Re: Hatchlings

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Posted by Murphy Law on January 09, 1999 at 00:24:18:

> Hatchling turtles seem to be making their way back into pet stores, violating
> the FDA ban on sale of turtles < 4" carapace length. The local Petland in the
> mall here in Missoula has a big tank with lots of little sliders and Miss map
> turtles. To buy one you have to sign a waiver (promising you won't put it in
> your mouth, and presumably declaring yourself an educational or scientific
> institution to "satisfy" the regs). I don't know if this is limited to this
> one store or is occurring throughout the whole chain.

You can also get hatchlings at reptile shows. Granted, those attending are
generally eager to pay admission and know what they are looking for, let alone
promising not to put them in their mouths.

Me for example, I attended the Austin Reptile Show on 7 Nov 98, with one purpose.
My mission was to find Indian Star tortoises. I had previously done my research
and had found that they were hard to come by except for hatchlings. I found three
hatchlings at this show, all under the supervision of a dweeb known to me as Mike
Shipp. I circled the room and found that he was the only guy with the stars. Funny
thing was, he was also standing behind the table sponsored by Russ Gurley -
founder of the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group ( http://www.batagur.com/ )
in Oklahoma City, OK. I recognized Russ from his display of tshirts showing
endangered reptiles - which I had found while surfing the web, so I trusted his
companion Mike as well.

Mike was eager to sell me two hatchlings and took my credit card in for swiping.
Upon his return, I offered him my business card as I had just handed him $800 of
my money. His response was short of business like yet I continued on my way.

two days later, upon having my new members of my family seen by a vet who was a
self claimed reptile expert, they were declared healthy. Several days after that,
I realized they weren't. It was too late. One of my hatchlings died of a
respiratory infection not 10 days after I took posession and the second was in
serious trouble. The original vet was fired and a new vet ultimately saved the
life of the remaining hatchling.

We nursed it back to life from its deathbed for a period of 3 weeks. A followup
exam revealed that in addition to having a serious respiratory problem, this poor
bullied hatchling was also suffering from a mild case of pinworms. A 5 week
session with Panacur has resulted in this hatchling receiving a clean bill of
health from the vet.

This does not speak too highly for Michael Shipp or Russ Gurley who, once they
learned of my troubles, cut off all contact with me, period. I have complained to
my credit card company, only to find that it was charged shortly thereafter by an
adult content website via the internet. I consider this to be Oklahoma style
retribution.

These people are not healthy for your pocket. if you feel a need to give them
money, think twice.

Meanwhile, DW - the now HEALTHY Indian Star tortoise can be checked up on (as well
as the full story) at:

http://members.tripod.com/~IndianStar

Peace be with you.

Beware of the man behind the counter

Follow Ups:

Re: Hatchlings Joe 1/09/99 (0)
Re: Hatchlings Ed Lobster 1/09/99 (0)

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Comments:
: > Hatchling turtles seem to be making their way back into pet stores, violating : > the FDA ban on sale of turtles < 4" carapace length. The local Petland in the : > mall here in Missoula has a big tank with lots of little sliders and Miss map : > turtles. To buy one you have to sign a waiver (promising you won't put it in : > your mouth, and presumably declaring yourself an educational or scientific : > institution to "satisfy" the regs). I don't know if this is limited to this : > one store or is occurring throughout the whole chain. : You can also get hatchlings at reptile shows. Granted, those attending are : generally eager to pay admission and know what they are looking for, let alone : promising not to put them in their mouths. : Me for example, I attended the Austin Reptile Show on 7 Nov 98, with one purpose. : My mission was to find Indian Star tortoises. I had previously done my research : and had found that they were hard to come by except for hatchlings. I found three : hatchlings at this show, all under the supervision of a dweeb known to me as Mike : Shipp. I circled the room and found that he was the only guy with the stars. Funny : thing was, he was also standing behind the table sponsored by Russ Gurley - : founder of the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group ( http://www.batagur.com/ ) : in Oklahoma City, OK. I recognized Russ from his display of tshirts showing : endangered reptiles - which I had found while surfing the web, so I trusted his : companion Mike as well. : Mike was eager to sell me two hatchlings and took my credit card in for swiping. : Upon his return, I offered him my business card as I had just handed him $800 of : my money. His response was short of business like yet I continued on my way. : two days later, upon having my new members of my family seen by a vet who was a : self claimed reptile expert, they were declared healthy. Several days after that, : I realized they weren't. It was too late. One of my hatchlings died of a : respiratory infection not 10 days after I took posession and the second was in : serious trouble. The original vet was fired and a new vet ultimately saved the : life of the remaining hatchling. : We nursed it back to life from its deathbed for a period of 3 weeks. A followup : exam revealed that in addition to having a serious respiratory problem, this poor : bullied hatchling was also suffering from a mild case of pinworms. A 5 week : session with Panacur has resulted in this hatchling receiving a clean bill of : health from the vet. : This does not speak too highly for Michael Shipp or Russ Gurley who, once they : learned of my troubles, cut off all contact with me, period. I have complained to : my credit card company, only to find that it was charged shortly thereafter by an : adult content website via the internet. I consider this to be Oklahoma style : retribution. : These people are not healthy for your pocket. if you feel a need to give them : money, think twice. : Meanwhile, DW - the now HEALTHY Indian Star tortoise can be checked up on (as well : as the full story) at: : http://members.tripod.com/~IndianStar : Peace be with you.

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