Tortoise hatching season for me began today. I have 3 radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) in various stages of pipping and emerging from their temporary egg home. I have been producing these beautiful, endangered tortoises endemic to Madagascar every year since 2006. These 3 represent the 187th, 188th and 189th baby radiateds that I have produced. There is only 1 other private breeder in the U.S. that has produced more of this species than me. I feel fortunate to be around these creatures and every one that hatches is a little miracle in my opinion and I still get excited as if was my first one. Well, maybe not the VERY first one (lol), but the second one and on for sure! Radiated tortoises are my favorite species of tortoise for their size, beauty, personality and hardiness. They are like a human fingerprint in that no 2 radiated tortoises have the same pattern of yellow striations that form sun bursting patterns against the black background of their high domed shell. Id like to thank my Mom and Dad Jack Heidecker for loaning me a shit ton of money to acquire the initial breeding pairs (both have since been paid back- lol) and my good friend and mentor Dr. Bill Zovickian who helped me early on select and acquire certain bloodlines over 10 years ago that to this day are sought after from tortoise keepers all over the world. Bill also was the first person, including zoos, to produce a radiated tortoise in the United States. That historic event happened on Valentines Day in 1973.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 03:14:22 +0000
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