Are Pet Turtles or Terrapins the Right Choice for You?
You may not be aware of this, but a turtle and a terrapin are not the same thing. There are a few varieties of this creature. Turtles live in oceans and in fresh water. Terrapins are turtles that live in brackish water. The difference between the two is mostly ignored, though.
So, if you are considering getting a pet turtle or terrapin for you and your family but are not entirely sure whether you should, here are some ideas to help you decide.
Turtles are an excellent choice as pets because they are fun to watch, do not require training and have a long life expectancy. However, you should know that because they live longer than other pets, it is a commitment to bring one home. When caring for your pet you need to make sure that you provide both a dry and a wet habitat, and that the temperature of these is conducive for its well-being. A turtle requires plenty of fresh food. Clean, fresh water that is kept in a shallow bowl to make it readily accessible is very important. You should be aware and be able to recognize the difference between male and female turtles because you have to care for them in different ways.
You should also know that turtles require more care than most people think. So making sure that somebody is taking care of your pet while you are out of town is one necessary step you must take. You should check your turtle on a regular basis to catch any early signs of an illness; quite often it can be detected from abnormalities in its shell. If you do decide to keep a turtle or terrapin, know that they make for wonderful pets and that you need to commit to their care to have a happy, healthy pet.
Pet Turtle Care Tip #1
Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.
Pet Turtle Care Tip #2
Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.
Pet Turtle Care Tip #3
All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.