kingsnake.com
Darrell Senneke
Conservation of Asian Turtles
March 1, 2005

PHFlame: Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us tonight!

On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Darrell Senneke to our Seventh Annual Chat Week.

Darrell is director of the World Chelonian Trust and a member of the steering committee of the Turtle Surival Alliance. Over the last twenty years Darrell has successfully bred Testudo ibera, Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca, Clemmys insculpta, Terrapene carolina, Chrysemys picta, Indotestudo elongata, Geochelone denticulata and Geochelone pardalis. He will be discussing the conservation of Asian turtles, as well as general discussion on turtle and tortoise care.

Thank you so much for joining us, Darrell, and welcome!

turtledude03: ?

savannah_king: ?

Maliyum: ?

Senneke: Hello - happy to be here and help out however I can X

LeoGeoGuy: ?

PHFaust: Turtle your up first

turtledude03: what turtles do you currently keep and have you ever kept common snappers?

PHFlame: Thank you for coming to the special guest chat this evening. If you have a question for Darrell, please type ? in the room and you will be added to the queue. You WILL be called on in the order of ? received. Please do not type openly in the chat room. Thanks again for coming.

Laws-Yes: ?

rockybalboa_nr: ?

jake_nr: ?

Senneke: Its A long Long list -- Yes I have kept common snappers, my focus is mostly on tortoises (8 species) but I have kept and do keep a few aquatics as well

turtledude03: cool

turtledude03: what would you recommend as a good setup for an adult common?

PHLiz: ?

Senneke: to list them all would take too long - if you go to the WCT web site most of the care sheets I authored are of species I have kept

turtledude03: ok

turtledude03: thanks

PHFlame: savyking, you're next

savannah_king: wuts ur fav turt and tort

Senneke: A wondertub for starters to medium size -- after that a livestock trough

turtledude03: ok

turtledude03: was plannin on gettin a 750 gallon stock tank later on

Senneke: My favorite tortoise is and of the various Greek tortoises, my fav turtle is the Reeves

Senneke: X

PHFlame: mali, you're up

Maliyum: Have you ever worked with asian box turtles? I had one but sadly she passed on. I currently have a Red Eared Slider, she is a charm! Do you have any tips on taming them to get use to humans, she always dives off into the water when i get near!

Senneke: The best way to tame a turtle is just to give it time, eventually it will associate you with food and while there is varience it will become reletivly tame

Senneke: Yes I have worked with ambos

Senneke: X

PHFaust: that totally sucks.... will pass on to folks on the lists....

Maliyum: wow awesome

PHFlame: leogeo, you're up

LeoGeoGuy: Hey darrel, what is your view point on evolution in general?

Senneke: Evolution -- in what way? it would be inappropriate for me to get into a discussion in this venue on Darwinism and so on, it is my opinion that species adapt over time to fill niches and by doing so develop into new types

Geomyda: ?

Senneke: X

PHFaust: Laws_yes your turn

Laws-Yes: have scientist figure out what the cause of the mysterious lumps forming on sea turtles is from?

Senneke: pleaseexcuse thetypos -- we can have speed or correct spelling but sadly not both X

Senneke: I belive the currecnt thinking is this is of viral origin - possibly triggered by polution

Laws-Yes: ok thanks

Senneke: there are a number of web site that explore this

Senneke: X

PHFaust: Rockybalboa

PHFlame: ?

rockybalboa_nr: What are the main problems facing the turtles that you are protecting,and is it true that if i owned snakes it would be a bad idea too bring in a tortoise because they spread a disease that can kill my snakes?what is a good starter tortoise for me too get?thanks,its great that you came too chat tonight.

PHLdyPayne: ?

Senneke: Thanks Rocky -- a lot to cover The main problems facing turtles and tortoises the world over are loss of habitat, food markets, ecological unbalance (racoons skunks) and to amuch lesser extent the pet market \

Senneke: There can be transference of disease between reptiles but if they do not come into contact you should be ok

Senneke: The beststarter in my mind is a redfoot

rockybalboa_nr: Thanks alot.

