| There are many ways to give your pet turtle care it | | | | home, and also why it is vital to find out what breed |
| deserves. Turtles can be irresistibly cute, and it is a | | | | of turtle you are buying-as each breed has slightly |
| known fact that children find their antics fascinating | | | | different habitat and dietary needs. |
| to watch. The turtles most commonly kept as | | | | Diet is another major factor in maintaining your |
| pets-such as Red-eared Sliders or Painted Turtles-can | | | | turtle's good health. Not all turtles thrive on a steady |
| be comfortably housed in a 40-gallon tank, well-suited | | | | diet of lettuce and packaged food sticks, for |
| to a home that doesn't have the space for larger | | | | example. Even those who thoroughly enjoy lettuce |
| pets to run around in. For a responsible child, | | | | will require variety in their diet if they are to get all |
| therefore, turtles often make ideal pets. | | | | the vitamins and nutrients they require. Many turtles |
| A few words of caution, however: turtles spend a | | | | are not just vegetarians but eat meat as well-which |
| great deal of time swimming or simply basking under | | | | can include feeder fish (commonly goldfish), insects, |
| the light of a UV lamp, and this can give the illusion | | | | worms, cooked chicken, raw lean beef, etc. In |
| that they have few needs and are a basically | | | | addition, some turtles are strictly carnivores when |
| low-maintenance pet: "Just remember to feed them | | | | young but become omnivores as the get older, so |
| and change the water in their tank once in a while | | | | maintaining a balanced diet entails knowing not only |
| and they'll be okay." This is a mistake. While it is true | | | | what breed of turtle you have, but how mature it is. |
| that turtles do not take up much space, do not run | | | | Many people-especially children-love to pick up their |
| around the house and do not eat much (at least not | | | | pet turtles, but this must be done with great care. |
| compared to a dog or even a cat), they do require a | | | | Young children might drop their pet if it scratches |
| lot of specialized care. | | | | them with its sharp claws, and a fall could kill or at |
| The initial set-up costs are a major investment. You | | | | least seriously injure your pet. You should also never |
| cannot simply keep a turtle in a fishbowl or a | | | | turn your turtle upside down to examine its |
| cardboard box. There are different types of turtles | | | | underside. And very importantly, be aware that many |
| and each kind has very specific needs. While | | | | turtles are infected with salmonella which is |
| land-dwelling tortoises can be housed in a large | | | | transferred to your hands when you handle them, |
| wooden box or, better yet, a wire-fenced enclosure | | | | and can make you very sick. It is therefore |
| in your back yard, the more commonly-kept | | | | recommended to handle turtles as little as possible |
| semi-aquatic turtles require a large glass tank that has | | | | and to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and |
| both a swimming area and a basking area elevated | | | | water after each handling. |
| out of the water. | | | | Owning a pet turtle can be a delightful experience, |
| Since turtles are cold-blooded reptiles, in the wild they | | | | but as you can see, there is more to their care than |
| often spend many hours soaking up the heat of the | | | | first meets the eye. For this reason, it is best to not |
| sun during the day; they cool down by seeking out | | | | buy a turtle on impulse or to give one away as a |
| shade or swimming in the water. Great care must be | | | | novelty pet-particularly to very young children who |
| taken, therefore, in maintaining the proper | | | | may not be responsible to care for them properly. If |
| temperature in your pet's artificial habitat. Negligence | | | | you wish to own a pet turtle, study their needs |
| in this area is one of the main reasons turtles | | | | ahead of time and be aware of the amount of |
| become sick. This is why it is important to set up | | | | ongoing care that they require. |
| your pet's tank and environment before you bring it | | | | |