daemon@decwrl.UUCP (The devil himself) (04/17/85)
[ paraphrasing ] >> Actually I'd like some information on the diseases and the outlawing of >> sales... I will supply the official "reply" later when I go home and look it up, but for now, here is a general paraphrased answer; "There was a salamanella (spelling?) scare a few years ago concerning baby turtles. Salamanella can be found in larger adult turtles, but only in about 1/1000 percent. However, the young hatchlings have a MUCH higher rate, although the conveyance of this disease to humans is VERY RARE and can also be communicated through horses, and other animals. Due to the scare, many of the hatchlings were flushed down toilets, thrown out in ponds, etc. These hatchlings were baby red-eared sliders, and MILLIONS were hatched and sold out of Lousianna yearly. This was also causing a problem with the future generations of this species. Due to this fact, nearly every state has a law mandating that turtles (and tortoises, not out of necessity, but out of inclusiveness), be at least 3, 4, or 5 inches long. This ensures that the hatchlings are not stripped from their habitat, ensures the future generations of the red-eared slider (and other species), and also virtually eliminates any threat of salamanella. Also it should be noted, that since the turtles sold in stores are usally "raised/groomed" on "farms", they are usually quite healthy, and are not only if improperly treated during captivity in the pet store." In Mass., the law is 4 inches. However, since some states have a 3 inch law, you may be able to find smaller turtles (in your state, smaller than the legal limit, if the legal limit is above 3''), as the breeders just send them out, regardless of the laws, with a 3'' minimum. Just fyi... I called many pet stores in the state, and finally found one who told me "I'm not sure of the shell size, but they're the smallest I've seen". I checked it out, and I found a red-eared slider whose shell did measure just barely above 3''. This turtle happens to be the most responsive one I've ever owned. After only four days of owning, I can almost feed it out of hand (it waits just below the water until I drop the food). Most I also bought a damn fine book (publisher etc. coming later) that answered a lot of my questions. However I'm still enjoying/learning from the mail everyone is sending me. One final question: o The book describes a cloacal opening used to determine sex. Can anyone help me with hints or information on sexing? ;-) -Roy J. Karlson- ...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vlnvax!karlson