The law in Texas
Texas treats turtles as nongame wildlife. You need a hunting licence to collect them, you may keep no more than 6 wild-caught freshwater turtles, and since 2018 no freshwater turtle may be taken from the wild to sell. Diamondback terrapins may not be possessed at all.
Selling. Taking or possessing freshwater turtles from the wild for commercial purposes is prohibited statewide. Nongame animals may not be taken from public land or water for sale. Selling other nongame reptiles requires a Nongame Collection Permit or Commercial Nongame Dealer Permit from TPWD.
Keeping. No permit is needed to keep pet turtles bought legally, but you may not possess more than 6 freshwater turtles of any species taken from the wild. Diamondback terrapins may not be possessed at any time. Threatened and endangered species, including the alligator snapping turtle, are protected.
Wild turtles. A hunting licence is required to take nongame species, and a Reptile and Amphibian Endorsement is needed to capture them on road shoulders or rights of way. On or in public water you may not possess or use a net or trap capable of catching a turtle, apart from dip nets and small minnow traps. Wild take is limited to 6 freshwater turtles.
Release. No specific rule found; releasing pets is still a bad idea.
Who to ask. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Federal law bars the sale of any turtle under 4 inches as a pet everywhere; see the 4-inch rule.
Sources: TPWD Outdoor Annual, nongame, exotic, endangered, threatened and protected species (31 Tex. Admin. Code 65.325 to 65.331); 31 Tex. Admin. Code 65.331 Commercial activity (31 Tex. Admin. Code 65.331(b), (c)); TPWD Commission agenda item, August 2018, nongame turtle rules (TPW Commission, 23 Aug 2018); TPWD Commercial Nongame Dealer Permit (31 Tex. Admin. Code 65.327). 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
- ABC Animal and Bird ClinicSugar Land, Texas
Treats dogs, cats, birds, exotic small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. 281-495-9445.
- Agave Veterinary Care and Exotic Animal HospitalLeander, Texas
Full-service hospital north of Austin that lists snakes, turtles and tortoises, bearded dragons and leopard geckos among its patients, along with small mammals and birds. 512-559-6300.
- Briarcrest Veterinary ClinicHouston, Texas
West Houston clinic whose veterinarian treats birds, reptiles and other exotics in addition to dogs and cats. 713-789-8320.
- Gulf Coast Veterinary SpecialistsHouston, Texas
Large specialty and emergency hospital with an avian and exotics service. Reptiles seen include lizards, turtles, tortoises and non-venomous snakes. 713-693-1111.
- North Austin Animal HospitalAustin, Texas
General practice with an avian and exotic pet care service that treats reptiles and birds alongside dogs and cats. 512-459-7676.
- South Texas Avian and Exotic HospitalSan Antonio, Texas
Practice focused only on avian and exotic pets, including reptiles, birds, small exotic mammals, amphibians and fish. 210-424-1871.
- Summertree Animal and Bird ClinicDallas, Texas
General and exotic practice whose exotic pet service covers small mammals, reptiles and birds. 972-387-4168.
- Texas Avian and Exotic HospitalGrapevine, Texas
Hospital devoted to birds and exotic pets in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Reptile patients include turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, geckos, iguanas, chameleons, boas and pythons. 817-953-8560.
Rescues and adoption
- Central Texas Tortoise RescueSan Marcos, Texas
Volunteer nonprofit operating since 2015 that houses, rehabilitates and rehomes captive tortoises and box turtles, about 200 animals a year, from volunteers' homes by appointment. It does not rehabilitate native wildlife. Ships: adopts within central Texas.
- Eden Animal SanctuaryJohnson City, Texas
Rescue facility in the Texas hill country providing shelter, rehabilitation and adoption for pet turtles and tortoises, with an adoption section on its site. Ships: adopts within the Texas hill country.
Breeders and stores
- 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.
- Reptile Pets DirectLive Oak, Texas
Direct-to-consumer online reptile seller with turtle and tortoise categories that also runs a retail store in Live Oak, near San Antonio. Shipping is covered by a live arrival guarantee subject to weather limits; states served and any FDA 4-inch statement were not shown on the pages read.
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.
- 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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