| Terrapin pets make wonderful companions, and | | | | backyard pen can house more than one pet-although |
| because they and their habitat do not take up much | | | | if you do get a few, it's generally recommended that |
| space, they are ideal for the millions of urban dwellers | | | | you have only males or only females to avoid |
| who live in not-too-spacious apartments or | | | | fighting. Yes, it's wonderful to imagine your male and |
| condominiums. Dogs make wonderful companions | | | | female producing lots of cute little baby terrapins, but |
| too-no one will argue that-but they want constant | | | | terrapin breeding is a specialized career and not to be |
| attention in return, require training, need to be | | | | done lightly. And though they are little at first, they |
| walked, and larger dogs may feel cramped in even a | | | | will grow, and then where will you house them all? |
| modest-sized home and yard. Cats take up less | | | | Giving them as gifts to people who don't have the |
| space, as they properly should, and birds take up | | | | proper setup, and "setting them free" in the English |
| even less space, but for many people, terrapins are | | | | countryside should not be options. |
| definitely the pet of choice. They eat little and may | | | | As for what Box Terrapins eat, they are omnivores, |
| live 60-100 years. | | | | meaning that they eat many different kinds of fruits |
| By the way, if you're American or Canadian, you're | | | | and vegetables, as well as meat-this includes cooked |
| probably wondering what on earth a terrapin is. No | | | | turkey and chicken as well as (non-cooked) lean |
| surprise, really! It's simply the British way of saying | | | | beef, earthworms, feeder fish, crayfish. Terrapin |
| turtle. If you are dazzled by the word terrapinarium, | | | | must be fed properly if they are to stay healthy. |
| that would be a turtle tank. | | | | Their terrapinarium must also be maintained at a |
| In America, semi-aquatic terrapins like Red-eared | | | | constant warm temperature, and be cleaned regularly |
| Sliders and Painted Turtles are the favorite breeds, | | | | that is no small task, if you don't wish them to get |
| and American imports are popular in Britain as well, | | | | sick. |
| since the UK has no native species of terrapin, | | | | Most terrapins-especially Box Terrapins-require very |
| tortoise or freshwater turtle. Now, of course, since | | | | careful handling, which is why they are not |
| many people have released their pets into the | | | | recommended as pets for very young children. If |
| countryside, and these once-tame terrapins have | | | | they are dropped it could prove fatal or cripple them. |
| found each other and bred, there are wild turtles in | | | | In addition, terrapins commonly carry the disease |
| England. | | | | known as salmonella, which means that every time |
| Box Terrapins or Box Turtles are also popular in | | | | you handle them or their utensils, or clean their |
| Britain-so popular, in fact, that it would do well to | | | | terrapinarium, you must thoroughly scrub your hands |
| spend a little time describing them and their | | | | with soap. |
| requirements. Box terrapins stop growing when they | | | | Terrapins do require a certain level of maintenance to |
| reach about six inches in length -- try getting your | | | | stay healthy, but they reward you in return if you |
| dog to do that! and their small size is a big factor in | | | | care for them, providing you with 60-100 years of |
| why so many people choose them as pets. | | | | cuteness and antics. |
| An added benefit is that a moderate-sized tank or | | | | |