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 an experienced tortoise keeper with many years knowledge to call upon. I also keep turtles and have a fascination with all Chelonians.

I have completed a diploma in tortoise husbandry and welfare 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) mainly but also have Spur Thighed (Testudo Graeca ibera), Horsfield (Testudo horsfieldi) & Leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis) All of whom have 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 a reptile specialist vet.

My main group are Herman's Tortoises,  who due to the successful arrangement for their care and welfare have produced several babies, which I incubate. However, I also have Horsfield (Russian) tortoises that are also established as a successful group. 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. These tortoises are nearly always carrying parasite infestation, 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. These poor creatures then become very sick and often die.

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 at least 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.

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 and neglect, but also when owners have no longer felt able to care for them. Some of these 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.