health checks for tortoises Glos and B'Ham

[justmeandmytortoise]

For those new to fingerprinting - John Hayward is the National Exotic Pets Theft Register Coordinator and Diana Scott is the Fingerprint Officer for the BCG. Both know a lot about fingerprinting. Both confirm that anyone using fingerprinting should take photographs every year.

[Box girl]

If you look at the link below to the BCG's own website they do not mention this. This method was used very successfully at Secret World to identify terrapins and they were not rephotographed each year, and terrapins shed scutes each year. What you look for are the scute line markings and the edge of the shell as well as the colour. The lines DO NOT change they are set once the tort is born.
Neither Diana Scott nor John Hayward have ever taken any photos we see many hundreds of torts each year and check the photo against the animal and have found that a new photo is not needed, over many years. Our experience exceeds that of the BCG by quite a bit.

If you look at this photo you can clearly see the lines which make the tort unique.



http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org....erprinting.htm

Originally Posted by justmeandmytortoise

For those new to fingerprinting - John Hayward is the National Exotic Pets Theft Register Coordinator and Diana Scott is the Fingerprint Officer for the BCG. Both know a lot about fingerprinting. Both confirm that anyone using fingerprinting should take photographs every year.

[Henry-flash]

Plastron markings change with age. I will have to find the photos, but I have an Ibera I raised from a hatchling who is now 3 years old. When he hatched he had an almost black plastron. Now it is just a few specks of black. I can't see how fingerprinting is entirely reliable.

[justmeandmytortoise]

Originally Posted by Box girl

If you look at the link below to the BCG's own website they do not mention this. This method was used very successfully at Secret World to identify terrapins and they were not rephotographed each year, and terrapins shed scutes each year. What you look for are the scute line markings and the edge of the shell as well as the colour. The lines DO NOT change they are set once the tort is born.
Neither Diana Scott nor John Hayward have ever taken any photos we see many hundreds of torts each year and check the photo against the animal and have found that a new photo is not needed, over many years. Our experience exceeds that of the BCG by quite a bit.

If you look at this photo you can clearly see the lines which make the tort unique.



http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org....erprinting.htm

It can be published anywhere, and it is irrelevant who takes/has not taken the photos.

The advice to take a photo every year comes direct from the people who write the article and to John himself whose job it is to use fingerprinting with the police as a means to identify a tortoise. John Hayward's own personal and professional advice to anyone using fingerprinting is to take a photo every year; this is what he personally requests and advises people to do.

[Box girl]

I agree the black markings can change but not the lines of the scutes these are unique and do not change. As you say with a hatchling to an adult the black markings will chnge. In this case after say 5 years a new photo may be required, not the case with adults. All I can say is that after doing this for around 10 years now we have checked many tortoises over that time with ther original photo and not had to rephoto.
One does look at other data as well such as sex species and staight line length which except for hatchlings does not change significantly.
John Hayward organises the theft register he and Diana have NEVER taken any photos themselves or checked them agianst an animal so how would they know. WE HAVE!

Originally Posted by Henry-flash

Plastron markings change with age. I will have to find the photos, but I have an Ibera I raised from a hatchling who is now 3 years old. When he hatched he had an almost black plastron. Now it is just a few specks of black. I can't see how fingerprinting is entirely reliable.

[joanna]

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...

I'm with Kelly one this one, I've never taken up the opportunity to go to meetings offering this service for the same reasons. Especially with hearing more and more cases of herpes virus.

How do you operate to ensure nothing is past on? Where are the torts kept until seen? I've seen some groups suggest keeping out of sight in your car until checked, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that, any dishonest person could have a field day. Yet if you allow all the torts in the hall / venue it must be difficult also.

[Box girl]

This is the advice we give to people when they arrive. All torts are kept in the bos they are brought in and the below advice given and the hygiene precautions stated given.
It is your choice however but no worse than going to your GP.
We know we have saved the lives of many torts over the years.
[QUOTE=Box girl;365021]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.

QUOTE]

[Box girl]

Hi all
Health Check went really well today we saw 226 tortoises. Most of whom were well and eating however we were able to pick up on a few who needed some TLC and a vet visit.
Thank you to those from this forum who came along and joined the sometimes very long queue!!
On the subject of fingerprinting we had a look at the photos taken 10 years ago and the tortoise seen in front of us to see if we were able to easily identify them-answer yes very easily. So we have confirmed that torts do not need to have a photo redone each year.

[Box girl]

I think both adult but not sure. I agree method works best with adults.

Originally Posted by stells

What age was the tortoise when pictured... and what age is it now... just out of curiousity....

[Box girl]

Health check this Sunday at Christ College, Arle Road, Cheltenham, Glos GL51 8LE all welcome.