Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I didn't think very much about taking home two $4 tiny turtles for my kids from Chinatown in NYC (Mott Street - old lady selling them). I didn't know there were any potential health risks associated with them until my daughter's day care center refused to even let her bring her turtle in to show the other kids.

I apologize for my ignorance ahead of time. I thought there was nothing to it and no risk or even work involved.

They are about 1.5 inches, seem to have soft shells and one is dark green and the other is lighter.

1. What are they- - what do I need to know about them in terms of care/feeding and also are they a salmonella risk to my 3.5 year old and 6 year old?

2. Should I just get rid of them? I'm not willing to risk my kids' health on some tiny turtles - as mean as that sounds - but my kids come way first.

They are in the typical (roughly) six by 12 inch plastic tanks, an inch of water - they have the food pellets.

How often do I need to change the water? Are they better off together or separated? I think (I am not sure) the lady said one is male, the other female?

HELP! appreciated and thanked for in advance...
I can post photos if needed.
Sincerely
Matthew

First of all don't panic! LOL!! Everyone gets all crazy with this Salmonella thing. Yes it is something you must be conscious of. Your children need to wash their hands with soap and water after they handle to turtle.

The bigger concern is the proper care of these animals. Do you want to invest in UVB basking lights, a fish tank heater, filtration, the various foods for proper health of the animals?

Also -- do you live in NYC? I know you did not realize this and certainly would not be informed by the lady who was just trying to make a few bucks off of you and probably knows less about these turtles than you do-- but they get VERY large and need a big tank if they are to be kept successfully indoors.

Can you look down the road and see this in your future? IF not then are you willing to spend all this money $$ to set them up in a smaller environment until they get to big and the GIVE (yes Give them away because large sliders are everywhere and will not be able to sell them to recoup any monetary loss) them to someone who can care for them properly?

If you think you want to try to do this. Email me privately and I will be happy to give you all the details. If not email me anyway -- I work with Turtlehomes (a rescue organization) and may be able to help you find a suitable home for your animals.

Sincere thanks to this writer - for all others - I have replied to him in private as he requested. I hope that I have not overwhelmed him with my many questions.

Would you consider calling the NYC health department to have them investigate?

For New York City specifically, contact the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Central Complaints Unit as well as the precinct police. The sale of baby turtles less than four inches in carapace length is a violation of section 2.58 (a) of the NYC Health Code in addition to violating federal regulations. The health department's Central Complaints Unit can be reached at 1-877-692-3647. The police precinct in Chinatown can be reached at 212-334-0711.

If the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the police won't respond to the situation, consider contacting the Mayor's Action Center at 212-788-9600 and the City Council at 212-788-7100 to alert them to the problem.

The sale of these hatchlings, besides being inhumane, IS a health issue when consumers are not given the proper care and safety information. Thousands of those babies are sold every year to tourists from all states and countries, and they create a large unwanted pet population as they grow (despite the fact that most die within the first year from lack of basic care).

Katrina

I'm not sure how useful that would be - days later and being 50 miles to the North of the area. What are the chances that she is still selling them and what could I actually do even if she were? I'm all for helping, but is this a practicle suggestion?

Just got back from PetsMart. It is seeming VERY expensive to do even a basic setup in a 20 gallon tank.
Tank $25
Screen 13
Heater 20
Filter 25
Lighting 30-50
Rocks or whatever substrate - or a basking shelf or some sort 20-30

And I'm probably forgetting something...

I can't afford this, as I thought I might not be able to... I have been unemployed for a year now.

So now I have a terrible dilemma - because I feel responsible but can't afford to care for them properly.

What can I do? I don't think they will survive much longer - and I'm not sure what I can do about it.

Go to www.anapsid.org and see if there is a rescue or herp society in your area that can take them.

Also, visit garage sales and thrift stores for tanks and supplies, as well as any newspaper that does pet supply adds.

A Rubbermaid container works as well as an aquarium, just doesn't look as nice. A ten gallon screen will fit on the end of a 20-30 gallon Rubbermaid.

Katrina

I got all the gear and set up the little guys (who can tell) and I'm good to go. Thank you so much to all who offered advice, support and humor. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.