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Do Turtles Make Good Pets?

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Do Turtles Make Good Pets?

Turtles are very interesting creatures to study and observe. While potentially a good pet, there are a number of factors you should consider before choosing to care for a turtle.

  1. Lifespan

    • Healthy turtles can live for a long time. Red-eared sliders, a popular pet shop inhabitant, can live for up to 50 years.

    Size

    • The turtles you find in the pet shops are usually a few inches long and will fit in a 20-gallon aquarium. But they eventually will outgrow this home and you will need to invest in a much larger enclosure. You will need a 100-gallon aquarium for an adult.

    Habitat

    • Turtles are semi-aquatic animals and will need an enclosure that has both room to swim and rocks or a land mass on which to bask and rest.

    Equipment

    • You will need a filter to keep the water clean, a water heater and a heat lamp to enable the turtles to bask. Take care with the heater to make sure the turtles do not break it and electrocute themselves.

    Feeding

    • Feeding your turtle outside its enclosure can assist in keeping its habitat clean but adds complexity its care. Depending on the turtle, it may eat plants or insects and small aquatic animals.

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References

  • Photo Credit Drew Avery/creativecommons.org

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