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TORTOISE CARE,
TORTOISE INFORMATION
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TORTOISE & TURTLE
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
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International
Tortoise & Turtle Organizations
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TORTOISE TRUST
Tortoise Trust
(international organization
based in London, UK)
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United States
Tortoise & Turtle Organizations
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United Kingdom
Tortoise & Turtle Organizations
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TORTOISE & TURTLE
RESCUE & ADOPTION
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INDIGENOUS TURTLE
RESCUE & REHABILITATION
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As a young child growing up in South Jersey, it was always exciting for
me to see a box turtle or a water turtle crossing the road. All too often
I would see one squashed by a car or truck; occasionally, it
was evident from the location of the deceased turtle that someone had
gone out of their way to deliberately run it over. We routinely stopped
and moved road-crossing turtles to safety; as I grew a bit older, my
mom and I built a large outdoor enclosure so I could bring home some of the
turtles I found to keep as pets.
When I went to college, we released the box turtles onto our semi-wooded
property. Many years later, I still see some of those turtles each summer
wandering around the back yard or crossing the driveway as they travel on
their appointed rounds. Sadly, it is the only place I still see box
turtles in South Jersey; they are all but gone now.
The following article was written for us by Susan Tellem of American
Tortoise Rescue. Susan discusses general pet turtle and tortoise care
as well as how to, and how not to, acquire a turtle or tortoise as a pet.
What You Should
Know About Owning a Turtle or Tortoise
People love their turtles and tortoises; consequently, the number of people
owning them grows every year. This is both good news and bad news. While
people are buying and trading large numbers of tortoises and turtles, the
number of these animals in the wild is decreasing significantly.
A great number of businesses and individuals are profiting from pet turtle and
tortoise sales. Pet stores, online retailers, reptile breeders, street
vendors, tortoise clubs and others profit from the sale of these gentle
creatures. Pet tortoise and turtle adoption is a logical solution to
stopping the sometimes illegal and often dubious sale of reptiles. Animals
eligible for adoption come from an existing group of captive reptiles;
therefore, no native turtles or tortoises are harmed or ripped from their
wild habitats.
Turtles can suffer injuries and stress from violent capture in the wild,
usually performed with barbaric hooks or turtle traps. During
transportation from forest, field or desert to pet stores, turtles and
tortoises are piled on top of each other in cramped, cold, soggy burlap
bags. From the boy who caught and sold a wild turtle for 25 cents to the
pet store that makes a hefty profit of $40 or even more is a disastrous
trip for a turtle or tortoise. Upwards of 90 percent of them die before
they go on sale, and many live the rest of their lives in small tanks, a
miserable existence for such a wild and free roaming creature.
Habitat destruction, live markets where turtles are sold for food, and
international trade in exotic animals have led to a stunning decline in
populations of these gentle creatures. They face extinction throughout
the world. Turtles, which evolved on this earth 200 million years ago
— long before the dinosaurs — are predicted by biologists to
see a future of only 50 years. By then there will be no more in the wild.
What a sad end to such a harmless creature.
Turtles and tortoises are wild animals which pose special problems as house
pets. These reptiles can carry salmonella, a bacterium that is
potentially fatal to children, seniors and adults with compromised immune
systems. At American Tortoise Rescue, we assume that every turtle
and tortoise has salmonella, so we wash our hands after touching each one.
Because of dangers such as this, it is very important that you do your
homework before purchasing any animal, especially a turtle or tortoise.
Read Before Buying Your Pet
If reptiles interest you, read up on their special care requirements. The
Internet is full of good information, especially sites that rehome and
adopt turtles and tortoises. Reptile books are not as reliable and often
have incorrect information.
Many people change their minds when they see how much care these animals
really need. Take into consideration that turtles and tortoises, for the
most part, are not very exciting creatures. They tend to sit —
hence their long lives. Contrary to what many children and their parents
thought after seeing the Ninja Turtles movie, they do not hop, skip and
jump through the air. This can be a huge disappointment for a child who
believes his turtle has magical powers when the turtle sits there like a
log.
For those who are determined to have a turtle or tortoise become a member of
the family, here are some key facts.
