Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been reading on here about illegal RES and am pretty confused. Two years ago I decided that I'd really love to have turtles as pets. My father and I set out to find a good set-up and turtles for the best price. We went lots of places and they all had RES under 4 inches for sale. I live in Florida - is that illegal here - and if so, should I report it if I see it again?

http://www.tortoise.org/general/4inch.html

This is a good website to explain the FDA regulations.

I do wish more people would consider adoption before purchase. Rescues also get in the baby sliders on a fairly regular basis.

Katrina

Greetings,

I found that site interesting. They made a law to because too many turtle died, yet if your caught selling them, the turtle are humanly killed.

Do you want to die slowly or quickly?

-Ravon

They are not always humanely killed. Sometimes they give the confiscated turtles to turtle rescues.

They claim they made the law because of fears about salmonella, and since kids are more likely to play with a tiny turtle they made the rule that they need to be over 4 inches.
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It's a shame red-eared sliders are so widely available. People who get them don't realize how big they can get and many end up throwing them into some pond outside their native area. For example, NYC's Central Park has a pond that boasts more red-eared sliders than fish. They are extremely hardy and adaptable even in the northern colder regions. And in Texas where I'm from, red-ears are the equivalent of pigeons in the ponds around the Houston area. All you have to do is start throwing bread to ducks and they will come too...including the occasional monstrous snapping turtle. I've picked up huge specimens just by putting my hand in the water and splashing to attract them. And in Chinatowns around the nation, you can usually get a quarter-sized turtle for $5 each or even less ($10 for 3). I'm split on my opinion of these markets...they're good if you're a dedicated turtle owner and want to get a cheap turtle (although they may be sick). But it also means continuing to give these salesmen business and killing numerous turtles to satisfy interest in turtles as novelty items. People should read up before they take one home.

I've checked out some adoption websites but they seem all need you to donate or pay an adoption fee. This often discourages those who feel they can buy one cheaply or just get an abandoned one for free. Just my 2 cents.

Johnny

Not necessarily true regarding adoption fees. Turtlehomes does not charge an adoption fee for any of it's animals. We collect a shipping fee from the person surrendering the turtle (if it is a slider) and there is no charge to the person adopting the animal. Shipping is paid by the person adopting species other than sliders but that is the only charge their is for adopting from Turtlehomes. They are all FREE to approved applicants.

www.turtlehomes.org

Check out the site.

Steve

Oh really?

My mistake then. I would seriously recommend for those who want sliders to check out turtlehomes. Thanks for the clarification.=)

Johnny

Other local rescues/herp societies don't charge. Nature centers often get swamped with "dumped" sliders. It all depends on the organization.

Katrina

Personally, I have trouble understanding how any rescue can afford to NOT charge an adoption fee. Besides, I think we all know that when it comes to the cost of keeping an `exotic` pet properly, the actual perchase of the pet is a relatively negligable cost.

We all know how expensive vet bills can be, and at least with the bird rescues I`ve worked with, animals are often ditched on rescues in terrible condition, needing hundreds of dollars in treatment.
I know some rescues choose to charge each adopter the cost of that animal`s vet bills, but who`s gonna buy the $300 slider, when they have another one for adoption for $10?
There are also the costs of the light bulbs, tanks, food, supliments...
Rescues are a `business,` and it`s simply a good business practice to charge a fee for any of the animals they adopt out.

And of course, the other big job rescues have is EDUCATION. Teaching new homes before they have a problem, and diplomatically trying to help homes that`ve had their pet for a while, are a little set in their ways, and are running into some kind of trouble...

~Rachael

Turtlehomes relies on donations. We have booths at reptile expos to raise funds and we get donations. This is how we are able to exist and not charge adoption fees.

Yes, but the parrot rescues I`ve worked with often have enough trouble keeping their heads about water, even with donations, fundraisers, adoption fees, and at-cost vet care.

But then, the main one I work with specifically says in their mission statement that they`re there for the little `throw away` birds that no one wants to spend the money on vet-bills when they can just get another $15 parakeet. So they can rack up hundreds of dollars of vet bills in a single week... They refuse to euthanize a bird that has a chance of a recovery, no matter what the treatment costs.

Maybe that`s the exception to the rule. Perhaps other parrot or reptile rescues don`t get in as many sick animals... I`ve only had passing contact with other rescues.

~Rachael