Tortoises for sale

No delivery without species-appropriate husbandry basis!

Please note that we only give our rare and protected Radiated Tortoises to people of legal age with suitable infrastructure. The presence of a species-appropriate indoor and outdoor enclosure with garden is essential for the Radiated Tortoise's welfare. It is not our philosophy to sell our Radiated Tortoises to unprepared amateurs, dubious pet dealers, strange resellers, prestige-addicted freaks or other people without any housing basis.

Due to the great demand and in order to set a sign of mutual transparency, we prefer interested parties who can first provide us with a picture proof of their husbandry situation (photo indoor enclosure / outdoor enclosure / turtle garden / lighting technique used etc?) before buying. We do not do this out of curiosity or to criticize other housing situations, but to make sure that our offspring have a good start in the new environment from the beginning and find a species-appropriate housing situation in the long run. Sent pictures and the correspondence about them will of course be treated absolutely confidentially.

If you do not have any experience with the housing of Radiated Tortoises, we recommend that you first inform yourself in detail about the necessary housing parameters. Beginners are also welcome to visit our breeding station in Muotathal, Canton Schwyz, Switzerland before the purchase to get an impression or overview of the necessary infrastructure. Viewing appointments by appointment only. We are also happy to answer questions about housing and breeding Astrochelys radiata in person.

Zoological and botanical gardens, museums, universities or other official and public institutions with an educational or research mission have the possibility to purchase specimens from our breeding at special conditions or to take them as a loan with a hiring contract. A delivery takes place only after detailed examination and consultation with the respective institution.

Before making a purchase inquiry, please also note the information available under the heading of Checklist listed points!

GE: ACHTUNG! Bitte beachten Sie, dass wir grundsätzlich keine Tiere in eine ungewisse oder suboptimale Haltungssituation abgeben. Wir behandeln vorbereitete und transparente Interessent*Innen, die mit ihrer Anfrage auch gleich ihre Haltungssituation dokumentieren, bevorzugt und prioritär. Oberflächliche Anfragen ohne Nachweis einer artgerechten Haltungsbasis können nicht berücksichtigt werden. Wir danken für ihr Verständnis!

GB: ATTENTION! Please note that as a matter of principle we do not hand over animals to an uncertain or suboptimal housing situation. We give preference and priority to prepared and transparent interested parties who also document their husbandry situation with their enquiry. Superficial enquiries without proof of a species-appropriate husbandry basis cannot be considered. We thank you for your understanding!

FR: ATTENTION! Veuillez noter qu'en principe, nous ne remettons pas d'animaux dans une situation d'élevage incertaine ou non optimal. Nous traitons en priorité les personnes intéressées qui sont préparées et transparencies et qui documentent leur situation d'élevage en même temps que leur demande. Les demandes superficielles sans preuve d'une base d'élevage adaptée à l'espèce ne peuvent pas être prises en compte. Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension !

IT: ATTENZIONE! Per principio non consegniamo gli animali a una situazione di alloggio incerta o non ottimale. Diamo la preferenza e la priorità a persone interessate preparate e trasparenti che documentino anche la loro situazione di allevamento con la loro richiesta. Le richieste superficiali senza la prova di una base di allevamento adeguata alla specie non possono essere prese in considerazione. Vi ringraziamo per la vostra comprensione!

ES: ATENCIÓN! Tenga en cuenta que, por principio, no entregamos animales a una situación de alojamiento incierta o subóptima. Damos preferencia y prioridad a los interesados preparados y transparentes que también documentan su situación de cría con su consulta. No se pueden considerar las consultas superficiales que no demuestren una base de cría apropiada para la especie. Le agradecemos su comprensión.

 

The following animals are available for sale

Once again for all serious interested parties: Under a species-appropriate housing situation we understand in the summer a sunny garden with a natural outdoor enclosure for tortoises, ideally with a cold frame or another suitable shelter and for the cold season a heated and brightly illuminated interior (eg conservatory, room with breeding pools, large terrariums, etc.). In any case, the technical equipment should include several HQI lamps similar to daylight and a humidifier. Sending a meaningful picture of your outdoor and indoor facility is usually absolutely sufficient. Before making an inquiry, please also read the section Checklist attentively through.

