DS wants to get a turtle

[imgoingtodisney]

what should we be aware of when looking? cost for tank, etc? how do we care for a turtle?

 

[wvjules]

When you go to the pet store to buy the turtle, ask the sales people some questions about turtle care, costs, etc. and buy one of those books at the counter about turtles. Or I'm sure you could find tons of turtle information in a library or on the web.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

something else for under the tree!! turtle food
DS has volunteer to buy this turtle with his money but I know it's not just the turtle. There are other costs involved. Maybe this weekend we can take a "family" trip to the pet store.

 

[Baboo]

Be sure to make sure that he always washes his hands or uses a hand sanitiser after handling the turtle since they can carry salmonella. My DS wants anoli lizards and apparently they can carry it too so he's getting a bottle of Purell in his stocking.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

All I can say is bring your paper and pen and add up the costs prior to saying yes.
I would think tank, sand, rocks, bowls, and a heat light for reptiles.
Also an explaination to DS that careful handwashing needs to be done after handling the turtle as they may carry salmonella.

 

[Buckalew]

We've never bought a turtle at the pet store. Usually just found a box turtle on the side of the road or something. The pet store would be helpful because they do need a lot of care and I know it is important not to forget to wash your hands after handling one & the website I went to warned never to kiss one! LOL But, after keeping her all summer, I did really like her although I heeded the advice and never kissed her.

Another easy to care for reptile is a gecko. You don't need to regulate their temp. like a snake. They eat crickets. My DD would love to have one of them.

Have fun!

 

[Jenzebelle]

www.petsmart.com has a lot of helpful articles about pet care and a message board. You should be able to find lots of info there.

You also might want to do a search on dogpile.com for some turtle care hints.

 

[Lorix2]

I think turtle's are very cute, but like a few OP's said, they do carry salmonella or some other yucky thing. My BIL got bacterial meningitis from a pet store bought turtle. He constantly played with it, it crawled in his bed, never washed his hands, etc. He was very very sick in the hospital for over a week. He is now deaf in one ear from the illness.

Frequent washing is very important. I personally would not want one in the house

 

[Palmrc]

WE had 2 red eared sliders. In case you dont know, those turtles can live to be over 20 yrs old. To long for me.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I too have heard of the concern about serious health problems.

Not meaning to rain on your parade... but Ewwww!!!

 

[binny]

the only tip I have for turtles is to beware of warm places.

My friends had turtles and one day they went downstairs and turned on the dryer they heard a "clunk clunk clunk" opened the dryer and out crawled two very dizzy but just fine turtles, they still have no idea how they got in there.

 

[WDWHound]

When I was a kid, I talked my parents into getting some of those little, itty bitty turtles that pet stores sell. I don't know what it is, but I swear this breed of turtle has a death wish. We would bring one home and the next day he would be dead in his little turtle tank, so we would return to the pet store for yet another speciman of turtalis mortis tomorreus. We must have gone through 4 turtles before we gave up for fear of eventually wiping out the species.

We never did know what caused the problems. We followed the instructions that came with the turtles carefully, we even consulted a vet, but every turtle isisted on shuffling off this mortal coil almost immediately upon arrival in our household. So we switched to hamsters. They seemed to have a stronger will to live.

 

[grinningghost]

I used to have a turtle when I was about 4. It was only when I was about 16 that my dad told me what happened to him. He thought he stunk, so he wrapped him up in tin foil and threw him out on the Thruway. Is that not the cruelest thing you've ever heard? Poor turtle.