If your child is clamoring for a pet, you might think a turtle is an easy choice. You might think it's more exotic than a goldfish and lower maintenance than a cat or dog. In reality, pet turtles require a good deal of responsibility and upkeep and their long lifespan makes them less of a pet and more of a long-term investment.
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| Raising Pet Turtles: All the Information You Need to Raise Pet Turtles |
So, before you adopt your own little myrtle, here's a rundown of everything you need to know to keep pet turtles healthy and happy.
Choosing Your Pet Turtle Breed
There are many species of turtles, but the most common types brought home as pets (and the easiest to care for) are box turtles and red-eared turtles. Box turtles have dark skin with yellowish markings and tall domed shells, hence their name. Adults usually reach about 6 inches in length. Red-eared sliders (also called sliders) are the most common species of pet turtles. This is the kind you find swimming in tanks at your local pet store. While baby turtles are often 4 inches or less, adults can grow up to 11 inches long, which means you may need to upgrade your tank size in the near future.
Create your turtle's home
Turtles can be divided into two categories based on their habitat: land and water turtles. Box turtles are tortoises or tortoises. They are found in moist areas, such as mossy parts of forests, all over the world. If you live in a temperate zone (with an average temperature between 75 and 85 degrees), An outdoor enclosure with high walls and a roof to keep away predators is the perfect habitat for a box turtle.
If you live in a colder or warmer climate, provide an indoor space for your box turtle. Box turtles love to dig, so make sure they have plenty of dirt, potting soil, shredded newspaper, or scraps of carpet to keep them satisfied. Box turtles also need a certain amount of moisture to survive, try to include plenty of dry rotting leaves and moist soil in your turtle's enclosure, as well as a comfy shoebox or pot of flowers under which the tortoise can crawl to hide or sleep. Never put a turtle that you keep outside in a glass tank. The glass will heat up like a greenhouse and end up cooking your poor animal!
In their natural habitat, aquatic turtles, such as the red-eared slider, live in marshy, muddy areas with thick vegetation, such as lakes and ponds. They require a habitat that includes both dry land where they can rest, hide, and swim in lots of clean water. Your pet turtle should have plenty of space to swim in a tank with a capacity of at least 40 gallons.
Line the bottom of your turtle's tank with lots of small rocks for it to have fun digging. You can also place a large rock or a floating log in the middle of the water to give your turtle his own private island for sunbathing. In the terrestrial part of the aquarium, create a cozy shelter in wood or rocks where your pet turtle can go when it wants to go out in the open air.
You can also dress the tank with plants, as long as they are not toxic to your pet (he is forced to nibble on them). Plant species such as Amazonian swordfish, anachris, water hyacinth, and water lettuce are good choices that can double as part of your pet turtle's healthy diet.
Outside of a bathing area, aquatic turtles need additional space for their drinking water. Be sure to use natural spring water for your pet turtle's bathing area and for drinking water. Tap water contains chlorine and fluoride, which can alter the pH balance of the water and harm the turtle.
Both land and water turtles need to bask. If you keep your turtle indoors in an area without regular access to large amounts of natural light, you will need to purchase a basking light (also called a solar light) that simulates the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Turtles receive enough calcium and vitamin D from sunlight to live a happy and healthy life. You can keep the solar light on a timer that emits 12 hours of light then turns off for 12 hours of darkness or you can set the light by hand. Just make sure the lamp is placed high enough not to burn your turtle.
Varied pet turtle species require different environment temperatures. Tortoises can retain more body heat longer than tortoises. You will need to find exactly the right temperature for your species; As a general guideline, the tank or enclosure should be kept at a temperature of approximately 80 degrees Throughout the day, and at night, it is about 70 degrees.
Feeding your pet turtle
Since the majority of turtles are omnivores, they consume both meat and vegetation. Slugs, worms, crickets, apples, tomatoes, melons, and lush green vegetables are just a few of the many foods that box turtles will consume. Dandelion greens are also a good choice for a pet turtle's diet because they are high in vitamin A and calcium. A box turtle's absolute favorite food, however, is snails - as long as they don't contain pesticides. Baby box turtles eat meat when young and adopt a more vegetarian diet as they age.
Aquatic turtles must be fed in water so that they can swallow their food. Sliders like crayfish (without claws), snails and salamanders. They can also eat pieces of meat, fruits and vegetables (never iceberg lettuce or spinach) in addition to their usual diet. Unlike box turtles, sliders continue to eat meat into adulthood. Turtle experts recommend feeding your aquatic turtles live goldfish at least once a week. Turtles love to chase their prey, so capturing their dinner will give them a bit of fun and exercise!
Many pet stores also carry food sticks – specially created sticks that contain all the vitamins, minerals and proteins your pet turtle will need for a healthy diet. Food sticks can supplement the diet of land and water turtles.
Young turtles should be fed twice a day, aside from occasional snacks. Adult turtles can be fed every other day (they prefer to eat their meals early in the morning). Keep in mind that one of the most adorable characteristics of a turtle is that it likes to beg for food! If he sees you coming, he will swim to the glass near the surface of the water and open and close his mouth in a chewing motion.
General maintenance of your pet turtle
Because turtles are exotic pets, you may have trouble finding a pet store that offers the type of food specific to your species. Feeder fish can be expensive and they can dirty the tank; turtles are generally sloppy eaters, and you may need to pick up rotting fish particles under tiny rocks.
A turtle's habitat also requires a lot of attention. Your turtle will defecate in its swimming and/or drinking water, so it is essential to change its water regularly. Additionally, you should make sure to regularly filter your water turtle's tank water or clean and remove all moldy plant debris from your tortoise's enclosure.
In the 1970s, a salmonella scare among families with young children who raised pet turtles prompted the United States to ban the commercial sale of any turtles under four inches in length. The problem was that little kids put their little turtles in their mouths, contracting the dangerous bacteria.
There's no way to tell which turtles carry salmonella and which don't, so it's very important to wash your hands with antibacterial soap after handling your pet.
It's true that turtles don't require the same daily upkeep of walking, grooming, and petting that cats and dogs do, but they still need a fair amount of attention. Due to owners' carelessness or ignorance of the level of care that turtles actually require, many pet turtles die.
Turtles are naturally very long-lived, which means you could be investing in a pet that will stay with your family for generations. Make sure you and your children understand the responsibilities of keeping turtles as pets before you go to the pet store.
Is your family ready for a pet?
It happens to the best of us. As you pass a pet store in the mall, an adorable puppy scratches the window and catches your eye. Then you see a little kitten, and she meows plaintively. Your heart sinks and you notice that others are attracted to cute creatures. However, before you bring that puppy or kitten home, check to see if your family is pet-ready. Depending on your schedule, should you even consider a pet or should you wait a bit?
In Conclusion: Fascinating Facts About Turtles
You'd be surprised by some of the interesting things a pet turtle can learn you. Here are a few turtle facts you probably didn't know:
- They don't have ears.
- Box turtles have an average lifespan of 100 years.
- About 60 fused bones make up its shell.
- The hiss they sometimes make when in its shell is actually the sound of its exhalation.
There is a lot to learn when deciding to take a pet turtle under your wing. and the whole family can enjoy the many opportunities to better understand this fascinating creature. However, it is important to understand that they need certain conditions to thrive.
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