Turtle Town Sydney - home for unwanted freshwater turtles, turtle re-homing, turtle rehabilitation, turtle rescue, turtles for sale, turtles adopted, turtle breeder.

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions below before you call or email me, and note I am not qualified to give veterinary advice.

Welcome to Turtle Town! A Garden of Eden for unwanted Australian native turtles - unwanted pet turtles welcome. I have been saving / adopting / finding good homes for hundreds of Australian native turtles since 2005. Thanks to fellow enthusiasts as well as the many supporters who have kindly donated turtle food, tanks and equipment.

Other unwanted non-venomous reptiles such as snakes and lizards can now also be re-homed through my network of licensed and experienced keepers.

My interest in turtles goes back to 1991 when I acquired one for an outdoors fish pond in my backyard and quickly realised they were much more interesting and interactive than the fish. Over the last few years as a hobby I constructed the ponds pictured below and added many more turtles, mainly donated by persons who for various reasons could no longer keep them. I created a beautiful turtle resort I called Turtle Town, where several breeds of Australian freshwater turtles happily live (and breed) in their attractive filtered ponds complete with feeder fish.

Since creating Turtle Town, I have come to the notice of several vets as well as wildlife rescue and rehabilitation groups who have also relocated numerous turtles into my care. Some of these turtles had injuries to their shell or lost a foot.

Do you have a cute turtle or two that has outgrown it's tank and looking for a new home for it? If they have become human - dependent, do not release them into the nearest creek or dam as the chances of survival are slim. Also from an environmental point of view, they can have a devastating effect on our wildlife and our natural ecology, especially if released into an area where they do not naturally occur. As a licensed reptile keeper, turtle breeder, turtle enthusiast and turtle carer, I can re-home your unwanted turtle(s). If for some reason I cannot take it in myself, I can find it a good home through my network of fellow experienced keepers with the appropriate facilities.

Turtles that are too small or too young for ponds, or sick turtles can be accommodated in one of my indoor tanks.

I hope this website will be a useful resource for persons wishing to keep Australian native freshwater turtles, particularly in outdoor ponds. Please take the time to look around it, especially the FAQ below.

Frequently Asked Questions about keeping turtles (please read before calling or emailing me):

Q. What do I have to do to get a turtle? A. First, get a Native Animal Keepers License online here. There is no test, just pay your money. While you're waiting for your license (this takes 3 weeks) get your tank set up and cycling. When you're ready give me a call and arrange to come over. Please do not bring any children here unless they are very well behaved and respect the fact they are in someone's home, not a playground. I don't want myself or the turtles to get unduly stressed. I also don't want your kids have a tank full of water falling on them, or some other accident, so there's safety issues here as well. Parents this is your responsibility.

Q. Do you have any of those turtles that stay small? A. No, there is no such thing, read the care sheet.

Q. Do you have any of those land based tortoises? A. No, they are not native to Australia, so forget about that idea, you can't keep them (even if somehow you do find one) unless you have a zoo license.

Q. Can you sell me a turtle without a license? A. No, sorry I can't, see here for more info on licenses.

Q. What do I need as far as a tank setup? A. See here.

Q. What should I feed them? A. Read the care sheet.

Q. Where are you located? A. I work from home in Wahroonga (Sydney's North Shore).

Q. Can I bring you a turtle I found crossing the road? A. No, it's illegal to take wild turtles (or other animals) from the wild. It is best returned to the area where it was found. If this is not possible, or if the turtle is injured phone either Sydney Wildlife on 9413 4300 or WIRES on 8977 3333 for advice.

Please note, I am not qualified to give veterinarian advice. However if you read the care sheet your questions will probably be answered. The fact sheet is also recommended reading if you are considering keeping a turtle as a pet.

Basic requirements for outdoor turtle ponds (see pictures below):

A sunny position that gets shade also.
A land area with shady plants.
A ramp or other means of enabling turtles to climb out of the water.
Some water plants in the pond for the turtles to hide under.
Suitable fencing to prevent escapes, or a secure yard.
Live feeder fish.
Good filtration and oxygenation.

Turtle Town in the newspaper.

2 large above ground ponds (4,500 litres each) for adult turtles.