Penny turtles

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punk_uzi

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Hey all i was just wondering if penny turtles were illegal in australia....? any help will be appreciated greatly... thanx suzi
 
Hi Punk Penny turtles are a myth, they are just baby shortnecks that were sold as penny turtles and then got the nickname. most natives grow to approx 20-30cm shell diameter.
 
Hang on I am no expert and I know what pet shops use to tell people about so called "Penny turtles".But I was corrected one day when someone told me once that there is such a thing but they are exotic and you cant get them in Australia.
Now I do not know how much truth there was to that :? But there may possibly be someone who can tell me and any one else who wants to know.So does someone know? :D
 
Penny turtles are not a breed. It is the term pet shops used for baby turles which are normally the size of the old penny coins when they hatch.

As I like to say to people, you do not call a kitten a new species of cat, nor do you call a puppy a new species of dog. Penny turtles are exactly the same. Just a name given to baby turtles.
 
Ok so there are no exotic turtles that go by that name?
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

Ummm there might not be much point googling it as even if there is an exotic with the name penny turtle it will definitely be illegal here since all exotics are. Well....the one's which haven't been bought in by the government that is lol. Suffice it to say that Bigguy and Ben are right, there's no such Australian animal.
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

I knew there was not a turtle called that in Australia but someone said there was one that was exotic and I was curiouse.
Punk even if there was and I dont think there is,you cannot have one sorry. But it is not a rare question :D
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

Damn Government...Kill all my fun...Well since I live in an apartment (I do have a licence now tho! YAY!) Whats the smallest breed of turtle? (Ie I mean that wont grow too big???)
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

if you google "penny turtle" you end up with a lot of links about how penny turtles do not exist, are myths, names given to baby turtles by pet shops ect. you even get a link to the VHS website :p

sorry but they do not exist however there are some smallish species of native freshwater turtles that get to only around 20cms in length which is quite small and would probably be suitable to have as a pet inside.

andrew
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

Yes, Craig Latta has a variety of Murray River Turtle that only gets about 19cm for $90 each, besides most hatchling turtles would be able to live in a tank for a few years at least, they don't grow very fast from my very limited experience. I've had 3 for about 3 months and can't see any size difference yet, they're still only "penny turtles" or "50 cent turtles" if you like. :lol:
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

There are no such things as Penny turtles. Since our money system changed over they are now known as 50c Turtles.
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

ok thanx guyz.... so u reckon the murry river turtles the smallest one....? where would i get one from....?
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

IMO you would be best off with a long neck(anything but a broad sheel coz they are too big) because they dont like to cruize around as much as the short neck species. I think there is a species of long neck that only gets to 20cm shell length but i dont know if you can get them because they live in WA.

Western swamp turtles are very small but they are endangered.

Maquarie turtles from some locations are very small, brisbane ones are fairly small and another locality type only gets to 18cm(i have forgotten locality) If your interested try to contact expansa1 he breeds them.
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

PM me if you want expansa1/Craig Latta's email address, thats who I got my Murray's from and he breeds numerous types.
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

Macleays River shortnecks are about the smallest full grown you can get your hands on. They can live as adults in a 4x2x2 foot tank. My breeding female is around 18cm shell length and about full grown.

Id tend to disagree cris, my long necks are so much more active than my short necks. The longi's are cruising constantly.
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

actually... sorry to ram a spanner in the works... but you can get small turtles... there called terapins.
from the amazon. you used to be able to get them here but i very much doubt you can anymore. my dad had some when he was a kid... apparently they need all these special conditions to live under. but certain species only grow to quit a small size... but again i dout u will get ur hands on any... personaly i would love some but hey. thats government restrictions for ya...
goodluck
l8r
Martyn
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

"The word "terrapin" is derived from the Algonquian Indian word "torope" and is used to refer to a variety of North American aquatic turtles of the family Emydiolae, especially the genus Malaclemys."

BAM!!
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

Wow someone has opened a can of worms! Well I dont have turtles so I dont know as much about them.
All I knew was there was no such thing as Penny turtles untill someone said otherwise and that led me to ask a silly question?
Oh well I knew it was a strong topic just thought I would ask my silly question any way.
Im glad there are no Penny turtles still :D :D
 
RE: Maybe Google it???

Here is a bunch of links for penny turtles:

http://www.amonline.net.au/collections/herpetology/turtle.htm
http://www.austmus.gov.au/collections/herpetology/turtle.htm
http://www.turtles.searching-web.us/penny-turtles.html
http://www.vhs.com.au/pages/Turtlecare1.html
http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Small_Pets&story_no=374
http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/mary_river_turtle.htm
http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=374
http://www.ozpets.com/fish/articles/FF10002.shtml
http://www.didgrevolution.com/didghistory.html
http://www.uk.earthwatch.org/expeditions/whittier/relatedreadings.html
http://www.lib.duke.edu/bes/reptiles/freshwater_turtles.htm
http://www.ozpets.com.au/fish/articles/FF10002.shtml
http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animals.asp?catID=9&ID=70
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1325540.htm
http://www.biology.iastate.edu/intop/1Australia/NAt'lGeogBiblio
https://www.bluemts.com.au/reptilepark/animals.asp?catID=9&ID=70
http://www.pittwateranimalhospital.com.au/reptiles.html
http://www.abc.net.au/wildwatch/archive/tip-frogpond.htm
http://www.biology.iastate.edu/intop/1Australia/NAt
http://antigreen.blogspot.com/
http://www.pennycollector.com/Details.aspx?location=4960
http://www.underwaterphotography.com/Dive-Sites/Country.asp?ID=11
http://www.savannah-guides.com.au/page3-13.html
http://ebeltz.net/column/vivarium/vivavol2.html
http://www.wildlife.org.au/mag-win04.html
 
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