Other Turtle Discussion :: Too Far To Go?

[Breigh]

I've decided I want a western painted turtle. I have a YBS and a RES and I really want to get a new hatchling. I saw one at a local pet store a while back but when I went back for him he was sold.

I've called all over the place since then, and everywhere I call says they only get them once a year or once every 2-3 years. They aren't common at all here in the Netherlands and they don't import them anymore.

I contacted the studbooks and they only have 1 person registers who breeds them. I phoned him and he said they are hibernating (hibernating? Painteds?) and he won't have any until may at the earliest.

I've been told about one shop who has them. They have about 10 hatchlings at the moment and a girl on the dutch turtle forums got one from there. The only problem is, it's about a 2 hour drive from here.

I am not able to drive with my canadian license in the Netherlands so I depend on my husband to drive me, but he doesn't seem so keen. He thinks 2 hours there and back is a long way to go 'just for a turtle'.

The way I see it is, they are THERE and once they are gone who knows how long I'll have to wait. So two hours seems like nothing!

Am I being unreasonable? Is two hours really that far to go in this situation? With a turtle that is apparently quite rare in the area?

[jenaero]

If it were me, I'd wait to check out the breeder if he's closer (yep, painteds hibernate ). That is a long drive and you don't even know the health of the animal before you get there. You might take a 4 hour drive for nothing. Just my opinion

[Breigh]

The girl who got hers there said that they were kept in really great conditions and hers seems happy and healthy. When I was calling around to different pet stores I was actually told that if anyone would have them it would be -this- place.

As for the breeder, he lives in the same area as the shop so it would still be a big trip regardless :/

I've heard very good things about this shop, I'm not at all worried about the health of the turtles. He said he had about 10 and should be getting a few more before the weekend. So there would be a few to choose from...

It's just the distance. My husband is Dutch and coming from such a small country, a two hour drive seems like a lot. I'm Canadian and two hours is nothing to me, heck I've had jobs I had to drive 2 hours each way to every day hehe

[jenaero]

Then I changed my mind..go for it My ex wouldn't have gone that far for a turtle either but if you can convince him, then do it. I must admit I have no idea what the weather is like over there this time of year so make sure you bring a tupperware container lined with towels because God only knows what they'll send him home in.

[Breigh]

We got snow today for the first time! It rarely ever snows here and when it does it doesn't last. It's just above freezing at the moment.

How DO you transport a hatchling? This will be my first time travelling with one.

[jenaero]

I've never had to transport a hatchling but it'd be the same as a larger turtle (which I've done several times). Get a container that's just big enough for the turt to fit in without room for him to turn around/flip over. Line that with paper towels (no water) and poke air holes in the lid. You could put that container in a small cardboard box (lined with towels) to block drafts and just tuck the top closed so it still allows air in. Every time I've transported my turts that way, they get comfy and just fall asleep.

[industrial_girl_2000]

2 hour drive is nothing. Here's my story about transporting a hatchling:

I drove almost 9 hours to pick up my hatchling back in January (Michigan to Pennsylvania). I transported baby dry, in a plastic animal container that had a top that was full of holes & a handle. I lined it with a snuggly towel that he could crawl into. Mid-way thru the 9 hour trip, I stopped for lunch, took the towel out, put about an inch of water in the container so baby could have a drink. When I was done eating, I dumped the water, dried out the container, put towel & turtle back in, and proceeded the rest of the way home.

I put baby directly into his tank the minute I walked in the door to my house & he was fine.

[Starchick]

Good luck getting your western painted....I adore mine! Such a sweetheart! Let us know when you figure out what you're going to do and post pics!!!!

[Breigh]

*sigh* They have all been sold. I'm gutted. I've called almost every other pet shop in the Netherlands as well as their distributers and the story is that there will be no more c.p. bellii until AUGUST at the earliest.

I'm far too impatient for that.

The shop I planned to go to also has picta picta (about 4 very small hatchlings left) which are just as (if not more) rare over here in the Netherlands... and I also think are absolutely wonderful.

I'm trying to decide whether to say the heck with it and still make the trip and see if any of the picta picta steal my heart. My husband has agreed to getting a c.p.bellii in the fall when they are available, so it's not like it has to be one or the other.

What do you think, go for it?

[marisa]

Chrysemys picta picta or eastern painted turtles, are great. I have four of them.

Just curious, but what kind of set-ups do you have/plan for the turtles you have and the ones you plan to get?

[Breigh]

At the moment I have two turtles that are approx 3 inches each in a Juwel Rio 180 (55g) which is completely filled and has a large above tank basking area.

You can see it here in this thread:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... c&start=30

I also have a 60L aquarium which is what the hatchling will be in for the first few months (until he/she is about 2 inches)

In a few months I will be getting a larger aquarium for the YBS/RES, somewhere between 120-200x60x60 cm (may be 180 or 160 etc in length, will depend on what is available for what prices but no smaller than 150).

When they are moved into their larger tank, the hatchling will move from the small tank to the 55g which it will have all to itself.

When the picta bellii comes along in the fall (if we end up getting one) It will be a small hatchling and can go in the small tank for the first few months, the same as the picta picta did until we decide what to do, either get another large tank for the 2 painteds or get a bigger tank and keep the two painteds seperate or whatever.

Either way they will all have a place

[marisa]

Good to know.