Help my grand daughter wants a turtle

[herpalot]

My 10 year old grand daughter wants a turtle, I don't know nothing about them, She saw one of those little green ones in a pet store but I can catch her plenty on my land. Is that safe for her and would a wild caught turtle live?

[herpalot]

Does anyone have any Idea? I have been told turtles are the hardest reptile to keep. Why is that?

Will my grand daughter be able to handle one of those red eared water turtles or a plain box turtle easier?

Any turtle people out there??

[SoulSmilen]

How responsible is she for her age? That's the biggest question to ask. As much as I love turtles, it's just something I won't keep anymore, though I may get a tortoise someday.

Red eared sliders are one of the toughest, actually. Well maybe 'tough' isn't the correct word, but certainly very specific and the upkeep is time consuming and costly. Then you have a need for UVB lighting and calcium supplementation... constant water changes along with capable filtration... the filtration is a biggie with keeping water turtles indoors. You'd be amazed how dirty the water gets. If this is something you're seriously thinking of doing, do all the research you can and don't buy one of small, cute hatchlings kids fall for in the stores. Get one that's a little larger and well-started, so to speak - at least 4-5".

As for getting one from the wild, I wouldn't advise it. Even a temporary thing can be life threatening for the turtle. Turtles are like homing pigeons in a way. If you move it away from its territory, it will head back if given the chance. When an animal is intent on getting from point A to point B, there is no concern for cover, only getting home. The risk of other factors (animals, roads, train tracks, etc.) is not worth the risk of the turtle.

Another factor this time of year is the temperatures and turtles 'hunkering down'. Sliders will burrow under the dirt/silt at the bottom of ponds when it's too cold for them outside and if you disrupt them right now with the weather up and down like it is in the Houston area and then let it go the next day, it may not have time to hunker down and it might succumb to the cold.

Wow, I'm giving every possible reason I can not to get one, eh? I guess I am, and I'll give you even one more reason I try to discourage people from getting turtles. Their life spans (depending on the species) are just as long as ours, if not longer. The likelihood of a person providing a home for the natural lifespan of a turtle is pretty unrealistic, and they often go from home to home or back to the pet store because people don't realize they are as time consuming as they are.

Is there any other animal your granddaughter might like? How about a frog that isn't 'too' difficult and she can watch grow? She is less likely to get bored with something if she can see immediate progress in growth and have that gratification. (Turtles grow extremely slow)

[jamie]

I've had very many turtles, i've found that red ear sliders a tough... probably not a good pet for a 10 year old. Their cages get dirty quickly and they grow pretty fast!

Box turtles, though, are great pets! I got one for christmas when i was 7 and then just kept finding them around the neighborhood. now i have around 15 of them, i unintentionaly bred them i guess you could say. so we find babies and just add them to the cage. They are very easy turtles to take care of and i have never come across a mean one. I would recommend building a cage outside though, or at least don't put a box turtle in an aquarium. Then tend to go crazy because of their reflection.

Let me know if you have any other questions, i'd be glad to help!

[herpalot]

Thanks for the tips, I think I am glad I have til next spring.

I thank a small herping trip to the country is in order. Maybe by next year she will have changed her mind, besides if I can show her some wild ones, she could see out beautful nature really is and not to take things out of it.

I love my grand daughter but, she is a great normal 10 year old and turtles are going to be to much for her.

[disteldg]

First thing you should be aware of is that they can carry Salmonella - hand washing is a must.

Babies are very succeptable to heating, lighting and temperature and are more likely to have problems and die. Older turtles are hardier but still need special care.

A good set up for a baby red eared slider turtle would be a 20 gal long aquarium with 4 inches of water, a turlte filter, a basking area (rock partially sticking ou of the water) that has a heat lamp shining on it to get to 85-90 degrees during the day. Turtle also need UVB lighting (5.0 is fine) and it needs to be within 12 inches of the backing area as well or the turtle will get respiratory disease or metabolic bone disease (solf shell and improper bone development)

Here is a great website on more information www.anapsid.org/reslider.html or please feel free to call me and we can talk.

Gina
713-329-9304

[herpalot]

Thats some good advise, lucky for me I think she has moved on to somethin with fur.