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Up until the 1970’s it was not uncommon to find Red-Eared Sliders (RES) sold in dime stores across America. Almost anyone who was a child at that time can recall keeping a little baby turtle in a plastic dish with a fake palm tree at some point or another growing up.
In the early 1970’s, the FDA identified Red-Eared Sliders as carriers of Salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that can make people sick – especially children. ** In humans, it is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach aches. It was estimated that almost a quarter million cases of salmonellosis a year were caused by improperly kept turtles.
A ban of small turtles was enacted in 1975. The ban stated that no turtle with a carapace length of under 4 inches should be sold unless it was being used for “educational, scientific, or research purposes.” ***
Today, there are many misconceptions about this ban and turtles in general. In fact, most people who work at pet shops and with turtles professionally have never actually read the law.
The most common myths are:
*All turtles carry salmonella.
This is NOT true. Furthermore, most turtles are first introduced to salmonella by there owners … not the other way around. It is commonly passed to pet turtles by feeding them raw meats. It can then be contracted from the turtle at a later date if the individual does not take proper measures to wash their hands after handling the turtle.
*The ban is limited to Red-Eared Sliders.
This is NOT true. Red-Eared Sliders were indeed the target of the ban since they were the turtle most commonly sold in the pet trade. However, the ban covers all chelonians with the exception of sea turtles which are governed by different laws. All turtles including other aquatics and box turtles are covered by this law. All tortoises are covered by this law.
*Anybody who sells small turtles is breaking the law.
This is NOT true. This law is aimed towards people buying turtles for their children at pet shops. This law only affects sales in connection with a business. Hobbyists in general and businesses that mark the turtles as being labeled for export are not affected by this law and are free to sell turtles irregardless of the 4-inch rule.
While the ban did curtail incidents of salmonellosis, it causes a number of problems. Firstly, it greatly inhibits conservation efforts. Hobbyists and enthusiasts are also greatly affected because of the misconceptions associated with the rule. Another unfortunate side-effect is that it promotes the catching of wild-caught turtles by cutting off the supply of captive-bred ones. The ban is also problematic because it does not make provisions for smaller species such as the Mud and Musk turtles who rarely exceed 4-inches when they are full grown.
Additionally, the ban is also easily curtailed since it never states how “educational, scientific, or research purposes” should be defined. The definition could potentially be so broad that any number of rationales could be used. Furthermore, the ban does not restrict the adoption of turtles fewer than 4 inches in length. Many businesses get around the rule by adopting out turtles for an “adoption fee.”
At the time it was enacted, many “turtle farmers” were directly opposed to the ban – it put a lot of them out of business. The few farmers who survived turned to exporting turtles to Europe and Asia. This has contributed to many problems today: Asia has virtually eradicated its turtle population due to its popularity as a delicacy. They have since turned to the Americas to become their new suppliers. Since the ban prohibits domestic business for turtle farmers many of them have turned to Asia to make money. Turtle populations in the wild have dramatically decreased in the past 10 years due mainly to exportation.
It is unlikely that the FDA will lift the ban anytime soon. In fact, they have stated that the only way they it will ever be lifted is if it can be proven that turtles can remain salmonella free even after they are brought home from the pet store. This is highly unlikely since many potential turtle owners will not research turtle care before buying a turtle.
Other organizations oppose lifting it for separate reasons. It is a fact that over 90% of RES die within the first year of being brought home from the pet store. This is mainly due to inadequate care from the owner. Older, larger RES are hardier and less appealing to the casual owner. They would be more likely to attract a serious keeper. From this perspective, the ban is good thing since it protects hatchling turtles from falling into the hands of careless owners.
However you feel about the law, it must be respected and followed. Still, it is unfortunate that the ban has had such a negative impact associated with it in addition to its positive one. It is also unfortunate that it is clouded with so many misconceptions and myths. It should be noted that keeping a turtle is safe as long as you take the proper measures to avoid contamination between you and your turtle. Wash your hands before and after you handle it. NEVER feed it raw meats. As long as these precautions are taken you should find yourself in possession of a very rewarding pet.
By: Erin French (elfomatic)
**It is not recommended that any young child come in contact with or own turtles. Very young children have a tendency to put them in their mouth … the reason for the ban in the first place. Older children should not be around turtles without supervision and/or training in sanitation and the proper handling of turtles.
***Taken from FDA Regulation 1240.62 – Turtles Intrastate and Interstate Requirements |
