Pet store selling illegal animals

[Winged]

I stopped into one of the pet stores in town (one of the ones where I refuse to get fish) to get dog food and was browsing through the animals they had on. They had their regular small animals--cute baby bunnies (I wish stores wouldn't sell them around Easter time, but anyway...), guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, degus. Wait a minute! Degus? That's not something they usually have.

I walk on to the reptiles--leopard geckos, tree frogs, a sulcatta tortoise. And then I stop and look at the tortoise. He's a baby, very obviously not over four inches (for those who don't know, federal law prohibits the sale of turtles and tortoises under four inches). Two inches at the most. I look around for an employee. Not finding one and being in a hurry, I shrug it off, reminding myself to inform whoever is at the register. And then I walk by the fish. All the usual fish, accompanied by blind cave tetra. What in the world is going on? Last I checked, these were illegal to own or sell in Kentucky. At this point, I decided the cashier was not going to be the one getting an earful.

I grabbed a business card on my way out the store after I saw it had the store manager's name and contact info on it. I'll be emailing her tonight or tomorrow. I could maybe almost understand them not knowing about the fish, but I don't know how they couldn't know about the four-inch rule. There is no excuse for a store to not know the laws.

[Dr. Awkward]

I'm so glad you posted this. A kiosk at the mall by my house is selling Mississippi map turtles that are only a couple inches long. They're selling them in little torture trap bowls with tiny floating islands. I just about lost it when I saw them but I didn't know it was illegal. I'm going to report it to the FDA. I found a website with all the local FDA numbers if anyone needs it:

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

[PuppyFluffer]

Some quick googling around and it seems that dagus are legal in a lot of states.

I have a local pet store that sells coatimundi. I just about freaked when I saw that.

[Winged]

Some quick googling around and it seems that dagus are legal in a lot of states.

I have a local pet store that sells coatimundi. I just about freaked when I saw that.

The degus are not illegal here. I just thought it odd that they had them. Seeing them made me look at what else they had more closely.

I just finished and sent my email to the manager. It will be interesting to see their reply.

[Kashta]

Good point. Better double-check before reporting the store, in case it's allowed.

[AquaGem]

I'm glad that none of the stores near me are like this, especially in the turtle/tortoise aspect. I adore them so much seeing them as itty bitty babies might cloud my mind before I get angry. I like when I see them, and then look at the sign that says they'll be ready in a bit, as they need to grow more. Usually, at my LFS, this is due to someone's pet turtles having babies, and the store taking them. Oh, how cute they are :hearts:

[Mgamer20o0]

we have a few stores around here who are known to carry illegal fish. just call them in and report them.

[Vicious_Fish]

Was there a sign that says the baby turtles were being sold for "educational purposes"?

[CONDUCT]

Was there a sign that says the baby turtles were being sold for "educational purposes"?
When we got turtles in were I use to work at and they were under the 4" mark that was what the owner told me to tell people.

[kyle3]

it might not be true but I've heard rumors of them changing the 4 inch rule
cheers-K

[7itanium]

was this turtle acctually FOR SALE? meaning did you acctually ask someone if you could buy it?

because its not illegal for them to have it... they just cant sell it


I have seen some illegal stuff for sale around here before.... I dont condone it-- but im not gonna report them either. I was raised to not be a snitch, people will get what is coming to them when its their time-- not reason to try to influence the way things happen.

[Dopehand]

why are blind cave tetras illegal in KY?

[WhiteDevil]

No reply, you know what to do next time since this guy will move the items out before anyone has the chance to investigate....call your local DNR office and report it. Police can do something but some animal division of county government has to be involved.


Never let them know their mistakes, they already know they are doing wrong to begin with.

[Winged]

I don't know why they're illegal, but all Astyanax mexicanus are illegal in Kentucky. Maybe authorities are afraid that some moron will release them into the water-system of Mammoth Cave? I really don't know.

The store manager emailed me back yesterday and said that she sent the fish back to the supplier, even though they assured her they weren't illegal, and that the tortoise won't be sold until he reaches four inches (yeah, have fun with that...).

I was speaking to a co-worker a few days ago and he told me that imported land turtles and tortoises are legal to sell under four inches, but I haven't been able to find anything about that. Does anybody know if this is true?

[wataugachicken]

one way to get around it is to sell a turtle cage and accessory kit for an inflated price, and then you give the turtle "free" with the kit purchase..

[excuzzzeme]

I have seen some illegal stuff for sale around here before.... I dont condone it-- but im not gonna report them either. I was raised to not be a snitch, people will get what is coming to them when its their time-- not reason to try to influence the way things happen.

Failing to report an illegal activity is the same as condoning it!

Nice try.


It is always better to check out the facts before taking any action. There are so many ways people skirt the regulations and laws it isn't funny. At least you are making an effort and for that you should be applauded.