Water Turtles
Plan on giving a water turtle, like a common Red-eared Slider or a cooter,
a home in a pond only. Tanks are cruel for these creatures, which are
used to traveling from pond to pond in the wild. They need a safe area,
protected from predators like raccoons and dogs. Electric fencing is a
good solution, or a screened cover over the pond.
Some water turtles are carnivores, so you must plan on feeding them live food
like feeder goldfish as well as a prepared turtle food. They do not need
to be fed often — once or twice a week is fine for pond turtles that
scavenge. Water turtles hibernate under water all winter and need
protection from predators during this time as well.
Choose a healthy turtle at least four inches in length. (It is against federal
law to sell any turtles or tortoises under four inches anywhere in the U.S.
Report pet stores and breeders who violate this law. They should receive
a hefty fine.) Just like any healthy animal, turtles should have clear
eyes and be active. A runny nose or swollen eyes are indicative of a sick
turtle. Remember that a turtle which is ill is more likely to carry
salmonella. You must wash your hands with warm soapy water if you handle
it or the water it lives in. If you do this, it is unlikely that you will
get sick.
Keeping these wild animals in a tank is cruel. What is even more shocking is
keeping these salmonella carriers in schools as a hobby. Please actively
discourage this if your child’s teacher is thinking about adding a
turtle to the curriculum.
Land Turtles and Tortoises
Land turtles and tortoises are a different matter altogether. Do not buy one
at the pet store no matter how cute you think it is. The pet store owner
will be encouraged to replace it with another animal pulled from the wild.
There are a number of good tortoise rescues throughout the U.S. These
rescue agencies will help to match you with the right tortoise for your
lifestyle and habitation.
Choose a tortoise that fits your household. Small tortoises like Russians or
box turtles are good for people living in homes with small yards. Both of
these hibernate and both like cooler weather. Box turtles are carnivores
so you will have to feed them snails or worms along with some greenery.
Apartment dwellers often think a box turtle in a tank is cool. It is not.
These turtles suffer greatly when not allowed to enjoy sunlight and roam
freely. Get a bird or a cat instead.
If you have more room, a Desert, Leopard or Sulcata Tortoise will be a good
choice. These are vegetarians. The Desert hibernates, but the other two
do not. The Desert is endangered or threatened in several states, so you
will need a permit. It is illegal to adopt these out of the state of
origin, so if you live on the East Coast, don’t plan on a Desert.
In fact, Deserts, Leopards and Sulcatas are all from hot climates and do
not do well on the East Coast like Russians and box turtles do.
Leopards and Sulcatas are called great tortoises because they grow
very large. Leopards are bashful. Sulcatas are not. Sulcata Tortoises
can grow to weigh 200 pounds, so unless you have at least a half-acre
fenced enclosure, this is not a good choice.
Some Safety Measures
While turtles are more likely to carry salmonella than tortoises, it is best
to treat every turtle and tortoise as if they carry it. Good hygiene is
important. Children under 12 should not be around a turtle or tortoise
without parental supervision.
Dogs should never inhabit the same area as a tortoise. Dogs can chew the
tortoise’s arms and legs as well as their shell, and can even kill
the turtle or tortoise. There are many sad stories from pet owners who
thought that this “would never happen to me.”
Have a qualified exotic animal veterinarian check out your new turtle or
tortoise to make sure that it is healthy and gets a good start.
Finally, remember — you have been entrusted with one of the world’s
oldest living creatures. This “rock with legs” has a
personality and wants a warm, clean home and good food. It will live from
25 to 100 years, so when you make this commitment, it is often for a
lifetime.
Authored by
Susan M. Tellem, R.N., American Tortoise Rescue, Malibu, California.
Original article published 4 April 2006, copyright Ten Spider
Enterprises & Susan M. Tellem.
Follow links to the right to learn more about pet turtles and tortoises and how to rescue or adopt
a captive turtle or tortoise to raise as a pet.
At the left margin, Related Links address topics of interest
pertaining to pets and companion animals. View the
Exotic Pets SiteMap
for a complete list of exotic pets topics.
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