Got room for my turtles?

[braindead]

A story all too common...

Last summer while in Chinatown in Chicago, we bought several red-eared slider turtles for myself and the kids. I had only ever seen them small, and the salesperson told me "they'll only grow as large as their habitat" which I now realize is totally untrue.

So, now I need to find a good home for them. I'm not going to simply release them into the wild, of course. But they'd make a cool addition to an outdoor pond.

I love these little guys, but circumstances have come up that no longer allow me to keep them (I'm moving my office home and need the space).

Anyone interested? They're free to a good home. They're currently in a 55 gallon aquarium with stand, heater, lights, rocks and submersible filtration. I'd let the whole rig go for $150, but I'm more interested in finding the turtles a home.

[glenoweth]

Pics would help you find a home for them im sure.

[fuzzylogic]

Just out of curiosity since they are an indigenous species, why do you not want to release them to say a community park with a lake. For example we have a park here with a small lake that people go to feed the ducks at. To me this would be an ideal place for a relocation

[braindead]

Here's a picture of my pair, Beavis (smaller and more vivid colors) and Butthead (larger with a darker shell). The children's are a bit less personable. Mine will both eat out of your hand (they actually expect it).

I suppose I could release them somewhere like Williamsport lakes, but they've been raised in captivity so far, so I'm concerned for their well being. If the concensus is that they'll be OK because they're indigenous to TN, then perhaps I could be pursuaded to release them into the wild. I really have grown attached to them, though. I'd love to know they were going to someone who appreciated them as much as I do.

Attachments:

[jtrotter77]

Feb 17, 2012 13:30:21 GMT -6 fuzzylogic said:

Just out of curiosity since they are an indigenous species, why do you not want to release them to say a community park with a lake. For example we have a park here with a small lake that people go to feed the ducks at. To me this would be an ideal place for a relocation

Simple answer . Its illegal.
just as its illegal to release a fish from an aquarium into a lake here even if you caught it in the same lake earlier. There may be no ill effects of doing so but in either case (turtles,fish, ect.) they could introduce bacteria,viruses,Fungus ect..ect... that may not be natural here and could spread wrecking havoc on the ecosystem. Best Answer for turtles is to release them into a privately owned pond that does not lead to any waterways. (creeks,rivers,ect..) Turtles are tricky as here in TN they are illegal to own,buy,sale,giveaway,release,transport into or out of state,or catch (unless fishing and wanting to eat it)

[jtrotter77]

also lots of apartments and some hospitals around here have ponds and they are good places to let them go as they are usually stocked with lots of food since most fishing is not allowed.

[braindead]

Well, I found a friend who has a farm with a private pond who was thrilled to let me release them at his place, so that's a relief.

Since they've been indoors and under heaters all winter, I think I'll slowly turn the heaters down until their water reaches room temperature, then in the spring when we're seeing temps in the 80's, I'll take them down to release them.

I'm going to miss them, but at least they'll be happy there.

[jtrotter77]

sounds like a good plan. I actually seen some sliders basking on a log in oldhickory a couple weeks ago. They should already be in their winter slumber but due to the mild winter they are still out there kicking.

[ree123]

If you still have the turtles, I know a guy in Dickson who raises various types of turtles and would take them. Let me know if you still have them and need to re-house them.