As we always like to take a lot of time for correspondence and evaluating good care situations, the administration sometimes takes a little longer to respond to all inquiries. For a quick overview, the current processing status of the respective copy is displayed for all to see as follows: Available / Currently several interested parties / Reserved (provisionally). You will also find an information button (extended toggles) below the images of the dispensing animals with additional descriptions, details and the price for the respective specimen.

We kindly ask all interested parties with inquiries outside of Switzerland (Europe and overseas) to first look at the category Import/Export to read through.

Contact, availability and price inquiries at info@radiata.ch. Meaningful picture material of the housing situation can be sent by e-mail, WhatsApp or SMS to +41 79 435 93 13 be sent.

Hatchlings 2024

Please note that in hatchlings under 1 1/2 years of age, the ray markings only become visible with the appearance of the first growth rings. On the basis of the baby camouflage drawing, no binding statement can yet be made about the expression of the definitive ray marking.

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Anny

Vintage:
2024

Weight:
38 gr

Size:
5.5 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear beginnings of definite ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 300.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Beeny

Vintage:
2024

Weight:
38 gr

Size:
5.5 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear beginnings of definite ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 300.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Dotty

Vintage:
2024

Weight:
22 gr

Size:
4.5 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear beginnings of definite ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 400.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • All available copies with vintage 2024

View of all copies with vintage 2024
Anny, Beeny, Dotty

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
Please note that in hatchlings under 1 1/2 years of age, the ray markings only become visible with the appearance of the first growth rings. On the basis of the baby camouflage drawing, no binding statement can yet be made about the expression of the definitive ray marking.

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Hatchlings 2022

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Lucy

Vintage:
2022

Weight:
42 gr

Size:
5.5 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear beginnings of definite ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 400.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Penny

Vintage:
2022

Weight:
102 gr

Size:
7.5 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear beginnings of definite ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 500.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Gerty

Vintage:
2022

Weight:
52 gr

Size:
6 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear beginnings of definite ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 500.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • All available copies with vintage 2022

View of all copies with vintage 2022
Lucy, Penny

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth and spherical specimens with clearly defined ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Hatchlings 2021

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Sissy

Vintage:
2021

Weight:
194 gr

Size:
9 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear expression of definitive ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 500.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Sury

Vintage:
2021

Weight:
236 gr

Size:
10 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear expression of definitive ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 500.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Veely

Vintage:
2021

Weight:
260 gr

Size:
10 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear expression of definitive ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 500.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Winny

Vintage:
2021

Weight:
284 gr

Size:
11 cm (stick size)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear expression of definitive ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 500.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Wendy

Vintage:
2021

Weight:
216 gr

Size:
10 cm (stick measure)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear expression of definitive ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 800.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • Available

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Specimen Name:
Yumy

Vintage:
2021

Weight:
336 gr

Size:
11 cm (stick size)

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth grown and spherical specimen with clear expression of definitive ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Price:
CHF. 600.- (incl. photo documentation within Switzerland / with CITES papers for export)

  • All available copies with 2021 vintage

View of all copies with 2021 vintage
Sissy, Sury, Veely, Winny, Wendy, Yumy

Gender:
On ? Female incubated +34°C

Description:
perfectly smooth and spherical specimens with clearly defined ray markings

Status acquisition:
January 2024

Single females and high yellows

On request. Only well-prepared interested parties with a picture proof of the husbandry situation will be considered!

High Yellow color variants are extremely rare and accordingly precious! Due to a chance equality and the limited availability one can apply for these trouvailles. We weigh the sale and the definite placement thoroughly and reserve the right to consider only absolutely perfect and professional keeping situations.

General information and terms and conditions

Please note the general information and terms and conditions before making a purchase request.

