Baby Turtles . . .

[edwardorino]

are illegal, right? I went to Chinatown in Chicago and found these guys in a small touristy shop. You can see pics of them here:

http://theneedsofthefew.blogspot.com

I also have a pic of live eels from a grocery store! Can you keep those guys in an aquarium?

[Chickieepooh2u]

It depends on what kind of turtles they are. As to the eels... In a grocery store right? So they're gonna be food? *gag* Ya well... I guess its kind of like the Lobster tanks around here.

I couldn't get to that page...it kept freezing my computer up so I didn't get a look at the pics.

[edwardorino]

I think you have to disable scripts. I have a video embed on there, and gives peeps fits. You could always upgrade Flash.

[Lobo.]

if they are over 4 in, then they are fine, otherwise its like selling rolex watches for $5 on the street corner.... they are obviously not made by rolex, and rolex is not getting money, soo it may be theivery but there is almost no way to stop it...

now how they get to be able to sell them in almost every shop in florida.. iduno

[Sploke]

In the US, it is illegal to sell turtles under 4" unless they are for research or educational use. However, its not a well-enforced law so you still see them sold every once in a while. Mostly at the big expos is where they try to crack down, but even there you can get them if you know who to talk to.

[edwardorino]

In Bloomington, IN it seems to better enforced. I expected to find something illegal in Chinatown. I was hoping for more sketchy stuff to take pics.

[Toirtis]

In the US, it is illegal to sell turtles under 4" unless they are for research or educational use.

Which is sad...the law was intended to protect children from salmonellosis (the idea being that turtles under 4" fit easily into childrens' mouths), but what it has the unfortunate effect of is that is discourages captive-breeding of many species, including most tortoises (which it also covers), thereby encouraging wild-harvesting and smuggling.

[edwardorino]

That does suck. But wait, why would that discourage captive breeding?

[Hurley]

That does suck. But wait, why would that discourage captive breeding?

Becuase the breeder has to wait for the turtles to grow over 4inches to sell them. Depending on the species that can take over a year. Thats alot of extra expenses for the breeder.

[edwardorino]

That makes sense. I remember red ear sliders being very easy to catch as a child.