My interest in tortoises goes back years. The first I ever bought cost the same price as 20 Mars bars, which in those days was 10 shillings. This was what I earned for a day delivering milk as a Saturday boy. I am interested to know how that equates to todays prices.

The range of tortoise prices I see for sale intrigues me. I know species and size affect price, but £65.00 for hatchling spur-thighed up to £400 for adults of same species. Most remarkable of all is how many are still for sale week after week. I wonder what the ACTUAL prices are...what are people actually paying? It might be that the high payers might not like to admit what they paid, similarly if anyone did post a rock bottom price they might be inundated with requests for details of their source! Perhaps I will never know...but would love to. Anyone throw any light on the issue of prices paid this season...or is it forever a mystery to me,,,will there ever be a "book price" to start at?     David nr York.

Hi David,  I have heard that the importers buy the med torts for as little a £5 each, they are sold to pet shops for around £30+ who then add on their cut, the imported torts often sell for around £160+ in pet shops/internet. As I say tho, that is only what I have heard, others may know more.

The rarer torts obviously fetch a lot more money, and are usually supplied to order, which in itself is a tragedy as they are more than likely to be plucked from the wild.

Breeders who sell their own bred babies for much less, usually around £100 but at least you know you are getting a UK bred tort that is healthy and usually comes with life long aftercare!! 

You see torts advertised all the time often at ridiculous prices, I dont know who would buy them, but as you say you see the same ads week after week.

Regards Vivienne