Other Turtle Discussion :: Buying turtles online?

[taby88]

Has anyone every bought a turtle online? I had a baby res from the local pet store, but he died. I'm almost positive he was sick when I got him. I even took him to the vet and got antibiotics. I guess it was too late. Anyways, I ordered a turtle from ----------. I got my little guy this past Wednesday and he hasn't eaten at all. I tried reptimin turtle food, meal worms, and even soaked the turtle food in tuna and nothing. I was wondering if anyone has had succes with turtles from online sites? and how long will he be ok without eating?
My basking temperatures are just under 90 and my water is 78. I have UVA/UVB lights. So all that stuff is good

[taby88]

Oh and I forgot something. Would i hurt to give my new turtle antibiotics for a week just to be on the safe side and catch it before it gets worse?

[Lilsaint]

I think they are gettin used to the new environment so they wont eat yet... Wait a couple of days and see. Btw i think -------------sell good turtles too. Based on others feedback

[jozzep]

I think they are gettin used to the new environment so they wont eat yet... Wait a couple of days and see. Btw i think turtleshack [not reputable].com sell good turtles too. Based on others feedback

"--------------" and "turtlesale [not reputable]" are the same place.They just changed the name cause of the very bad reputation.
Don't buy anything from either!!
Also where do you live? If it's below 40 degrees, wait till the weather gets warmer before you buy turtles online.

[Turtle Mummy 101]

taby88 - Just a quick question. How long after you bought your RES from the pet store did it die? I had the same problem when I got Charlotte. Luckily she has recovered and is doing great, but I think alot of pet stores sell sick turtles.

Also, I agree with the other posters about buying turtles online. You just never know what you're gonna get. I think your little guy will eventually eat - hes probably just getting used to his environment, but it sounds like you're doing everything right so just keep trying

[freshprince2146]

taby88 i think the best way to go is to adopt a res.

[taby88]

turtle mummy 101, I only had my other turtle around 3 weeks. He died 2 days after I took him to the vet.

[Spike 7.62]

I've dealt with --------------- and never had any problems. They have a bad reputation, but I've had success with them. It seems like it is hit or miss, also try reptile shows.

-Spike

[jay2487]

I think that the problem with -------------and why this forum doesn't like to advertise for them is, while they have a large assortment of turtles and all are health guaranteed, there habitat section is disgusting. The biggest tank they sell is barely big enough for the smallest turtle they sell. They even sell death bowls as if they were perfect habitats and there care sheets say nothing about size and tank needs. For those reasons I think the moderators here don't want to advertise for them knowing that many first time turtle owners have taken directions from these people and are now housing 5 inch turtles in those oasis death bowls or have just had them die needlessly. As far as there actual turtles; I purchased a YBS from them, it came with a 3 day health guarantee and a second person rode in the FedEx truck as an attendant and held my turtle in his lap the entire time(in the shipping crate of course)he also got out of the truck, came inside and waited for me to open the box so he could examine the turtle and make sure it was okay before he left with the driver. I personally thought that was quite impressive and thorough. One thing to keep in mind is that when I in Florida order from -------------the turtles come from a different place than if someone in new york bought one. It's like 1800flowers. Lots of breeders and pet stores are members of ------------distributing program and when a turtle is sold, the closest breeder to have one is who gets the business. Certainly don't buy any habitat stuff off -------------unless you plan on keeping dwarf african frogs or small newts because they don't have one tank fit for even a musk turtle half grown.

[TheComputerGremlin]

This board does not advertise ANY reptiles being sold, whether through the internet or otherwise, because we simply do not advertise reptiles being sold. The reason that we discourage purchase from online or other breeders is that the stock being sold is frequently sub-par, from backyard breeders, and may be sick. We highly encourage adoption as there is a RES overpopulation. The more you support backyard breeders, the more they will breed. And then stupid people release the RES into ponds, where they either destroy the local habitat or are captured and euthanized. How is that better?

I'm not saying that there aren't some lovely turtles out there that I would buy from a specialty breeder. But I would look locally for a turtle that I can personally choose from the existing stock (or walk away if I don't like any) and I would not be purchasing a RES.

[Bigdadd07]

We recently bought/adopted our 2 turtles from turtlesale [not reputable] and after ordering from there I decided to research the company. I know, I know, research then buy. After looking up the company and reading the bad reviews we started to get nervous about ordering from that website. So, our turtles came in and they are doing real well. We have had them for about 2 months and everything is going good. At first they did not want to eat because I was feeding them ina seperate feeding area. Come to find out, I have a couple picky turtles hehehe and now I feed them in the main tank and they eat everything in sight, except apples. 1 of the turtles did not eat for I know at least 4 days but eventually he came around.

[jozzep]

We recently bought/adopted our 2 turtles from [name removed] and after ordering from there I decided to research the company. I know, I know, research then buy. After looking up the company and reading the bad reviews we started to get nervous about ordering from that website. So, our turtles came in and they are doing real well. We have had them for about 2 months and everything is going good. At first they did not want to eat because I was feeding them ina seperate feeding area. Come to find out, I have a couple picky turtles hehehe and now I feed them in the main tank and they eat everything in sight, except apples. 1 of the turtles did not eat for I know at least 4 days but eventually he came around.

Well happy you had a good experience, but to anybody who has been into turtle keeping for quit sometime, both those websites are like the plague.
I've ordered once from them long time ago (didn't know better), and they shipped me two sick turtles packed horribly in a snake bag with packing peanuts in it.In the beginning i thought the turtles floated around cause they had eaten the packing peanuts, but eventually found out it was a RI. They both died.
There are a few reputable breeders i deal with and these guys are the real deal....If anyone needs advice, just PM me.

[davidthegreat]

---------------- is the best place.

[imderanged]

My RES Pickle came from the "website that shall not be named". My good friend ordered him and surprised me with him. Pickle was sick and not eating when I got him, but in all fairness to the company, I didn't see how he was packed or what condition he was in when he arrived. I do know that they gave my friend terrible advice in taking care of him. He had him in a critter keeper of room temp water when he gave him to me. In the mean time he got a Map Turtle from that same company and it's doing well. Personally if I were in the market for RES myself, I would definitely go the rescue route. There are just so many without homes. In my opinion it is also an advantage to get a turtle that is a little older and established. The hatchlings can be so delicate, it's heartbreaking how quickly they can fall ill and die.