So yesterday I went to the Daytona flea market and there was this tiny little stand with an Asian lady selling baby alligator snappers for $20, she must have had about 20 along with a million other sliders and assorted baby turtles. Now I'm not sure how exactly I felt about this... I think its pretty wrong to just sell them like that, most people would have no idea what they'd be getting themselves into. How do you guys feel?
Alligator snapper
- Thread starter NatashaAliza
- Start date
they were probably common snappers, they look very similar when they are young and even if the lady said they were alli snappers it does not guarantee that they were (especially at a flea market). I don't like how this is done (and it is done quite often) but i suppose that it is better than them selling RES and having them dumped back into the wild...
If they weren't 4in I'd turn her in to the department of agriculture she's doing illegal business in our country she has no need to be here I say deportation ! OR cheaper yet firing squad no need for us to pay for the plane ride, bullets are cheaper!
NatashaAliza;3564853; said:
I wish I knew where she got them because I would like to get a few myself. I used to be able to get them when I knew alot of wholersalers but, not too many anymore.
snakeguy101;3565040; said:
Commons and Alligator Snappers look much different at least too me. It's almost a day and night difference.
coreyweinkoetz;3566285; said:
Wha? First off the Dept. of Agriculture doesn't have anything to do with Turtles there not produce. At least not in the form she's selling them. The Dept. of Health are the people responsible for Turtles being illegal to purchase under 4" inches.
Now if you wanna turn someone in I think it should be the person selling them to her. If dealers and importers/exporters were held responsible and only sold these baby turtles to licensed institutions for the purpose of eduication as stated on the licenses. Then there wouldn't be anyone selling at flea markets, street corners, street fairs etc,. I'm 100% sure she didn't go out a catch them herself.
So where was the statement the to where she is here in the USA legally or not? If she couldn't obtain the Turtles then she wouldn't be selling, but since she can obtain them quite easily I mite add. She sells them because there a hot item. She may think that if they weren't legal to sell she wouldn't be able to purchase them either.
Cheetah;3567537; said:
I believe it's because of there rate of growth versus amount they consume to reach a sellable legal size. It is better in the long run for breeders to grow them to food. Where they can get marketable sizes where they sell per pound instead of per piece or 1,000 pieces @ 1.00 each or less.
Tequila;3567223; said:
I am talking about when they are very small though (less than 3 inches) and to someone that isn't a versed as us in discerning the two. I am sure that most people that frequent this site could tell the difference but ask someone off the street (or in a flea market) and I guarantee that they will not be able to tell you with any certainty.