Is it illegal to buy turtles online?

Yes, buying certain turtles online can be illegal, primarily due to a federal ban on selling turtles with shells less than 4 inches long to prevent salmonella outbreaks, a rule often circumvented online for small, exotic, or native species, while state and local laws add further restrictions on specific types like invasive or protected species. It's illegal to sell small turtles (under 4 inches) due to salmonella risks, and specific species (like native ones or certain exotics) are banned by state/federal laws, making online purchase risky and often illegal.
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Is it legal to buy turtles online?

A federal law bans the sale and distribution of turtles with shells less than 4 inches long as pets because of the repeated illnesses and outbreaks. Despite the ban, some online retailers, pet stores, and roadside markets continue to sell small turtles.
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Can I buy a pet turtle online?

Yes, you can buy turtles online from various reptile vendors and breeders, but it's crucial to choose a reputable seller due to risks like animal welfare issues, scams, and potential illegal sales, focusing on those offering healthy, captive-bred animals with proper overnight shipping and health guarantees, like The Turtle Source or American Reptile Distributors, while being wary of large sites with generic care. Always research reviews, check breeder reputation (like on Reddit/Facebook groups), and verify they ship legally and responsibly, avoiding tiny turtles (under 4 inches) due to CDC warnings.
 
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Can turtles be shipped?

If the turtle is packed correctly it will arrive fine. So always be sure the turtle is packed comfortably and for the weather and never, ever ship if the weather is questionable, nor around a holiday. Reminder: Heat packs are not reliable below 40° - Do Not Ship!
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What states are turtles illegal in?

  • Two states, North Carolina and South Dakota, ban the sale of all turtles.21.
  • establishment in North Carolina.” 22 In South Dakota, “[a] person may not buy, sell, barter, or.
  • trade any species of turtle.”
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NEVER BUY a Baby Turtle Online! (Watch Before Buying)

Is owning a box turtle illegal?

It is also important to realize that, in most states, it is illegal to take a box turtle from the wild and keep it in captivity. Wild populations are dwindling, so they are protected in most states.
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Can I keep a turtle that I found?

NEVER TAKE A WILD TURTLE HOME AS A PET

The best thing to do when you find a baby turtle is to identify the species and then help get it where it is going. For aquatic turtles, this means finding a nearby body of water, placing them at the edge, and allowing them to enter the water at their own pace.
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Why are turtles no longer sold in pet stores?

Turtles carry salmonella

A small turtle may seem harmless, giving parents a false sense that they're a safe pet for children. But the disease risk is so great that selling small turtles is illegal in the United States.
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Can FedEx ship turtles?

What types of live animals can I ship with FedEx? You can ship live fish, harmless (non-venomous) reptiles and amphibians, and live insects or worms that don't bite or sting. Traditional pets such as dogs, cats, birds, or hamsters cannot be shipped with FedEx.
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Can UPS ship turtles?

Accepted and Prohibited Live Animals

Reptiles (Limited to the following): Lizards: Examples: chameleons, geckos, iguanas, monitors, flying dragons. Turtles: freshwater turtles (except: snapping turtles), land tortoises, sea turtles.
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Is a 20 gallon tank enough for a turtle?

Yes, a 20-gallon tank can work for a baby or juvenile turtle as a temporary home, but it's crucial to upgrade quickly as they grow, following the general rule of 10 gallons per inch of shell length, because most adult turtles need much larger enclosures (40-100+ gallons) for swimming, basking, and proper waste management. A 20-gallon tank is just a starting point for small species like hatchling Mud Turtles or Box Turtles, but they rapidly outgrow it.
 
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Does PetSmart still sell turtles?

At PetSmart, you can choose from various pet reptiles we have for sale, including snakes, lizards, turtles and more. Find the perfect companion for you. Whether you're looking for a desert-dwelling dragon, a sun-loving snake, or a nocturnal gecko, PetSmart has a reptile companion for everyone.
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Can I buy a turtle at Petco?

Yes, Petco does sell turtles, including popular types like Red-Eared Sliders, Russian Tortoises, and Redfoot Tortoises, along with all the necessary habitat supplies, but availability can vary by store, and they often sell them in-store only. Petco offers various aquatic and land turtles, plus tanks, food, lamps, and other equipment to set up their habitats. 
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Why is it illegal to sell turtles under 4 inches?

In an attempt to curtail the incidence of turtle-associated Salmonella infection in children, federal regulations restricting the sale of turtles and their eggs became law in 1975. There is strong evidence that these regulations were effective in reducing the incidence of Salmonella in the US in the late 1970's.
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Can I sell my turtle on Craigslist?

Only illegal if it is a California Desert Tortoise. This one is a sulcata so you can sell them.
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Is it illegal to mail live animals?

Warm-blooded animals, except for adult birds and specified day-old birds under the specific conditions in this section, are not mailable. Nonmailable warm-blooded animals include: Cats or kittens. Dogs or puppies.
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Is ship your reptiles legit?

ShipYourReptiles.com is approved for the shipping of live non-venomous reptiles and reptile supplies to and from business and residential addresses. You must follow all ShipYourReptiles.com Shipping Standards. You must also follow all UPS rules and restrictions.
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Can I order a pet turtle online?

Here at American Reptile Distributors, we have one of the most extensive selections of turtles for sale online that are available for all skill levels of collectors! Our customer favorites include: Alligator Snapping Turtles for sale, Red-Eared Slider Turtle Morphs for sale, and Mud Turtles for sale!
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Is it painful for a turtle to have barnacles removed?

Yes, improper or unnecessary barnacle removal can hurt turtles by causing pain, damaging their sensitive shell (which has nerves), and leading to infections, but professionally removing excessive barnacles that impair movement or cover vital areas (like eyes/nostrils) helps the turtle's health, often by using gentle methods like freshwater soaks to loosen them, not scraping.
 
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What states banned pet stores?

Eight U.S. states have banned the retail sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores: California, Maryland, Maine, Washington, Illinois, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. Additionally, hundreds of local jurisdictions have passed similar ordinances.
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Do turtles bond with humans?

Yes, turtles can form bonds with humans, though it's different from mammals like dogs; they show affection through recognition, seeking interaction (like petting or basking near you), enjoying gentle touch (chin, shell), and associating you with food and care, building a relationship based on trust and positive reinforcement. While they don't respond to verbal commands, they can learn faces and voices and display unique signs of contentment, such as extending limbs for rubs or relaxing in your presence.
 
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Why is it illegal to own a box turtle?

The eastern box turtle is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international treaty that restricts trade in species to prevent exploitation.
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How much do pet turtles cost?

Pet turtles range from cheap (like $20 Red-Eared Sliders) to very expensive ($500-$5,000+ for rare species), but the biggest cost is the habitat setup (hundreds to over $1,000 for tanks, filters, UVB lights, heat, decor) and ongoing care (food, electricity, vet visits), making total costs $200-$500+ initially, then $30-$70+ monthly, with exotic breeds costing significantly more. 
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Is it illegal to buy turtles?

Yes, it's illegal to buy small turtles (under 4 inches) in the U.S. due to federal bans aimed at preventing Salmonella outbreaks, especially in kids, but they still appear illegally; however, owning larger, captive-bred turtles is generally okay, though specific state/local laws (like California's) and rules against taking from the wild or releasing them must be followed.
 
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