Ok i really want to get a small turtle but i neeed a way to keep it away from my cat any ideas?

Question

Ok i really want to get a small turtle but i neeed a way to keep it away from my cat any ideas?

Answer 1

One, turtles don't stay small.  One of my red eared sliders (the baby turtles that are sold illegally b/c they are under 4") is only twelve months old but is already six inches long-and he's male, females are larger.  RES rapidly grow to 16" or more, just the shell length.

Also, keep in mind that a turtle needs 10 gallons of water per INCH of shell.  They will *not* stay small if you keep them in a small tank (regardless of what the person selling the turtle says)-that logic only works for goldfish and even then, not very well.  The only way to keep a turtle smaller than it is supposed to be is to starve it which is very cruel (and will kill them in a couple of months).  Turtles need a volume of a good pelleted food (reptomin is one of the best) equal to that of its head-twice a day if under 3", once a day for 3-6", and every other day for larger turtles.  Fruits and veggies can be offered whenever as well as live feeder fish (in addition to the pellets).  Don't feed a turtle goldfish as they contain a poison that will slowly kill the turtle.  If it isn't eating enough, check the temperature, it should be 75-80 as any colder and they can't digest the food.

Mud, musk, and map turtles usually stay about 6" but not all of these are for beginner turtle keepers so you need to do some research.  Martin's World Exotics (http://martinsworldexotics.com/) usually has some of them-and currently have Common Musk turtles which are listed as beginner level as well as only getting up to 3-4" (still needs 30-40 gallons of water.  Kingsnake.com also has a good classifieds section.  Don't get any sliders, painteds, or cooters as they almost always get pretty big.

As far as keeping cats away from the turtle, cover the tank with a screen top-they are about $7-15 and you can rest the UVB light and sometimes the basking light on top (be carful that it doesn't melt through the screen).  Make sure that the cat can't knock the lamps off though as that can start a fire, particularly with the basking light.  I have my basking lamp on one of those reptile lamp stands that has a base that tucks under the tank so I don't have to worry about my cats.  Usually my cat's like to sit on top of the screen cover to watch the turtle and feeder fish.

Answer 2

put it up high in a tank with a top

Answer 3

i would put it in a place your cat doesnt really go (if there is one) otherwise put it high on a shelf in your room or in the basement

Answer 4

My cats had nothing to do with my turtle.  Just have a sturdy top with stuff on top of it so the cat wont jump on top of the tank.  If you do get a SMALL turtle make sure to at least get a 30 gallon tank to keep it healthy and happy.

Answer 5

well you could do what the first person said...or you could just get rid of the cat!..just kidding!

get a lid for your tank...a heavy duty lid in case your cat wants to sit on top of it.....

anytime your cat gets on the cage...spray him with a water bottle....this will teach them not to get up there.

When i worked in a pet store we had a store cat..who had free run of the store over night....while we werent there he would pee into the cages with sand in them.....making the reptiles sick...we eventually got rid of the cat!

Answer 6

put it in a 5 gallon aqurium with decretive rocks and put a plastic top