Have You Ever Thought Of A Turtle For A Pet ?
Turtles, particularly small terrestrial and freshwater turtles make for rather interesting pets. They are fairly slow moving but elegant reptiles of an age old order Testudines characterised by their bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs and that acts as a shield.
Turtles are some of the oldest reptile species, older than lizards and snakes, and there are about 300 species alive today although some are small in numbers.
Like other reptiles turtles are cold-blooded in that they vary their own body temperature according to the temperature of their environment, but most are suited to warmish conditions.
The largest turtles are aquatic but many live near to water. They breathe air but can stay under water quite happily for fair periods of time.
In the UK the word "turtle" usually refers to a salt-water species, whilst a freshwater type is often called a "terrapin" and a wholly terrestrial type is called a "tortoise".
Among the common types kept as pets are Russian Tortoises, Spur-thighed tortoises, and Red-eared Sliders (or Red-eared terrapins).
Now you may never have thought of a turtle or terrapin as a pet but they can be quite fascinating and can even be tamed to the extent that they allow you to handle them. They are long-lived, and once set up in the right habitat, need very little attention. They do not need to be taken for walks, they are not fussy about food, and they are not too temperature sensitive like tropical fish.
If you fancy a reasonably lively type of terrapin the Red-eared slider (Trachemis Scripta Elegans), is a good choice. It only grows up to ten inches long so does not need a massive tank.and is quite active during the day, being quite a good swimmer. It can be put out in a garden pond during the summer. It comes from the Mississippi region of the USA and is fairly easy to look after although does not mix well with other turtles.
Most pet turtles or terrapins are happy on a diet of fresh leafy greens and vegetables and require little else. Certain breeds will eat worms and they will need fresh water to drink. Depending on the specific breed of your turtle, you may want to check with your supplier or local pet store about any additional guidelines or specific requirements. In fact it's probably best to do this before actually7 getting your pet so that you know what to do.
One of the key things to remember bore bringing home your turtle or terrapin is that most of them need a wet and a dry environment, either as two aquariums or one larger one that can be divided. So you will need sufficient space in your house somewhere for this, and you will also need to provide the right kind of lighting and temperature control so that your turtle can feel comfortable and lead a happy life. The lighting especially should be as close as possible to daylight so that the turtle can follow the natural rhythms of the day.
A terrapin tank can make an interesting feature and conversation piece in a home. It is an unusual alternative to a fish aquarium, and in fact turtles or terrapins are much more responsive than fish. It is not usual to think of them as having a personality but you might want to check out the amusing video on my website below.
It is possible to form a bond with your pet turtle as long as you spend some time with it and treat it right.
Turtles are some of the oldest reptile species, older than lizards and snakes, and there are about 300 species alive today although some are small in numbers.
Like other reptiles turtles are cold-blooded in that they vary their own body temperature according to the temperature of their environment, but most are suited to warmish conditions.
The largest turtles are aquatic but many live near to water. They breathe air but can stay under water quite happily for fair periods of time.
In the UK the word "turtle" usually refers to a salt-water species, whilst a freshwater type is often called a "terrapin" and a wholly terrestrial type is called a "tortoise".
Among the common types kept as pets are Russian Tortoises, Spur-thighed tortoises, and Red-eared Sliders (or Red-eared terrapins).
Now you may never have thought of a turtle or terrapin as a pet but they can be quite fascinating and can even be tamed to the extent that they allow you to handle them. They are long-lived, and once set up in the right habitat, need very little attention. They do not need to be taken for walks, they are not fussy about food, and they are not too temperature sensitive like tropical fish.
If you fancy a reasonably lively type of terrapin the Red-eared slider (Trachemis Scripta Elegans), is a good choice. It only grows up to ten inches long so does not need a massive tank.and is quite active during the day, being quite a good swimmer. It can be put out in a garden pond during the summer. It comes from the Mississippi region of the USA and is fairly easy to look after although does not mix well with other turtles.
Most pet turtles or terrapins are happy on a diet of fresh leafy greens and vegetables and require little else. Certain breeds will eat worms and they will need fresh water to drink. Depending on the specific breed of your turtle, you may want to check with your supplier or local pet store about any additional guidelines or specific requirements. In fact it's probably best to do this before actually7 getting your pet so that you know what to do.
One of the key things to remember bore bringing home your turtle or terrapin is that most of them need a wet and a dry environment, either as two aquariums or one larger one that can be divided. So you will need sufficient space in your house somewhere for this, and you will also need to provide the right kind of lighting and temperature control so that your turtle can feel comfortable and lead a happy life. The lighting especially should be as close as possible to daylight so that the turtle can follow the natural rhythms of the day.
A terrapin tank can make an interesting feature and conversation piece in a home. It is an unusual alternative to a fish aquarium, and in fact turtles or terrapins are much more responsive than fish. It is not usual to think of them as having a personality but you might want to check out the amusing video on my website below.
It is possible to form a bond with your pet turtle as long as you spend some time with it and treat it right.
