Dimondback terrapin?

[turtlebrad]

A local pet store has two very cool aquatic turtles, one seams to be a female and about 4-6in big, very cool white head with black markings, other is a baby maybe 2in, too small to sex. I asked the pet store about them and they said they were dimondback terripins, and that someone dropped them off at the store. I asked if they were for sale and the pet store worker said that they are endangered and they cant sell them, and there plan is to let them grow then set them losse.wouldnt this kill them? Im so lost by this whole thing, anyone know alot about dimondbacks?! Thanks!

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[Levi the Leopard]

where are you located??

 

[Anthony P]

I probably wouldn't kill them, but it would not be the right thing to do. DBTs are protected for a reason, so wild populations should not be subjected to the things that these turtles may have encountered in captivity. For instance, in a pet store, where space it at a premium, these guys may have been housed with any number of imported WC turtles, that might ave any number of disease or parasite.

If the store owner was smart, he would not risk being seen with a protected species in his possession, and would contact the DEP or whatever your state's wildlife office is, to report the turtles, to have them handled in the legal way, that will probably, but hopefully, be best for the turtles.

The real sad thing is that they were taken from the wild in the first place.

 

[turtlebrad]

Im in florida. And thats exactly what i figured that if they are wrong to sell that they should give them to someone who can care for them properly rather than let them losse. And theres tanks are maybe 40gals an theres 3 turtles 6in big in it.

 

[Itort]

He can not sell them because they classified as a game specie. DBTs are not considered an imperaled specie in FL but are a game specie. He can have in his possesion two but can't sell.