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I've done a lot of research on turtle and such, and I'm away at school right now. Besides my research, I've worked at a "museum" which houses animals/ rescues/ rehabilitates wildlife. At the museum we have loads of turtles and I was one of the lucky ones to take care of those buggers. (spotted turtles, box turtles, painted turtles, wood turtles, terrapins... the list goes on) I've even got clearance to handle them by the nys DEEC, since they changed their policy last year.... So here is my predicament:



The good news, my school allows turtles if they live in a tank! Bad news- I wasn't a weary shopper.

I am 99.999999% sure I made a bad mistake of ordering from an online website, that everyone seems to dislike. If I cancel my order I'm out 16 bucks (which is a lot in college terms). Apparently, I get a free RES with my order so I'll be sent 2... and I definitely don't have the tank space!

Should I just cancel my order or change my order to one turtle? (If I change my order i save around $20)

I'm a pre-vet student, and I feel horrible that I could be adding to this trade, but then again in a way I am rescuing an animal from a crummy life....

What should I do?

Really? I think you know the right thing to do would be to cancel the order altogether. Like you said, you don't want to be supporting the trade. It's horrible for the turtles, but if anything is going to improve, the market needs to dry up. Why not start with you?

It's a shame about making you lose the money. That part isn't right either.

that's my opinion for what it's worth.

I'm going to cancell my order first thing tomorrow and fight to get my 16 dollars back. I guess I'll mention the BBB and DEC.

Anyone know of a reliable breeder?

Here's a very comprehensive link to some turtle rescue organizations. See anything in your area?

www.turtlehomes.org

This is off topic but I went looking in that site. They have a very comprehensive adoption application. They are very serious about making sure that the turts or torts go to a good home that knows what they're doing.

Ok, so I guess now I'm really up the creek.
I called this morning at 9 when they said their phone lines were open to cancel my order and they said it was sent out at 7!
They were pretty helpful on the phone, but I had no idea how fast their turn-around is.

Any suggestions to what I should do now?


EDIT:
Back at home I have a large backyard (6 acres) so I could easily make an outdoor habitat for the summer, and use a 90 gal tank I have thats currently unused for the winter.

I guess you'd better prepare to receive them. Be forewarned, they may be in poor shape when they arrive. I hope the trip for them goes fast and that the weather is good along the way. They'll need all the love and care you can give them. Good luck.

yeah i'm getting everything ready. I just need a water heater.. I have a fishtank with a heater, so I might just borrow it for the meantime. Its 60 degrees today which is incredibly nice, and tomorrow supposed to be good.

So here is a long delayed update: I was sent 3 turtles in the package! I was pretty shocked

So.... how are they doing?

Wow....3? That place is screwed up. Best of luck to you. And Welcome!