Turtles in Illinois

What the state allows, who can help, and the sellers that ship here.

Vets in Illinois

The law in Illinois

Illinois residents may collect native turtles by hand with a sport fishing licence and keep up to four of a species and eight native herptiles in total; the snapping turtle limit is two a day and four in possession. Non-native turtles may be kept and sold without a state permit, but selling native species needs a Herpetoculture permit. Turtle farming is prohibited.

Selling. Buying, selling or bartering wild-taken herptiles for commercial purposes is unlawful. Selling indigenous herptiles requires a Herpetoculture permit; non-indigenous species do not. Offspring of wild-taken parents cannot be sold. Turtle farming for commercial purposes is prohibited. No state codification of the 4-inch rule found.

Keeping. Possession limit of four per species of native herptile, excluding common snapping turtles, and eight indigenous reptiles and amphibians in total. Snapping turtles: daily catch two, possession four. Residents wanting more must obtain a Herptile Scientific Collection or Herpetoculture permit. Endangered or threatened species need a permit.

Wild turtles. Only residents may possess herptiles collected from the wild in Illinois, under a valid sport fishing licence. Native herptiles other than bullfrogs and snapping turtles must be captured by hand only. Taking is prohibited in LaRue-Pine Hills and Otter Pond Research Natural Area, and collecting wild turtles for races is banned in ranavirus counties.

Release. Captured herptiles that are not kept must be released at the capture site immediately. Special use herptiles may not be released without the Director's written authorisation. The Act contains no general rule on releasing pet turtles; releasing pets is still a bad idea.

Who to ask. Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Federal law bars the sale of any turtle under 4 inches as a pet everywhere; see the 4-inch rule.

Sources: Herptiles-Herps Act, 510 ILCS 68 (Animal Legal and Historical Center copy) (510 ILCS 68/5-5, 5-10, 30-5, 50-5); 17 Ill. Adm. Code 880.30 Daily Catch and Possession Limits (17 Ill. Adm. Code 880.30); Illinois General Assembly: Herptiles-Herps Act (510 ILCS 68). Last checked November 5, 2026. Our confidence in this summary: medium. This is a plain-English reading, not legal advice; the agency has the final word.

Reptile vets

Rescues and adoption

  • Chicago Herpetological SocietyChicago, Illinois

    Society adoption program that places unwanted reptiles and amphibians with screened current members, educators or institutions after verifying housing is ready. It does not take owner-surrendered red-eared sliders or iguanas, and animals are not shipped out of state except in rare cases. Ships: adopts within Illinois to members.

Breeders and stores

  • Sailfin Pet ShopChampaign, Illinois

    Independent pet shop serving Champaign for more than 65 years that stocks reptiles, fish and other animals, with weekend sales and a teacher discount. The site does not list turtles or tortoises specifically. Ships: local pickup only. 217-352-1121.

  • The Tye-Dyed IguanaFairview Heights, Illinois

    Reptile and exotic pet store near St. Louis open seven days a week, with an available exotics section that includes tortoises, lizards, snakes, amphibians and invertebrates, plus feeders and supplies. Ships: local pickup only. 618-624-8003.

Sellers that ship here

  • LLLReptile and SupplyOceanside, California

    Reptile retailer with eight stores in California, Arizona and Nevada, including Oceanside, Escondido, Menifee, San Diego, Chandler, Glendale, Henderson and Las Vegas, that stocks tortoises and turtles along with other reptiles and supplies. Also sells and ships animals online. Ships: ships nationally; store pickup available. 760-439-8496.

  • My Turtle StorePort Richey, Florida

    Online seller of aquatic turtles, tortoises, food and supplies that says it has operated for over 40 years and changed ownership in late 2024. Live animals ship by air only within the contiguous United States and are held when forecast lows are below 38 F. No statement about the FDA 4-inch rule or animal sizes was found on the pages read. Ships: contiguous US only. 656-777-1509.

  • Snakes at SunsetMiami, Florida

    Online seller of captive-bred reptiles with a Miami address that lists turtles such as pink-bellied side-necks and Fly River turtles plus a tortoise category. Ships FedEx Priority Overnight to all states except Alaska, Hawaii and the District of Columbia, and its turtle page cites the federal rule against selling turtles under 4 inches, with 4 inch juveniles offered. Ships: all states except AK, HI and DC.

  • XYZ ReptilesPalmetto Bay, Florida

    Breeder and online retailer of captive-bred reptiles with turtle and tortoise categories, shipping overnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with a live arrival guarantee. Does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico, and its turtle page states that turtles and tortoises under 4 inches are offered for educational, scientific or export purposes only, not as pets. Ships: all states except AK and HI. 305-305-5998.

  • New England Reptile DistributorsPlaistow, New Hampshire

    Reptile breeder and shop known as NERD, with a facility in Plaistow that offers tours and sells pythons, boas, lizards and other animals in person and online with priority shipping. Its terms state that turtles and tortoises are sold for scientific or educational purposes only. Ships: ships nationally; pickup in Plaistow. 603-382-2772.

  • Jungle Bob's Reptile WorldSelden, New York

    Long Island reptile store open daily that sells tortoises, turtles, lizards, snakes, amphibians, feeders and supplies, with in-store pickup, local delivery and nationwide shipping of supplies. Ships: local pickup; ships supplies nationwide. 631-737-6474.

  • Redfoot RanchAlice, Texas

    Home-based breeder of red-footed and other tortoises and turtles, formerly in Wimauma, Florida and now in Alice, Texas, selling hatchlings and other sizes by mail order. Ships throughout the continental United States and to Alaska, with pickup possible near Corpus Christi, and its terms state that tortoises and turtles under 4 inches are offered for scientific or educational purposes only. Ships: continental US and AK. 727-421-5542.

  • ReptmartOnline

    Online seller of captive-bred reptiles only, with turtle and tortoise categories. Live animals ship FedEx Overnight Monday to Wednesday with a live arrival guarantee, not to Alaska, Hawaii or the District of Columbia, and its terms state that all turtles and tortoises under 4 inches are sold for scientific or educational purposes only. Ships: all states except AK, HI and DC.

  • Reptile RaptureMonona, Wisconsin

    Reptile store on Monona Drive near Madison open seven days a week, selling reptiles and invertebrates from its own breeding room plus supplies and feeders, with shipping available and a reptile rescue program. The site does not list turtles or tortoises specifically. Ships: ships nationally; pickup in Monona. 608-221-0094.

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Two map turtles basking on a log.
A pond covered in lily pads.