PHFaust: Liz your next

PHLiz: I've seriously considered making the commitment to sulcutta tort, and wondered what kind of growth to expect as I know they become giants, but realistically speaking how old are they before they get to be 30+ lbs? Also what plans do you have for your torts as many of the species out there will live longer than a middle aged human? Will you bequeath them to family, friends, etc?

Senneke: Great questions Liz -- I have seen 30 pound sulcatas that were only 10 years old. To a large extent they grow MUCH faster in captivity than in the wild.

Midask9: ?

Senneke: My tortoises -- LOL well in my case I can not just givethem to a family member

Senneke: not without having my grave trashed in resonse because there is so many

Senneke: in my case my family has instruxtions to contact a friend with the same obsession and to have him place them

Senneke: X

PHFaust: Jake Your up

jake_nr: what is the rarest turtle and tortoise you own? what was the first turtle that you owned?

Senneke: hmmmmmmmmmm rarest? we tend not to talk of those things but in my case it is a Testudo werneri

PHFaust: What is the common name on that one darrell?

Senneke: the first turtle I ever owned was a red ear slider I imagine when I was about 7 the first tortoise was a berlanders when I was 12 - it cost 5 dollars at woolworths

Senneke: It is the new specis split off the egyptians

jake_nr: awesome thanks

PHFaust: Flame your turn

PHFlame: Are russian or greek tortoises good beginner tortoises? can they be kept inside? Do they need much room?

Senneke: Again I apologize for the typos -- Russians and greeks can both be excellent tortoises for beginners

PHFlame: how hard is it to provide an adequate diet for them?

Senneke: if they are aqured as captive born specimens especially. Otherwise thetime of adaptation can be pretty tough

reptileman17: ?

Senneke: both can be kept indoors but both like having time poutdoors if itr is possible

Senneke: X

PHFlame: ?

Senneke: A varied diet is essential -- see our care sheets at http://www.chelonia.org

PHFaust: Geo, your turn

PHFlame: thanks

Geomyda: Hi Darrell. I was encouraged to see a number of Pyxis planacauda CH babies for sale of Kingsnake. Do you think we are finally turning the corner on this tough species. I have some eggs right now going through the zoo Atlanta protocol

PHFaust: Geomyda your turn....

Senneke: this has gotta be Jim -- Hi - I think we are really starting to understand the incubation

Senneke: but can we really EVER have turned the corner till we get to F2?

Midask9: sure! she will be done with mine in a week or two, leave the porch light on...

Senneke: I am strongly encouraged by the work being donewith this horrible threatened species

Senneke: X

PHFaust: Bring in the Payne, your next

PHLdyPayne: What is the greatest danger to Asian turtles? Is it mostly habitate destruction or predation by humans?

PHFaust: Darrell in case you missed Ldy payne, this was her question
What is the greatest danger to Asian turtles? Is it mostly habitate destruction or predation by humans?

antonio_fulc_nr: Do Asians keep Radiayed tortoises as pets ? or only use them fro food? Thanks Darrell

PHFaust: OK Darrell, just in case you need it again

Senneke: There is a huge pet market in asia in fact a number of the rarer species are very sought after there as they are here -- especially in Japan. The greater threat is the liver theives

Senneke: The greatest threat to the Asian turtles in order is the food markets followed by habitat distruction

PHLdyPayne: thanks for the info

Senneke: Thefood markets take the adults out ofthe population the very animals needed most

PHFaust: Reptile Man Your Turn

Senneke: next?

chez_nr: ?

reptileman17: Hello I have a common snapping turtle that I acquired 3 months ago from a friend. He is 8 inches long and I was wondering when you think it would be ready to breed with a female?

Senneke: maturity in rturtles is size related - at 8 inches he may be large enough already to breed 0-0 is this the head to tail or the shell length? if it is shell length definetly he can probably breed

Senneke: X

PHFaust: Midas your turn

reptileman17: head to tail

Midask9: I work in an animal shelter and we occasionally see injured (hit by car) turtles that are brought in. Are there any must have's you would suggest for a turtle first aid kit? Most of what we have seen has been cracked shells.

