turtles???

[Magnum Man]

I've seen these listed, off and on over the last several years, and am quite puzzled by them, they appear to be a fresh water turtle, that looks like a sea turtle... growing to 24 inches, I'm not fooling myself, that I need one... I can't imagine anyone even close to an average aquarist that could / should keep one... not sure how they can ship them legally, yet they go into great detail, that you get papers for them, with your purchase... just curious what others think???

Fly River Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)

All legally imported with proper documentation. Copy of legal documents provided with each sale. BEWARE OF SELLERS WITH FAKE DOCUMENTS. ***Pre-order items cannot be cancelled following its purchase. Pre-order items are allocated to specific buyers based on their order with us.*** The pig-nosed...

www.predatoryfins.com

 

[jaylach]

Actually turtles can be a great pet if you get the right type. A family, when I lived in Ohio, had a fairly large box turtle that was quite cool. It was mellow and human friendly. It was always loose and just roamed around.

Same thing for rabbits. They are great pets but most don't see it. Often they are easier to train to a litter box than are cats. Actually I'd love to get a Lop Eared Rabbit but just have too much electronics. While easy to litter train it is pretty impossible to keep them from chewing wires.

 

[GaryE]

I can't comment on that exotic turtle, but my red eared sliders lived to 40 plus. That should be taken into account in considering one - they may well outlive their people. They're pets for people under 30 with stable lives, and I've rarely met such a person!

 

[emeraldking]

This type of turtle is only allowed with the right papers in our country.
I'm so amazed about the prices when I looked at the guppies on their site. There are some offered overthere that will cost just 10-15% of their price in our country.

 

[Magnum Man]

I've never actually seen guppy's for sale at that seller

 

[emeraldking]

I've never actually seen guppy's for sale at that seller

Well, when I clicked on your link, I also saw a guppy section overthere. As a livebearer passionate, I took a peek overthere. Well, I do know that pets in general cost more in the States and Canada in comparison to our country. That was actually my first shocking moment when I went to both countries for the first time.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

It's always been this way with Fly River turtles. Years and years ago Australia severely limited the number of animals.for export.which gave rise to many smuggled animals on the market.
Fly Rivers have been sort.of the holy.grail of turtles along with Mata matas and maybe snake necks.
Turltes/tortoises certainly aren't for the average person as they get large, have specialized needs and they live a long long time.

 

[Lcc86]

Actually turtles can be a great pet if you get the right type. A family, when I lived in Ohio, had a fairly large box turtle that was quite cool. It was mellow and human friendly. It was always loose and just roamed around.

Same thing for rabbits. They are great pets but most don't see it. Often they are easier to train to a litter box than are cats. Actually I'd love to get a Lop Eared Rabbit but just have too much electronics. While easy to litter train it is pretty impossible to keep them from chewing wires.

Going off topic but my house rabbits have never chewed a wire, I have no idea why as they're notorious for it! I think I am just very lucky! Great pets... also love turtles but I would worry about beeing able to meet their needs, they seem like complex little fellas.

 

[Magnum Man]

@GaryE ... said... "They're pets for people under 30 with stable lives, and I've rarely met such a person!"

don't forget, a turtle that gets to 24 inches, needs it's own swimming pool sized tank...

we had friends that had "house rabbits" they had one for years, in the house, but it died one day, attached to a lamp cord...

 

[jaylach]

don't forget, a turtle that gets to 24 inches, needs it's own swimming pool sized tank...

That is something that makes box turtles a good choice as an indoor pet. While they can swim they are not good at it. While they DO need water they are mostly land critters. Also they don't get very large with the largest type seldom getting over 8.5 inches.

 

[Naughts]

Well, I do know that pets in general cost more in the States and Canada in comparison to our country. That was actually my first shocking moment when I went to both countries for the first time.

Agreed. I haven't got anything to compare (though the mata matas mentioned by Rusty are available for £250 here) but $950 for a turtle!

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I just found a Fly River Turtle for sale.
I'm inquiring about CITES paperwork.

 

[Colin_T]

I've seen these listed, off and on over the last several years, and am quite puzzled by them, they appear to be a fresh water turtle, that looks like a sea turtle... growing to 24 inches, I'm not fooling myself, that I need one... I can't imagine anyone even close to an average aquarist that could / should keep one... not sure how they can ship them legally, yet they go into great detail, that you get papers for them, with your purchase... just curious what others think???

Fly River Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)

All legally imported with proper documentation. Copy of legal documents provided with each sale. BEWARE OF SELLERS WITH FAKE DOCUMENTS. ***Pre-order items cannot be cancelled following its purchase. Pre-order items are allocated to specific buyers based on their order with us.*** The pig-nosed...

www.predatoryfins.com

They won't be coming from Australia so they are presumably from New Guinea, which means they could be smuggled out of the country as eggs or baby turtles. The entire landmass of New Guinea (which includes Irian Jaya) is rife with corruption, and money and violence talks. There's also plenty of areas people could get the turtles, take them to a beach, give them to a dealer who leaves on a boat. As for the paperwork, you can probably make something up and photocopy it a few times then use that to sell threatened/ endangered wildlife. Or you get one legally and copy that paperwork.

Ideally if you wanted something like that you would have some big ponds/ dams and add 40-50 of the turtles and let them breed. Not something I will do in my lifetime but a nice dream

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Yeah the dude was too sketchy and evasive for me. Probably an illegal turtle.

 

[simonas]

I got a young fly river turtle earlier this year I had wanted one for as long as I can remember and then loads popped up in the UK this year with a massive gradient in price.
Consequently I have also seen loads now for sale with some people saying oh they are boring etc.
Personally mines a pet I intend to keep for life, I went on holiday and missed the thing bizarrely. Its still only young but growing nicely and its shell has improved loads since I have had it
Mine didnt come with papers and I didnt know they were supposed to have them

He/she still doesnt have a name ... just realised this is an old pic I will get an up to date one