There is a supermarket nearby that sells asian foods that has a big box full softshell turtles at eight dollars each.I dont know what exact species they are but they are not very big and are a dark grey almost black color,they are located in the section where the frozen fish are and that seems to defeat the purpose of selling them alive.If anyone within range is into softshells these guys sure could use a lifeline.I would buy them if I could identify them and properly release them.
Softshell turtle rescue
- Thread starter krichardson
- Start date
I would say thouse are Chinese softies Pelodiscus sp because they are the most commonly farmed food turt in Asia. I feel sorry for them
and deeply respect your will to save them but please dont buy them and realese them,they are not native to your area and by doing that you are putting yourself, the ecosistem, your local herp community and even the turt in danger. Besides being ilegal ,non native species can compet with native species and introduce diseases.That can make the local autorities restrict or even forbit the ownerchip of that species
Besides youl be missing all the fun of having one of these guys. But I must worn you that by what you descrive they may be in horrible condicion and nursing them back to health isnt going to easy. Thouse chinys really do some of the most horrible things
Ive herd that they dismenber turts wille they are still alive
I like turts but I dont have probs with people that like to eat them if they dont endanger the species and if they kill the animals in a etical way. Both things are greatly ingnored by this guys So what to do? Ill say grab the healtiest you can find and alert local autoritys for what is going on! Also consider that they may destroy the turts for health hazzards (thats why I said to grab the healtiest ones) If you intend to do that prepare your self for a big vet bill, If they can survive that kind of abuse. And dont get more than you can cope with. Remenbar this guys are very territorial and you can keep only one by enclosure. Keep us updated
Good luck with the poor litle guys
and deeply respect your will to save them but please dont buy them and realese them,they are not native to your area and by doing that you are putting yourself, the ecosistem, your local herp community and even the turt in danger. Besides being ilegal ,non native species can compet with native species and introduce diseases.That can make the local autorities restrict or even forbit the ownerchip of that species Besides youl be missing all the fun of having one of these guys. But I must worn you that by what you descrive they may be in horrible condicion and nursing them back to health isnt going to easy. Thouse chinys really do some of the most horrible things Ive herd that they dismenber turts wille they are still alive I like turts but I dont have probs with people that like to eat them if they dont endanger the species and if they kill the animals in a etical way. Both things are greatly ingnored by this guys So what to do? Ill say grab the healtiest you can find and alert local autoritys for what is going on! Also consider that they may destroy the turts for health hazzards (thats why I said to grab the healtiest ones) If you intend to do that prepare your self for a big vet bill, If they can survive that kind of abuse. And dont get more than you can cope with. Remenbar this guys are very territorial and you can keep only one by enclosure. Keep us updated Good luck with the poor litle guysMarcel_h;1823115; said:
I fully understand that they cant be released at this point even if they were a native animal,thats why I said "properly released "earlier I also know buying the whole lot of them to save them only encourages storekeepers to continue bringing them in.If it is true that they are a farmed Asian species then I feel a little better about the situation.I really dont have the space to take oneeven if I really wanted one unless they happened to be Diamondbacks in which case I can always make room.My intent was to inform any turtle people who might try one as a project.
If i was closer id take like 5,but im too far =\.
What goes on in asian marketplaces really gets me. Baby turtles for sale in chinatown...shouldn't these vendors be shut down for defying the size laws?
I checked out a local asian market/store a while back for a class, and some of the conditions of live animals including fish were horrendous. Surely no sane person buys something like that to eat?! And i feel that they need to be monitored more...health risk?
The asian culture is really involved with animals. Some of the nicest people i know are asian...but there interest and culture pertaining to animals is crazy at times IMO. Primarily when their desire is to consume the rare and endangered...
I checked out a local asian market/store a while back for a class, and some of the conditions of live animals including fish were horrendous. Surely no sane person buys something like that to eat?! And i feel that they need to be monitored more...health risk?
The asian culture is really involved with animals. Some of the nicest people i know are asian...but there interest and culture pertaining to animals is crazy at times IMO. Primarily when their desire is to consume the rare and endangered...
the trouble is if they sell them to you they'll probably only replace them with another lot to sell
