If you’ve ever wanted to have your own pet turtle but were unsure of where to buy one, you’ve come to the right place. Most people only think of pet stores when they consider where to get their new turtle, but the truth is there are lots of other fun, accessible options you ought to consider based on your individual preferences.
From dedicated breeders to big box stores, we’ve compiled a list of the best place to buy turtles online including everything you need to know about each one. We’ll also walk you through what to look for in a quality turtle retailer, and explain how to tell if they are trustworthy or not.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
What To Look For In A Turtle Retailer
When it comes to buying a turtle, there are a few things you want to make sure of before committing. You should aim to find a source that raises their reptiles in an ethical manner with proper UVB lighting and heating equipment. They should also be given a varied diet including pellets, insects, veggies, and the occasional fruit treat. The way a retailer cares for their turtles is a great indicator of how they’ll treat your new pet.
While you’re at it, make sure that the turtles are captive-bred rather than imported wild-caught specimens. Wild-caught animals often carry parasites or diseases that can be deadly to their captive-raised counterparts. They are also harder to tame and may not live as long in captivity due to a lack of proper food and lighting.
You’ll also want to make sure that you can actually get a hold of the retailer when you need them! Make sure they have a phone number or email address on their website so you can reach out if there’s ever an emergency with your new pet. If it seems like contacting them would be difficult, keep in mind that they probably aren’t interested in running a legitimate business.
Finally, you can find out a lot about a turtle retailer simply based on the customer service they provide. The best turtle retailers will have a large selection available and a knowledgeable staff that can assist you with choosing the right pet for your lifestyle and home environment. You also want to make sure they have a good track record with healthy pets and happy customer reviews.
11 Best Places To Buy Turtles Online
Now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a turtle retailer, let’s get down to the list! We’ve done the research and found the best places to buy turtles online. You’ll find that each one has something special to offer depending on your needs, but they are all great options if you’re looking for where to get a turtle.
1. Petco
Petco is a well-known pet store that offers many types of animals, including turtles. They have everything for turtle enthusiasts from complete habitats to small additions, such as food and decorations for the aquarium.
Petco is a great place to purchase aquatic turtles because they offer species-specific foods, such as pellet food for red ear slider turtles or carnivore pellets for red foot tortoises.
2. Amazon
Amazon is a great place to start when looking for turtles online. While it doesn’t specialize in turtles, they offer many types of food, supplies, and even canister filters that keep the turtle’s aquarium clean and healthy.
Using Amazon is a great way to access a large number of sellers and find interesting products that keep your turtles safe, healthy, and content. Just be sure to vet the retailers beforehand to make sure that they’re trustworthy!
3. My Turtle Store
With over 40 years of experience in the business, My Turtle Store is one of the most reputable places to buy turtles online. This business is based in Florida, but has an online store that can be accessed worldwide. They specialize in keeping your pet happy and healthy through the best turtle food, vitamins, bedding, basking lights, and other accessories.
As a testament to their reputability, My Turtle Store often supplies turtles to schools, zoos, and other institutions. This is done in order to replenish their turtle populations during their exhibits or for research purposes. They also donate supplies to a number of organizations, such as the Wildlife Care Alliance, Brook Woods Deer Run, Double WW Turtle Refuge, and Econcerns, LTD.
4. Backwater Reptiles
If you’re looking to do your part for the environment while getting a new turtle, Backwater Reptiles is the place to go. For every order placed, they plant a native tree in Madagascar – an initiative born from their belief that they have a duty to protect the habitats of animals. Backwater Reptiles is also a contributing member of the International Reptile Conservation Foundation, a USARK Gold Member, and a part of the USARK Policy Advisory Panel.
In addition to being a conscientious business, Backwater Reptiles also offers healthy turtles for sale at an affordable price. Their goal is to make taking care of a turtle as easy and affordable for you as possible, as they have for thousands of others in the past. If you want to do your part for the environment while saving money, Backwater Reptiles is an excellent choice.
