Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been giving it some thought. I realized that, after going over it in my head a few times, I did not buy the turtles I got. I, as the salesmen so carefully put it, bought a critter keeper which then had a turtle of my choice put into it...
This is a sleazy way of marketing hatchling res without "selling" them and thus getting around the law by using "adoption." Thinking about this, is that actually legitimate?
Just something for people to think about, watch out for, and I would like to hear is this is leagal or not.
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-Ferg

"The only day wasted is the day in which nothing is learned."
-My neighbor and friend.

I was told this too when I bought my turtle on vacation.. They had signs up saying that the turtles were for "educational purposes only," and that they couldn't be sold unless you bought the $20 plastic critter carrier, then they could come with it. So I guess this little loophole has been used all over to get these little guys sold! I'm not sure why these businesses have been looked into and why they haven't been shut down though.. when I got my turtle I had no idea what I was getting into! I had to learn pretty quick though.. I didn't realize at the time that they grew so fast.. I was told that they would be about the same size for the rest of their lives, and they didn't need a big habitat. I'm glad I didn't listen to them and took the time to research.. I can't even imagine what is happening to most of these little guys when they are sold to people that listen to the sellers and keep them in those tiny plastic carrying cases their whole lives without the proper lighting and nutrition.. it's so horrible! I live in Wisconsin, and so far I haven't seen these turtle sellers around here, except at one local pet store, baby sulcattas are being sold that are way under the 4 inch limit. The condition that they are in is terrible too.. okay, I'm pretty much rambling lol but this needs to be stopped!! My only concern is what would happen to the turtles and torts that would be taken away.. would they be killed or released somewhere?

What happens to most of these hatchings is most likely the same thing that happened to them back in the 50's and 60's when they were known as the "dime store turtles". Thay were sold in those awful plastic island thing, hardly anybody knew how to care for them properly and most died very young. That's why most people think that a RES will only get a few inches and won't live long.

i work at a petstore and run into this problem ALL the time... since i live right above florida.. every year around summer time there are a swarm of people coming in to buy things for thier "quarter turtles" ... as in.. im going to buy a fishbowl for this turtle that will get no bigger than a quarter... i sometimes wish i could go down to florida and put the dealers into a fishbowl... maybe with the use of a blender... forgive me.. tis a very touchy subject with me... sometimes the turtle gets lucky and the new owner is willing to invest the money needed in a good habitat, proper lighting and heating... often .. i am told that i am wrong.. that these people assured the new owners that they would get no bigger...whats worse is when a customer comes in bragging about how happy his 3 year old slider is in its 10 gallon aquarium... i hate that this happens and that the animals suffer for a 20 dollar profit.. for the most part i bust out my big book of turtles and try as hard as i can to convince the turtle owners that they will in fact grow to be at least 10 inches ... its unfortunate that this happens so often and that it gets overlooked or ignored.. i am interested in learning how to get this type of thing seriously banned.. most people dont even know its illegal to sell them that small.. if anyone has any suggestions on taking action against these irresponsible dealers.. i would welcome the opportunity.. i am starting to dread summer each year...
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my pets: clown treefrogs, reed frogs, big eyed treefrogs, tiger leg monkey frogs, gray treefrogs, milk frogs, cuban treefrogs, whites tree frog, green treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, blue webbed gliding treefrog, chameleon treefrogs?, dusky salamanders, tiger salamander, veiled chameleon, box turtles, mud turtle, map turtle, yellowbelly slider, florida softshell, two saltwater tanks, four cats, two chinchillas, and a boyfriend.