DEFRA approve MINI microchip

[Varanaman]

EXCITING NEWS FOR REPTILE OWNERS

DEFRA have just approved the use of the latest microchipping technology.

The new MINI microchip has been designed by Nonatec and is approximately
10% of the size of the "regular" microchip used by vets in this country.

You can download details and a picture from
http://www.nonatec.net/pdf/fiche_Transpondeur2.pdf

We are in the process of getting a sample unit to show to our vet and bring to the Doncaster Reptile Meetings on 25th & 26th June.

The chip is inside a #18 needle that needs no stitching of the skin
afterwards - but maybe a drop of skin adhesive.

It has 2 parts:
A ROM [read only memory] with the chip serial # burnt into it
&
A RAM in which a vet can detail such things as owner's name, address,
phone # etc. This RAM [random access memory] can be re-written if you
sell the animal or wish to have other data added [e.g. you change your
address].
EuroRep, a reptile wholesaler already imports baby tortoises pre-chipped for resale and states:

"Hermans tortoises, NO NEED TO APPLY FOR MORE PAPERWORK. (Please read Below)

In the past regular micro chips were considered too big to be inserted in a tortoise below 10cm. These tortoises have a new tiny micro chip inserted. This means they can have specimen specific paperwork. This paperwork accompanies the tortoise throughout its life with no requirement to ever apply or pay for any new paperwork.
There is one issue that does need to be noted. The microchips are
numbered and this number corresponds to the number on the paperwork. The correct certificate must be married to the correct tortoise. If only one tortoise is purchased this of course will not be a problem. If more than one is ordered we will ensure the tortoise and the paperwork can be identified. Please ensure these identification marks are maintained. If they do get mixed it will be a simple matter of having the chips read, we have a chip reader as do all vets."
Richard Butler & Kim Le Breuilly
Education Committee Members
British Herpetological Society.

[Alan1]

ok maybe if the chip stays where it's supposed to and doesn't migrate to somewhere it shouldn't be at

[NATURALIS]

this isn't good news for breeders, its just another cost , together with rising energy costs and new a10 costs expected to be over £100 , plus now the cost of chipping each hatchling before sale, uk breeding has been killed off

[Habranthus]

How much is the A10 certificate now? I thought it was £25. £100+ is a big hike!

[Alan1]

Originally Posted by Habranthus

How much is the A10 certificate now? I thought it was £25. £100+ is a big hike!

I think it is still £25 just now. I think if you have a few and get them done at the same time it is £25 but if you get one done today and one done tomorrow for example then it would be £50

unless it has gone up recently, never heard owt on that score though

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Varanaman

EXCITING NEWS FOR REPTILE OWNERS

DEFRA have just approved the use of the latest microchipping technology.

The new MINI microchip has been designed by Nonatec and is approximately
10% of the size of the "regular" microchip used by vets in this country.

You can download details and a picture from
http://www.nonatec.net/pdf/fiche_Transpondeur2.pdf

We are in the process of getting a sample unit to show to our vet and bring to the Doncaster Reptile Meetings on 25th & 26th June.

The chip is inside a #18 needle that needs no stitching of the skin
afterwards - but maybe a drop of skin adhesive.

It has 2 parts:
A ROM [read only memory] with the chip serial # burnt into it
&
A RAM in which a vet can detail such things as owner's name, address,
phone # etc. This RAM [random access memory] can be re-written if you
sell the animal or wish to have other data added [e.g. you change your
address].
EuroRep, a reptile wholesaler already imports baby tortoises pre-chipped for resale and states:

"Hermans tortoises, NO NEED TO APPLY FOR MORE PAPERWORK. (Please read Below)

In the past regular micro chips were considered too big to be inserted in a tortoise below 10cm. These tortoises have a new tiny micro chip inserted. This means they can have specimen specific paperwork. This paperwork accompanies the tortoise throughout its life with no requirement to ever apply or pay for any new paperwork.
There is one issue that does need to be noted. The microchips are
numbered and this number corresponds to the number on the paperwork. The correct certificate must be married to the correct tortoise. If only one tortoise is purchased this of course will not be a problem. If more than one is ordered we will ensure the tortoise and the paperwork can be identified. Please ensure these identification marks are maintained. If they do get mixed it will be a simple matter of having the chips read, we have a chip reader as do all vets."
Richard Butler & Kim Le Breuilly
Education Committee Members
British Herpetological Society.

Very interesting development. The units have I think been on trial an DWT, for some time and have been used on a wide variety of Reptiles and Amphibians.
If the concerns that many of us has had about the potential consequences of the historically used ID chips can be allayed by these new "Nanotech" devices, this must be a good thing.
Look forward to learning more about them at Doncaster!

[NATURALIS]

Originally Posted by Habranthus

How much is the A10 certificate now? I thought it was £25. £100+ is a big hike!

well talking to people in the know there talking about £129 or there abouts for a10's, the reason for this is at the moment there only covering a 5th of the cost to produce them by charging £25 , so do the sum's ?

[helsbells]

Hi if they bring this in and put up the cost of the a10's then the prices of tortoises will go up then we will see a lot more thefts of them

[NATURALIS]

Originally Posted by helsbells

Hi if they bring this in and put up the cost of the a10's then the prices of tortoises will go up then we will see a lot more thefts of them

Not quite, because the cost of imports will come down, they will pay one fee to bring in thousands and buy chips at next to nothing, we as small breeders will not be able to conpeat with them, don't forget once we start using these nano chips all hatchlings have to be chipped before sale putting the uk bred tortoise price through the roof, :ie if you only breed say ten per year , say 5 hermanns and 5 iberas they will cost you around £250 in just a10 fee's then you have the cost of chipping them before sale at say £20 ea , so thats another £200 . so before you start they will have cost you £45 ea before you sell them. The way i see it is you would not even break even .

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by red foot marg

Not quite, because the cost of imports will come down, they will pay one fee to bring in thousands and buy chips at next to nothing, we as small breeders will not be able to conpeat with them, don't forget once we start using these nano chips all hatchlings have to be chipped before sale putting the uk bred tortoise price through the roof, :ie if you only breed say ten per year , say 5 hermanns and 5 iberas they will cost you around £250 in just a10 fee's then you have the cost of chipping them before sale at say £20 ea , so thats another £200 . so before you start they will have cost you £45 ea before you sell them. The way i see it is you would not even break even .

Whilst I do not doubt your logic, and the maths in this thread. Have you got any ideas as to how to resolve this conundrum?