The law in Indiana
Indiana residents 18 and over need a hunting or fishing licence to collect turtles from the wild, with a bag limit of two and possession limit of four per nongame species. Eastern box turtles may not be collected or sold, and keeping one needs a turtle possession permit. Selling any turtle under 4 inches is illegal under state rule as well as federal law.
Selling. Selling any Indiana-native turtle taken from the wild, or any endangered turtle, is prohibited. Under 312 IAC 9-5-7.5 no one may sell a turtle of any species or origin with a carapace under 4 inches, except for scientific or educational purposes.
Keeping. Nongame species: possession limit four per species. Game turtles (snapping, smooth and spiny softshell): carapace 12 inches or more, season July 1 to March 31, bag four, possession eight. A live eastern box turtle may be kept only with a turtle possession permit, which bars breeding, sale and release and requires PIT tagging and records. Endangered reptiles need a wild animal possession permit.
Wild turtles. A valid hunting or fishing licence is required to collect reptiles and amphibians from the wild unless exempt. Collecting box turtles, endangered species and reptile eggs is prohibited, as is collecting nongame reptiles on any DNR property.
Release. A reptile collected in Indiana may be released only if held under 30 days, never housed with other animals, and returned to the original capture site. Releasing animals acquired outside Indiana requires a DNR importation permit. Permitted box turtles may never be released.
Who to ask. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. Federal law bars the sale of any turtle under 4 inches as a pet everywhere; see the 4-inch rule.
Sources: Indiana DNR: Indiana's Reptile and Amphibian Regulations (312 IAC 9-5-6); 312 IAC 9-5-7.5 Sale of turtles not native to Indiana (312 IAC 9-5-7.5); 312 IAC 9-5-11 Turtle possession permit (312 IAC 9-5-11); Indiana DNR: Summary of Reptile and Amphibian Regulations FAQ (312 IAC 9-5). Last checked November 5, 2026. Our confidence in this summary: high. This is a plain-English reading, not legal advice; the agency has the final word.
Reptile vets
- Avian and Exotic Animal ClinicIndianapolis, Indiana
Exotics clinic whose reptile care sheets cover tortoises and turtles, lizards and snakes. 317-879-8633.
- Dupont Veterinary ClinicFort Wayne, Indiana
General practice that accepts and treats exotic pets including birds, reptiles and small mammals. 260-637-7676.
- Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, Small Animal Primary CareWest Lafayette, Indiana
University teaching hospital primary care service for dogs, cats and a wide range of exotic pets. No referral needed. 765-494-1107.
Rescues and adoption
No rescue listed in Indiana yet. National groups on the rescues page take surrenders from any state.
Breeders and stores
No breeder or store listed in Indiana yet.
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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