Reptile & Amphibian Forums

and what is the success rate?

Robyn

Someone should report them for selling hatchlings. Who do you contact for that kind of thing? It's obvious that this business isn't strictly adopting them out. Check this quote out:

"NOTE: It is a federal law to outright sell turtles under 4" in size as a personal pet!! It is NOT ILLEGAL to own a baby turtle in the United States. Arts of Nature strictly adopts out baby turtles. We do not outright sell baby turtles for pets!! When adopting one or more baby turtles, you are paying for shipping charges, packaging, heat/cold packs, adoption papers and turtle care guides. We attempt to make no money adopting out turtles. We make our money on our other items. Even though it is perfectly legal for us to adopt out baby turtles, we still need for you to agree that the turtle is being used for scientific, educational & exhibit purposes only. These turtles are not recommended for small children!!"

I would think if they are doing something illegal, then they would be shut down already.

If it is so illegal what they are doing, what is so different then all the other sites out there that are selling the turtles? I saw a bunch of them in the classifieds from this site.

Robyn

First, real turtle adoption agencies rarely have an abundance of hatchlings, and they sure won't encourage you to "adopt" in large quantities to save on shipping costs. Most adoption sites have larger turtles because people give away their unwanted turtles when they get too big or they realize they can't take care of them.

And second, I've never heard of their website and I noticed that it was last updated on 1/19/04, so I'm assuming they are relatively new - of course I could be wrong.

Anyone can set up a website under the guise of "adopting" the turtles out.. but the real question is where they get the hatchlings from? Are they really "unwanted" or do they breed them or illegally buy them in large quantities??

As a side note, I'm not accusing their company of doing anything illegal - I'm just pointing out that *I personally think* that they look a little suspicious. I don't see anything wrong with bringing it up to the authorities for a proper investigation.

The issue here is with the definitions of adoption. It seems that your definition is a turtle that has been previously owned for a while as a pet, and the owner doesn't want it anymore.

However, it's easy to claim that these hatchlings are unwanted pets also. Easy... somebody owns them now and doesn't want them. A child can be adopted at birth, and so can a turtle.

I know you may not like the fact that they are being bred for sale, but the fact is that the breeders and sellers are utilizing a loophole in the law, and therefore selling them legally. I bought a baby turtle long ago, and the seller had everybody fill out a form saying they were for educational or scientific purposes. I didin't lie by signing this, as I am using the turtle to help teach my young daughter about turtles and how to care for pets. It's just a loophole and it's legal.

I'm not really crazy about these laws. I hate that so many of these turtles are abused or neglected, but look how many people abuse alcohol and then kill others while under the influence. We don't ban the sale of alcohol, just the irresponsible usage of it. Likewise, I don't see why we should ban the sale of turtles. By banning it, we only make people unaware of what it takes to care for them. People buy them not knowing their needs. We generally know what a cat, dog or bird needs to be healthy because they are readily available at pet stores..and the stores know what they need. If we hide these animals, and the sale of them, we only keep people ignorant.

As shown in the aforementioned website, the complete starter kit.
Hopefully this time the post wont get removed since im not actually mentioning the name.

Also, I think the reason they ship 3 turtles with every order is that they know 2 of them will probably die.

Axtx ox Nxtxrx offers a full line of Complete Starter Kits.

All of our great starter kits come with everything you need to get started exhibiting your very own turtles. We have a setup for everyone no matter what your budget may be. Keep checking this page often, we are constantly adding new starter kits weekly.

Everything you need.

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BBB Reliability Report

Arts of Nature
4571 Hwy 9
Inman, SC 29349

General Information

Original Business Start Date: August 2002
Type of Entity: Sole Proprietorship
Principal : Mr Ricky C Shropshier Owner
Phone Number: (864) 599-7451
Type-of-Business Classification: Pet Services-Grooming/Training/Boarding

The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.

Nature of Business

The nature of this business is supplies and baby turtles.

