortstork.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...79&oe=5D3D9653

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

Lovely pictures but very big

Yeah, sorry about that. I don't know why it does that. I'm using my mobile phone and have to copy the image link from another source and paste it into the code of my post. When I preview my post before submitting, the photo looks fine. Then I submit and it ends up huge.

There's another tortoise forum I am on, and their format allows me to upload my photos directly, so they appear smaller in the post.

Gorgeous Tortoise. Can you give us a bit of background on Ma and Pa and how they all live over your way. CB

Fantastic baby!

Mom and dad were imported from northern Morocco to the United States. The breeder that I got this baby from is Tortstork (www.tortstork.com) and I'd actually bought it as an "Insta-Hatch" egg, so the egg was shipped to me and hatched 2 days later at my place. I have a picture of the parents and they aren't as dark, so this baby is quite unique and I'm looking forward to see how its coloring develops at it grows.