I'm thinking about getting a turtle as a pet.?

Question

i was thinking of purcesing a turtle as a pet. im 13 years old and i realize the responcebilities of a turtle and how long they'r lives can last. but im still a noob in this subject this is why im asking for help.i still need to know things like....

- a breed of turtle that stays small in size
-what to feed them
-what they need(tank...)
-what kind
-total price
-and what can i exspect of taking care of a turtle

please help me understand more about turtles i have been wanting one for ages hehe i need a friend.

Answer 1

Feeding is very important. You have to be careful not to feed too little or too much. Turtles have enormous appetites and you may find yourself spoiling him. You should feed very young turtles small amounts of food a couple of times a day. The diet of tortoises is mainly fruit. Tortoises have a sweet tooth and love tomatoes, bannanas, apples, and baby cereal. Protein should only be a minor portion of the diet. You can add protein to the diet by using canned dog food or crickets. Turtles on the other hand tend to be carnivorous. You need to offer them some herbivorous delicacies such as lettuce leaves. The main portion of their meal will however be protein based, such as s live crickets, fish, and earthworms. If you are unsure what to feed your turtle ask the individual from whom you purchased the turtle. You do not want to drastically change their diet.



Calcium is a need that must be met in the turtle’s diet. It is needed for their growing shell. In order to obtain calcium in their diet, you must feed them food such as snails or small fish. Some individuals prefer to add calcium to their diet by sprinkling it on as an additive. There are many commercial reptile calcium supplements that you can add to any diet.



Calcium is not enough, vitamin D is also needed in the diet. Vitamin D prevents the softening of the shell. Some individuals avoid adding an additional supplement of vitamin D, because too many vitamins can cause serious health problems. It is wise to discuss the supplements with your veterinarian.



When setting up the tank you will need to divide one portion for land and one portion for water. This can be done by using large rocks to create a pool of water on one side. The water level should be low enough that their nostrils can reach it while standing on their hind legs. For turtles that are strong swimmers, the water level can be even higher. The depth of the water should never be lower than the top of its shell. If the water level were lower, the turtle may have a tough time getting around.



The hardest part about keeping turtles is keeping them clean. The water in the tank will become unbearable every few days. When caring for these creatures, you have to be ready to make a commitment to cleaning their cage every few days. You can purchase a small filter at a pet store, one that is suited for turtles or small animals such as newts.

Answer 2

I had a turtle for a while a few years ago. Here is some info I can give you.

1. I had a box turtle, and it was rather small. Its shell was about the size of a large fist. This is a land turtle that does not swim in water.

2. You can buy turtle food from a pet store, but I also fed him fruits and vegetables. Strawberries and tomatoes worked well.

3. I used a large fish aquarium (without water of course) to keep him in. I put pebbles and rocks at the bottom of the cage. I also took him outside to roam in the grass sometimes.

I got my turtle from a park ranger who had found it by the road (I'm not kidding). So, it was free. I'm not sure how much box turtles cost, but I dont think it will be too expensive.

Turtles have a distinct smell that can be kind of strong. Make sure not to write on its shell or anything, and keep an eye on it if you take it outside. Mine would burrow into the ground so it was hard to see among rocks.

Answer 3

Turtles that stay small



Male Maps

Musk

Muds

Etc. The easiest thing for you to do since you are undecided is to look here and be sure to read all info http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheets.htm





Some things you need for turtles are:

You need the biggest tank you can afford upfront. A good rule of thumb is 10g per inch of shell, so no a 10g would not be fine unless you have a 1in hatchling, but it won't last you long so it doesn't make sense to buy small. If you can't afford a large tank, there are other options, a kiddie pool, a preformed pond liner, a rubber maid tote etc. Turtle tanks / the side cut out is a waste of money.

UVA/UVB lamps the box must say UVB and it should emit at least 5% UVB. You also need a heat lamp and a basking spot (something they can pull themselves completely out of water to dry off on). A varied diet (depends on species). A thermometer. A qualified herp vet BEFORE things go wrong. http://www.anapsid.org/vets/

You need good filtration. Turtles are messy. Shoot for 2x the gallon size but more is good too. For example if you have a 40g get a filter made for an 80g or bigger.

