Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanna scream when I go to the flea market and find forty RES hatchlings stuffed in a 10-gallon tank. And all these little bratty kids buying them and keeping them in plastic cups, or those darned "turtle lagoons" that my first RES grew out of in a year. I bet 90% of them die within a month from not being treated properly.

i know the feeling...if you are so inclined you could set up a table next to the turtle vendor and have educational materials available. i believe the kids aren't mistreating the turtles on purpose (most kids anyway), but they just don't know how to take care of them. education is the key... just a thought.

Yeah, I hate it too. Take a look at the classified on this site -- one seller has hatchlings priced by the thousand. For educational purposes only, of course.

Consier handing out the care sheets that can be found at the World Chelonian Trust website (do a word search to find their website, then click on the caresheet link) and the number for your state herp society or reptile rescue, or the info for Turtle Homes, so that people have an option to adopt. Like someone said, try getting a table at the event and have some large sliders on display.

Katrina

In what city and state is this happening? There might be something on the law books that can help your cause. Contact your state and county health department, and your local humane society and animal control to see if this is against a state or local law (sometimes it's against the law and the police and animal control don't even know it).

Katrina

It's in Houston, TX. Thing is, there's not much I can do at this point...I'm only 15, I can't drive or anything. It frustrates me that people aren't educated about proper care of these creatures! I myself was lied to when I bought my first slider, Luke. They said he wouldn't get any bigger than a couple inches and could live in the turtle lagoon his whole life. That was a year ago and I've had problem after problem with him because he was mistreated before I got him. Now he's got ear abcesses and I can't afford to do anything about it.

I'm glad I found this messageboard because I've learned a lot from it. A lot of people don't care to look on the internet though...

I'll reply to you privately when I get home tonight. At 15, you have LOTS of time to write, right? The pen is mightier....

Katrina