  • Inquiries / Reservations

    Requests and reservations can be accepted and considered only under the following conditions:

    1. proof of a species-appropriate husbandry situation
    Send us a view of your housing situation for Astrochelys radiata with your inquiry or reservation request (a view of the indoor and outdoor enclosure is sufficient). Reservation requests for uncertain, suboptimal or not species-appropriate housing situations are not possible! Do not send us pictures from the internet or zoos. We know most of the online publications about Astrochelys radiata and have developed strategies to check the authenticity of the picture material. If you comply with our terms and conditions, we will be happy to send you additional photographic material or views of the specimens you have requested.

    2. deposit
    After verification of the species-appropriate housing basis, you will receive by e-mail the deposit amount and our bank details. After receipt of payment, a reservation is valid for 2 months. If the animals are not picked up within this period and without consultation, the deposit will be retained and the animals will be offered for sale again. The circumstances and costs for missed deadlines will be borne exclusively by the buyer. Therefore, please inform us early about the desired pick-up date or reservation extensions!

    3. reservations and deposits from abroad
    Deposits for reservations from abroad are binding, because for the application of the CITES export permit writing and stamp fees are incurred, which must be paid in advance! Please inform us immediately when you have made the payment so that we can apply for the CITES export permit without delay to the Swiss authorities. A later change of the reservation is impossible, because the export and import permit must be applied for with a photo documentation of the animals at the appropriate authorities. Both export and import permits are usually limited in time. Start thinking about the export/import date early. Read also about the export/import procedure in the section Import/Export.

    We reserve the right to cancel the reservation without consultation in case of intentional deception or misuse.

    Due to the high demand, unpredictable availability and limited administration, usually no binding orders can be accepted on RADIATA.CH. However, if no desired specimens are available at the moment, interested parties who have a species-appropriate husbandry situation will be noted in advance and given priority when they become available again. Repeated e-mail inquiries from briefly offered, non-binding pseudo-interested parties and price checkers without an apparent husbandry basis will not be considered.

  • Handover / Transport

    Please note that for logistical reasons we can neither ship our Radiated Tortoises via animal shipping company nor deliver them otherwise. All offspring must be picked up personally by the buyer at our private breeding station in Muotathal, Canton Schwyz, Switzerland. Due to ethical considerations and animal welfare, we do not participate in any reptile fairs or animal shows with our Radiated Tortoises. We are not interested in buying, exchanging or brokering other species of tortoises or other reptiles.

    A shipment abroad must be organized by the buyer himself, paid in advance and carried out at his own responsibility. A transfer to professional and supervised contact points, e.g. animal station at Zurich airport, is possible after an expense allowance (travel expenses etc.). Swiss forwarding companies specialized in the export of exotics can be found here: Moving Animals, Global Pet Mover Switzerland

    The buyer is responsible for an animal-friendly transport (e.g. padded, heated transport box in the cold season etc.). No transport media and materials can be provided.

    For a species-appropriate animal transport is always the buyer responsible! Once sold, transported and placed animals cannot be replaced, exchanged or taken back at any time due to epidemic safety reasons.

  • Proof of origin

    All hatchlings to be sold on RADIATA.CH are verifiably Swiss offsprings. The parents are also offsprings from the European Union and were properly imported into Switzerland with all necessary documents. According to the Federal Veterinary Office, Swiss offsprings may be sold within Switzerland with a certificate of origin issued by the breeder and photo documentation, on which the original CITES import numbers of the parents are noted. An export application for Swiss offsprings abroad must be submitted in writing by the breeder to the Federal Veterinary Office in Bern with the original CITES information of the parent animals. We ask foreign interested parties to inform themselves about a CITES import permit at the respective national authorities before making a purchase request (see section Import/Export). The buyer is responsible for all import formalities and forwarding at customs.

  • General information about the animals for sale

    We specialize exclusively in the research, husbandry and breeding of Astrochelys radiata. All our efforts and resources are exclusively dedicated to this one species of tortoise. Our animals have a spacious and species-appropriate indoor and outdoor enclosure at their disposal, which are completely oriented and adapted to the natural needs of the animals. Our stock is immaculate, clean and absolutely free of pathogens.

