red eared sliders question

DarrylR

DarrylR

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Sep 17, 2007
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In most states selling turtles under 4 inches is illegal. Due to the salmonella outbreak that occurred a while ago. My question is, does salmonella stunt a turtles growth? I mean what does 4 inches have to do with selling a turtle, if a turtle is 4 inches does it mean it has salmonella? Or if a turtle grew up to be 4 inches, does that mean as a hatching it never had salmonella in the first place?

:help:
 
I believe the reason for the size restriction is because little kids put things in their mouths, including baby turtles. I guess a 4 inch turtle is hard to cram in your mouth. I've never tried it before. :D
 
That does make sense and that was one way of contracting the disease with children. I guess there is no surefire way of knowing if your turtle has it or not.
 
I believe most can carry it, it's a natural occurring bacteria so the importance of keeping the tank or its habitat is important.... this is also why it's important to wash your hands after handling them.
 
All turtles and reptiles carry salmonella. The turtles will have salmonella basically from the time they are born until the time they die.

I learned this the hard way from my turtles, who were adult red eared sliders. I lost almost 20 pounds in a week in a most unpleasant way.

I would never, ever allow a child to have a pet turtle, as salmonella can get so severe it becomes fatal.

Always wash your hands!!!
 
They made it illegal because children would see those poor baby turtles at the mall (around an inch &1/2) and say "mommy mommy, I want one" and the parents, thinking that they stay small get them and keeping them in those death trap lagoons things, the children then hold them and forget to wash their hands, and walla, they now have salmonella. Now, you can only get 4" turtles, so if a kid wants one the parent pretty much has to be pretty into having a turtle, so they know the risk of having one.
 
Animallove said:
They made it illegal because children would see those poor baby turtles at the mall (around an inch &1/2) and say "mommy mommy, I want one" and the parents, thinking that they stay small get them and keeping them in those death trap lagoons things, the children then hold them and forget to wash their hands, and walla, they now have salmonella. Now, you can only get 4" turtles, so if a kid wants one the parent pretty much has to be pretty into having a turtle, so they know the risk of having one.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats pretty much all there is too it. And for good reason. The deception behind turtles is almost as bad as the one about goldfish.
 
kjr928 said:
All turtles and reptiles carry salmonella. The turtles will have salmonella basically from the time they are born until the time they die.
Click to expand...

Can you please send me a link to where you got this information. I can't find anything that says "All reptiles carry salmonella". I understand that all reptiles/birds can carry this bacteria in their gut and digestive system but it doesn't mean they have it.

Second, how can an animal born in a sterile environment have salmonella?
 
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