while a Rough Knob-tail (N. asper) was listed at the
princely sum of AUD $3,600. Small Diplodactylus species
ranged from AUD $1,100 to AUD $2,600. The young guy I
chatted to was incredulous at the difference between
prices in Australia and simply could not believe that we
routinely sell Eastern Water Dragons for AUD $100 (their
adult specimen was priced at AUD $3,200). He asked me
if I was a TV presenter and I barely resisted the tempta-
tion to tell him I was Steve Irwin’s brother. This same
shop also had an ugly Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia
depressa); my new friend told me that red ones fetch
AUD $6,000 each!
I am pleased to report that all of the more prominent
reptile ships that I entered went to considerable trouble
to provide their animals with an appropriate captive
environment, and at any time you could witness staff
conducting regular maintenance. Furthermore, the
people I talked to had a genuine interest in reptiles. In
this context, the poor treatment of turtles is difficult to
reconcile with that of other herps, and one can only
assume that this has something to do with novelty, price
and availability. The good news is that the reptile hobby
is alive and well in Guangzhou, with a number of shops
supplying quality captive-bred stock and equipment.
Further Reading.
http://www.business-in-guangzhou.com/visiting-
huadiwan-flower-fish-and-bird-market-in-
guangzhou.html
http://guangjoe.com/chinese-pet-market-
huadiwan-guangzhou/
https://www.themarysue.com/china-loves-dyed-
frogs/
http://www.globaltimes.cn/
content/1118418.shtml
5.
Above: a staff member at a reptile shop conducting
routine maintenance.
Below: a juvenile Indonesian Blue-tongue (Tiliqua gigas);
these guys are truly beautiful.,
N
ative Australian freshwater turtles have
enjoyed enduring popularity as pets for
many years. In the 1970s, hatchling turtles of
several species were erroneously sold as
‘penny turtles’ with the premise being that they
would remain small. Back then, poor husbandry
advice often led to the death of the animals.
Turtles can live for 50 years or more in captivity,
and so under the correct conditions, can be a
pet for life. We asked Mason Nicola, from
Amazing Amazon in Melbourne, how he
ensures that potential turtle owners get it right:
‘We sell a lot of turtles and turtle set ups, but we also
find that customers are often unsure about the sort
of set up they will require. Many are unaware of the
necessity for UVB and basking lights, and are
surprised at the adult size of our native turtles. There
is still a perception that turtles stay small, or only
grow to the size of their enclosure.
‘We are committed to promoting responsible pet
ownership and helping people to get a pet that’s a
good fit for them. We spend considerable time
educating our customers to ensure that they under-
stand the basic requirements of their turtles, so that
the outcome is good for both turtles and owners.
Sometimes, if a customer simply does not have
room for a tank big enough to support an adult turtle,
or if tactile interaction with the animal is important,
we may recommend an alternative pet – a bearded
dragon, for example.
‘To assist in this process, we have a ‘Turtle Care
Sheet’, a ‘Turtle Tank Set Up’ sheet, and a check list
of items required to house a turtle. We encourage
customers who do purchase a turtle to contact us is
they have any issues, or pop into the store to have
their water checked.’
To view the comprehensive ‘Turtle care Sheet’ go to:
https://www.amazingamazon.com.au/turtle-care-
sheet-guide
Captive Turtle Check List.
qtr page ad
What do you need for a turtle?
You MUST have:
quality biological filter
10.0 UVB light
basking lamp
basking dock
water heater
turtle salts
calgrit
dechlorinator
minimum 6 types of food
test kits
adequate size tank
If you do not have ALL of the above,
your tank is not suitable to house
a turtle!
Above: Amazing Amazon’s ‘Turtle Check List’.
Below left: complete starter kit for a hatchling turtle.
