The law in Iowa
Iowa treats turtles as a harvest species. With a fishing licence you may take common snapping turtles year-round and painted and softshell turtles from July 16 to May 14, keeping no more than 4 snappers, 1 softshell and 1 painted turtle a day and 100 pounds of live turtles in total. Turtles taken on a fishing licence cannot be sold, and eggs may not be taken from wild nests.
Selling. A fishing licensee is not permitted to sell, barter or trade live or dressed turtles taken under the licence. Commercial harvest needs a commercial licence under Iowa Code chapter 482 and carries its own possession limits. No state codification of the 4-inch rule found.
Keeping. Recreational harvesters may possess up to 100 pounds of live turtles or 50 pounds of dressed turtles. Daily catch limits: common snapping turtle 4, spiny and smooth softshell 1 in aggregate, painted turtle 1. Culling or swapping turtles in possession is unlawful. No rule found on keeping other native turtle species as pets or on non-native species; check the state threatened and endangered list before keeping any native turtle.
Wild turtles. Only snapping, spiny softshell, smooth softshell and painted turtles may be harvested, by hand, turtle hook, turtle trap or hook and line, with gear tagged with name, address and licence number. Harvesting turtle eggs from wild nests is prohibited. Traps must be checked every 72 hours.
Release. When a trap is checked, turtles beyond the daily limit must be released immediately. No rule found on releasing pet turtles; releasing pets is still a bad idea.
Who to ask. Iowa 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: Iowa Admin. Code 571-86.1 Turtles, Harvesting (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-86.1); Iowa Code 483A.28 Noncommercial harvest of aquatic species (Iowa Code 483A.28). 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
- Animal Family Veterinary Care CenterDavenport, Iowa
AAHA accredited hospital with an exotic pet care service. Its exotics page emphasises ferrets, so call to confirm reptile care. 563-391-9522.
Rescues and adoption
No rescue listed in Iowa yet. National groups on the rescues page take surrenders from any state.
Breeders and stores
No breeder or store listed in Iowa 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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