Re: mixing of species theory...........

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Posted by wl on December 29, 2001 at 16:33:57:

In Reply to: mixing of species theory........... posted by graham(UK) on December 29, 2001 at 12:52:24:

Though I agree with not mixing species due to problems with acquiring diseases for which one species has no natural immunities. There are two issues. Some zoos including Philadelphia mix species. The Phillie Zoo keeps aldabras with Galaps. These have lived together for decades. Maybe their reproduction rate of these torts is low, but they seem healthy. Even if this may be the exception, mixed species can survive.

Secondly, no one ever addresses the issue of mixing torts (even the same species) after we have kept them for decades in captivity. What if we maintain a collection of pardalis in England, another in Florida and a third colony in Mexico for two decades. Then, though all are still pardalis, these captives have been exposed (and become immune) to local parasites - viruses - etc.

Then someone purchases pardalis from each area and mixes them into their own colony of leopards. Is this much different than the current theory of not mixing species?

In the US desert torts and box turtles cannot be released back into the wild once in captivity for fear of spreading diseases back into the natural population and "killing off" the torts in the wild.

How do I now know even withot having torts for decades in captivity, if I purchase a Florida raised sulcata and one from Arizona that each of these have not acquired (and become immune to)local parasites, etc. that can infect and kill the tort from the other location when they are mixed together?

Basically, the same princiiple holds true for these torts of the same species (at least to some degree) than mixing torts of different species.

Any comments?

: I was wondering, from the post's below, if those of you who do mix different species are paying such a small amount $ for your tortoise/turtles, that you can well afford to "play russian ruelette" with them.
: My theory is that those of you who are paying say $15-$30 for a "boxie", $40 for Russians, less than �100 for most other species, can well afford to mix them.
: Unlike us here in the UK, where �150 ($225) is more like the normal everyday price of the boxies, with Russians, Sulcatas, Leopards coming in at around �200 ($300). The Testudo species are around �100-�150 cb. Spiders around �600+ each.

: Could this be why some of you are allowing the species to mix?
: There are many ppl who have lost entire collections from disease's, even after a quarrantine period, due to the fact that "bugs" which one specie can tollerate another specie can not.

: Just wondering......
: regards
: graham(UK)

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: Though I agree with not mixing species due to problems with acquiring diseases for which one species has no natural immunities. There are two issues. Some zoos including Philadelphia mix species. The Phillie Zoo keeps aldabras with Galaps. These have lived together for decades. Maybe their reproduction rate of these torts is low, but they seem healthy. Even if this may be the exception, mixed species can survive. : Secondly, no one ever addresses the issue of mixing torts (even the same species) after we have kept them for decades in captivity. What if we maintain a collection of pardalis in England, another in Florida and a third colony in Mexico for two decades. Then, though all are still pardalis, these captives have been exposed (and become immune) to local parasites - viruses - etc. : Then someone purchases pardalis from each area and mixes them into their own colony of leopards. Is this much different than the current theory of not mixing species? : In the US desert torts and box turtles cannot be released back into the wild once in captivity for fear of spreading diseases back into the natural population and "killing off" the torts in the wild. : How do I now know even withot having torts for decades in captivity, if I purchase a Florida raised sulcata and one from Arizona that each of these have not acquired (and become immune to)local parasites, etc. that can infect and kill the tort from the other location when they are mixed together? : Basically, the same princiiple holds true for these torts of the same species (at least to some degree) than mixing torts of different species. : Any comments? : : : I was wondering, from the post's below, if those of you who do mix different species are paying such a small amount $ for your tortoise/turtles, that you can well afford to "play russian ruelette" with them. : : My theory is that those of you who are paying say $15-$30 for a "boxie", $40 for Russians, less than �100 for most other species, can well afford to mix them. : : Unlike us here in the UK, where �150 ($225) is more like the normal everyday price of the boxies, with Russians, Sulcatas, Leopards coming in at around �200 ($300). The Testudo species are around �100-�150 cb. Spiders around �600+ each. : : Could this be why some of you are allowing the species to mix? : : There are many ppl who have lost entire collections from disease's, even after a quarrantine period, due to the fact that "bugs" which one specie can tollerate another specie can not. : : Just wondering...... : : regards : : graham(UK)

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