Jacqui's Captive Bred Tortoises

Who am I? 

Hi and welcome to my Captive Bred Tortoise web site. In order to appreciate the validity of what I am about to tell you, let me first tell you a little about myself.

I am a wife and mother to 3 teenage boys. i work full time as well as caring for my tortoises and cats. I am a through and through animal lover, vegetarian and have a passion for conservation.

I am an experienced tortoise keeper with many years knowledge to call upon and have an interest in all Chelonians.

I have completed a diploma in tortoise husbandry and welfare, passing with distinction and am an active member of many tortoise welfare and conservation groups including the Tortoise Trust and Tortoise Protection Group. I have been into schools, pet shops, reptile meets and family homes, as well as my internet advice on forums etc,  to provide guidance on the correct tortoise husbandry.

At my home, I  keep Herman's (Testudo hermanni boettgeri or Eastern Herman's), Horsfield (Testudo horsfieldi) & Leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis) All of whom have large (6 foot region) heated, enclosed, secure, appropriate accommodation with garden access and 24 hour CCTV surveillance, so I can observe their behaviours. I provide controlled hibernation for those that do so, (this subject is listed for a separate guidance booklet) and I work closely with 2 reptile specialist vet.

My main group are Herman's Tortoises,  who due to the successful arrangement for their care and welfare have laid several eggs, which I incubate. However, I also have Horsfield (Russian) tortoises that are also established as a successful group and have recently started laying. I am very interested in tortoise conservation and promoting captive breeding, to reduce the necessity for farmed and wild caught baby tortoises to be imported into the UK from Germany, Slovenia etc. There is sufficient research to underpin the knowledge that such imported tortoises suffer dreadfully at the hands of the farmers and dealers often spending days piled on top of each other in crates, with no food and water, enduring journeys of days on end only to be distributed to the pet trade and sold to anyone who walks in, regardless of thier knowledge. These tortoises are nearly always carrying parasic infestations, pathogenic disease and often Chelonian Herpes Virus which is of major concern to hobbyists such as myself. CHV often shows no symptoms unless the tortoise becomes stressed, (such as moving to another home) or its immune system is compromised, it is incurable and highly infectious, resulting in whole groups of tortoises having to be euthanuised or dying a cruel and painful death.

I have therefore decided to offer my captive bred offspring to carefully selected new keepers in the hope that with education and guidance the word will spread and the importation of endangered baby tortoises, from their native habitat will cease due to lack of demand, a very ambitious feat I know, but my methods are ethical and I can sleep at night knowing I have done my bit! I continue to study and learn about my tortoises and how to improve my attempts to resemble their native habitat so that they can live a happy and fulfilled life. I update my website regulalry so you can access current and accurate information & guidance. I also liaise with other specialists and share research knowledge. I am an active and well respected member of reputable tortoise forums and often offer advice to new keepers.

Over the course of my journey I have also taken in several rescue and re homed tortoises. Some with significant illness and injury as a  result of poor husbandry, cruelty and neglect, but also when owners have no longer felt able to care for them. i have also had soem airport seized tortoises placed with me by the tortoise trust and they will remain with me for the rest of thier lives. Some of my less fortunate tortoises live solitary lives and will not be able to join a group due to their lack of ability to compete for food, or my decision that I would not want them to breed. However, the result of nursing them back to health and seeing them forage around in their enclosure living as natural a life as possible brings its own rewards.

I hope that you enjoy the guidance I have put together and the photos of my own tortoises and will approach me for advice, assistance and possibly tortoises in the future. I do not pretend to know everything, but am willing to share what I have learned to try and improve conditions in the UK for tortoises.

Regards,

Jacqui.