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Poll: Stop Breeding Sulcatas

N

nlmiller1

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Do you think there are too many Sulcatas produced and not enough qualified homes for them to go to? Please indicate yes/no and provide comments.:iagree:
 
Because the species will live 100+ years, grow to 100+lbs, and require accommodations that most average pet owners can or will not provide, I personally would say yes.

However, I think it is the responsibility of the breeder/seller to be the one to seek out those qualified homes.
 
Why would you ask that?[/QUOTE]

I ask because there seem to be more and more for sale every year. I also see more and more in rescue type situations every year. There are so many more appropriate types of tortoises to keep. It doesn't seem to make sense that so many are intentionally produced.
 
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I think that sulcatas are very much overproduced, if you read the classifieds some breeders are offering many100's of hatchlings

Our next national problem might be many released split scute sulcatas destroying the deserts of south Arizona.
 
Dyscophus antongilii said:
I was more questioning the OP's "true intentions" for starting the thread.
Click to expand...

I agree. Taken at face value, this poll makes some good points and I think that as a community it is important to discuss trends.
However, the OP has made a number of bizarre posts that operate as disruptions. I am wondering if this is a PETA person.
 
Lucille said:
I agree. Taken at face value, this poll makes some good points and I think that as a community it is important to discuss trends.
However, the OP has made a number of bizarre posts that operate as disruptions. I am wondering if this is a PETA person.
Click to expand...

:iagree:, :exactly:, and :yesnod:!! I would also like to add, he, might just be some "animal rights activist"....:shootfoot: :ack2:

Regarding, the OP's bizarre statements, I think he was just suggesting how to make some truly captive born and bred Tiliqua sp. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:!!!
 
Fat Frog said:
I think that sulcatas are very much overproduced, if you read the classifieds some breeders are offering many100's of hatchlings

Our next national problem might be many released split scute sulcatas destroying the deserts of south Arizona.
Click to expand...

That's a good point Ed. I'm surprised that released/escaped Sulcatas haven't become a problem yet given how easily they breed.
 
Well, people are not that smart, and you cannot fix that. I have sold thousands of sulcata. Did they all go to good homes? Of course not. But i have had many people email me picture of my babies, years later, and bragging how they are part of the family.

Life isnt perfect

I think there are too many human babies being produced and not enough good homes for them.
 
nlmiller1 said:
That's a good point Ed. I'm surprised that released/escaped Sulcatas haven't become a problem yet given how easily they breed.
Click to expand...

Are we being serious that sulcatas being released in the next national problem? I thought that was a joke.... They likely wouldn't survive a winter here in Las Vegas without artificial heat (I have had them die when they were down in a burrow and I couldn't get them out to heat them). Other than the Southernmost parts of the country, it is much too cold. Even in a burrow, if the daytime high isn't in the 70s, it would be too cold for them in the winter.
 
TylerStewart said:
Are we being serious that sulcatas being released in the next national problem? I thought that was a joke.... They likely wouldn't survive a winter here in Las Vegas without artificial heat (I have had them die when they were down in a burrow and I couldn't get them out to heat them). Other than the Southernmost parts of the country, it is much too cold. Even in a burrow, if the daytime high isn't in the 70s, it would be too cold for them in the winter.
Click to expand...

The "next national problem" is a bit too dramatic. I'm aware of several large breeders in AZ who allow them to burrow all through the winter using just additional hay. I'm sure the same could be said for breeders in FL.

We've digressed a bit, Tyler. What are your thoughts on tens of thousands of Sulcatas bred each year?
 
evergladesboy said:
Well, people are not that smart, and you cannot fix that. I have sold thousands of sulcata. Did they all go to good homes? Of course not. But i have had many people email me picture of my babies, years later, and bragging how they are part of the family.

Life isnt perfect

I think there are too many human babies being produced and not enough good homes for them.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Michael for your input. I've made multiple requests to the following Sulcata Breeders; Ballands Tortoise Ranch, Arizona Sulcata, 5150cham, and SuperMalATA seeking their thoughts on this issue. So far, they seem to be avoiding. :shrug01:
 
I was asked to voice my opinion on this matter, and i want to disclose thats all it is. I’m not telling people what they can and can’t do. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer for this specific topic. There are opinions that can be made, which will be poo poo’d by someone with an opposite opinion. For large breeders that are successful, it’s a business. Breeding is a way of life and a way of feeding your family, it’s tough to not have that species available. To call a spade a spade, it’s a good source of income and if someone denies that, then they don’t rely on sulcatas to pay a mortgage, etc. I consider breeding and selling sulcatas similar to giving someone advice when they ask for it. Once you give a person some advice, it’s their responsibility to act on it. If they choose not to, that is on them. I don’t like to assume, but in this situation, i would like to assume that sulcata breeders make buyers aware of how big these animals get, and the commitment that goes into raising them. I know i do. At the same time, sulcata buyers need to take responsibility in educating themselves. Releasing them into the wild is a complete different subject that shouldn’t be ignored. The only positive thing about it, is a sulcata tortoise isn’t going to eat a child at Disney world. If anything, it would continue to add a smile to an innocent persons face, that doesn’t know the ramifications of releasing CB anything into the wild. Sulcatas are cute, pretty, hardy as hatchlings, and prolific breeders as adults, which makes them a staple in most tortoise breeders availability list. In my neutral emotional opinion, and i want to make this very clear that it’s just an opinion, not a forceful suggestion, one way to prevent this is to not breed or sell sulcatas. Look at Chris Leone, he is a successful tortoise breeder, refuses to breed sulcatas. Now he might offer some here and there if he received in a trade or something, but to my knowledge, he refuses to breed them due to how readily available they are in the market he competes in. They next question you might ask is “why does tortstork offer them as eggs?” The answer is because i think sulcatas are amazing animals. I make sure customers are well educated. If a sulcata inquiry goes past just finding out how much they are, then i make sure the buyer is well educated in what their future beholds. After that, it’s their responsibility to care for that tortoise for life. I’m also pretty understanding that life throws curve balls. S*it happens, plans change, and sometimes you have to move in a different direction. Releasing them into the wild isn’t the right action to take, so maybe something positive can come out of this thread. Maybe someone here owns a sulcata rehoming farm and can share how they are helping change these gorgeous animal’s lives.
 
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