Kids want a turtle...Im clueless!

[jillybean1852]

Hey all. Ok, My girls really want a turtle and have been asking me for one for about a year or so now but I am CLUELESS when it comes to them and not really sure if a turtle would be happy in our home. I am wanting something small that would be comfy in like a 10 gallon without growing out of it & realitively low maintance. Does such thing exist?? Also, what breeds are great for kids (12yrs & 9yrs)? Is there a heavy maintance schedule for them & if so, what does it involve daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc? Thanks everyone for all your help in advance! I really appreciate it! :)

[Rue]

Nope, with the smaller turtles you'll need at 75g tank...you can start them in smaller tanks, but plan on at least a 75g down the road...

Turtles are a lot of work. You need good filtration, lots of water changes (they always potty in the water :hmm3grin2orange: ) and a good diet, high in calcium to maintain shell health...

[jillybean1852]

See, and thats what I was thinking all along while at the same time hoping I was wrong...for the kiddies sake anyway...LOL I feel so bad telling them no, but I cant in good faith get a pet that I KNOW would not be taking care of properly, you know? Its just not right.

[MandyL]

Do you think they would be interested in any other reptiles? I would take them to a well-stocked store and show them some of the smaller toads and lizards. Perhaps a gecko or something like that.

[Drumachine09]

Your best bet would to do what we did when I was a kid.


One the way home from work, on several occasions, my dad would find a turtle in the middle of the highway, so he would get out, and pick it up, and take it home. I'm not sure this is legal or not, but I think it is.

Anyway, we had the back 12'x12' portion of our yard fenced off with chicken wire. We had a small pond, and shelters, with some grass growing here and there, and thats where we kept our turtles.

[Rue]

Sure! An outdoor enclosure is ideal! You still have to keep the water really clean...

[jillybean1852]

Your best bet would to do what we did when I was a kid.


One the way home from work, on several occasions, my dad would find a turtle in the middle of the highway, so he would get out, and pick it up, and take it home. I'm not sure this is legal or not, but I think it is.

Anyway, we had the back 12'x12' portion of our yard fenced off with chicken wire. We had a small pond, and shelters, with some grass growing here and there, and thats where we kept our turtles.

LOL! Its funny Ushould say that. I lived in Florida for several years and down there, its illegal to take them home or anything bc of their endangerment status. But everytime one was in the road we would stop and take it to the side of the road it was heading for so it wouldnt get hit and everytime we did, the kids asked to keep it. lol Just about everyone down there would do that though. Every so often we would see one that got hit :(( but it really was maybe once a year and for the numbers of them on the road daily, even though it was horrible, it wasnt too bad considering. You know. Anywhos, It just brought back memories when you said that. :) :hmm3grin2orange:

[jillybean1852]

Do you think they would be interested in any other reptiles? I would take them to a well-stocked store and show them some of the smaller toads and lizards. Perhaps a gecko or something like that.

Im not sure actually. We've been to some stores that had some here or there and they were never interested in anything but the turtles...oh and some $400 lizard.... Shyeah Right! That'll happen! :hmm3grin2orange: I might have to do that though after we are moved and settled and just see. Then if not, I will most likely stay with my original plan to set up my 10 gallon I have sitting here and let them pick out some smaller fishees. :)

[traciec]

We have a Reeves turtle that I bought for our boys on a whim while in Destin and that really wasnt a smart idea. He's been a great pet and we really love him but a $16 turtle has cost around $200 in 'set up' for his very basic needs and requires constant work and attention. If your ready to commit for the long haul, they can be great pets but do your homework first!

[Rue]

Good point!

People have to remember that the actual cost of the pet is the least of it...and that any animal, cheap or free - deserves the best care you can give it...

[PUNISHER VETTE]

My dad used to catch the smallest turtle he could find fishing in the everglades when we used to spend the winters down in florida.

Kept 1 for about 3-4 months until it was time to leave and we let it go back were we found it.

Except one time we forgot to bring it inside at night and some raccoon got it and all we found was an empty shell :(

[Ty13]

A good site to go on for turtles is [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] it tells you everything you would ever need to know about pet turtles and theres a forum on it so you can get help if you need it.

[Jon_Lyle]

My brother has a 10-gallon tank with a few fish. Some kids had caught some baby turtles in a ditch and were keeping them in a pool, one of those little 4 foot molded plastic kinds. He got one from them and put it in his tank. Its been about 4 months now, the turtle is still alive and looks very happy. He swims about, doing flips and such, and plays tag with the algae-eating sucker fish. It hasn't eaten any fish, and eats fish food. It hasn't grown either, stays about 1.5-2 inches long.

He is an escape artist though, and has gotten out when the only hole was about the size of a quarter, he didn't see it happen, not sure how. The hole was about 3 inches up from the water too. It just sat on top of the tank, didn't go anywhere. He has had to keep the water an inch or 2 lower than usual now.

Again, no more extra maintenance than keeping the fish, not even special food, and like fish, it seems to stay at a size relative to its habitat. Ridiculously fun to watch, the sucker-fish tries to eat algae from its toes as it swims, they race around the plants and such with wild acrobatics.

[Rue]

That baby needs to be moved - and fairly soon...it needs room to grow to full size and certainly does need a proper diet.

