help me find a turtle for my brother

[crayfishguy]

A malaysian box turtle Cuora amboinensis they get very tame, are on the small size and absolutley beautifull

i agree there is one at a lrs and every time it looks at you it looks like its smiling plus he could make the choice between land and water

 

[Noto]

Just be sure your brother understands that a turtle is a long-term commitment. Any turtle will live for a few decades if properly cared for.

 

[davdev]

Stinkpot. Haven't kept one, but everything I've read about them in captivity is nothing but positive. Definitely a turtle that should be more commonly bred too since it's so convenient for most people.

I think the problem comes with the 4" requirement for sale. Even adult Stinkpots don't always get over that size. We all know how to get around that, but a LFS or Local Reptile store can't, so they have to be bought from a breeder for "scientific purposes".

 

[ReelBigFish]

I think the problem comes with the 4" requirement for sale. Even adult Stinkpots don't always get over that size. We all know how to get around that, but a LFS or Local Reptile store can't, so they have to be bought from a breeder for "scientific purposes".

Or a reptile show. I've seen baby stinkies at shows.

Hehehe....that sounds funny.....baby stinkies.

 

[davdev]

Hehehe....that sounds funny.....baby stinkies.

As someone with a 1 year old, let me say, there is nothing funny about baby stinkies.

 

[Natalie]

I think the problem comes with the 4" requirement for sale. Even adult Stinkpots don't always get over that size. We all know how to get around that, but a LFS or Local Reptile store can't, so they have to be bought from a breeder for "scientific purposes".

I see turtles <4" all the time at my local reptile shops. Each tank has a disclaimer saying those turtles are for sale only for research/scientific purposes. But anyone can buy them.

 

[EricIvins]

I think the problem comes with the 4" requirement for sale. Even adult Stinkpots don't always get over that size. We all know how to get around that, but a LFS or Local Reptile store can't, so they have to be bought from a breeder for "scientific purposes".

Yes they can......All they need is for someone to sign paperwork stating so.....

 

[ReelBigFish]

As someone with a 1 year old, let me say, there is nothing funny about baby stinkies.

Your 1 year old makes baby stinkpot turtles!?!?!?!

 

[ScatMan]

I think the problem comes with the 4" requirement for sale. Even adult Stinkpots don't always get over that size. We all know how to get around that, but a LFS or Local Reptile store can't, so they have to be bought from a breeder for "scientific purposes".

this was a federal law until, i think, 2004. baby turtles can now be sold to anyone as long as the seller informs them about the dangers of salmonella and how to prevent it. i've seen the vendors at reptile shows have the law printed out because fish and game kept wrongfully confiscating their turtles. most vendors also hand you a paper about salmonella when you buy a baby turtle.

this is how i understand it as told to me by several vendors at the hamburg show.

as much as i love water turtles, i would recommend a box turtle for the ease of keeping. also, have a look on craigslist for some good deals or freebies!

 

[Creek_stomper]

I would agree that a common musk or striped mud is the best choice, followed closely by the smaller subspecies of painted turtles. Both are hardy and stay relatively small (3-stripes usually under 4-5", stinkpots under 5", southern and midland painteds almost always under 6").

I would say that Malaysian Boxies need more room than the person in question is willing to provide, seeing as they average around 8" and can get quite a bit larger.

In my opinion, North American box turtles (terrapene) and all tortoises should be kept A.) in an non-glass enclosure, as they tend to be more stressed in glass enclosures, and B.) in a much larger footprint than a 75g would provide. Glass enclosures often just don't suit the sort of temperature and habitat variants needed to properly care for these creatures.

Josh