Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In our local paper there was an ad for a 3 toe box turtle
and aquarium for sale. My curiosity got the best of me
so I called. This turtle was wild caught in MO and she has
only had it for 2 weeks. The poor thing is living in a 10
gallon aquarium. I feel so sorry for it but all of the box
turtles I have taken in where sick and ended up dying even
with vet care (they were all in bad health when I took them)
This has caused me to avoid them. I do own a yearly Redfoot
tortoise that was captive bred and I have had no problems with
it. I also own 4 aquatic turtles which I have had for years
with no problems.

Do I take it in hopes that it is healthy? I feel terrible
knowing that someone may purchase it and think this 10 gallon
is sufficient! Can you guys give me some advice?

Thanks

i would say yes take it in and give it a better home...i mean most people do not know how to care for a turtle properly and you would probably give it a good chance of living

You didn't mention where you were, and I wondered a couple of things:

Had the seller caught it locally just two weeks ago?
Was there any hope of returning it to the place where it was found?

If not, then you'd probably take much better care of it, if you couldn't return it to its home. Either way, get it out of the situation that its currently in, poor thing.

Stephanie

Wow keeping a box turle in a 10 gallon tank?! And parks ranch thought my enclosure was small! I would report them to animal cruelty.

Wow keeping a box turle in a 10 gallon tank?! And parks ranch thought my enclosure was small?! I would report them to animal cruelty.

we all want to help out animals in need, i know. but by taking this turtle, are you creating a demand for wild caught turtles? i mean, if this person thinks that there are people out there who will take WC turts off his/her hands, then what motivation is there to stop doing it(taking them out of the wild)? what do you guys think?
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"If we are good only because we fear punishment and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed."
-Albert Einstein

Get the turtle from the idiot, and i say that cause a full grown box will die in those conditions. Tell her that she is killing the poor turtle and take the turtle and beat her with a stick! just my thoughts