Are turtles easy to keep?

Question

i wanna get one.lol

Answer 1

LOL LOL LOL

I have had my 2 Aquatic Slider  girls for 36 yrs. Plus an 8 and 5 yr old and now a 2 yr old adopted from this site.. And in a pond for almost 7 yrs now. Got them on my 18th birthday!

I have carted these guys around for 36 yrs!!! I could have been a millionare by now. But I have spent $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on these guys.

The bigger the environment the bigger the healthier the turtle. Remember 10 gallons for every inch of turtle. I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries and worked great.

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA/UVB for 8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they need to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always. These turtles in captivity do not hibernate their eating may slow down some but they will not hibernate.

Their water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot.

Total Body length: 5-8" average, up to 12 inches max. Life span: 15-25+ years

Males have the longer front nails and are used in mating. And are considered mature at about 5 yrs old. You can’t start sexing till about  3” across.

You need a good filter system! Gravel larger than they can swallow.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in the tanks and watch them disappear in a few days! When I got these two 36 yrs ago all we had in back then  were goldfish to feed , so after 36 yrs and still going strong. They can eat goldfish! I spend about 175.00 a month on fish ,goldfish and minnows. An Extra  75.00 on leafy greens and dried cubed tubiflex worms.

This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also!

They sleep at the bottom of rivers, streams. lakes or ponds or your tank to avoid predators like coyotes,  foxes, owls, hawks, possums, raccoons and even some wide mouth bass.

TOSS in a bird cuttle bone in the water for calcium. it will dissolve real slow and if they eat it that’s fine!!

They can have garden worms, meal worms, snails, crickets, flies, crayfish small frogs, dragon flies and  anything that moves only as a treat.

They need leafy greens Romaine, Butter lettuce. (Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any other leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.

You probably already know that they get sick easily, shell rot, respiratory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing, blowing bubbles from their nose.

**Swollen cloudy eyes means lacking in Vitamin A. Which we all need for good eyes. Google ‘vegetables with Vitamin A.

Contact the “www.anapsid.org/societies, for a turtle vet /  rescue in your city and state.

I wish you luck.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...

Answer 2

That depends on whether or not you are willing to take care of it properly. If you want to go the easy way you can easily just throw it in a large tupperware container (50 gallon tote) with some water and call it good. That, of course, is not the proper way to do it. It also totally depends on the type of turtle you get. If you get a slider it will require at least a 75 gallon tank for one adult (some people settle for 50, but most recommend the 75). You will need filters, docks, lighting, and food. They aren't cheap, that's for sure. They also aren't very interactive as far as pets go. They really only want to see you when it's time to eat. The bigger the turtle the bigger the tank. You'll need to clean the tank often so that they don't get sick and the tank doesn't start to smell. I, personally, think that tortoises are much easier to care for since you don't have to clean a tank full of water. They require land. I have a sulcata in a 55 gallon tank that has sand in the bottom of it, and no water. I bathe her a few times a week so that she can get her water consumption. They tend to grow a little bigger, but there are still smaller breeds like the star, russian, and hermanns. Let me know which way you are headed, concerning specific type you want, and I can give you more specific information on what that kind needs to live a good life.  [e-mail]

Answer 3

yeah they are i had one.

you just have to make sure that they eat everyday

and make sure you clean there cage.

also it is good for you to take the turtle outside once in a while.

  

Answer 4

yes, unless you have it for a long time then it will grow big really big

but yes its easy have fun with it!

Answer 5

big 1s are babies die easily

Answer 6

Depends on the turtle. There are water ones and land ones. The water ones require a tank with a filter, a basking area, both a heat light and a UVB light.  

Answer 7

Yes, they just eat lettuce and carrots.

Answer 8

Sure they are...they don't run away.LOL