Substrate, you may use substrate but do not buy gravel!! Turtles can and will eat it. Usually with dire consequences. A good alternative is river rock bigger than the turtles head upgrading if needed. Or you could go bare bottom.

A good forum where you can get advice, support and help. I'm partial to the one I belong to lol http://www.turtleexchange.com/forum/

Answer 4

First before getting a turtle, you need to learn how to spell responsibilities. jk... ok, so turtles are very fun pets to keep. Unfortunately, they, iguanas, are more likey to carry salmonella than any other reptile. However, by taking few precautions like washing your hands after handling your turtle or its habitat, you can reduce the risk of catching this bacteria. This shouldn't be a problem because turtles should not be handled except when needed, such as cleaning its tank. Now, you have to decide whether you want an aquatic turtle or one that lives on land. Personally, I prefer the ones that live on land. They are easier to clean. Let me make this clear that NO aquatic turtle will stay small. They all get to be the size of a dinner plate! Terrestrial turtles, also known as tortoises tend to stay smaller. The russian tortoise does not get that big and are hardy. Aquatic turtles can be fed commercial food found in pet stores, and tortoise's can be fed dark leafy greens and vegetables. A russian tortoise needs a bare minimum of a 40 gallon reptile tank. Aquatic turtles need more like 100 gallons and larger. Both need a heat lamp and UV lamp. Red eared sliders are popular aquatic turtles and russian tortoises are popular tortoises. The total price for either one will be well over $100. Tortoises are more expensive at first. $350 +. Turtles are around

$120 +. Taking care of turtles is really exciting. It teaches responsibility (and how to spell it. lol.). But you have to remember that turtles/tortoises are NOT toys and are living, breathing creatures like you and me. They have to be taken to the vet if needed. Good luck!

Answer 5

Turtles can be very fun but if you want a pet that can play with you i wouldnt suggest a turtle. if you like watching a worm crawling across the yard at 5 inches an hour then you will probably like turtles. turtles are in water and tortoises are on land. tortoises are a little bit more thrilling. they all have different needs but the main things are heat, uv light, and alot of space. most tortoises eat only vegetables. never feed thhem the food that pet stores provide even though they say for turtles they are not healthy. i feed mine a mix of dark leafy greens like romain lettuce, watercress, endive, clovers in your yard dandelions, and alot more. i recomend either a russian or greek tortoise they both only get about 6-8 inches. please note that all reptiles can carry salmanilla always wash your hands imediatley after handling your turtle. if you are looking for a friend you should get a tortoise. the greek and the russian can probably live in a 40gln aquarium as hatchlings but in a few years you will have to find something a bit bigger. there is a couple websites for turtles and tortoises: tortoisetrust http://www.tortoisetrust.org/ and california turtle and tortoise club (CTTC) http://www.tortoise.org/ are 2 good ones. i hope you enjoy your turtle