Midask9: (and we do have a vet on staff)

Senneke: Midas - I would keep sterile bandages -- maby some nusk9in spray, provadone iodine and a number for a vet, minor cracks can heal if you just keep it clean but severe ones will need to be patched with detal acrylic or fiberglass or plaster

Senneke: X

Midask9: ty

PHFaust: Chez your question

chez_nr: i have a triunguis but i was wondering about their soaking times and how long their head can be under water because my boxie has been spending hours in his pool lately most of the time under water

chez_nr: sry faust im a slow typer

chez_nr: is this behavior from an injury or illness?

PHFaust: no prob

Senneke: Make certain the water is shallow enough that it can easily get it s head out of the water, I have triunguis that spend nearly hours every day in the bog section of their environment

Midask9: ?

Senneke: it is not unusual - particularly in a low humidity house forthem to want to soak a lot

mist_stoock_nr: ?

rockybalboa_nr: ?

chez_nr: he pokes his head out of the water and it is not to deep i was just wondering if it might be from an injury because b4 most time was under his heat lamp

Senneke: It may be dehydrated -- you might want your vet to chgeck for worms or entamebea

chez_nr: okay thx

chez_nr: im done*

PHFaust: Mist stoock

mist_stoock_nr: I get snapper eggs yearly and I am wondering what the best time to let them go?

Senneke: Assming that you can release them in an eare that they are comming from, and that the hatchlings have had no contact with other species, I would release them any time up to the beginning of september, after that they may not have time to properly set themselves up for hibernation

Senneke: X

mist_stoock_nr: ok

PHFaust: Midas

Midask9: I have not kept turtles before, but would like to have a set-up that is land/water in which I could keep a turtle with other non-turtle inhabitants. Any suggestions?

Senneke: I would generally not suggest mixing species like that -- Lizards can scratch tortoises eyes by perching on them and turtles eat newts and frogs - if you are going to try this think BIG

chez_nr: ?

Senneke: I would suggest a stock tank with some sort of aviary cage type thing over it

Senneke: X

PHFaust: rocky your turn

Midask9: ty, picturing a lizard perched on a tort now, very amusing

rockybalboa_nr: What is the best cage set up for a radiated tortoise,cage size,substrate,temps,etc.Would you suggest me too get a radiated tortoise as a beginner.thanks again.

Senneke: good question --

Senneke: I would not suggest a radiata for a beginner, mostly because of cost -- they are not all that difficult to care for. For a hatchling I would suggest a tortoise table 2 foot by 3 foot or so

rockybalboa_nr: Thanks alot.

rockybalboa_nr: what is the cost

Senneke: cost -- could be aywere up to 1200 dollars or more

rockybalboa_nr: thanks

PHFaust: Isnt there permits as well Darrell?

Senneke: http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Gradiatacare.htm

Senneke: the above is the care sheet

rockybalboa_nr: where would you suggest me to get a tortoise in canada?

Senneke: to own radiata -- you need a captive bred wldlife permit which requires mentors or record and the goverment approval because they are an engdangered species

PHFaust: Alrighty Chez go ahead with your question

Senneke: in Canada you bst access is a herp society to tie yourself in with that community

Senneke: X

chez_nr: i have an oval turtle garden outside withc is 8x10 feet with just my triunguis in it now since i adopt turtles from people who cannot take care of them i was wondering if i could pur a redfooted tortoise in with my triunguis..because i received an offer to take in a redfooted tort

chez_nr: sorry for straying from "asian"turtles btw...

Senneke: I would not suggest mixing the species -- though the diet and so on is similar. The redfoot could have disease that is asymptomatic that might kill the three toe and vise versa -- do what I do -- build another pen grin

Senneke: that is ok

Senneke: I am finewith these questions

Senneke: X

PHFlame: Darrell, on behalf of all of us at kingsnake.com, thank you so much for being our guest tonight! Thank you to all who joined us tonight as well. Tomorrow night at 9 PM Eastern we'll be welcoming Jessi Clark-White of AfricanServal.com, discussing "Why Exotic Pets Should Not Be Banned," and at 10 PM Eastern, Bill Love on Herp Photography!

For information on all our Chat Week events, please visit our schedule at http://www.kingsnake.com/HerpChat7.html