Old Wild Caught Tortoises - Page 2

HermanniChris23 · 05-12-2011, 11:58 PM

I love this idea.

Some of you on here might recognize this tortoise pictured. She is an adult Western Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni). I am uncertain of her exact age but she is OLD. She was collected in Puglia, Italy, over 2 decades ago by George Ullmann of Turtle World USA. George has since called it quits with the hobby and moved back to Germany from the USA. He had collected much of his tortoise collection himself a long time ago, and just before he left the country, I was lucky enough to get her and some other animals. She was an adult and did not look any different than this when he brought her over, and has not grown whatsoever. She has become my absolute favorite above all turtles/tortoises in my collection and is an incredible animal. She's a whopping 6" and weighs 1,053 grams (large for a Puglian hermanni) and it's clear that she has age on her. She has been my best producer as far as western hermann's go and this is out of upwards of 50 animals that I have had in and out of my care over the last 7 years. These tortoises are known for very small clutches of eggs with poor fertility but this animal never fails to produce 4 clutches per year with 3 to 4 eggs each and fertility has been close to 100%.

She also has a name, which is a big deal for me since I do not normally name tortoises. Her name is Bumblebee and if I were to take a guess at her age, I'd have to say at least 45-50 years old.

Here is a photo of her and you can see more of her on my website: www.gardenstatetortoise.com

She was also featured in the January 2011 issue of Reptiles Magazine.

She's old but still going very strong and just a few weeks ago another of her babies hatched.

Easter Bunny · 06-12-2011, 02:45 PM

AWW, great story and she is gorgeous xx

burnt toast · 06-12-2011, 02:57 PM

Bumblebee is gorgesous.

One thing they all seem to have in common are the most beautiful smooth shells, hard to compete with mother nature!

Shelled Lady · 07-12-2011, 12:09 AM

She is lovely. It amazes me how they manage to produce such large eggs for such a small animal. I have a soft spot for old Hermanns. My oldest Hermanns is 52 years old and I have had her all that time. That's her on the Avatar. All our old ones have smooth shells, we never had heat lamps for them, so they grew slowly!

JoesMum · 07-12-2011, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shelled Lady

She is lovely. It amazes me how they manage to produce such large eggs for such a small animal. I have a soft spot for old Hermanns. My oldest Hermanns is 52 years old and I have had her all that time. That's her on the Avatar. All our old ones have smooth shells, we never had heat lamps for them, so they grew slowly!

I put Joe's smooth shell down to the incredible detail put into his diet when he was small. He was put in the garden and ate it along with lettuce top-ups!

I'm more careful about what I give him now, but out in the garden it's still his choice of eat, trample or ignore.

**Alan1** · 07-12-2011, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoesMum

I put Joe's smooth shell down to the incredible detail put into his diet when he was small. He was put in the garden and ate it along with lettuce top-ups!

I'm more careful about what I give him now, but out in the garden it's still his choice of eat, trample or ignore.

wasn't it already an adult with a smooth shell if it was wild caught?

Levi · 07-12-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caledonia

wasn't it already an adult with a smooth shell if it was wild caught?

My Dotty was wild caught in 1978, she was about 10cm, so not an adult.

Like Joe she also has had very good growth, no UV lamps or Viv's/Tort Tables, D3 etc

I'm not sure if being in her late thirties is old enough for her to be classed as a "Old Wild Caught" tortoise.
Or would this just be for "Adult" WC torts anyway ?

**Alan1** · 07-12-2011, 09:27 AM

how did you know it was wild caught though?

**Alan1** · 07-12-2011, 09:33 AM

I think some Horsfields could still be wild caught these days but is it simply easier/cheaper to farm them and sell them or catch them and sell them

Levi · 07-12-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caledonia

how did you know it was wild caught though?

She was in a large crate full of torts, about four deep and she was covered in ticks. The pet shop owner removed the ticks with a cigarette.

There was no need to farm torts back then.

05-12-2011, 11:58 PM	#11
HermanniChris23 Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 584	I love this idea. Some of you on here might recognize this tortoise pictured. She is an adult Western Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni). I am uncertain of her exact age but she is OLD. She was collected in Puglia, Italy, over 2 decades ago by George Ullmann of Turtle World USA. George has since called it quits with the hobby and moved back to Germany from the USA. He had collected much of his tortoise collection himself a long time ago, and just before he left the country, I was lucky enough to get her and some other animals. She was an adult and did not look any different than this when he brought her over, and has not grown whatsoever. She has become my absolute favorite above all turtles/tortoises in my collection and is an incredible animal. She's a whopping 6" and weighs 1,053 grams (large for a Puglian hermanni) and it's clear that she has age on her. She has been my best producer as far as western hermann's go and this is out of upwards of 50 animals that I have had in and out of my care over the last 7 years. These tortoises are known for very small clutches of eggs with poor fertility but this animal never fails to produce 4 clutches per year with 3 to 4 eggs each and fertility has been close to 100%. She also has a name, which is a big deal for me since I do not normally name tortoises. Her name is Bumblebee and if I were to take a guess at her age, I'd have to say at least 45-50 years old. Here is a photo of her and you can see more of her on my website: www.gardenstatetortoise.com She was also featured in the January 2011 issue of Reptiles Magazine. She's old but still going very strong and just a few weeks ago another of her babies hatched. __________________ VISIT MY SITES: WWW.HERMANNIHAVEN.COM WWW.GARDENSTATETORTOISE.COM

06-12-2011, 02:45 PM	#12
Easter Bunny Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 5,337	AWW, great story and she is gorgeous xx __________________ Lynne x

06-12-2011, 02:57 PM	#13
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,246	Bumblebee is gorgesous. One thing they all seem to have in common are the most beautiful smooth shells, hard to compete with mother nature!

07-12-2011, 12:09 AM	#14
Shelled Lady Member Juvenile Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South East Posts: 845	She is lovely. It amazes me how they manage to produce such large eggs for such a small animal. I have a soft spot for old Hermanns. My oldest Hermanns is 52 years old and I have had her all that time. That's her on the Avatar. All our old ones have smooth shells, we never had heat lamps for them, so they grew slowly!

07-12-2011, 09:27 AM	#18
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	how did you know it was wild caught though?

07-12-2011, 09:33 AM	#19
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	I think some Horsfields could still be wild caught these days but is it simply easier/cheaper to farm them and sell them or catch them and sell them

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