I have five River Cooter Females and have never found a male here in NZ. As you are aware we have sold our commercial breeding business and I have retained a handful of Reptiles for my hobby. Breeding these has been a goal that I've been trying to achieve for many years. Last year we got the first step along the long road to breeding River Cooters and keeping another species alive in NZ. I incubated every egg laid that was fertile and incubated them at a variety of temps. Out of 40 eggs only four had growing embryos, and these hatched. Three female and one male. I have retained a pair to grow up and breed back with the females in five years time. Then eggs will be incubated for males and grown up and bred back Etc. Etc. until I hope one day there will be pure River Cooters available in NZ. By the time this project is complete I will be a very old man, but it keeps the passion of the Hobby alive!! As far as me selling them for huge money, well I can't keep everything that I breed, that's why I sold the commercial side, so I can give the family back the yard. I have no idea what they are worth, but you will never see a 50/50 cross made available after any breeding success this year as I'm under contractual obligations which prevents me from holding Red-eared Turtles.
I hope this clears things up for those that have often wondered what I'm up to and think that I'm money driven. Now the commercial breeding has gone, the hobby passion is back, and I'm liking that feeling.
Cheers
Chris