5. PetSmart
Although PetSmart is a popular pet store, they only carry turtles when mating season occurs. However, they have been known to carry several species at once, including red-eared sliders and painted turtles.
If you want a turtle as a pet, it might be best to visit PetSmart during mating season so you can choose from the largest selection of baby turtles. You can also purchase commercial turtle pellets at any of their locations, or speak to any one of their employees for ideas on turtle tank setups. Having easy and direct access to in-person service is perhaps one of the best reasons to shop at PetSmart.
6. TurtleStore.Com
Featuring unique breeds such as the Burmese Black Mountain Tortoise and the Albino Sulcata, TurtleStore.com is an excellent place to buy turtles online that specializes in rare and unusual species. Turtle Store currently offers a number of turtles for sale, including Painted Turtles, Pond Sliders, Western Painted Turtles, and more!
Turtle Store also provides its customers with access to care sheets, food guides, and tips in order to keep their turtles healthy. This business is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a specific type of turtle or exact turtles that may be difficult to find in your neck of the woods.
7. The Turtle Source
Looking to purchase some of the very best captive-bred turtles online? The Turtle Source is the place to go. This reputable turtle breeder has been in business for over 30 years, and during that time they’ve managed to snag the “Breeder of the Year” award at the National Reptile Breeders’ Expo. The people behind this store have a passion for turtles, and it shows.
Not only do they provide quality turtles for sale, but they also lend their expertise to efforts that create a better future for turtles. The Turtle Source’s owner has worked with the Florida Fish and Game Commission on turtle issues and has also served on an animal industry council for the Florida Department of Agriculture. When you buy turtles online from The Turtle Source, you can be confident that the expert advice you receive will always be accurate and up-to-date.
8. CB Reptile
CB Reptile boasts some of the world’s finest captive-bred turtles for sale, and they offer a wide variety of turtles for sale, such as the Painted Turtle and the Red-Eared Slider. They also provide every pet turtle owner with access to care sheets containing information on proper turtle maintenance and recommendations for turtle food.
To provide their buyers with a sense of reassurance, this family-owned business backs all orders with a live arrival guarantee and a 7-day health guarantee. CB Reptile also has a biologist on-site, so if you have any questions about your turtles (whether it be about appropriate bedding for box turtles or selecting the right type of food for a redneck slider), the experts at CB Reptile are always willing to help.
9. Underground Reptiles
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for all things turtle-related, Underground Reptiles is the place to go. Not only do they offer live turtles for sale, but their online store is also stocked with books, supplies, and even gear to help make your turtle-keeping hobby easier.
Underground Reptiles is also one of the only places you can buy turtles online that provides a variety of aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial breeds. Whether you’re looking for a side neck turtle or some healthy tortoises, you can absolutely find what you’re looking for at Underground Reptiles!
10. Tortoise Town
With a name like Tortoise Town, this organization is not messing around. They are dedicated to providing the best service at the lowest prices, and they back it up with their 7-Day Health Guarantee. In the unlikely and unfortunate event that your turtle passes away within a week of you receiving it, Tortoise Town will replace it with a new one for free.
With an extensive inventory of turtles, tortoises, and supplies at their online store, Tortoise Town is the go-to place to buy turtles online. They also offer exceptional customer service and provide additional support through their extensive turtle care sheets, covering specific such as dietary needs, habitat construction, and incubation requirements.
11. Snakes at Sunset
Fun little wordplay aside, Snakes at Sunset is a genuine frontrunner when it comes to online turtle sales. They have some of the best pet turtles around, and they also have an amazing captive breeding program that is run in-house.
Those turtles for sale at Snakes at Sunset are all captive-bred native turtles, so there’s no need to concern yourself with the welfare of your turtle. They aren’t taken from their natural habitats, and they aren’t forced into bad practices. Why buy turtles online anywhere else when Snakes at Sunset is here?
Conclusion
While buying turtles online, it can often feel like there are too many choices out there. That’s why it’s important to buy from a reputable company that will deliver an excellent turtle for sale and provide you with the expert advice you need. Do so, and you’ll be more likely to find a turtle that you will love for years to come!
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