Other Turtle Discussion :: Where did you get your turts?

[knite]

A lot of stores sell them all over the place; paradoxically in crowded areas (flea markets). These two I bought, were from a regular fish/meat store I saw, NOT a pet store. There were baby sliders (that still had their tooth) that were stacked up pretty high and were also dehydrated. I wish I couldve saved two or three more from these conditions but that wasn't within my budget at the time.

[nova72freak]

I got mine from the mall where they gave me one of those crappy plastic containers and he was in a 20g tank with like 100 others. it was sad so that's why i bought him...He's now in a nice 10 g tank with all the right stuff.

[Terrapin UK]

I got miny two from a pet shop when they were just babies. For a change, the shop owner had some idea what he was talking about, and wouldn't let me take them away till I had a tank set up and at the right temperature!!

However, you can't find RES anymore over here - since 2002 the trade into the U.K has been banned due to the large numbers of terrapins released into the wild.

[cinwin1]

Bought mine from chinatown in los angeles - when i went to local stores in my town for advice (before i found this wonderful site) employees told me that i shouldn't hve bought them - they will most likely die....that was in feb 2005 - i still have both of them - they are a little over 2 inches now. i love my turtles and they have a better life with me then where i found them!

[ellman605]

Malls, street stands (does not require the 4 inch law)

got mine at pacific in myrtle beach. This one place had 100 in a 10 gallon tank, i scanned the bottom of the tank, and counted 57 dead turts, and almost another half of them had infections and horrible deformities. It was so sad, i wish i had gotten a picture, it scared me, nightmares came, it was just....to horrible to explain. (the measurements are exact, i counted every last turtle

[steve]

let me clarify this:

It is not illegal to own a RES under 4" but they are not commercially available under that size. Therefore, businesses (Petco, Petland, etc.) are restricted but many private hobbyists are not. Apparently, the sale of a turtle as a pet is different when it is sold as a hobby. There are deceptive ways to sell hatchlings, like so-called adoptions in which you pay a high-shipping rate. In some cases, they can be offered free of charge if certain equipment were purchased or by claiming ignorance.
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A mall stand or street stand is a business just like a pet store. It is illegal for them to sell turts, however not much is being done to stop them.