Micro-chipping..

[Tommy123]

Right, when I got my tortoise, I was advised, by the seller, to get micro-chipped at a year old, and said it was essential. I've been reading recently, and people say you shouldn't until 800 grams, and it's not essential. My tortoise is 18months and about 80g, can I get him micro-chipped? Sorry if this is silly, but I'm abit confused

[red foot marg]

what rubbish you have been told, first of you only need to chip if its being used commercially, IE breeding, selling, and then only if the tortoise is over 100 mm's, to chip a tortoise at one year old is ridiculous at that age there muscles aren't developed enough to carry the chip and dangerous.

[GreenSlider]

read something online about a chap who bought an african spurred..and when he noticed all the ticks stuck to its inner thigh..the guy told him that was the babies

[aliceinsunderland]

The guy i got my tort off said that i can send the papers off right now and get it put in my name if i want...but it will cost me..otherwise just leave it in his name etc..

he said that when the plastron reaches a 100mm length it has to be microchiped by law anyway which will incurr a fee...

so unless im planning on selling it before it reaches that length then there is no point paying two fees... just pay one when when it gets to that size and then it will go in my name anyway..

im assuming that's right ??

[aliceinsunderland]

Its what it says on the cert..but 100mm isnt that big...

confused now ...

[aliceinsunderland]

Actually just re-read the cert....

it says :

20. This certificate is only valid for the holder in box 1 (the breeder). This certificate is valid until the tortoise reaches a plastron length of 100mm, when the specimen must be microchipped and a new certicate applied for.

So am I supposed to do it..or him or what ?

[GreenSlider]

you have the tort...you paid the cash..you dont intend to hand it on....I'd let him take a hike.....or is it an imported animal..if that makes a difference..very irritating stuff though....

[aliceinsunderland]

No...he wasnt asking me to pay anything..he just gave me the defra cert and said that i dont have to do anything if i dont want.... but the tort is in his name etc..

if i want to put it in my name then i will have to send it off and pay a fee...but i dont have to...etc


its the bit at the end that says that in the cert that the have to be chipped by law when they reach 100mm...thats the bit im confused about ??

I would like the tort to be registered to me in case anything happened.
If the tort got stolen or something...although that will probably never happen, i have no proof of ownership. just a cert stating a tort in someone elses name...

If you get my drift...

[annsimpson1]

The cert that comes with a hatchling is what I'd call his baby cert, it has the name of the breeder rather than you on it and is valid untill he is 100mm. If you wish to change the name or get the tort an adult cert then you will need to get him chipped as Defra require a copy of the chip papers with the application, however updating the cert is up to you as although the baby one says valid untill 100mm as far as I know its valid for the torts life. You can't sell either the tort or its offspring without a certificate, baby or adult one, 100mm is far to small to have the tort chipped its far better to wait untill he has a nice big back leg as the chip is the same as is used on dogs, about the size of a grain of rice. The chip does though offer some chance of getting the tort back should he go missing so is worth thinking about, but to have the cert put into your need he has to be chipped if you aren't worried about your name being on his papers then its up to you but keep the baby cert safe. It now costs £25 for a cert from Defra and chipping varies I paid £30 each for my adults and had them done because I wish to breed and needed papers in my name. Can I just add that there is no time limit on when you get your tort chipped/papers updated so you can wait untill its and adult if you wish, my Tootsie was in her 30's when she came to me and I had her done, as long as you still have the hatchling cert or history in my case as Tootsie was wc back in the 70's, if you just want it chipped for security reasons then obviously you don't need anything other than the tort.

[purplepixie]

You dont have to have any tortoise microchipped. Its choice.
You do have to have them microchipped if you want to breed from them, as you need the chip numbers to register the hatchlings and get their paperwork. This is the only time I get my adults chipped as I have no choice.
Its not weight that decides when you get a tortoise chipped its size. They say 100grm or four inchs. Which in my opinion is far too small to put a micro chip into them.