Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to get an aquatic turtle, but nowhere in NC sells them. Is it illegal to buy or sell turtles in North Carolina? I heard you can get sliders in Myrtle Beach, where I might visit soon. Is there anyplace someone suggests to buy a turtle from in Myrtle Beach?

Thanks for the help,
lizard66

Here is a link the a turtle rescue group in N.C. They will probably be able to help you with any questions you might have. They might also have some turtle in need of a good home.

http://www.freewebs.com/nctrr/

Hope they can help.
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Jenea

1:3 Eastern Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:0 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Yes, as far as I know it is illegal to sell turtles (at least indiginous species) in NC. I usually go the the herp shows in Greenville or Columbia, SC to get my turtles. I've never been to Myrtle to buy turtles, but I heard they have sliders by the bucket-load down there. You can even get them at the Wing's stores. Here's a pic of a slider I just bought in Columbia about 3 weeks ago.

I always thought it was illegal to sell those tiny turtles but I now see them all over the place.
I was at Miami beach and I saw them being with those plastic turtle islands.
The whole thing including turtle and food container was $20 . The guy was selling them left and right to parents with their kids.
The turtles looked very healthy but you know most are on borrowed time. I was looking at them to see if any unsual colors,etc and some looked like born one day ago.

It IS illegal to sell them if they are under 4"

If you want an aquatic turtle an you live in NC why dont you go to pond and catch a baby yourself. Its august and all the babys have just hatched. Just search in the vegetation near the shoreline. Otherwise Im sure you could find a pet store anywhere nearby that sells aquatic turtles. The law is that the shells must be at least 4inches across, so you wont find babys for sale.

Best of luck to you!

Joe

Technically it is now illegal to even own turtles of any size from most of the north american cooter/slider families in NC. They pass a crap law a couple of years ago because or trapper sending turtles to Asian food markets. They do not legally distingiush between hobbists and trappers. That said, you can get them shipped to you from any number of places on this site or the Myrtle Beach stores. If you go to the beach shops along the strip, they have them at about every third one.

I see adult red ear sliders for sale alot in petshops. I thought they were legel as long as they were over 3 inches.
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Ed

These heat lamps make my electric bill to high.

Do you see them for sale in NC petshops? Because I believe that is illegal, no matter what size.

I looked all over the NC Fish and Wildlife website. Can't find any specifics on owning or possessing turtles.

I spent some time going over that site a few weeks ago before finally getting on the phone and tracking down the State Herpetologist(after a bunch of referrals). I did not ask about the legality of trading in(buying or selling)turtles but about the legality of keeping box turtles(my main interest). What I learned is that the law is in the process of being changed but, as of right now, it is legal, in NC, to own up to 4 (or was it 3?) individual members of the family of turtles to which boxies, red-eared sliders, painted, etc. belong. They are trying to stucture the new law so that it will encourage and oversee the breeding and sale of captive bred turtles and rehabilitation and so that current responsible owners can keep their turtles without fear of prosecution or without feeling that they need to release them back to the wild.

Thanx for the info. They really should make that site more user-friendly.

Sorry to be so long replying--my computer was down. I actually mentioned to her that I found the website less-than-helpful. She replied that they do plan to update once the laws are changed-in the mean time they had just as soon people think that it's all illegal(trading & owning)so that people don't get the idea that it is okay to take from the wild(kidnap vs rescue which is a much bigger issue with boxies).
Juel

Cool. Thanks again.
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2.1.0 water dragons, 2.2 crested geckos, 0.0.3 turtles, 1.0.0 5-line skink, 2.0.0 anoles, 0.0.1 giant millipede, 1.0.0 uromastyx, 1.0.0 armadillo lizard, 1.0.0 veiled chameleon, 1.1.0 bearded dragons, 1.0.0 pictus gecko, 1.1.0 CA banded gecko, 1.0.0 Hondo, 1.1.0 corns, 1.0.0 dog, 1.1.0 cats, 0.1.0 wife, 2 SW tanks - 20H, 55

Thanks everyone for the help. Recently in NC there has been huge rains and fortunately, I live near a private lake (its shore is in my backyard)! I walked along the emergency spillway (which water was gushing over at the time!) and I saw a baby turtle struggling with the current about to get washed away. I caught it and it is now one of my favorite pets.