Answer 6

Well I've had a Red Ear Slider turtle since I was about 10 years old (now 22). I certainly do not regret getting my turtle (love him to death) he did end up costing me more money and time than I ever realized. My turtle is about 10 inches, but I believe they can grow to be at least a few inches bigger than that. My turtle eats a wide variety of things the main two needed for nutritional health are turtle food pellets (available at all pet stores) and small feeder fish; additional vitamin supplements are also advised on occasion. Tanks are a little bit of a hard topic...the general rule is that tanks should increase in size in order to let your turtle grow at a natural rate. This part can get expensive since the general rule of thumb is for every inch of turtle you should have 10 gallons of water (the smallest Red Ear Slider turtle you should be able to buy is 4 inches). Red Ear Slider turtles are very aquatic, but rocks should be available in the tank to ensure that they can get out of the water and bask (heating lamp is useful here) when they would like. Water temperature and tank temperature (78-80 degrees when young, as an adult 76-78 degrees) are also very important, this is one turtle that should not really hibernate in the winter. Salmonella is a risk with having a turtle (especially if you have younger siblings that might try to play with the turtle), but just be careful and wash your hands. For health of your turtle: there are turtle vets that sometimes need to be seen (believe it or not, I was surprised too), cleaning their shell lightly with a tooth brush (and no my turtle hates this, so sometimes its hard to do) is advised if algae buildup is moderate, make sure not to overfeed your turtle, just watch for abnormal behavior and if they fall at any time check their shell if it's cracked you should take it to the vet. With proper care most Red Ear Sliders leave between 20-40 years. Please if you get sick of your pet do not abandon it in the wild, these "pets" are more vulnerable and do not often survive. The cheapest you could acquire the setup needed for this type of turtle is around $138 according to redearslider.com, but I personally think you might be able to do it a little cheaper (but really watch the water temperature and tank). While it may be a lot of work (more than you thought for something that lives in a tank) my turtle makes a wonderful pet. He is very interactive and social. but does seem afraid of groups of little kids all trying to touch him (what pet wouldn't :)



This is only one type of turtle and there are many others. Good luck finding the right kind of turtle for you!

Answer 7

I think you should get a nice box turtle. Babies are very cheap, many less than $5 if not rare. The catch is however, that you need either a 30 galoon aquarium or a large indoor or outdoor pen filled with a multitude of different things.

Indoor: bedding and absorbent flooring in most spots, a shelter type area (think like a kennel is to a dog) for comfort, and a shallow water dish where the turtle can actually fully soak in, special UVA and UVB lighting, feeding dish

Outdoor: different spots of sun and shade. Dug in pond to soak in with loose soil that is damp and a pile of shady matterial that can be used to burrow in for protection from heat and for comfort, feeding dish

This could cost at least $150 if you find everything VERY cheaply



You need to feed it vegies and fruits as well as turtle food from pet stores. Calcium supplements are also important.

I had a pet box turtle and it was indoor, it was actually very playful and yes turtles like to be walked (and they are very fast so you have to be quick on your feet since there aren't turtle leashes) if they are indoor, my turtle ran away but luckily it was old enough to fend for its own and I'm sure it made it's way to te woods where we found it after it craked its shell on our driveway where it landed in a hurricane. They are actually very fun though not distinctly affectionate pets no matter what people tell you and I hope you get one!

Answer 8

Hi, I have a pet turtle and I have alot of responsibilities! I have to clean up the poop out of the tank and clean the turtle. Always wear latex gloves, a mask, long-sleeved shirt, and goggles when handling the turtle. They also need a fairly large tank (50 gallons or more) so that they can swim and sun themselves.

Here is a list of the things you will need:

- latex gloves

- mask

- goggles

- toothbrush (for cleaning turtle)

- 50 gallon tank or more

- a mind to decide whether or not you will keep the babies

- turtle food (a balanced diet)

Keeping a pet turtle is hard work but if you want to then go for it!

Answer 9

you sound like a very responsible person and I would recommend you google for the info you asked for, if you don't get all of it form answers here.



just wanted to caution you to make sure you wash your hands after playing with it when you get one. They have been know to cause sickness - it used to be a real bad problem years ago when I had one. just wash every time and you'll be fine.



gudluk

Answer 10

get one that you know you would love go to the pet store and see what catches your eye. Dont worry about price they arent over 100$

Answer 11

I had a turtle once it was awesome! But we went outside with the tank and the cat tipped it over and the turtle "ran" away,

but thats besides the point. This should help you...http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/1454/aspets.html And this will too..http://www.aquatic-forums.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2422

Answer 12

turtles smell.

dont sweat it tho-turtles are LOW maintaince. and yeaa

they pee a lot haa

Answer 13

why?!



just so you can SAY you have a turtle. theres really no other reason.....you cant play with it or anything and all it is is a hassle

Answer 14

You should name it "salmonella"!