need info, getting a turtle

[ryosnk]

Ok, I'm getting my wife a turtle because she has been asking for one since we first started going out. I need certain information on these question. Thanks.

Whats the best kind of turtle to get?

Whats the usual cost in getting a turtle and keeping a turtle(acessories/food)?

[ericx]

all i know is they eat lettuce. look up how to maintain a turtle in yahoo or google.

How to Choose Your Best Beginner Turtle?:
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/firstturtle.htm

[scsg75]

I've had two turles in my life. I'd say get an average box turtle, they are about half the price of a tortoise and just as cool. As for feeding, the cost is so minimal. Throw them some lettuce and fruit (apples and such) and everyday, as weird as it sounds, for vitamins and stuff they need, soak a small milk bone in water until it's soft, mush it up and give it to them. It does the job and is way better and cheaper then the turtle food pet stores sell.

[Javery]

Get 2 and name them cuff and link.

[evilmax17]

All I know is that they enjoy pizza and martial arts.

[ryosnk]

Also do they bite and do they poop alot and does it smell?

[ericx]

Get 2 and name them cuff and link.

get 4 and name them:

Raphael, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Leonardo

[scsg75]

Also do they bite and do they poop alot and does it smell?

Only snapping turtles bite. Stay away from them, they are more just to look at. Stay away from water turtles too, they are more costly to care for. Box turtles are doscile and generally non smelly. Get a 10 gallon aquarim and put some liter in in (like what you use for hamsters). Get a small frisbee for water. They like to sit in the water. Don't leave the frisbee of water in the tank, take them out to give them water once a day otherwise, they'll jst spill the water all over the tank and make a mess. Conversly, this is what I did after awhile, just let them run around free in the house. Mine would only poop in the water and there was never a cage to clean. They also hibernate in the winter, so for about 3 months or so, there's nothing to do, they don't even eat. Greatest pet ever.

[Cracka]

who the fuck would want a turtle as a pet. makes about as much sense as buying snails for pets.

[ryosnk]

Thanks everyone with the info and for the links ;)

[alonzomourning23]

I have an adult red eared slider (about 13 inches long and 5 wide I believe). Turtles get the water very dirty, and a filter made for a 50 gallon tank is too small, a 50 gallon tank needs a filter designed for a 100 or so gallon tank. I have a fluval 404 (which petsmart is selling for 120), magnum is good too but they're more expensive, though much easier to start (starting the fluval is a bitch). If the water becomes too dirty it will smell more and can cause the turtle to get sick. It should be cleaned about once a week even with the filter. A decent size tank for an adult (at least 50 gallons but should be more though) will probably run 60+, then 20-30 for a cover. Then you need one of those basking reptile lights (they need it since they use it to produce calcium, make sure it emits UVB rays), these cost 8-30 bucks depending on the quality you get and how long you want it to last (the cheap ones last as long as normal bulbs, the expensive last about 8-10 times as long). They will die without a heat source, they'll just keep getting colder and weaker until they die. They also stop eating if they aren't warm enough. Heat rocks aren't good near water, and they have a tendency to malfunction (becomes to hot and can injure/kill the reptile), so I would advice against those. You do need to have a large basking area (where the basking light should be) so the turtle can get out of the water and warm up, this also stops algae from growing on its back (I bought a bunch of bricks from home depot and built one, as they don't sell anything in pet stores that accomodates an adult turtle). They also need a quality heater, with a protective cage around it (turtles have been known to smash the glass heaters, electricuting themselves). That runs about 30 I think. Also, make sure there is enough water in the tank so it can turn itself right side up if it ever flips over.

The stand can be relatively cheap or expensive, depending on what you want it to do and how you want it to look (mine was 100, but it's decent looking with a cabinet and everything).

The tank setup (not counting stand) that mine is in cost about 350, and it's smaller than it should be.

I feed it reptomin pellets, and suplement it with shrimp, crab, krill, lettuce, dandelions etc.

Box turtles need vitamin A (a lot of them have vitamin a deficiency, which results in swollen eyes).

If you take care of it properly (a rarity since most people don't know what they're doing, which is why it's hard to find things for adult sized turtles) red eared sliders can live anywhere from 25-40 years. Box turtles can live 50+ and many tortoises can live over 100 (the galapagos tortoise that is in the australian zoo run by steve irwin, the one that darwin brought back to england, is 169 years old, found in 1830). Many of the tortoises found in pet stores can reach 100, and can also reach 150+ pounds. Many of these are things you would put in your will.

Just looked up box turtles http://www.eriezoo.org/eastern_box_turtle.htm. While small in size, they can live up to 100 years with 40-50 being more normal, again, if properly cared for.

Though a 10 gallon tank for a 7 inch turtle is definately too small, you at least want a 20 gallon long.

Personally, due to the amount of wild trapping (severely harming wild populations, and these animals are more stressed and likely to die as pets), and their longevity, I don't think turtles are good pets under most circumstanes.

[Javery]

I have an adult red eared slider (about 13 inches long and 5 wide I believe).

Me too. It's in my pants! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

...ahem... sorry...

[AlbinoNinja]

Me too. It's in my pants! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

...ahem... sorry...

your dick has red ears?

[Grave_Addiction]

Make sure to clean up where ever the turtle has gone and to wash your hands after touching it since turtles can carry salmonella.

[David85]

My friend had two little wild ones, were in a fish take, very little you have to do besides clean tank and feed them.

[crazyboxer12]

don't put it in an aquarium if it's a land turtle. Land turtles r amphibious, they can live in water, just not for long. I've always thought turtles can live in water, until mine died when I was a little kid 'cus it drowned

[alonzomourning23]

My friend had two little wild ones, were in a fish take, very little you have to do besides clean tank and feed them.

The thing is, the overwhelming majority of those bought die well before they're supposed to due to people not knowing how to care for them. Most likely, since your friend "had" them, they died well before their time. Unless it dies from sickness, the youngest a turtle should die at is about 25, assuming it is a short lived species, and that's still pushing it. Aquatic turtles are a lot of work, if properly taken care of.

[gamereviewgod]

Definitely go bigger than 10 gallon for any animal other than small fish.

I've had three snapping turtles I raised from babies, and eventually let loose. They are brutally hard to care for. One loved me, the other two wanted to kill me. My mom even loved my first one. He would literally follow me around the house when I let him out and sit on my moms chest at night for a while, perfectly content. That however, it rare. Food is the biggest issue, usually meat, and whatever they don't eat, rots. It needs constant care. They don't bite if you know how to handle them, but they will never be a family pet once grown.

If you have the space, do what I do for my lizards. Go buy a kiddie wading pool. It's spacious, they have great ventalation, a heat lamp can hang over the side with a plant holder, and with a dust pan, you can clean the entire thing in 10 minutes (or spot clean as needed). If they escape (which is unlikely with a turtle, but I'll throw it out there), go buy another one. Cut out the bottom, tape/glue it on top of the first one. You have access inside, the animal is safe, and it looks like hell.

The difference is you get more space than some of the largest aquariums for a meager $10. An aquarium set up of the same size would cost hundereds. The only reason not to do it is space/looks. If you actually care about the animal, then neither of those matter.

[Graystone]

All I know is that they enjoy pizza and martial arts.


:lol: :rofl: