Things To Consider When Choosing A Turtle As A Pet

Choosing a turtle as a pet is becoming a popular idea. Reading this article will inform you of the things that you need to consider before you purchase your turtle.

Many parents are choosing a turtle as a pet for their children. These are great pets especially for young children as they; generally speaking, do not require as much demand on a child's time that other pets such as a dog may require. However there are several considerations that you need to carefully consider before purchasing a turtle.

One of the important things that you need to consider is whether you want to commit to take care of a turtle for its entire life. Turtles have a long life expectance and will require caring for during that time. In fact many pet turtles can live to be 25 years old. This is a long time to commit to the caring of a pet so make sure that you are willing to do what it takes for its life time.

Secondly consider that turtles are not "people pets." What this means is that they are not going to wag their tail when you enter a room, they are not going to lick your face, and there will not be any teaching it to do tricks. That does not mean that you can't take the turtle out of its cage and hold it or talk to it. It just means they simply do not interact with people that way so make sure that this is the type of pet you would like.

There are also safety concerns to bear in mind when you are choosing a turtle as a pet. For example some turtles may spread certain diseases such as salmonella. So you are going to need to take some precautions when it comes to handling the turtle. For example when anyone holds the turtle or cleans its living area you are going to need to wash your hands thoroughly. This is especially important when you have young children in the household as they are more prone to picking up these diseases.

Setting up their environment is also important. They are going to need fresh water daily, food and vitamins. Their bedding also needs to be kept clean. They require attention everyday and cannot be left alone when you go on vacation so you will need to keep that in mind. They also will hibernate anywhere from 10 to 20 weeks a year and you will need to have the right bedding and environment so that they can do so. They also need to have their housing temperature maintained so that they can live comfortably.

Raising a turtle as a pet can be a rewarding experience. Make sure that you understand the commitment that a turtle will require. Once you have decided that you are willing to make that commitment you can go and purchase a turtle. One important thing to remember is to buy a turtle that was born in captivity; wild turtles turned into pets do not fare as well in captivity and are prone to illness and diseases. When choosing a turtle as a pet it is important to know the facts, that way you can make the best decisions for you, your family and your turtle.

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