About Turtletary?

Since I strive to create a "sanctuary" for turtles & tortoises.. and my first name is Terry.. hence the name Turtletary. (boring huh?)

I remember the "painted" turtles at the Woolworth's dime store in Springfield, OH. That was 1951.. they cost 29 cents. Fed them "turtle food" from a cardboard box.. dried flies and ant eggs! I don't know whether their demise was from the diet or the "palmtree" painted (?) on their backs (it came off like a decal).. they didn't live long!

Several years and a few moves later we are now in TN.. where I met some folks visiting from Florida. I went to visit them there.. asked around.. met a few "importers".. and bought a trio of 6" leopard tortoises. That was in early '96 and paid $100 for each of them.. had never paid $100 for a tortoise before.. I was hooked! Went back several times.. met a few more importers.. then in early '98 I bought a trio of 4" leopards that grew up to be "very blond".. they were beautiful.. paid a total of $270 for them.. never see that again!! Later that year I bought 3 Colombian redfoot tortoise hatchlings from the same place.. they grew up to become my female breeders.. paid $250 for them.. (the good old daze!).

In the summer of 1999.. while 'vacationing' at Edisto Island, SC.. I met some folks and eventually traded the '96 leopards for.. 1 male and 4 female adult Spotted turtles.. (this was when it was still legal)! By late summer of '00 those 4 females had laid 22 eggs which resulted in 12 baby spotted turtles from SC.. all females! (DUH!!)

That's how it all began.. I have the very first spotted turtle that I ever hatched. She is bigger than my best "producing" female.. hopefully she and a few of her siblings (?) will make babies in '06!

Of course watching those hatchling redfoots' grow up and lay their first eggs was better than your first kiss.. (well you know)!! A 4, 5 or even 6 MONTH incubation period is common! See Update in Redfoot Tortoises link!

My purpose is to make available.. the healthiest and prettiest Captive Bred-Born Chelonians anywhere.

Making you happy.. will fulfill that purpose.. thank you for your time.

My Navigator is my Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST.. without HIM I am nothing!
BC I was my own navigator.. which led to a "dead-end" street.

So I am taking this opportunity to let everyone know that HE is my navigator.
HE directs me in all I do (I'm learning daily to listen).
Were it not for HIM this business would be nothing.
HE gives me the thoughts needed to take care of these creatures..
that HE has assigned to me.. they are HIS!

" Commit your works to the Lord..
And your thoughts will be established.".. Proverbs 16:3 NKJV

-Thank You LORD that I don't have to (should not) think on my own.. any more!

When you are ready to give up your ways that have led YOU to a 'dead-end'..
and accept HIM as your Lord and Saviour.. let me know.

When this blesses you, sign my "Guestbook"..or email me direct - turtletary@turtletary.com