Look at my new stinkpot!

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Posted by Sonya on May 12, 2003 at 20:25:52:

In Reply to: Look at my new stinkpot! posted by keri on May 12, 2003 at 16:01:58:

:My goodness... I don't think I was being militant at all... I actually think I was very nice about the whole thing... I answered their questions and recommended it be released. I'm not saying that this country treats it's wild turtles great, all I was saying was that it is a wild caught animal and that I beleive it should stay wild. As far as what I said about it may not do well... I did not suggest it would immediately drop dead, but wild caught turtles can tend to be shyer and more skittish that cb, also they may have a much harder time beginning to eat in captivity... I'm not swaying he can't do it, but there is something to the idea that it may struggle. All I'm saying is that I don't ever recommend removing wild turltes for pets when there are PLENTY of captive bred ones available, why mes with the einvironment in even a small way when you can spend the extra cash for one that was cb? I'm not trying to start a fire-storm here... and I felt like I was plenty helpful and polite about their questions, I just recommended they release it. Sorry if that recommendation offends anyone, but I think you'll find that many in the turtle community support cb programs over wc.

I don't think it has offended anyone. I personally responded because it is a sore thing with me that the laws have been passed regarding possesion or sale of 4" and under turtles. (find me that many muds over that size!) That and it then kicked all the wholesalers to collect mature breeders from the environment for sale...they are, after all, big enough to sell. How in the world that encourages breeding babies...when it is illegal to sell baby sized ones. So, am I missing something?
That and I stand behind my statement that that turtle has a better chance of survival in captivity. Muds are fiesty little monsters. And I have yet to meet a WC turtle that didn't quickly learn to eat in captivity, usually out of my hand and following my every move begging for more. The only fragile things is usually parasites or injury that they acquired in the wild. One thorough vet check and they tend to thrive. And I don't really think it hurts the environment that much.....think about it. Any turtle that is endangered is more likely to be captive bred where all the common ones are WCs for $8 ea and not 'worth' breeding. Until the turtle fancy gets to a point of going for 'morphs' etc I am afraid it is gonna be hard to tell some kid to go spend $30 for a turtle he could find crossing the highway on any given day. And breeding for morphs is gonna take wild caughts.
Just thoughts,
Sonya

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Look at my new stinkpot! keri 05/12/03 (0)