Mata mata turtles...

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Tortus

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Does anyone here have one of these to share info about?

I heard of them long ago, but just recently learned there are breeders now who offer them for sale. They're a little pricey, around $450 a hatchling, but so incredible. And they only require small enclosures for their size since they don't move around much. They mainly sit still in ambush mode waiting for a fish.

I just watched mata mata youtube videos for the past hour. I'm in love. Their shell is like a snapping turtle and their head is like something from Star Wars with a great big smile. <3

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T2gU87t4KU[/video]
 

EricIvins

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Sorry, but there are no Breeders offering hatchlings for sale. One person has produced them for the past year or two. The Hatchlings you see available are Illegally smuggled animals, sent with Fish shipments out of Peru or other Countries. They show up every year.......

One of the group of Orinocos I used to have......

[video=youtube]http://youtu.be/NMcAiJ7kpNk[/video]
 

Tortus

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Really? That's a shame. How do they find them so small and claim they're captive bred hatchlings? I figured it was legit.
 

EricIvins

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Tortus said:
Really? That's a shame. How do they find them so small and claim they're captive bred hatchlings? I figured it was legit.

What is a shame is that we have a rediculous, outdated 4" law.......

The Hatchlings are farmed just like Podocnemis or other Turtles/Tortoises......They are not allowed to be brought into the US untill they are 4" SCL........
 

Tortus

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So the ones available are captive bred imports or smuggled wild ones?

I don't want anything that was taken from the wild, but I would love to have one of these.

That 4" law for aquatic turtles is stupid. Whenever you see them under 4" at a pet shop it will say, "Not for sale" or "For educational purposes only."

I hear it has something to do with babies putting them in their mouths. What if you can produce proof that you have no babies? lol
 

Vincentdhr

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There are a lot of mata mata breeders in the United States. A pet store near my house does, they have a pretty good colony going. It's not just one person's hatchlings and wild caught ones in the hobby.
 

EricIvins

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Vincentdhr said:
There are a lot of mata mata breeders in the United States. A pet store near my house does, they have a pretty good colony going. It's not just one person's hatchlings and wild caught ones in the hobby.

Where is the proof? You do realize what it takes to actually breed these animals right?
 

Tortus

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Sorry to sound ignorant, but what do you mean by "Farmed"? They put a bunch of these in a pen and let them breed?
 

Vincentdhr

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EricIvins said:
Where is the proof? You do realize what it takes to actually breed these animals right?

Well, they do sell them, they allow you to view the colony, and they keep the eggs in the incubator in the front of the store, so you can even watch them hatching out.
 

Tortus

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GKMATTI said:
Well, they do sell them, they allow you to view the colony, and they keep the eggs in the incubator in the front of the store, so you can even watch them hatching out.

What store is this? Do they sell them online?
 

Vincentdhr

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Pet Kingdom, a very good exotic pet store in San Diego. I am afraid that they do not sell online. Their selection is great, lots of turtles and tortoises.
 

Tortus

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Vincentdhr said:
Pet Kingdom, a very good exotic pet store in San Diego. I am afraid that they do not sell online. Their selection is great, lots of turtles and tortoises.

I checked out their website. They seem to have a nice collection of reptiles, but I didn't notice any mata mata pics.

If anyone has a link where I can buy a captive bred one please let me know. I have an empty aquarium ready for it.
 

Vincentdhr

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They are an excellent pet store. A while ago they had a pair of Galapagos torts for sale. They called them the 60,000 dollar lawn mowers. Turtlesource.com has some captive bred mata mata babies for sale at $450 each.
 

Tortus

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bigred said:
I wonder if a bird fell in the water in the wild if that turtle would eat it, ;)

I'm not sure why, but that made me laugh. I have a feeling they're fish-exclusive though. I love watching them eat.

Thanks for the tip, vince. I'm in that mode where I must have one of these now. God how I hate that. lol


Darn, it says the one on tortoisesource has been ordered.

I guess I'll just wait for the next batch. Impatiently...
 

bigred

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Tortus said:
bigred said:
I wonder if a bird fell in the water in the wild if that turtle would eat it, ;)

I'm not sure why, but that made me laugh. I have a feeling they're fish-exclusive though. I love watching them eat.

Thanks for the tip, vince. I'm in that mode where I must have one of these now. God how I hate that. lol


Darn, it says the one on tortoisesource has been ordered.

I guess I'll just wait for the next batch. Impatiently...



If you want one get one, you will get years of enjoyment
 

Vincentdhr

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They have two mata mata pages, one that just says mata mata and another that says mata mata (hatchlings). There is still one available on the hatchling page.
 

Tortus

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I saw one that was able to "add to cart", but the description said it's already sold.

I will contact them about it. I have the tank ready and everything.
 

dmmj

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I don't know your level of experience with turtles, but mata matas don't do well in captivity, even CB ones. They often die years later for no reason, just a word of warning before you spend 400 plus on a turtle.
 
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