health checks for tortoises Glos and B'Ham

[Box girl]

It is where a photo is taken of the plastron of the tortoise. This is unique to the animal and can help identify the tort in the case of theft or loss. much cheaper and less invasive than microchipping and totally safe.

[Pussygalore]

but its only for identifying where as a chip can be scanned by a vet and will give the name and address of the owner, finger printing is NOT a replacement for chipping and will not be accepted by Defra when applying for the adult certificate. Sorry to butt in on your thread but I think its misleading to suggest that it can be used instead of chipping all photos would do is that would help you to id your tort thay can't be posted to all vets and all vets or at least they should have a scanner. If your tort is stolen it may at some point be taken to a vet and they should scan all new patients for chips, the police also use them so even if its a year or so after the tort has gone missing you might still get it back, plus I also think that the 'finger print' photo's have to be updated every year at least untill the tort has finished growing. It is also ilegal to 'buy' a chip and not insert it into the tort, ie send the chip papers to defra for the cert but the chip is never put into the tort plus the chip would be worthless as a means of getting your tort back.

[Box girl]

Woah!!!!!!!!!! what did I do to upset you then!!!
I was only replying to a question asked, it would be rude not to!!!
I have not said that DEFRA will accept fingerprinting.
I have not said don't chip I won't its is your choice if you do or not. Chipping is no good for smaller animals.
I have not said HERE to buy a chip and not insert into an animal I have never done this.
I have not said you can sell animals without a chip.
Photos do not need to be taken each year I have proof with over 2000 torts registered. photos can go to all vets as they are digitised. You have the eyes of every member of the public rather than relying on a scanner.
So please leave this thread to allow me to advertise my Health Checks if you wish to discuss chipping v fingerprinting start a new thread.

Thank you.

[Pussygalore]

photo's can be invaluable alongside chipping but I'm sorry to a new or novice owner your post could be taken as suggesting its an alternative which it isn't, and as for stating a new post I think we had the same arguement a while back and if I remember rightly then you suggested that you buy a chip and not have it inserted. Can I also add that I doubt many vets have the time or inclination to compare any new tort patients to a box of photographs where as they do have the time to check if a tort is chipped. Also like Stells has said the idea of taking your tort to meets may sound nice in principle but you also have to bear in mind the stress the tort may experience from the travelling especially if you're comming a fair distance plus theres always going to be risk of any disease or illness being caught by your tort. I'd attend a meeting but never risk taking any of mine along with me, as we always advocate qaurantine then surely common sense says you don't take your tort to places where there are others, if you do go then make sure that it doesn't come into contact with any surfaces where others have been without thorough cleaning and that you don't touch others or allow their owners to touch yours and it will stress your tort taking it somewhere strange.

[Box girl]

Surely we are all allowed our opinions. I also did not mention microchipping so why bring it up on my thread. I have been holding health checks for over 20 years and have helped save the lives of many torts in this time.
All owners are given a sheet when they arrive explaining what they should and should not do regarding the mixing of torts at an event like this. All helpers use disinfectant and alcohol gel to stop transference of bacteria from one animal to another. We either have a vet in attendance or a specialist reptile nurse. On the rare occasion we see a very ill animal they are immediately referred to a vet.

Why have a go at me when I was only answering a question.

And NO photos DO NOT need to be taken each year the scute lines do not change. I have photos which I will attempt to post not good with Photos to show a juvenile to adult of the same animal and 2 males from the same clutch very similar from the top unique underneath.
You cannot identify an animal without a scanner.
If people wish to chip then that is their choice. I offer another service for those who wish to take it up. Cheap and totally safe for these animals not being sold under Defra rules.
You only need to chip an animal if it is of a particular species and being sold. there are many other animals out there that do not need microchips to abide by the law. EG Box turtles are are too small to chip as a rule.
Are you suggesting that owners do not photgraph their tortoises for identifying torts this is daft to me. Most torts are not stolen they stray and can be found very close to the owners home a simple photo reunites quickly.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by stells

I agree Ann... plastrons change... during growth... is any damage occurs... shellrot.. etc etc... would rather opt for microchipping personally... also don't like the idea of taking my tortoises somewhere where a load of others are going to be that could be carrying anything and everything...

The BCG recommend Fingerprinting, and their association with John Hayward always promotes this. Indeed he mentioned it again at the recent symposium in Milton Keynes and refered to successful recovery operations using this form of ID.
Fingerprint Officer: Contact Diana Scott for information about Fingerprinting

[Box girl]

Of the 250 + species of tortoise and turtle only 5 require microchipping if they are over 10cm in length AND you wish to sell them. The UK is also the only country that requires these 5 species to be microchipped when selling them.
Lets get this in context.

[Pussygalore]

I have good photos of my torts in fact I'm always taking pictures of them but they had to be chipped in order for me to breed from them and get their certificates and I don't see how that could have been advoided. Plus you never know when or if you'll have to part with your torts possibly due to circumstances beyong your control and the majority wouldn't want to have to give them away. Theres been a lot of posts about defra's lisence requirements and there would seem to be no way of getting a certificate that enables the owner to sell the tort without having it chipped first unless its under the 10cm (or whatever the size) when you can get a sellers cert. I just think that new or novice owners need to understand that photos can only be used for id's and if at some point you do need to part with your tort there would then be a rush to get the chip papers and certificate enabling you to sell it if it hasn't already been done, whether we like the chipping or not you can only give the tort away without a cert in your name and the tort being chipped.

[egyptiandan64]

Deep breath every one

Actually it's 12 species of tortoise and 1 land turtle that need article 10's.

I will have to disagree about the fact you wouldn't have to take pictures of the plastron every year. As a tortoise is growing the plastron changes quite a bit, especially on Testudo graeca and T. hermanni. You might get away with every few years with other species though.

Danny

[Box girl]

Quoting this again to get this thread back on topic. All was said on another thread about fingerprinting and microchipping!!!!!!

Quote from Jayne 2942 I have been to one of the BCG pre hibernation weight check at cannon hill park Birmingham when i first had my tort they gave me lots of great advice,reall enjoyed visit.
__________________
HORSEFIELD TORT NAMED .........'H'
HORSEFIELD TORT NAMED .........BECKY
3 RABBITS ...HUMBUG ...FLUFFY ....SOOTY
TROPICAL FISH .......
POND FISH............

Originally Posted by Box girl

Bumping this up. Health check next week for anyone interested. Birmingham Nature Centre 10.00 till 4.00