Sea Turtle???

[R_Hudson]

Would it at all be possible to keep a Sea Turtle? and or how large of a tank would i need?

[risika67]

I don't think it would be possible let alone legal. You'd need a tank the size they have at aquariums I'd guess

[Chibils]

As far as I know, all species are endangered. That said, if you could, the tank would proably need to be at least 1000G since they get pretty huge. But I'm just making up numbers to sound good since I'm pretty sure you can't.

[lvpd186]

I agree, its not a good idea and its probably illegal. Best left to the pros at the zoo and the ocean.

[R_Hudson]

thats kinda what i figured but i do appreciate the help. thanks

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Def illegal.... However very very cool!

[Salamander]

I think 1000 gallons would be way small. Maybe a tank more like 25,000 g.

[Bluetangclan]

Yes, extremely illegal. All 7 species of sea turtle are incredibly endangered. Although we have pretty decent programs for them here in the states, less civilized countries could care less and still butcher them at will. Last I heard in Africa you could still go into coastal villages and find live ones in the markets waiting to be chopped up. Indonesians still hunt them for food as well because its sooo traditional. Mexican skum continue to kill them or steal the eggs for food and that is yet another immigration issue here in the states. We have alot of them nicely marked for protection on some of our public beaches. Unfortunately it has the side effect of letting people know where to look for them. The ones on Hilton Head island had a very effective tactic a few years ago I heard from fishermen. They would basically mob the nest areas and when the rangers/police came to arrest them the culprits with the eggs would get away while the others empty handed would run interference. You pretty much need 24 hour protection for each site. Enough of my rant. Tank size nothing, it would be more troublesome to find the correct food in the amounts needed, lobster, crab, jellyfish, sponge, none of which are cheap. Unlike box turtles, I wouldnt bet on them subsisting on a diet of Alpo.

[m2434]

Surely illegal, but I'm still waiting to see someone turn their swimming pool into a SW tank

[J. Montgomery]

I used to have one (loggerhead) in a 55 gallon, it's common knowledge that they only grow as big as the tank allows.

[badhand2222]

would be cool, sea turtles are very dirty animals would have to have separate tank just for feeding, i lived over seas for a while on a boat in the Caribbean and the we would watch them feed on the reefs man they can produce some waste, the skimming alone would be a joy to say the least.

[fishrock]

I used to have one (loggerhead) in a 55 gallon, it's common knowledge that they only grow as big as the tank allows.

i doubt it mate.
ever think of how strong they are also, can't see a tank (hobbyists) of any sort lasting to long.

i'm astounded anyone ever even thought of it and even more astounded some think it's a good idea!!
swim in the ocean with them, you'll appreciate them more.
adam

[zemuron114]

bluetangclan - in many many countries in the world they still catch them for food. Just because we dont in the states doesn't make it immoral for those who still continue to practice the tradtion (for thousands of years). Would you consider net fishing or bore hunting for food immoral? Probably not. I love turtles more then fish, but the fact of the matter is in many parts of the world they are still a delicacy and a way of life. Nothing wrong with it... If everyone in the world would treat them as these 3rd world country and only catch them to feed themselves and their families maybe they wouldn't be endangered. It is the wealthy countries who contributed greatly to their endangerment, not the 3rd world countries.

sea turtles dont eat lobsters...

[tanker]

Originally posted by risika67
I don't think it would be possible let alone legal.

Yes they are Illegal. I saw them for sale in LFS when I was young. I thought they were cute.

I did not have a SW tank then...

[clopez]

"Mexican skum continue to kill them or steal the eggs for food and that is yet another immigration issue here in the states"

There was a better way of saying this

[fishrock]

i too thought it harsh.
i have no problem with anyone killing any animal as long as they eat it.
like, i love keeping fish in aquariums but hey i also looovve eating the ones i catch when fishing.
BTW i have eaten turtle more than once.
adam

[Bluetangclan]

Its not harsh at all, they know its illegal and that they are endangered yet they do it anyway for the money. They are scum(here I will spell it right this time) and they should be shot. The turtles are way more valuable at this point than any individual when you look at it at a numbers standpoint.
Sorry, not one for political correctness, it is something that has greatly weakened our country and removed our thick skin. It is their fault as well. They know they are endangered yet they continue to kill. That is incredibly irresponsible to continue doing so for the sake of tradition. But you are also talking to someone who cheers when I hear about commercial fishing boats going down and thinks the US should issue Letters of Marque to sink Asian rapists(I mean commercial fishermen). African game wardens have it right, shoot the poachers.

[mindsgoneawol]

Originally posted by Bluetangclan
Its not harsh at all, they know its illegal and that they are endangered yet they do it anyway for the money. They are scum(here I will spell it right this time) and they should be shot. The turtles are way more valuable at this point than any individual when you look at it at a numbers standpoint.
Sorry, not one for political correctness, it is something that has greatly weakened our country and removed our thick skin. It is their fault as well. They know they are endangered yet they continue to kill. That is incredibly irresponsible to continue doing so for the sake of tradition. But you are also talking to someone who cheers when I hear about commercial fishing boats going down and thinks the US should issue Letters of Marque to sink Asian rapists(I mean commercial fishermen). African game wardens have it right, shoot the poachers.

if i remember right.. there is a big animal reserve in Zaire.. the rangers there carry ak-47's and such. spend months out on foot patrolling.. they shoot first and ask questions later.. although they don't ask questions much. if at all..

[thecichlidpleco]

Originally posted by R_Hudson
Would it at all be possible to keep a Sea Turtle? and or how large of a tank would i need?

you must be joking, thanks for the laugh, but at least you asked before you made a terrible mistake.

[marino420td]

Saw this huge loggerhead come onto the beach to nest this summer in Florida.





One of the coolest things I have ever seen!

[kybreos]

Actually when i was in Mexico, Cancun- They had a sea turtle rescue and hatchery where they kept them until they were atleast a foot long then released them back to water. So if you ask me the "mexican scum" arent so scummy- I hope i spelled that right...

[Python73]

I hate to get all Darwin on you, but human > turtle. That's for Mr. Kill All the People to Save the Turtles above.

Also, I find it amusing when fat lazy well fed americans sitting at their computers pontificate about "horrible" third world countries eating animals that we don't think they should. I know you don't want to think outside the box here, but if you were hungry on a daily basis and had to feed your family, do you really care that the 200lb turtle you just speared was endangered?

I caught what I'm fairly sure was a hawksbill turtle on hook and line off a beach in Wilmington, NC last year. Little punk of a turtle decided to eat two hooks full of squid instead of catching his own dinner. Luckily for him, I am one of those well fed lazy americans, so after wrastling my hooks out of his turtle face (which damaged my hooks and not his face) I gently booted him back into the Atlantic. Pretty sure he flipped me off on the way back in, ungrateful wretch. I hope he gets eaten by some of those "scummy" third worlders.

S !

ps - By the way, we all lose at the internet for replying to this obvious troll.

[Ephraim]

The West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton Alberta has an exhibit with 3 of them in it. Not sure of the species, but the carapace is about 36-40" long, they are pretty big. The tank they have them in is tens of thousands of gallons large. I dont really think this is feasible for a private collector. Plus, I am sure you would need a zoological permit to legally house them.

[Toddrtrex]

Bluetangclan --- I really suggest you think before you post.

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[Kanicky]

I have always loved Loggerhead's, but I really fell in love with them when I saw the one that the Georgia Aquarium was holding for another aquarium. They had him in a tank that was, in my guesstimate, probably 1,000+ gallons. He was very sociable, and I think he took a liking to me... followed me everywhere around the tank walls.

Absolutely beautiful creature!