FAQ
Buying a turtle or tortoise online can bring up a lot of questions—especially when you are ordering from a private, family-owned breeding facility like ours. We believe in total transparency. Please peruse our in-depth FAQ for the answers to our most commonly received questions we receive about our animals, shipping logistics, payments, and safety.
🐢 Our Facility & Animal Health
Q: Why should I buy from Exotic Amphibian?
A: You buy directly from a family-owned breeding facility—not a third-party reseller. Every turtle and tortoise receives individual care, a pristine biosecure environment, and coverage under our 7-Day Extended Health Guarantee.
Q: Are your turtles and tortoises captive-bred?
A: Yes. Every single animal we offer is 100% captive-bred. We do not support or sell wild-caught stock.
Q: Can I tour your facility?
A: To maintain strict biosecurity and protect our stock from pathogens like Ranavirus or Mycoplasma, our facility is closed to the public. However, we publish raw, behind-the-scenes videos of our facility and daily care on our site and social channels.
Q: Are you affiliated with conservation organizations?
A: Yes. We follow and support husbandry and conservation guidelines set by leading chelonian conservation communities.
Q: Do you buy animals from the general public?
A: No. To maintain a completely pathogen-free environment, we never buy, trade, or house animals from external or public sources.
Q: How do you support conservation?
A: We strictly produce 100% captive-bred turtles and tortoises. Producing healthy captive-bred animals directly reduces consumer demand for wild-caught poaching.
📦 Shipping, Timing & Weather
Q: How much does shipping cost?
A: We charge a standard flat rate of $54.99 per live animal order.
Q: Which days of the week do you ship?
A: We ship on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only via FedEx Priority Overnight for next-morning arrival.
Q: Will you ship my animal if the weather is too hot or too cold?
A: No. We only ship when route temperatures are strictly between 40°F and 90°F. Otherwise, we hold your animal safely for free.
Q: What is a Carrier Hub Pickup, and why do you recommend it?
A: Shipping to a climate-controlled FedEx Ship Center is the safest option because it protects your reptile from riding in a hot or bumpy delivery truck.
Q: How fast do I need to pick up my package from a FedEx Hub?
A: You must collect your package within 2 hours of its official arrival timestamp to keep your health guarantee active.
Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: No. We strictly ship within the 48 continental United States to comply with wildlife laws and ensure rapid delivery.
📋 Guarantees, Policies & Care Guides
Q: What does your guarantee cover?
A: We guarantee Live Arrival and extend health coverage for 7 full days post-arrival.
Q: What are the key requirements to keep my guarantee valid?
A: You must sign for the package on the first delivery attempt (or pick it up within 2 hours at a FedEx Hub), provide an accurate delivery address, and follow proper husbandry practices.
Q: Where can I find species care sheets?
A: We provide comprehensive, printable PDF care sheets directly on our website to help you set up your habitat before your new chelonian arrives.
🐢 Inventory, Gender & Care
Q: How often is inventory updated?
A: Stock updates naturally according to our seasonal breeding cycles. Sign up for our email newsletter to be notified when new hatches become available.
Q: Can you guarantee the sex of my turtle or tortoise?
A: Hatchlings and juveniles cannot be visually sexed until they mature. Unless explicitly listed as a sexed adult, young chelonians are sold as unsexed.
Q: Will I receive the exact animal in the photo?
A: Photos on our site are high-definition, representative images of our stock showing typical species traits. Because every turtle and tortoise has natural shell pattern variations, your animal will be unique.
Q: Which calcium supplement should I use?
A: We recommend dusting feeder foods with a pure calcium powder containing Vitamin D3 1–2 times per week to ensure strong shell development.
💳 Contact, Security & Payment
Q: How can I contact support?
A: We provide an emergency phone line for direct call or text support, especially during live shipment delivery windows, alongside our email support at support@exoticamphibian.com.
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept all major secure digital checkout options.
Q: Is my financial data secure?
A: Yes. Our store utilizes bank-grade SSL encryption and certified payment gateways. We never store credit card numbers on our servers.
