Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Hi from Texas

[BurgerMeister8]

Hi every on i've wanted a turtle since I was 5, I don't have one but I am planning on getting one soon. I am trying to gather as much info as I can before getting one so if you have any helpful advice or tips I would really like that

Thanks

[WyredHardware]

well I want to give you a big CONGRATZ!!! for thinking about it before you buy one. All I can say is research research research... read read read... then ask questions. We will be happy to help.

Welcome to the forum by the way

[SpotsMama]

Greetings and welcome to the forum. And Wyredhardware is right on target - the more you learn and prepare before you get your turtle the smoother it will go. Where are you thinking of getting your turtle from?

[BurgerMeister8]

WOW this website has nice people thanks I am thinking about bying it on the internet cause I want a baby turtle but can't find one anywhere I know that it is illegal to sell one less than 4 inches cause of salmonella but i found this website that I think I can trust so do y'all know anything about turtlesale [not reputable] .com

[BurgerMeister8]

never mind it removed the name

[BurgerMeister8]

I was also probably going to get it from petsmart or petco

[BurgerMeister8]

Hey spotsmama I live near mesquite

[SpotsMama]

You live near Mesquite? How neat! We can compare notes about the weather!

You won't find RES at petsmart or petco around here. They don't carry them. I know of a place in Garland that sells them that seems to be fairly clean. The turtles (at least the ones I saw there last year) were very small though. They were in the back of the shop sort of hidden.

Your best bet would be to get one from a rescue organization. I know of a great one in Houston - the Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society. They're very strict about who gets a turtle. From what they told me they won't let anyone take an aquatic turtle unless they're able to provide an outdoor pond for them. That limits the pool of adopters of course so they usually have quite a lot of aquatic turtles on hand. They also adopt out other sorts of cheloneons.

Since you're in North Texas not Houston, what you could do if you're interested is ask the Gulf Coast people if they could refer you to someone in this part of the state. My guess is that not all rescue organizations will be as strict as Gulf Coast about whether the person is able to provide an outdoor pond.

Here's a link:

http://www.gctts.org/drupal/node/91

[BurgerMeister8]

I could have been to the place in garland can you say the name of it or will it blank it out and thanks for the link.

[BurgerMeister8]

Hey since your from Texas did you know that there is a reptile expo in arlington in september!

[kmichael55]

never mind it removed the name

there's a reason why it was removed, I wouldn't even think of buying from them, there is another thread about this currently.

[DavidY]

Welcome to the forum. It's nice to have you here and I'm glad you're doing research before you get your new turtle. My sincere advice to you is...

What ever you do, do NOT buy ANYTHING from [the online store that is sooo bad that it's very name is forbidden to even be mentioned here]. They regularly sell sick, dead or dying baby turtles and use very poor shipping practices. They are deliberately practicing animal cruelty at their facility as is evidenced by the condition of their animals (missing scutes, shell rot, fungus, respiratory illnesses, open sores/wounds, dehydration, you name it, they've done it). The only reason they stay in business is because of their pretty website design and sweet sounding marketing ads as well as their very low prices. PETA is well aware of their operation and is currently working on tracking them down and nailing their a** to a wall. I sincerely hope they will shut down that torture pit and put those "people" behind bars where they belong.

If you want to read more about [that name that shall not be mentioned here] you can check out this very long thread about their sour dealings...
http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload/index.php?showtopic=63951

[marisa]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Reading/doing research about what your future turtle needs to be healthy is the best advice I can give you.

[SpotsMama]

BurgerMeister8, Yes I know about the reptile expo. They have it quarterly. I went the last time (June?). They had mostly lizards for sale - lots of beardies and other types. They had many many scorpians (too many in my opinion). They had lots of snakes. A few spiders. Very few - maybe half a dozen - turtles, not aquatic but, I believe, boxies. No crocodilians.

Where I remember seeing RES was the Boutique Pet Store and Aquarium. It's actually in Dallas (I misremembered) but on Garland Road.

[BurgerMeister8]

YAH thats were I got my guinea pigs the boutique pet store I was just talking to my mom about it the other day but I don't have them anymore. now I have a ball python ( just got them less than 2 weeks ago). What I really want to do is get used to caring for that then focus on the turtle. I also want a beardie but they eat to many crickets. Oh david thanks for the links.