| Contrary to popular belief, turtles and tortoises are | | | | and males 8-10 inches. They are generally shy around |
| not easy to care for and should be carefully thought | | | | people. |
| out before adopting one. Although they are not as | | | | They will eat both plants and animals as their primary |
| demanding as other pets (dogs ... cats ... hamsters ... | | | | food source.Pet terrapins diet should closely match |
| fish... etc) they do need proper care. | | | | their natural diet (crawfish, tadpoles, snails, and |
| Remember aquatic turtles can live thirty to forty | | | | numerous aquatic plants). Other foods such as feeder |
| years and box turtles and tortoises can live to be | | | | fish, dead, earthworms, cooked egg with the |
| 20-50 or more years with proper care and it takes a | | | | crumbled shell included and leafy greens. Commercial |
| person that's committed to care for them a long | | | | turtle foods should be used sparingly due to |
| time. | | | | insufficient scientific research and vitamin and mineral |
| Before purchasing any turtle or tortoise as a pet, | | | | imbalances. Providing a wide variety of foods is the |
| careful research should be done. Many sellers get | | | | key to successively raising captive turtles. |
| their stock from the wild and this is contributing to | | | | Some common problems that often arise with pet |
| reduced populations in their natural habitats. Many | | | | turtles and tortoises are: |
| turtles and tortoises get sick or die before reaching | | | | Lack of care by the owner. |
| the sellers because they are shipped in inhumane | | | | Neglect causing bacterial infections and shell rot, |
| conditions. Many of the personnel in pet stores do | | | | fungal infections, respiratory infections, and low |
| not have the knowledge to recognize disease | | | | quality of life. |
| symptoms | | | | When considering a turtle for a pet there are certain |
| A customer not suspecting anything wrong can go | | | | human health issues that should be known. Turtles |
| home with a sick turtle and later, when symptoms | | | | can carry the salmonella bacteria in their digestive |
| are advanced, realize it is ill. | | | | system without becoming sick and can shed it |
| The more common pet turtles are the small | | | | periodically. |
| terrestrial and freshwater turtles The red-ear slider | | | | People should thoroughly wash their hands after |
| (also known as the terrapin). Even though many are | | | | handling turtles. They can become sick if they do not. |
| purchased as pets for children, children should always | | | | The ones that usually suffer the most when exposed |
| be supervised by an adult. | | | | are children and those with weak immune systems. |
| Female terrapins grow to be 10-12 inches in length | | | | Death has been known to occur. |