Looking for Turtles

[FishHook]

Anyone know where I can get some smaller Painted Turtles for my pond?

[dennysfishroom]

I think some had 2 of them in the fayetteville Craigs List in the last week or so. Denny

[mewickham]

It is illegal to buy or sell turtles with a carapace length of less than four inches (front to back) in the U.S. It's a federal law. So you won't be able to find smaller turtles for sale. At least, not legally. That doesn't mean you can't catch your own. I believe you need a fishing license for it.

I don't believe I've ever seen a painted turtle in northwest Arkansas. I looked in a couple of books and it shows the southern painted turtle can be found in a some locations elsewhere in the state, though, and in some locations in Missouri. It also shows the western painted turtle in some locations in Missouri. We've got lots of cooters and sliders around here.

Eastern painted turtles were always my favorite pet turtles.

[FishHook]

Yes i know that, Petsmart and Petco are the only places i know of that carry turtles and can get painted turtles. Also why are there so many websites devoted to selling turtles online that are tiny. I believe you have to have a license to do so, again not sure but there are alot of websites based in the US that advertise baby turtles for sale???

[mewickham]

Also why are there so many websites devoted to selling turtles online that are tiny.

I haven't seen these sites, but I imagine that most of them are selling the turtles illegally. There is a loophole that some shops try to use-- and probably websites, too. The law allows small (under 4") turtles to be sold for "scientific," "educational," or "display" purposes. It was meant to allow public aquariums, zoo, and researchers to continue to buy small turtles and it was meant to exclude pet use.

But I have heard of stores that offer baby turtles for sale, where they have the buyer sign a form stating that he is buying for scientific or educational purposes only. "Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge." The USDA is usually unaware, and doesn't have time to check when it does, so the buyer and seller usually get away with it. However, I have also heard of stores being hit with nice fines for doing this. (This may explain why I've seen them selling for as much as $50, instead of the 50 cents I paid as a kid. The risk of fine has to be covered.) Another dodge of the law is to give the turtle away with purchase of supplies.

Anyway, the law is there, and there are people weaseling around it. I can't say I blame them, as it's a ridiculous law. It was written because children were putting baby turtles in their mouths and contracting salmonella. We now know the risk. So if you find some baby turtles, either caught or purchased, make sure you wash your hands well after handling them, and keep them away from small children.

[FishHook]

turtlesale.com
TurtleShack.com
GeneralExotics.com

There are some to name a few, cant figure out how they are doing it.