When I was a kid, we had these small turtles, about 2 inches in diameter, that lived in little turtle "aquariums" that had a low spot for water, and a little ramp with a higher spot when they wanted to be dry. I would love to find these for my nephews, but they just don't seem to be anywhere.
2006-08-15 02:05:36 · 12 answers · asked by buggsnme2 4 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
The species involved was the Red-ear slider.
You can no longer easily find the stuff because of the laws prohibiting the sale of them, initally passed because of the Salmonella risk.
The real issue here was that people were killing these poor turtles by the millions, so some turtle enthusiasts banded together and managed to get a law passed to protect them.
You see, a baby turtle needs AT LEAST a 10 gallon tank, with the proper lighting, heating, and filtration for health.
These guys should live 10 years easily and 20 with a little care- but usually died within months with the old-fashioned 'turtle death ponds'. The horrible diets they had did not help either.
It breaks my heart to think of all the baby turtles I personally killed that way.
2006-08-15 14:28:39 · answer #1 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you had were terrapins, these are still available but need proper care with a heated & filtered tank with UV lighting.
They do carry salmonella so special care should be taken when handling them. They grow to be as big as dinner plate and so require a big tank to keep then properly.
Some of the ones that survived from the eighties when the mutant teenage turtles craze was about are now found loose in pond and waterways all over the UK because people abandoned them.
2006-08-15 02:17:09 · answer #2 · answered by stevehart53 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bought two in Florida a couple of years ago. Word of advice tho, those aquariums they come in are cruel. I put mine in a 90 gallon fish tank and they have grown to about a foot in diameter. They need light to warm, and basking spot and to be able to submerge completely in water.
2006-08-15 02:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Awww... I had those!! They are so cute! Yea... I've seen them at Pet Stores. Just keep looking or call around to your local pet shops. I see them in my back yard all the time. I live in the woods by a large creek, and we see them and frogs all the time. So cute. I never keep them as pets now, they are just nature, but thats a great idea for your nephew. Good luck.
2006-08-15 02:29:42 · answer #4 · answered by Angel Eve 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is what you do, you go to a lake through a line in there with fish on the other end then wait. when you see the line move then pull it up, and then get the turtle and take it to your nephew
2006-08-15 02:40:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my sister went to south carolina on vacation and her friend brong home two turtles for her nephews that were the small. i'm not sure where u live but thats the only place i know good luck!
2006-08-15 02:14:40 · answer #6 · answered by jodij2493 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many pet stores won't carry turtles because of salmonella. There are still some out there that sell them.
2006-08-15 02:09:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-11-25 02:10:45 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's right about the salmonella. My issue with the small size of the terrarium. It really isn't cool to keep wildlife caged up.
2006-08-15 02:11:40 · answer #9 · answered by kwikane7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's illegal to sell them anymore...you're refering to red eared slider turtles. ALthough they are cute when small, their populations were being decimated & as they grew, owners couldn't keep them in the tiny aquariums anymore & were flushing them (no, not giant slider turtles in the sewers)
2006-08-15 06:45:47 · answer #10 · answered by aspie_pride 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