Five False Notions About the Pet Turtle

I am just going over a handful of incorrect ideas about turtles as pets.

False Notion #1

A turtle is a turtle; they all have the same basic needs.

It is true that all species of turtles require UV-B radiation and need to live in an aquatic or semi-aquatic habitat, but diet, tank size, accessories, and growth rate differ between turtle species. A lot of people think all turtles are herbivores or omnivores, when some are carnivorous, such as the softshell, mata mata, and map turtle. Red-eared sliders start out as carnivores and turn into omnivores as they mature. Map turtles are known to eat some vegetation while they are hatchlings and become carnivores as they mature (to be fair, no animal is strictly carnivorous, my baby softshell likes to eat algae chips on occasion). A lot of baby turtles start out the same size, but one species can grow to be as large as 16 inches across while other types can only grow to be 8 inches. I hate that the word "turtle" is generalized when every species of turtles have their own kind of needs. Don't look up information about turtles, look up information about your turtle.

False Notion #2

A wild turtle walking along on dry land is up for grabs.

In some states, it is against the law to capture a wild adult turtle and keep it as a pet, but that’s not my real issue here. The fact is, it’s wrong to capture a grown turtle on land because it is 99% likely to be a female trying to find a place to lay her eggs. Turtles never have a reason to leave their aquatic homes unless they are either forced out of their habitat (Man) or a female needs to bury her eggs. You can help a turtle along if it's trying to cross a road, but I would not take it home with you and keep it as a pet. The female turtle will suppress laying her eggs as long as possible during captivity, but eventually nature will force her to lay them and the eggs will most likely die because of the wrong habitat. I guess it is a 50% chance she has already laid her eggs before capture, but why risk it? It's not healthy for the turtle's body to hang on to her eggs, and incubating turtle eggs is no easy task. It has to have perfect temperature, moister, and covering (each species has its own way of doing this). It is not worth it if you don't know what you're doing. I know some turtles can hang on to their eggs for about two weeks, but every turtle and turtle species is different. So if you found a turtle walking along and you nabbed it, take it back where you found it as soon as possible.

False Notion #3

Turtles make great first pets for children.

I don’t recommend pet turtles for most adults, let alone children. For some reason, some parents have this mindset that the smaller the pet, the less responsibility for that pet. That’s why a lot of parents will start their kids off with a fish before moving up to a hamster, and then eventually to a dog or a cat. Although a dead fish might be considered less devastating than a dead dog, this idea of smaller equals less does not stand true for all small pets, especially for the turtle. I might make the argument that turtles require more responsibility than a dog or a cat.

For instance, what does a dog need from its master? Well, it needs to be fed and watered, taken out for the occasional walk, and given affection from the owner (the fun task). How about a cat? Well, it needs to be fed and watered, change the litter box, and if it’s a long haired breed, the occasional brush (and affection, although maybe not as much as the dog). I might be making this sound too easy and I am not saying there is little responsibility for a dog and cat, but exotic animals like reptiles are a challenge and here’s why: We don’t just take care of them, we have to control every aspect of their environment. The space, the water temperature, the appropriate land area, filtration, chemicals, UV-B lighting, cleaning: even the whole arrangement of the setup is crucial for the turtle’s health. The point is reptiles depend greatly on their environment which we have to put the most care into, while dogs and cats’ space does not require that much work, if any. A litter box, a scratching post, and a doggy flap and you’re all set. Meanwhile, the turtle’s environment must constantly be tampered with. Turtles can easily die due to neglect like filthy water and inadequate space. I strongly recommend parents away from turtles for their children.

False Notion #4

Turtles grow into their environment.

Space for turtles is essential. This is unfortunately overlooked by many pet owners, who assume whatever size aquarium they happen to have, works as long as it looks spacious to them. I've seen turtles in aquariums that are just too small and others that are way too crowded for turtles. And just because your turtle isn't growing anymore does not mean it is done growing. Turtles kept in small aquariums will be affected by the small enclosure to the point it will stunt their growth. I once came across this sickening pet store site that encouraged customers to keep their baby turtles in a 10 gallon tank so that they can stay small and won't have to upgrade the tank. Stunting an animal's growth is just about one of the cruelest things to do to an animal (right up there with starving them). They are meant to grow as much as nature intended, and I bet this is the reason wild turtles outlive captive turtles, despite getting all of their nutritional needs. Space affects health, so make sure your turtle is in a spacious habitat. Look it up if you're not sure.

False Notion #5

You can learn everything about your turtle from a source or two.

Research: I mean research as many sites as you can about what kind of turtle you have and its overall needs. One site or even a couple will most likely not cover everything you need to know. Cross referencing is a must when looking up information on Web, or even in books (especially outdated ones). Never take one person's word for it. When I was looking up information on my turtle's needs, a few said a 10 gallon tank is the minimum while the majority said 20 gallons. A few said six hours of UV-B radiation, while most said twelve. One site would say something in the majority and then say something in the minority. What it all comes down to is collecting all that you've learned and grouping together what they all have in common. The more sites you search, the more likely you will be right on your turtle's needs. So don't go through one page of Google and say, "I'm done. I know what I need to know." I probably went through 20 sites, reaching seven or eight pages of Google. So really do your homework before getting yourself a turtle.

Turtles can make great pets, but they are not cheap and easy to maintain. It takes a lot of work and money to keep your turtle healthy and happy, and it should be all worth it if you care enough. Remember, don't just take my word for it. See what others have to say about keeping pet turtles; learn as much as you can about your animals.