Is it legal to have small turtles as pets?

Answer by  TurtleDude (27)

In the Us it is illegal to sell turtles under 4' as pets. There are exceptions for educators and a few others. The restrictions are a response to concerns that children will put small turtles in their mouth, which can carry salmonella. It is legal, however to own small turtles.

Answer by  SallyJ64 (3121)

It depends on the state you live in. In a lot of states on the East coast it is illegal to keep them. Turtles can carry salmonella and so it can be illegal to sell or keep them as pets. Always be wary of taking a turtle from the wild and keeping it in captivity.

Answer by  HawaiianGirl (6906)

Yes, certain types of small turtles are often bought as pets for people. In fact, some of these tiny turtles are even sold in pet stores.