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Willie · Level 3 Joined: 16 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Wisconsin

I recently attended a turtle seminar at the University here in town. I took some notes on what they had to say about keeping wild turtles as pets. Here it is:
(From a Brochure)
This is just a little blurb on turtles that have been caught in the wild and put into captivity.

First of all, we believe that wild turtles should stay that way. If you see a wild turtle, please leave them where they are. The turtle is doing just fine on their own and will survive. If you find an injured turtle, you could take them to a shelter or look after them yourself until healed but please keep wild turtles in the wild and domestic turtles domestic.

Many problems can arise from having a wild caught turtle. The largest being an eating problem. In the wild, the turtles are used to having to look for their food. They are constantly looking. Domestic turtles don't have that problem. If you have a wild caught turtle, they may not eat the pellets that the pet store would sell you, they wouldn't know what to do with them. Wild caught turtles tend to have all sorts of diseases that may not affect them but do affect us or other animals. Wild caught turtles put into captivity also would have much undue stress put on them. They are free one day and in a cage the next. Many wild caught turtles get sick and die because of this. Many wild caught turtles will die of starvation once placed in captivity.

By removing wild caught turtles from their native environments, we put pressures on the native populations. This only adds to the already problems of habitat loss and environmental pollution. Because of these factors, many turtle populations have decreased dramatically and many are dangerously close to extinction.

When getting a turtle, we strongly recommend that you try to stick to breeders of captive bred turtles. This will ensure that wild turtles stay that way and it will decrease the need for the trade of capturing and selling wild turtles for money. Domestic turtles will already have adapted to being in captivity, will carry far fewer diseases and will live longer than any wild caught turtle that you may capture.

We know that this all sounds like a big ploy at being a conservationist, but turtles are a vital part of the ecosystem. If we capture all wild turtles, there will be none left for future generations to enjoy.

(And from another Brochure):

I am often asked by people why they should buy CB (captive bred) rather than WC (wild caught) turtles and tortoises. To that end I came up with the following reasons. I intentionally am not mentioning the impact on wild habitats or populations though to many people that is a prime motivator. People that are sympathetic to the pressures being put on the wild populations do not need economic reasons. These reasons were formulated to appeal to even the most ambivalent about conservation.

1. Vet bills - assuming that you do get a semi healthy tortoise or turtle it still will at a minimum needworming and an examination, that is assuming you can find a qualified vet.

2. The likelihood of getting an animal that has not been severely stressed is nil, at the best you are looking at three year acclimation period before normal behavior is manifested.

3. Any WC animal you get has almost certainly been exposed to other species. What might be a minor ailment in another species may kill your animal - fast.

4. How about the possibility of you getting an exotic disease from the WC animal?

5. Because of stress factors wild caught animals are MUCH more difficult to ever breed.

6. Exposing your captive bred animal to a wild caught mate effectively negates a lot of the advantages associated with being captive bred. (There was - I can't remember the source - an entire herd of breeding leopard tortoises that was killed by the addition of a couple wild caught animals - AFTER quarantine.)

7. Why allow anyone to make that kind of profit off you? In my experience most breeders break even at best, wholesalers and importers make a bundle off YOU!

8. MORE vet bills

9. A wild caught collection requires much more or your time to take care of, rather than general husbandry you need to become an expert at disease recognition and prevention. How much is your time worth?

10. Wild caught animals are often treated by the importers with various drugs - to worm, fight disease, force egg laying, and generally minimize loss (the "shot gun" approach) - while they are in his hands. He does not care what happens after you have them. Kidney failure and the like take many WC animals long after they are bought.

11. Generally a breeder stands behind his or her animals - making themselves available even years later for help. Importers and dealers could care less what happens once they cash your check.

Some things to think about. And maybe you will consider paying an extra 30 dollars or so and waiting a few months to get a captively-bred animal.

Here are some great links for you to find a reputable breeder to buy a nice, healthy turtle from:

http://market.kingsnake.com/index.php?cat=39
http://www.allturtles.com/msgboard/viewforum.php?f=30

If you have any questions, just ask.
Willie

dixieee · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:55 am Post subject:

thanx willie Smile

i wish that ignorant people who show up on this site get automatically directed to here Mad

anyways, hope everything's ok with u. see u around
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deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

Thanks so much for this article Willie.

