help...newbie for turtles..

GreenDay · 12-23-04, 01:52 PM

hi, my name is kris from indonesia.
i recently given a pair of juvenille sea turtle,but i dont know what kind.
i know that they are endangered,and its ilegal to have one here in indonesia, but the former owner dont take care of them properly and give it to me.i keep some reptiles before especially snake.
the problem is i dont know nothing about sea turtle.
what to feed? can i keep them in fresh water? where should i keep them?
any info on this would be appreciated....
thanks before!

Kris.

ps:i keep them because if i dont then they will slowly die for sure.hope someday i can release them back to the sea.

Danothemano · 12-23-04, 07:21 PM

I think you should contact a zoo or university

nat_the_brat · 12-23-04, 07:53 PM

yah I don't see how they can be kept unless you have some professionals involved like some biologist. Plus, if you are caught with them you may be in big trouble

BoidKeeper · 12-23-04, 08:09 PM

Release them. At least that way if something eats them it won't be a total loss.
Trevor

Linds · 12-23-04, 09:31 PM

I wouldn't release them unless you know the exact spot to do so. I don't know much about sea turtles, but I do know that releasing animals in to the wild can be tricky. I second the suggestion of contacting a zoo or university. Sea turtles are not pets...

GreenDay · 12-24-04, 06:14 AM

hi...
no, at this time i won't release them...i just dont think they will survive now if i release them back.and because i dont know the exact spot to do so.i live in a city near by a beach,but it is so polluted.even fish dont lives there.
if i contact zoo or else thats mean giving my self up to jail.hehe...
and the former owner who give me could be in trouble too, right?

hey,i just change their salt water with the new ones,and feed them with shrimps.they eat it.
i keep them in a big aquarium, with sea sand in it.pretty much like the real enclosure.they look qiute happy right know....

sea turtles are not pets....100% agree with you linds.
i just feel i have chance to save them.

thanks,
Kris

Ps:what would you guys do if you are in my position in the first place? hope im doing the right thing....

BoidKeeper · 12-24-04, 08:16 AM

I would try to consult with a zoo. I would also do what I could to have the persons responsible charged by the police.
Cheers,
Trevor

marisa · 12-24-04, 12:01 PM

I think you are in a tight situation.

But here is my question.....Sea turtles get LARGE...and as they grow older they follow "migration" patterns back to where they were born to breed. How will you simulate this? How will you ever have a tank large enough for a turtle who is sometimes YEARS at sea?

Not getting down on you at all, though. I just think this will be impossible.

Marisa

nat_the_brat · 12-24-04, 01:01 PM

if you contact a zoo or univeristy you probably won't get in trouble given that you haven't kept it that long and are demonstrating that you know they need to be free and that you aren't suposed to have them. IF you are caught with them or when they get too big or sick and then you give them up you will be more likely to be charged and in trouble. It is widely known there is illegal trade of animals in many parts of the world and the authorities know that. If you demonstrate you are trying to right someone else's wrong then I can't see them trying to get you in trouble for it.

and you said yourself you want what's best for the turtle.... getting into contact with the people who know how to handle this situation IS the best thing for these turtles.

GreenDay · 12-30-04, 06:06 AM

its not that easy finding somebody who care and knows things about these sea turtles.
i decided to keep them a while.

off topic*

maybe some of you guys heard about tsunami accident that hapenned in my country.thousand were killed.not too much thinking about these turtles right now.

snakers55 · 12-30-04, 11:23 AM

You could drop them off at a zoo anonymously, or have a friend call for you.. That way the lead isn't directly back to you..

daver676 · 12-30-04, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by snakers55
You could drop them off at a zoo anonymously, or have a friend call for you.. That way the lead isn't directly back to you..

Just what I was thinking....

nat_the_brat · 12-30-04, 02:13 PM

if you decide to keep them realize that you can't care for them properly
it almost sounds to me like you want to keep them no matter what's best for them. If you do want what's best for them please drop them off with professionals who know what they are doing