| When you are looking to purchase a reptile pet of | | | | inches in total. These are considered semi-aquatic |
| some kind, there are a number of things that you | | | | turtles. This means that they will spend half of their |
| need to be aware of. Although reptiles can be great | | | | time in the water, and half of their time bathing on |
| pets for families, there are a number of diseases and | | | | the rocks in their tank. |
| bacteria that you need to be careful of. | | | | Another factor that you should consider is what type |
| Salmonella is one of the leading bacteria that exist in | | | | of turtle you want: aquatic or a box turtle. There is a |
| any type of turtle you are looking to buy. Smaller | | | | distinctive difference between the two that you |
| turtles seem to be more apt to get salmonella than | | | | need to be aware of. Aquatic turtles can swim well |
| the larger turtles, or even box turtles. Since 1970, it | | | | under water, and like to spend a good portion of |
| has become illegal in the US to sell any type of small | | | | their time under the water. Box turtles, on the other |
| aquatic turtle. The reason that it is illegal is because | | | | hand, don't enjoy the water at all. They like to be in |
| of the chance of a salmonella outbreak in the US. | | | | a box or cage for most of their life. They will usually |
| When you are considering buying a turtle, you need | | | | drink the water, but they do not enjoy playing in the |
| to be very clear on the breed and size of the turtle | | | | water for leisure. |
| you want. Over the last few years, there have been | | | | Each of these turtles have their own qualities that |
| more and more people trying to see these types of | | | | make them unique as a reptilian animal, but aquatic |
| smaller turtles illegally. The smaller turtles are usually 4 | | | | turtles are the ones that you must be careful of. |
| inches or less on their shell length. The smallest turtle | | | | Aquatic turtles are more likely to pick up some form |
| that you can currently purchase is a red eared slider | | | | of salmonella. This means that when you take the |
| turtle. These turtles start about being about 5 inches | | | | turtle home, you could end up with your whole family |
| in length, and they eventually grow to be about 12 | | | | becoming sick from Salmonella. |