    All offered animals are feed resistant, smooth grown and are in best health condition.

    Due to the acute female shortage in European populations and the generally high demand for females, all clutches are incubated at very high temperatures on females (+34°C).

    Please note that the ray markings on hatchlings do not become visible until after about 1 1/2 years, with the appearance of the first growth rings.

    Distribution of sexed, subadult or adult breeding pairs, single females or High Yellow specimens only on request with proof of husbandry.

    All offsprings and their housing situation may be visited without obligation and also without purchase interest in our private breeding station in Muotathal, Canton Schwyz, Switzerland. Viewing appointments by appointment only!

  • Levy to zoos

    Zoological and botanical gardens, museums, universities or other official and public institutions with an educational or research mission have the possibility to purchase specimens from our breeding at special conditions or to take them as a loan with a hiring contract. A delivery takes place only after detailed examination and consultation with the respective institution.

FAQ on the subject of relinquished animals

FAQ "...Your comments on the homepage gave the impression that you only sell animals to wealthy prospective buyers who have luxury facilities for tortoises. For fear of criticism, we are afraid that with our simpler husbandry situation, we will not be able to purchase a Radiated Tortoise from you. Do species-appropriate facilities for Radiated Tortoises always have to be connected with a high financial expenditure?"2022-04-12T12:06:05+02:00

It is neither our intention nor in our interest to criticize or badmouth other husbandry situations. From our many years of work and experience with the keeping and breeding of Astrochelys radiata, we simply point out to interested parties before the acquisition of absolutely necessary basic equipment and possible optimization potential to be able to keep Radiated Tortoises healthy in the long term. There is absolutely nothing elitist behind it. Also our own keeping situation could be extended and improved with the appropriate financial means. A constant questioning and optimizing of the own attitude situation always benefits the animals in the end. However, on this homepage under the heading Checklist The points listed below are to be understood as minimum requirements for the species-appropriate keeping of Astrochelys radiata in our latitudes. Our customers will confirm that all those who take our well-meant suggestions for improvement into account and implement them will always be able to purchase a Radiated Tortoise from us. However, animal welfare is not negotiable!

FAQ "...Is there any money to be made from breeding and selling rare Radiated Tortoises?"2022-04-12T12:07:13+02:00

It would be nice.... ;-). However, the reality in our latitudes is that keeping and breeding Radiated Tortoises on a private level already involves such a high financial outlay that not even the basic annual costs for electricity, repairs, illuminants, greenhouses, food, etc. can be covered by the sale of hatchlings. In order to make the breeding of tropical tortoises profitable, the keeping would have to have the dimension of a tightly organized and optimized tortoise farm with several dozens of breeding animals, which regularly lay hundreds of eggs, which could then all be hatched without great losses and the young animals sold. The sales to serious interested parties with species-appropriate husbandry situations is so small in this country, however, that in time they would have to serve international markets, as well as worldwide, unscrupulous animal traders or even markets for food or alternative medicine production.

Today, we see the motivation and legitimacy of private breeding programs in Europe primarily in the fact that through the legal sale of offspring, the natural stocks on Madagascar can be sustainably conserved in the future. The initial joy and euphoria about the first breeding successes gave way over time, however, to concerns about a long-term and species-appropriate housing of all young animals. Most of our offspring do not reach reproductive age due to poor husbandry conditions and many keepers lose interest in building up their own breeding group over time due to the slow change of generations and the great effort involved. From our point of view, keeping and breeding Radiated Tortoises primarily requires joy and interest in the matter as well as some idealism.