Customer Experience

Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory business record with the Bureau due to failure to answer complaint(s). The company has resolved other complaint(s).

Report as of 01/25/2004

The phone number is correct as you will probably get their answering machine.

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Here is a people search of Ricky. Dont know if this is correct as I havent called.

Ricky Shropshier

104 Harvest Ln
Boiling Springs, SC 29316-7707 (map)

Tel.: (864) 578-9792
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Someone on another list posted this - it's something to try at least.

Katrina
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Keep flooding the FDA e-mail with letters of complaint about them. I write everytime I come across one of these sites. I usually get a nice reply thanking me for bringing it to their attention and that's it. If we all start writing and attaching the site maybe they will finally do something.
Here's a link to the contact page:

http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed_state/dfsr_activities/fdapas.html

looks like i'll be the only one answering your question

arts of nature is NOT a new company and they are notorious for bad service. i have heard nothing but complaints about them. most of them are about how long shipping is (about 3 weeks to 1 month) and the poor packaging used for the turtle. i would definetely avoid them.

I don't think it should be impossible to acquire and raise a baby turtle. If they were more available they might be less of an impulse buy. I purchased mine at a beach shop in Florida and transported them through several states because I knew I could not get a baby turtle where I live. I didn't know what I was getting into at the time, but I did some research and the turtles are properly cared for and a great contribution to our family.

My sister wanted a baby turtle and ordered from Arts of Nature. She had a fine experience. The people were friendly and the turtle arrived healthy exactly when they said it would.

There will always be uninformed pet owners and pets that need homes. We rescued our dog as a puppy, and if I had it to do again I would look to adopt a turtle looking for a home. But, that isn't going to stop the breeding of puppies or turtles. Education is the key to giving turtles happy homes and hiding them only makes people want them more, whether or not they are prepared to properly care for them. Just my two cents.

It's the fact that this company is claiming to "adopt" out turtles, and is selling sub-standard products for the animals they are selling. They say that sliders are "very easy to take care of".

A great many people are spending their own money and time trying to find quality homes for unwanted turtles, and this company is "adopting" them out in bulk to anyone who can pay the cash. It's consumer fraud is what it is.

Katrina

I read a complaint in another forum about this company, written last year:

"I bought a RES from them about 7 weeks ago. The turtle arrived via US mail (NOT overnight)in a big mac box! No heat packs, nothing but some damp paper! I found it when I got home from work sitting in the snow. I am not kidding! Also once I had paid them they would NOT e-mail me back to let me know when they would ship it so I could be home when it arrived. The only positve thing I can say about Arts of nature is the turtle was and still is in good health (after the little guy had a few hours to warm up!). Please try to avoid this place as I think there are much better places to buy a res."

Horrible! I wonder where the money you pay for shipping goes then??

My biggest problem with them is that they encourage you to buy multiple turtles, 3 or 4 at a time, in a small turtle lagoon, as if that is all the turtle will ever need. I don't notice them mentioning how huge the turtles will get if they survive, or that a 1 gallon lagoon isn't big enough for 3-4 hatchlings. It also doesn't mention basking bulbs, or that most turtle keepers spend hundreds of dollars on setups, filters, etc.
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One thing that is VERY troubling is the sale of the tiny "turtle lagoon" set-ups in which to keep hatchling turtles. This is sure a throw-back to the days I can still remember when hatchling RES were sold at Woolworth's for 50 cents, and commonly kept for a few months until they died of lack of heat and the "ant egg" diet they usually were fed. They died soft-shelled, never having grown at all. In NO WAY are these "turtle lagoons" suitable for turtle hatchlings!!!! Where is the source of heat the turtles need? A light for basking? Room in which to grow? How can this company market this container as suitable for three or more hatchling turtles?

How is it an "Act of Nature" to promote keeping hatchlings so unnaturally?? What a throw-back to the 50's !!!

I wouldn't think much "educational purpose" is going on here...