While pet turtles are not my thing, I occasionally come upon special circumstances and make an exception. Usually these are dumped pets that were found injured in the wild where they don’t belong, but not always. Read on to learn about current foster-turtles in need of a new home. If you would like to adopt a turtle you see here, please contact me, either via email at: info@turtlehavenct.org , or via my Contact Page. In general, I’m looking for adopters in Connecticut, possibly neighboring states if you’re not too far over the border.
A note about size: Size is given in inches and is Standard Carapace Length (often abbreviated SCL in turtle communities). It is the length of the shell from front to back, and does not include the head, legs, or tail, nor does it take into account the curvature of the shell. Typically, it is measured with calipers, or else just a measuring tape laid out flat next to the turtle and not curved around the shape of the shell. While not listed here, most turtles are about half as wide as they are long.
Buttercup
| Name | Buttercup |
| Species | Yellow Bellied Slider |
| Age | Unknown, estimated 5 years |
| Size | 6.5″ |
| Sex | Female |
This here is Buttercup, a female yellow-bellied slider who came into rehab with an injured leg (now healed). She was brought in by a nice older couple who were beside themselves when they saw her down at their local pond, struggling to swim properly and bleeding. They could be forgiven for thinking she was a painted turtle, one of our native species, as they do both have stripes and hang out in ponds. Who cannot be forgiven, however, is the heartless bastard that dumped her in the wild in the first place when they got bored with their pandemic pet. Judging by her size (6.5″), she’s not that old and it’s a pretty likely scenario. Anyone who works with animals can tell you that people everywhere are giving up on the responsibility and lifetime commitment they signed up for when they got a pet during lockdown.
As sliders are not a native species, it is illegal to release them into the wild. Dumped pets can introduce diseases that native species aren’t immune to and wipe out entire populations. They out-compete our smaller natives for food, nesting sites, and basking areas. They become invasive and the official protocol is euthanasia, a seemingly drastic but necessary act to protect our struggling native turtle populations.
Officially, I ought to have killed her. Instead, I tended to her wounds in the hopes that once she was healed up, somebody who understands what a lifetime commitment is will want to adopt her. Now is that time. She is healed, swimming perfectly, eating well, and very healthy.
These turtles live 40-60 years and get up to 12” long, requiring huge amounts of space and water. Once you have the proper setup (she does not come with anything), maintenance is actually pretty easy, but it’s the sticker shock of what they actually need upfront that deters most people. There is no such thing as a free pet. I am not charging an adoption fee for this girl, but whoever adopts her will have to prove that they have what she needs, which can cost hundreds of dollars. If you want detailed information on how to care for Buttercup, check out the care sheets here, here, and here.
If you or someone you know want to adopt Buttercup, send an email to info@turtlehavenct.org to apply.
Turtle Haven 
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