The Golden Rules of Buying
- Never pay in advance: Do not send money via bank transfer, PayPal Friends & Family, or Crypto before seeing the animal.
- Visit in person: Always view the tortoise at the seller's home. This ensures the animal exists and allows you to check its health.
- Check the Setup: Ask to see where the tortoise lives. A responsible seller will have a proper vivarium or table setup.
- Paperwork: If buying a Schedule A species (Hermann's, Spur-thighed, Marginated), you MUST be given the original yellow Article 10 certificate. No certificate = No sale.