It may seem okay to the casual observer, but damage is being done by its current housing...

[Jon_Lyle]

Damage how?

Might I mention that Raphael is a ninja, and can fly.
(at least we have concluded after weird escapes, even getting on a window ledge 2 feet away)

I firmly believe that animals will grow to fit their environment with no ill effects, if I can live on a meager amount of food and not grow too big or get sick, then so can they. Many people live for 4 years or more in small dormrooms with only a cup or 2 of ramen a day, and they become some of the more productive members of society.

Anyways, after he done remodeling, he's planning to get a 50 gallon tank.

[Lady Hobbs]

So.......raising a german shepard in a yorkies cage would be OK with you?

[Rue]

I firmly believe that animals will grow to fit their environment with no ill effects,.

That's one of those urban myths people tell themselves to justify not providing proper space requirements. Studies have shown that animals have restricted space; bones don't grow properly, muscles don't grow properly. It is also damaging mentally. All animals need space and a stimulating evironment - if there isn't adequate stimulation proper mental development doesn't occur.

Enrichment even benefits insects, as research on locusts has shown.


Anyways, after he done remodeling, he's planning to get a 50 gallon tank.

That's a great move...but a 75 g is the very min. he should go in.

[MeganL3985]

Very good post Rue! :thumb:

[Rue]

Thanks!

Does any one remember the plight of Russian babies in orphanages - this peaked back in the late '80s I think (Perestroika), but there are still issues with many European children.

There were so many unwanted babies, they ended up in orphanages that were terribly underfunded and understaffed.

Babies were kept in cribs until 3 years of age or so - the only contact most of them had was to be fed and changed. They didn't get to run around and they had no physical contact beyond the basics and no mental stimulation, toys, etc. Many could not walk, even at 3 years. Most spent their days laying in a catatonic state. There was nothing for them to do.

The children grew up stunted physically and mentally - this is called 'failure to thrive'. I haven't kept up with the issues - I'm fairly sure none of those children can or did grow up to be 'normal' issues. They will always have health issues and will never be socially adept.

[Jon_Lyle]

And were they happy? Did you ask them? The turtle is happy, he plays with the fishes, he goes on adventures. I think he can fly, he got onto a window ledge 2 feet away so he could tease the neighbor's dog. He's a wily rascal, him.

Did I mention he's a ninja?

[Rue]

I'm glad the turtle is happy.

I don't know about the deprived Russian orphans...

[donvichu]

And were they happy? Did you ask them? The turtle is happy, he plays with the fishes, he goes on adventures. I think he can fly, he got onto a window ledge 2 feet away so he could tease the neighbor's dog. He's a wily rascal, him.

Did I mention he's a ninja?


I dont know much about turtles...but is it normal for a turtle to try to come out of its tank?...doesnt it need part land and part water with a sun basking light and stuff?.......:confused:

[Fishguy2727]

What species of turtle did the original poster get? Did I miss it?

There are some species that do not need a 75 gallon. Female RESs yes, but many species stay much smaller than the one foot shell length female RESs and can be in something like a 40breeder their whole life without any problems.

[Rue]

Maybe...but with turtles (and even moreso with tortoises) bigger is better...

And if you err...err on 'too big'...

[sktadood13]

like lady hobbs thread(lost the link)this thread was created to help the person that started it not to argue about sizes of the tanks for the turtles.....please stop t keep ac friendly and great:spam:

[Kula]

I firmly believe that animals will grow to fit their environment with no ill effects, if I can live on a meager amount of food and not grow too big or get sick, then so can they. Many people live for 4 years or more in small dormrooms with only a cup or 2 of ramen a day, and they become some of the more productive members of society.
Wow, there are so many things wrong with that statement. Please, for the sake of every animal (including humans), go educate yourself.

And to the OP - getting a turtle isn't going to be such a great idea, unless you are willing to dedicate a good amount of money to a "cheap" pet. My ex thought it would be a good idea to bring home a couple of quarter-sized red-eared sliders (they grow to be around the size of a dinner plate) from a trip to Mexico... Well, as soon as I saw them, I told him what he got himself into. Of course he refused to put them in anything other than a McDonald's cup, so I went out and bought a tank, filter (Fluval 405), heating lamp, turtle food, a large piece of slate, and some other stuff to make a nice setup for them. I knew they would outgrow that tank, and I told them they'd have to make a pond in the backyard (it was his sister's house), and if they didn't want to make a pond, then they'd need to construct a nice home using a kiddie pool. Of course they didn't want to do that, and said when they turtles got to be too big for the tank, I'd have to take them (even though I was not the one who wanted/bought them in the first place). I have no idea what ever happened to those turtles, but the last time I saw them, they were almost 5" long, and not even a year old. Anyway, if you don't mind having a kiddie pool in the backyard and will build some kind of in/out ramp for the turtles, they could still be a fun option. But you also have to keep in mind you'll need some way to keep them in your backyard, since they will dig under the fence and escape!

[toddnbecka]

There's a book calle "Turtles for Dummies" I would recommend to anyone considering a pet turtle. Becka loves turtles, and wanted one for the pond every time we saw them at the lfs, so I bought her the book to read up on their requirements.