mobile - desktop |
Available Now at RodentPro.com! |
News & Events:
|
Posted by Terry on June 09, 2000 at 12:57:36:
In Reply to: Doing my part to stop pet stores... posted by Tim on June 09, 2000 at 12:17:32:
Tim,
sounds like you had bad luck with your leopards.
Some WC tortoises come with a lot of problems, parasites and other diseases, it's always a huge concern.
However CB tortoises can also have these problems, unless you buy directly from a very reputable breeder.
I've had more problems with my CB tortoises than my WC, but that's just my experience.
When you buy a WC tortoise you are taking several risks. The tortoise could be a carrier of a virus without showing symptoms themselves. There could be other health concerns that aren't obvious, you're right it is a risk.
I will never put somebody down for buying WC, as I believe that the tortoises will continue to be collected until it becomes ilegal and the law is enforced.
As in the case of Russian torts, there is a huge demand for these tortoises. Unfortunately their cheap price is largely resonsible for that.
Many are bought as cheap pets for the kids.
Large chain stores bring in huge shipments and sell them cheaply, even having a sale on them reduced from $70 - $ 20. Selling them on sale, like last years fashions that they can't get rid of.
Of couse many of the tortoises are sick and stressed, shoved in sacks, crammed in crates.
Thirsty, hungry and having to endure temperature extremes during packing and shipping.
The WC debate is a hard one, many educated keepers refuse to buy WC tortoises in the belief that it will stop them from being collected and sold.
I'm sure many of these same keepers have WC tortoises themselves. Maybe not recent imports, but WC just the same. LTC ( long term captive) was wild at some time.
Yet for every informed keeper who won't buy WC there are plenty of kids, newbies and people wanting a cute/cheap pet who will and have no idea about the trade.
I just bought two, I don't think I *saved* them so to speak. But I will breed them which in the future will do it's part to help.
I refuse to breed my sulcatas, as there are way too many being bred. How many people who bought cute little sulcata hatchlings this year will still have them in say 10 years do you think?
I think you just have to follow your heart and do what feels right to you. Personaly I put much blame on the large Pet Store Chains.
The tortoises aren't their bread and butter, but they are a novelty and bring customers into their stores.
So every year they import them in huge numbers, and every year they sell.
As I said before, I truely don't believe that anything can be done until the collecting and selling of the tortoises is banned.
Many species of Tortoise are now being bred in captivity, and that will take the strain off the wild populations. But ask yourself this, where did the breeding stock come from?
Answer, the wild.
No attack here, just my thought on this subject.
Terry.
Subject:
Comments:
Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
AprilFirstBioEngineering | GunHobbyist.com | GunShowGuide.com | GunShows.mobi | GunBusinessGuide.com | club kingsnake | live stage magazine
|