Looking for a tortoise

[Ian55]

HI
I am looking for a tortoise to be a classroom pet in the winter and a spoiled familt member in the summer. I have found person who will ship to me but is from the states and I know this could be sketchy in many ways.
Does anyone here have one to sell that I could purchase? I am interested in most species so through any at me the worst i can do is not take the offer.
thanks for your help
ian

[FrogO_Oeyes]

Originally Posted by Ian55

HI
I have found person who will ship to me but is from the states and I know this could be sketchy in many ways.

Impossible, actually.

All turtles require CFIA import permits, and they're not likely to issue them for pet animals unless you are moving to Canada with an animal you already own.

All tortoises are CITES-controlled as well, and it's unlikely the person you contacted will be able to get the CITES export permit which is required for both export AND import.

[MarkB]

Have you tried looking through the classifieds on reptiles Canada forum? Chances are you could find something you are looking for on there.

[joeysgreen]

Les from Snakesnax usually has tortoises ready to go. They are rather common at petstores as well; Jim can probably get you any species you are interested in.

I'm a little wary about people requesting tortoises without offering any insight on what species they are looking for. Many common species of torts make excellent pets. Some of the common species, and one of the cheapest, the sulcata, do not make good pets for 99% of the people that get them. I just want you to be sure you have researched and know what you are getting in to. Tortoises live as long as people do so it's not a decision to be made lightly.

Ian

[miketleopardgeckos]

Petland has a red footed tortoise...

[GONESNAKEE]

Originally Posted by miketleopardgeckos

Petland has a red footed tortoise...

Might want to elaborate a bit more on that as there are multiple PLs in the city alone, Mark

[miketleopardgeckos]

crowfoot sorry -_-

[Ian55]

Thank you for the info I livein very rural alberta so staying on top of the pet stores is tough. I also have a bit of a distaste for buying any animals from petstores. I just don't trust the sources they use and the care they give.

As for species i wou Love to have a sulcatta ( a 150 pd tortoise would be amazing) but until i move to my acerage that is not a good choice for me. I was thinking more along the lines of a russian or something that size for now and maybe more down the road.

I am aware of the life span of these animals and have been researching them for a few months now.
Anyhow keep the suggestions/info coming I am following up on each and every one that I can.

[joeysgreen]

Les usually has russians and similiar species. He's in Rockyford and Snakesnax on the forums. Myself and Chris (Spankenstyne) have groups going but are really sucking at the whole producing offspring part

Acreages are awesome and defiantely recommended for sulcatas. However they arn't the be-all-end-all. You have to keep them indoors for 8-10 months of the year in Alberta. That means a very open, very sturdy tortoiseproof basement.

[Herpetologic]

and to add to Ian's warning on sulcattas, it's like having a little bulldozer in the house. Tortoises are powerful animals, sulcattas more so and they love to dig through walls.