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Hi everyone,

Does anyone know if the 4 inch law for selling turtles is still in effect and does if apply to every state. The reason I am asking, I bought my RES on an impulse buy, my son and I were visiting my parents in Florida, we are from NY, and we saw a big display of them in the center of the mall. My son fell in love and so did I. The people that sold it to me told me they don't get big and all I would need is this little plastic cage they gave me all I would need to do was buy a heating light. Well my little guy is lucky I purchased him, I did my research thanks to you guys, and I plan on buying everything I need to make it happy, but what if someone else buys from there and does no research, it breaks my heart. I am so upset now about this I want to shut that place down. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Donna

Yes, the four inch law is still in effect and it is federal applying to each and every state. I'm including a link that kind of explains why the four inch law went into effect. Also, most people/sellers get away with it through a loop hole that says turtles under 4 inches can be sold for educational purposes. Many have you sign a sheet saying this, but in our own case there was just a sign posted above the tank. We had no idea what it meant until I got on this forum and did some research.

Here's the link: http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlife_n ... ation.html

Hope this helps some.

Thank you so much. I think they did make me sign something, but I am still going to do what I can to shut them down.

I don't blame you. I totally agree with you about people that do not do research. Think about the sad life their turtles would live. But it's even like that at Petstores that sell turtles. The people that work there for the most part don't know anything about taking care of them properly either.

Goodluck, I'm glad your turtle got a good home though.

Where in ny did u get ur turtle? I bought mine from a vendor in the Roosevelt field mall. He is about the size of a quarter and the sold him to me in a cardboard box. While with the vendor he was in a 10 gal tank with one big turle (4 1/2 in) and 10 babies....

No matter how strict the laws get, they all find a way. Whether we like it or not, this won't stop anytime soon maybe never. But what I think should really be stopped the slider breeding. That's where all the babies come from and most end up in a bucket with thousands of others. It should also be a law that slider eggs be not disturbed. (or is it already)

I didn't get my turtle in Ny. I got it in a mall at a Kiosk that had a whole setup with these babies. I drove my baby home to NY, they told me it wouldn't be a problem.

One thing i don't understand...
Why would they sell turtles at a mall? and is anyone noticing this? Aren't there police officers or securities that know about the 4 inch law?

You know Turtle Siren. This Mall was in Florida. They had me sign something which I believe stated I was buying it for Educational purposes, which is a loop hole around the law. What pisses me off the most is they lied to me about the care of the turtle, and that is what I want to put a stop too.

It's sad..

I wonder why police or the wildlife people don't do a sting of sorts, go there in civilian clothing and ask about buying the turtles, I am sure they don't ask people if they are buying them for educational purposes.

I've heard they do do this sometimes in Chinatown (N.Y.) but very quickly the poor things are being sold again. It's just not considered to be a priority--even though you'd think having contact with a turtle would do you in if you listen to all the propaganda about them.

I was thinking of contacting 20/20 or something and ask them to do some investigative reporting. I don't know if they will or not, but I really want to pursue this. Everyone keeps telling me to let it go, but if we were all to just let things go people would get away with what ever they wanted to. So right now I am in the process of writing letters to The FDA, The humane Society, and the mall I purchased the Turtle in. I will let you all know what happens. Probably nothing will but at least I will know I tried.

flutterby told me our local pet store where I had gotten my turtles has now posted a sign saying that they can't sell turtles to anyone in NJ or PA.. yeah well they had a sign that said something about not selling them under 4" too but did it. She said this one was much bigger.. an 8x10 sign. She didn't ask why the change though .. I would have had to ask just because I'm nosey