Illegal baby turtles

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Shikartha

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 22, 2006
35
0
0
San Diego
Hi I work at a petstore. I know turtles under 4 inches are illigal due to Salmonellosis. But often a customer comes in asking for them, and ones even brought some in a little tupperware and was feeding them tortillas.
I just want some facts, and what happens if you have them. I live in california. Thanks for any info.
 
well i heard that you should like contact some like animal service center or something and report it

but if its only a couple you should keep them in the back and sell them when they get bigger
 
I saw mix info on the web, some saying you can have them as long as they cant be sold,and some say you cant have at all. And we cant keep them in the back, I work for petco=corporation=really weird rules sometimes
 
As a teacher myself, you can have them for educational purposes. Whether or not you use them for that purpose just be careful and wash you hands well after each handling.
 
If the one feeding the tortillas comes back, tell that person that turtles need turtle food, not Mexican food.
 
I got a small red ear slider at about the size of a quarter years ago, and although its illegal to buy or sell you can keep them as pets. If any customers come back just advise them to wash their hands and carefull where they put the turtle down when out of its tank. (kitchen counter is a bad idea)

At least around me they are real eazy to get illegaly so you have many parents not knowing and buying them for thier kids. Red ear Sliders are teh ones common here if the tortilla lady come back advise turtle food and let her know feeder fish can also be fed.
 
Back in the 70's, baby turtles were the happening pet to have; stores sold turtle bowls and sold millions of them. Of course, pretty much all of them died. There were many reported cases of Salm for two reasons:
first, the turtle bowls were dirty and not cared for properly and children would put the turtles in their mouths.
I wasn't aware states other than NY had made them illegal to sell.
 
TipStylez;696963; said:
You need a special Ls to sell and buy them.
Click to expand...


I was in the local mall last year around Christmas time and there was one of those Kiosk's that rent space that was selling baby Red Ear's. I questioned the kid selling them and he described them as "Minature African dwarf turtles" or some such BS.:eek: I said, "Look man, those are Red Ear sliders, they can live nearly a hundred years, grow nearly a foot long and are illegal to sell under 4 inches". The dude started arguing with me...until I threatened to call the dept of health. The dude had a website and info sheet explaining how to "Care" for the turtles. They were selling alot of them too.:irked:
I didn't call the dept of health but honestly, I regret that I didn't.
 
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