Turtles should not be viewed as a novelty when deciding to keep one as a pet. With a fairly long lifespan, these sophisticated creatures could well be part of a family for a few generations.
A popular turtle pet is the Red Eared Slider turtle, although many other forms of turtles are also kept as pets. Without filtration and room to grow, the readily available red-eared brought over as pets ended up being left neglected until the US government banned the sale of less than 4 inch turtles way back in 1970.
Turtle pets require proper lighting, large water tanks and regular cleaning that many turtle owners, even today, are not aware of. Turtles seldom survive overcrowded places in shops and fairs, neglect, and stress during long hours of transportation.
Children run a risk of being infected with Salmonella bacteria borne by a turtle pet. Most pet owners don’t realize that some of their aquatic turtle pets can grow to 12 inches, requiring adequate space and hygienic conditions.
UVA and UVB light-producing expensive bulbs meant for reptiles are required to light up the pet turtle’s tank, without which the pet risks developing metabolic bone disease. Proper temperature, nearly 12 hours of sunlight and enough water – 40 gallon tank with 70 degrees (F) daytime and 80 degrees (F) nighttime temperatures are required to allow the pet turtle to swim. The tank should be cleaned periodically as it can get extremely messy.
Taking your turtle pet out to show to friends and visitors can be harmful. As reptiles, they are cold-blooded and susceptible to changes in temperature. Vegetation in the tank should be non-poisonous as turtles have a tendency to feast on them.
Turtles are messy eaters – feeding them in a tank will help in monitoring their food as well as containing the mess.
Hardy turtles like the Red Eared Sliders, Mud Turtles, Musk Turtles and Cooters are good for beginners while the difficult, aggressive, larger variety of softshell and snapping turtles are not recommended as pets. Turtle pets require lots of attention. This makes them more sociable and a great source of enjoyment for the family.
Turtle owners may want to try and create a natural surrounding as much as possible for their turtle pet, such as setting up a turtle pen. To try and help pet turtles hibernate, some owners have tried refrigerating their turtle pet, which can be fatal during a sudden power failure or rise in temperature when their slumber is disturbed. If your pet turtle is kept indoors, there is no need for hibernation.
Pet turtles can be a fantastic gift to children. However, parents busy at work or home-making will find their children neglecting the pet after the initial excitement wears off, given the enormous attention and cleaning up that is required.