FAQ "...Do you also have adults, single females, and/or High Yellow animals for sale?"2022-07-04T10:50:32+02:00

In order to check the growth and sex distribution, we always randomly keep single, selected juveniles for breeding and observation in our breeding station. Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we cannot keep all these special holdback animals, so we also give away sexed or adult females and rare High Yellow specimens from time to time. It is a matter of the heart for us that only the best foster homes are considered for animals that we have raised with love and care for years and have built up a personal relationship with! Therefore, don't forget to document your housing concept and the future care situation with your request. With optimal care places it is easier for us to hand over our darlings reassured and with a good conscience. If there are no adult animals available at the moment, keepers who can offer the animals a species-appropriate housing situation will be noted and given priority when they become available again. It is not our philosophy to give away our animals into an uncertain or suboptimal care situation. An optimal, species-appropriate keeping always has priority over the price.

FAQ "...I am a big tortoise fan and have been keeping the following species for years: Geochelone carbonaria, Geochelone sulcata, Geochelone elegans, Geochelone paradalis, Indotestud elongata, Chersina angulata, Testudo hermanni boettgeri and Testudo marginata.... I really want to get some Radiated Tortoises now. Do they have any for sale?"2022-07-04T15:06:01+02:00

The enumeration of kept tortoise species is for us primarily no proof of a species-appropriate husbandry situation. On the contrary, often behind a large menagerie of tortoises always narrow space conditions, unhygienic enclosures and interspecies associations can be suspected. A tortoise husbandry is impressive when the quality of the husbandry situation for the individual species is more important than the quantity of animals kept. We always find keeping concepts that include generous, natural and species-appropriate space conditions with a professional and clean infrastructure for a few tortoises extremely inspiring and impressive!

FAQ "...Can you give me a discount on a purchase?"2022-04-11T11:56:15+02:00

In case of purchase of several young animals (at least 4 pieces) and the unsolicited, transparent proof of a perfect husbandry situation, we are happy to give a fair discount.

FAQ "...Do you sell Radiated Tortoises to beginners?"2022-04-11T11:19:05+02:00

Yes, we also sell Radiated Tortoises to serious, informed and well-prepared beginners who already have a species-appropriate indoor and natural outdoor facility (garden) before the purchase. We are also available after the purchase for questions about keeping and breeding.

FAQ "...I do not feel obligated as a paying customer to document my husbandry situation to you. You must already believe me that I am an experienced and long-time successful tortoise keeper. Don't you find disclosing and documenting private husbandry conditions a bit presumptuous and impertinent?"2022-07-04T11:03:43+02:00

Please respect the need to return our lovingly cared for and nurtured Radiated Tortoises to responsible and reputable hands!

For someone who confidently introduces himself to us with years of experience in keeping and breeding tortoises, it should usually be no problem to show a few impressions from his keeping. In embarrassing foreboding, dubious persons try us however again and again under pretexts to stall and to deceive, so that under no circumstances a picture proof of a species-appropriate husbandry must be presented. Also the often heard excuse that no photos of the facility and the outdoor enclosure are currently available, seems to us in today's digitalized society with SMS, WhatsApp and e-mail rather unlikely. Our experience shows and teaches us that our offspring are in the best hands with transparent, honest and serious buyers. We ourselves are always very open about our husbandry situation, so we believe that we can expect a certain transparency and honest communication from our customers in return.

FAQ "...Why are Radiated Tortoises from private breedings so expensive?"2022-04-11T11:58:04+02:00

The keeping and breeding of Astrochelys radiata in our latitudes is connected with a high, financial expenditure. The annual costs for electricity, technical equipment, high-quality greenhouses and year-round, species-appropriate food are considerable. Breeding often succeeds only in irregular intervals and the rearing needs a lot of time, patience and expertise. The regular documentation of the offspring and application for official papers with the authorities is also associated with fees and an administrative burden. Adult, reproductive, smooth, healthy and legal breeding pairs, single females or High Yellow specimens are still rare to buy and consumption on the international markets is steadily increasing. Supply and demand determine the price here as well. Also keep in mind that by buying a legal Swiss offspring at a fair price, you also conserve the natural stocks and contribute sustainably to the preservation and protection of the species.

2024-02-22T17:00:32+01:0004.06.2021|For Sale, General|
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