Once Banned, Tiny Turtles Could Make a Comeback

According to MSNBC, a once popular pet is making a comeback after being banned in 1975 by the Food and Drug Administration. In the 1960's and early 1970's, the "it" pet to have was a red-eared slider. A red-eared slider is a small turtle with a dark green shell, striped legs, and is marked with a red stripe behind the eye. The problem with this breed of tiny turtle is that the shell sheds salmonella. Kids become infected after putting the shells in their mouths or by licking their fingers after touching the turtles.

Salmonella poisoning causes headaches, vomiting, joint aches, diarrhea, and even death. Before the FDA ban in 1975, there were an estimated 100,000 cases of salmonella poisoning due to the little turtles, says Steven Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Since the ban, that number has decreased by about a quarter.

There are some who are fighting to have the ban lifted. Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana is using her power to try and get the ban lifted. Landrieu argues that the new technologies developed in her home state make the small turtles safer to keep as pets. Landrieu has introduced an amendment to the FDA Revitalization Act to once again permit the sale of the tiny turtles.

Technology developed at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, called the Siebeling Method, disinfects turtle eggs resulting in the baby turtles to emerge free of salmonella. The amendment requires states which raise the turtles, primarily Louisiana and Mississippi, to issue a certificate of sanitization signed by a federally certified veterinarian. Landrieu says that this will help to ensure that turtles offered for sale have been treated by the Siebeling Method or an equivalent method.

The senate has already passed a bill containing Landrieu's amendment. When asked if she believes House will vote in favor of her amendment, Landrieu says, "I think we have a pretty good chance."

There are still some problems with having these small turtles as pets. The Siebeling Method does not fully solve the salmonella issue. The turtles continue to shed salmonella throughout their lives, regardless of treatment.

"The bacteria is in their intestinal tract. Sometimes they shed it, sometimes they don't, so its not easy to tell when the animals are perfectly salmonella-free even following treatment, " Sundlof says.

Veterinarians feel that most people are not prepared to care for the tiny turtles in the long-term. Red-eared sliders can grow to be 10-12 inches long and are able to live for 50-70 years if given the proper care.

Proper care for the turtles is more complex than just buying an aquarium and giving them water. The turtles are semi-aquatic, meaning they require water that is deep enough for swimming, a place where they can get some warmth under a sun lamp, full-spectrum light and a water heater, a filtration system and weekly partial water changes to prevent the buildup of waste, according to Scott H. Weldy, a veterinarian at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, CA. An indoor setup containing all of the proper components will cost a turtle owner up to $200.

If the ban on red-eared sliders is lifted, then owners must be prepared to have the pet for 50 to 70 years, have enough money to purchase the necessary equipment to properly care for the turtles, and teach any children that come in contact with the animal about the dangers of salmonella. As with any pet ownership, there is a great responsibility that goes along with owning the tiny turtles.