L et’s start off with an interesting fact- turtles are one of the oldest kinds of reptiles on the planet. Their hard shell and slow-moving mannerisms are what makes turtles as unique pets. For those who like challenges, these are hardy creatures and can be fun to care for. They may seem like low-maintenance pets, but most turtle species can live for decades, which makes them a lifelong commitment. Yes, that’s right. It is something you can definitely enjoy and learn about. Many people are now getting into the gist of how turtles are unique and bring forth such a distinctive charm to anyone who wishes to consider them as pets.
But even before you come onboard to consider turtles as pets, it is better to know and understand just how much care goes into keeping them. Whatever pets you wish to keep, one thing is for certain- any kind of pet needs your undivided attention.Social Diary is giving you a complete breakdown on how turtles are good companions as pets, but they need a lot of love and focus in return too!
One thing to know is that turtles need a lot of special care and plenty of room to grow. Turtles can live for many years, and they continue to grow during their lifetime. They need specific living standards to give them a happy and healthy life. Small turtles are often mistreated and mishandled, leading to premature death. Turtles shipped by mail often don’t survive the trip, and those kept in small tanks in pet stores live unhappy lives. If you’re interested in buying a turtle, you’ll need to determine what kind you want. The many species require different living environments. Rather than buying from a pet store, adopting a turtle from a local animal shelter or rescue group is the best option. Consider the other main aspects of caring for turtles, including where you’ll keep them, what you’ll feed them, and safety precautions.
Also bringing the turtle home, you’ll need the right lighting, temperature, and water filtration system. That suggests and allows you to have a complete overview on how they can be such good creatures to care for. They will need room to walk about their enclosure, and they’ll need their space cleaned frequently. Turtles need a lot of space to roam. Water turtles need large aquariums with plenty of room to swim and a place to get out of the water and sit under the heat lamp. Even small turtles need an aquarium that’s no smaller than 29 gallons, or 4 feet long and 18 inches wide. Your turtle needs plenty of space to grow.
Now let’s come onto the important aspect of what do turtles have in their diet? The diet will depend on the type of turtle you choose. Water turtles have a different diet from land turtles. Generally, turtles eat insects, fish, dark leafy greens, and freeze-dried mealworms. They need a healthy mix of 80% vegetables and 20% fruits. Turtles like squash, watermelon, and tomatoes. How much food you give them will depend on the type of turtle you get and their size. You don’t necessarily need to feed your turtle every day, but they can be fed four to five times a week. However this is not the case for young water turtles, which need feeding every day.
With the right care, turtles can live for at least 30 years in captivity and have been known to live for up to 70 in some cases and even longer, depending on the species. This is a massive commitment, and their complicated, expensive, and time-consuming care requirements will need to be maintained for many decades. Turtles are known to associate their owners with food and will even come to the edge of their enclosure to beg, just like a dog! They are also beautiful creatures that come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, with many different species to choose from. In fact, keeping a pet turtle can help preserve their species, as some species not commonly found in pet stores are endangered in the wild. This is the goal for most serious turtle-keepers, rather than just keeping them as a pleasing pet.
After bringing your turtle home and getting them adjusted, consider joining a local turtle and tortoise society or club. These groups can be a helpful resource for caring for your pet turtle and giving them a long, healthy life.When caring for your turtle, always wash your hands after handling, and don’t bathe them or wash their habitat pieces in your kitchen or bathroom. If possible, also wash their habitat outside or in a designated bin or tub. This will help prevent the spread of Salmonella to family members or other pets. Because reptiles are common carriers of Salmonella, don’t cuddle or kiss your turtle. Make sure children wash their hands and avoid putting their hands in their mouths after playing with turtles to avoid illness. Even if your turtle appears healthy, it’s safer to assume all reptiles can spread Salmonella. If for some reason you find that you can no longer care for your pet turtle, you can contact a turtle society for help.
Just remember turtles are amazing but everything needs to be done with a certain caution. When you know how to care for them, you will be amazed at how great these silent but fascinating creatures can be as long-term companions.
