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07/10/2005: "Turtle Availability"
This year has been a wierd one turtle wise.The Rios have yet to hatch,and it would seem everything is taking its good old sweet time laying.I have had many requests for Rio Grand Redears,but have so far been unable to get any.This I think is due largely to the two hurricanes that greatly affected my supplier,Al Weinberg.He took direct hits from both Jeanne and Francis.We had a a bit of damage as well,but nothing like St.Lucie county did.Whie we all lost power and flooded,Al lost all of his shadecloth and suffered extensive property damage.I hope to visit him in the next few weeks to see what he has available.Most of his turtles are at least a month behind laying based on last years schedule.This season is starting out slow for us,but that is ok.We are working on setups,enclosures,and getting the garage dialed in so that when the 300 plus eggs we are cooking begin to hatch.So fat we only have three Redcheeks and three Yellowfoots out of the egg.
So hang tight,things will begin to happen soon.We try hard to privide turtles of excellent health and quality,but with our rediculous weather patterns the past year,it has been a challenge.TurtleTown is gone,but there are a few people I will stand behind 100%.These guys are decent breeders and resellers.Here is a short list:
Paul VanderSchow,also known as Chelidman on Kingsnake,TurtlesTimes,as well as TurtleForum.Paul is pretty much taking over where TurtleTown left off.Lots off cool captive bred turtles,and he knows what he is doing.He has one of the few collections I am envious of.
George Ullman,owner of TurtleWorld.Breeds many of the animals he sells.Another great guy in the hobby.
Pete Jansema,inventor and patent owner of WaterlandTubs.com.A turtle guy from wayback,breeds quite a few turtles.A truly good guy in the hobby.This guy has been keeping turtles longer than I have been alive
Anyone out there can sell you a turtle,but I recommend those above more so because they have collections.A person that keeps many turtles are generally better equipped with the knowledge of how to keep baby turtles.How many times have seen an example of overcrowding or simply wrong husbandry applications in petstores?Too many.I am in no way sauing I am getting out of selling offspring,I am just trying to regroup from two big storms,and a move.
So if anyone of these guys above have what you are looking for,do not hesitate to inquire.You can see their ads on many forums on the internet.
So hang in there for our stuff and we will see you in Daytona in August.
Andy 