Personally I have a tough time when people keep wild turtles. Trying to explain why that "cute, little thing" should be set back in it's native habitat is flustrating at best. If they had big teeth and a wicked temperment people wouldn't be so prone to pick them up. But as they are fairly defensless people assume it is ok. Rolling Eyes

Anyway I really hope this article will help people see what they are doing so I have made this a sticky. Smile

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Willie · Level 3 Joined: 16 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Wisconsin

I know exactly what you mean Christy. I just posted in Aquatic Turtles about this very same topic.
Anyways, on a lighter subject, how have you been? The forum looks great. I'm on summer break so I have much more time to visit the forums. I do have some lab studies that I have to go to but I get credit towards my tuition so its good.
See you around,
Willie

turtleman1 · Level 3 Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 210 Location: kentucky

ugg didnt any 1 see what i said? Question

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deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

I split the rest of this thread because it took a serious side track from the original message and the original is important. http://www.allturtles.com/msgboard/viewtopic.php?t=7314 You can continue you discussion here.
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nikki4mikey04 · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject:

i have three turtles from the wild...but my boyfriend found them while at work...upside down floating in the water...so he brought them home...they seem to be doing fine since i have had them for the past 6 months. At first they wouldnt eat and then when i bought dried meal worms and crickets they loved them and now they wont stop eating.....they act just like the ones bought in the stores

nikki4mikey04 · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

i think they are still pretty young also...the largest is about 3 inches....two of them look like YBS the other looks like a RBS

Pyramid Head · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject:

Very nice read Willie - though I can't help but feel guilty now though Neutral

The one's I have were raised in a domestic environment and wern't snatched out from the wild. I think there's a law here in the UK that states that it's illegal to actually keep wild imported turtes as pets.

However, if they we're born in this country by someone with a licence or someone who is recognised (basically, someone who knows what they're doing). Then everything's A-OK Razz

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kyturtle · Level 1 Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 9

I have a WC turtle that was actually found after a hurricane in Florida. When I first got him, he was weak and lethargic. He wouldn't eat anything until I let him settle in and got the proper lights on him. Then he started eating almost too well and seems very content to stay right where he is. Since getting him I have read about this and have been advised to keep him until he is old enough to eat just plant matter. I have had him for a little over a year and when I got him he was approx. 6-8 months old. Any suggestions on when would be a good time to release him back to the wild? I am going to Florida next week. Cool

Tiffany · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:00 pm Post subject:

I would watch letting it go though...as this one has been fed and never needed to hunt for food. I have a permanent member here that was a W/C, my Florida cooter was 4 inches when we found him in the road with a chipped shell, after 3 rounds of shots and daily soaking for 6 months to rid him of blood poison and a year of care he has to stay, he's way to dependant on humans food.

UNLESS they would die {and you know this with out a doubt} move them away to a safe place an leave them in the wild. I right now have 7 annam pond turtle's that are EXTINCT in the wild. If they had been left alone by humans they would not be in danger of permanant extinction. We all need to save this planet and the animals in it and stop taking them when we have NO RIGHT to do so. No matter what you think they would NEVER be happy in a cage or tank after being in the wild and able to CHOOSE their home and food.
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kyturtle · Level 1 Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 9

I don't know that he would die now, but I do know he would be dead if I hadn't taken care of him much like you with your Cooter. Now that he is healthy and growing well, i want to do the right thing by the turtle. I think we would all agree that that is what we are all about.

Is it true that at some point these turtles (Striped Mud Turtle) move from a diet of meat to a diet of vegetation? If that was the case, he would probably have a better chance of survival when he reached that stage. It isn't really all that difficult to hunt down a leaf. Laughing

luis x 905 · Level 1 Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

First of all turtles live along time 15+ years. Once you take them out of the wild it is very hard ot ever turn him loose again. Are you willing to care for this turtle until you are 28-30 years old?
Turtles are not inexpensive to keep. It takes alot of money to invest in a proper habitat for them. You need a tank, but you also need a basking area with a basking light, a UVa/UVB bulb, a heater a filter( a very good filter). Here is a link to a basic habitat. http://www.allturtles.com/setup/indoorWT.php
These turtles need proper food. Turtle pellets can be purchased at your local pet store or even Wal-MArt. Then you neeed to make sure they have access to the right type of veggies. Kale, carrot shreads, dandilion leaves (not out of the yard), romaine lettuce and an occasional piece of apple, banana, grape and then treats like grubs and worms that you can get from the pet store. Crickets are good to . Tuna packed in water, or any other fresh fish pieces.
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luis x 905 · Level 1 Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

I really can't stress enough you really need to put the turtle in it's natural habitat.
The setup requirements cost alot. A basic could run you about $200. And without proper food the turtle will get sick and die. In it's natural habitat it knows what to eat and where to find it. Yes, someone else could pick it up but that really doesn't happen often. Most people know not to pick up wild animals and take them home. Sometimes people do to care for them temporarily if they are ill or injured. But for this turtles sake please take him to a proper habitat and turn him loose.
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luis x 905 · Level 1 Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

Linzlou83 · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject:

Hi Luis,

If he was walking by a river, that's most likely where he lives and you should set him back where you found him, or your dad. He's been living in the wild all his life and he's survived well enough, so it's best to let him be. He likes it there. Wild turtles should be observed and helped if they need it, but then put back to get on with their lives.

Deesygirl is right, they are a TON of work. More than you think and they cost a lot of money. I mean, we're talking about building a mini-pond in your home and reproducing natural conditions (food, clean water, light). A lot of responsibility. Day after day for the next 20 years.

People who want turtles as pets should get them from a pet store as it isn't fair to take them from the wild. Good luck and I'm sure you'll make the right decision!
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