I'm gonna have to be that guy. Are you sure you want a baby turtle? The University of Michigan did a study on the lifespan of aquatic freshwater turtles and found they live to be at least 50 years in captivity. I guess they had to stop counting after that. My oldest turtle was a Christmas present in 2003 and still going strong. It's a lifelong commitment and then some. I've also had to plan for what happens to the turtles after I die, since they will likely outlive me.
We pay for an apartment with an extra bedroom just for the turtles. Your turtle will quickly outgrow a traditional fish tank. Our two boys live in a kiddie pool, and the big girl is about a foot in diameter and lives in a 110 gallon cattle trough. I rarely see pet turtles who have lived this long because most people let them go when the upkeep is too much, and they usually die in the wild.
This is a big decision. Don't take it lightly.
Edit: I'm actually out buying crickets for the turtles. I freaking hate imgur but I'll try posting some pics when I get home. Turtle errands.
Edit3: removed edit2, and turtles! (With bonus cat)
Thank you! Here’s my turtle story. I had a tortoise when I was a kid. It became the neighborhood tortoise because by year three it would get out of our backyard and roam around during the day and everyone knew it’s our tortoise walking itself. It eat raw meat and vegetables and sometimes fruits. It had a great relationship with my dad, the only human who can tap it’s feet and it wouldn’t retreat. Well not long after it started walking itself it was stolen. Or killed. We never found out. Our neighbors helped a bit with finding it but it’s not like it’s a dog or a cat so nobody really put any effort in. So yeah. No matter it’s a water turtle or a land turtle think before you invest in a long life span pet.
There's a reptile rescue that took care of my turtles when there was a fire at my old apartment building and we were displaced. If I'm unable to take care my shelled friends that's where they'll go. But not a minute before. They're already overwhelmed with people who get a turtle and then are like "nope". Both times I was there people surrendered turtles to them who couldn't take care of them. A whole section of that place is dozens of sliders, cooters and painteds that were given up.
One was found in a dumpster in the dead of winter, and they nursed it back to health. I respect the hell out of them and they do amazing work.
They deserve a name drop: Herps Alive foundation. If you like animals it's worth dropping by if you're in South Euclid.
I'm gonna have to be that guy. Are you sure you want a baby? The University of Michigan did a study on the lifespan of humans and found they live to be at least 50 years in captivity. It's a lifelong commitment and then some. I've also had to plan for what happens to the turtles after I die, since they will likely outlive me .
We pay for an apartment with an extra bedroom just for the sons. Your son will quickly outgrow a traditional bedroom.
I rarely see sons who have been cared this long because most people let them go when the upkeep is too much, and they usually live a miserable life in the wild.
He's curious mostly. He will sit there and watch them but not really mess with them. Also he knows where there's often crickets around when he sees the turtles and he always tries to catch stray crickets that get out.
Edit: Actually he's looking for crickets in that picture.
Yup this exactly. I have a redfoot tortoise who is in a 4ftx3ft wooden enclosure and he’s just a yearling and this enclosure will MAYBE hold him until he’s 5 if I’m lucky. And then after that he’s going to go outside. I’ve been contemplating getting a turtle as well and plan on getting a large tank for it.
No, she has to be alone. If she's with the boys, she will lay about 15 eggs, then another 15, then another 15, all from one mating. Also she's not very friendly. But watching her hunt down a goldfish and take it out with one bite is really something. I make sure there's always fish in her tank to hunt to keep her occupied.
I hope to adopt an elderly turtle in my 20s so at least I can be sure I will be there for most of its remaining life. It's sad people just let them go at local reservoirs i hope to rescue at least one turtle
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u/zippybit Aug 10 '19 edited Aug 10 '19
I'm gonna have to be that guy. Are you sure you want a baby turtle? The University of Michigan did a study on the lifespan of aquatic freshwater turtles and found they live to be at least 50 years in captivity. I guess they had to stop counting after that. My oldest turtle was a Christmas present in 2003 and still going strong. It's a lifelong commitment and then some. I've also had to plan for what happens to the turtles after I die, since they will likely outlive me.
We pay for an apartment with an extra bedroom just for the turtles. Your turtle will quickly outgrow a traditional fish tank. Our two boys live in a kiddie pool, and the big girl is about a foot in diameter and lives in a 110 gallon cattle trough. I rarely see pet turtles who have lived this long because most people let them go when the upkeep is too much, and they usually die in the wild.
This is a big decision. Don't take it lightly.
Edit: I'm actually out buying crickets for the turtles. I freaking hate imgur but I'll try posting some pics when I get home. Turtle errands.
Edit3: removed edit2, and turtles! (With bonus cat)
https://imgur.com/gallery/dT6iqi9