Why tortoises are good pets

You should not be giving any advise on how to care for turtles or torts or really anything that you have not been educated on. Please stop asking this man questions, ask someone who is an expert. Further more if you find anything outside, if it is not a cat or dog, u leave it outside. Taking anything from the wild and keeping it is a death sentance. Also releasing your unwanted anything outside is also a death sentence, and if it survives will most likely be a death sentance for the native species.

And finally i am further concerned for the "suspicious" death of the dog that ate your turtle a "MONTH" after killing your turtle! It was clearly unrelated and most likely caused by some other type of neglect. Your experience sounds to me like someone who was immature, potentially of college age and in their 20s. Who refused to listen to people who knew best, and do the work that was needed. At least you finally matured enough to realize you shouldnt have these under your care.

Good luck to you and your artistry, but please stop giving advise that you are not accredited to give. Thank u for all of this info. I need still help though. I cant decide what spiecies of torroise to get. I live in a genrally cold country and my aunt lives in a genrally warm place.

She might get me a tortoice that i will look after when visiting and she will look after when im gone. What tortoise should i get. I cant take it home on the plane. The least amount of impact on native populations might make you choose a red-eared slider. Especially good for a young person, they are generally very hearty.

Wash hands every time they are handled and handle infrequently especially when they are young. Keep up the research on your own end too! Be well! Ben Zoltak. Thanks Annie, yes I will take your words to heart.

I do my best to learn from my mistakes with pets and people and everything else under the sun. Thanks for your kind words PBMalcolm, it's not easy being green!

I mean that figuratively of course. I want to get a pet turtle for my year-old, and to solve the salmonella can you just wear gloves? Thank you very much for your honest and detailed information on your experience and advise with these wonderful but complicated creatures. Don't take people's rudeness to heart, and don't be cruel to your own self because of the mishaps.

You tried and you learned and you are sharing the wisdom! What a horrible, careless pet owner, without common sense.. Poor Ben. No good deed goes unpunished, huh? Don't buy with your heart, buy with your head. You are doing yourself, and particularly the animal, a disservice to rush into a decision to get a pet like this without asking hundreds of questions and spending many, many hours reading and researching what to expect.

What a great informative article. I have a tortoise I took in because former owner went through bad divorce, had to move and no longer had yard. Tortoises are travelers. I grew up with a tortoise, my dad took in, when we were kids. He did everything right, even went to a sanctuary to learn how to properly take care. The same burrow she always went in. We were devastated.

Hey everyone, I am a kid. I was just wondering if this article is true because I was considering asking for a little turtle for my birthday coming up Whilst I appreciate the article it does seem to me some of your issues seemed to derive from carelessness and, well frankly, not using common sense! I mean if your given advice from a vet and ignore it the. That is not a responsible way to own a pet. I am unclear?! Thanks again though Amanda. This article is so right! My parents bought my eight year old a Russian tortoise for his birthday and it is the hardest pet I have ever owned.

My son is too young to do any of the upkeep and I constantly feel like this tortoise is one step from death. I wish I had read this before I told them it was okay!

I never imagined it would be this terrible. This was an interesting article. They are in fact very different creatures with different needs. Your article explained exactly what I needed to know. I will NOT have a tortoise for a pet at this time. Thank you for the great information. I have a tortoise and he is the easiest pet I e ever had to take care of. Although i agree with some of the statements, the biggest thing is just to study and learn if you know what your doing they are easy to take care of.

My Russian tortoise is kept in an terrarium and let out once a week for exercise. It is perfectly ok to keep a tortoise in a tank or terrarium if it is an adequate size. You do not have to have an enclosure outside to have a healthy tortoise!

As long as you take them outside on the hot days they will be fine. I was given a baby red ear slider by my neighbor who didnt want him anymore I have him in a tank with rocks and water I change his water every day he likes warm water he wont eat fresh anything I have given him many fresh fruits and lettece wont touch them he only likes the food that I bought at the pet store and he only likes a certain brand he is very spoiled He has grown twice his size and as he grows I upgrade his tank I love my turtle and talk to him every day he has given me joy.

Thanks to all of you who posted without being nasty to the person who wrote the article. Take in the ones others discarded; don't create more havoc. Thanks for this great article. I think a lot of people take advantage of anonymous comment sections to say awful, mean things that they would never say if they could be identified.

I think it took a lot of courage to share your stories of how challenging it was to raise pet turtles and tortoises. You sound like a kind and empathetic person - I'm sure you wouldn't be sharing your experiences if you didn't care about these animals.

I've been on the fence about getting one, and your article was helpful along with others I've read online that echo your same points. In the end I've decided against it. Appreciate the time you took to write this article! Thanks Catbark! Sometimes I don't think people read the entire article, or they themselves profit from the pet trade and are quick to judge. I do think there are responsible turtle and tortoise dealers out there that work hard to help satiate the desire for pets while at the same time help to alleviate the pressure on wild populations.

Thanks for the steel-heart response, it's not easy admitting out mistakes out in the open. Author of this article: you have no idea what you are on about and quick question D you even own a tortoise or a turtle?

I have a wonderful pet Sulcata Tortoise and a Macleay River Turtle, I love them so much, and they take research and commitment, but they are amazing. I have a little Macleay River turtle. He's one of the smallest turtle breeds in Australia. Squirtle is only around 6 inches but he still has a L tank I think thats 66 gallons?

He has a lot of room and honestly the more room the better. This guy absolutely sucks! What a DBAG! If your tortoise disappears, go find it you dick! Jesus you should never be allowed to adopt an animal again.

Who even thought it was a good idea to publish your idiotic nonesense? Toby is about 65 years old. Barbara my wife found him on a big moor before we were married and we have been married nearly 65 years. He escaped twice but he was found after a local tortoise hunt. He has a large garden to explore and sleeps in a 5 star home. Feeds on apple garden peas and stuff he finds inthe garden. Hasa bath every two days. Onlyproblem He will out live us so my son will be next dad.

Toby is a cracking pet. I enjoyed reading your article very much. I used to be a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and would frequently take in injured turtles, usually eastern box turtles. I kept two of the turtles because their injuries were too serious to release them within the acceptable window of time for them to reclaim their territory.

They were approximately years old when they came to me and I had them both from until last Summer when one of them was able to climb out of her enclosure and run away. I guess she didn't like living with me but I miss her. I still have her old, scared but lovable friend "Grandma". I have never seen a turtle with such a wonderful disbersistion as mr turtle has i can put him on the floor and he will literally follow me all over the kitchen i mean walk right behind me my family gets such a kick out of it the relationship thats between him and i.

I can take my nose and kiss him under his neck and he stretches his neck out just as far as he can for me to do that. So yes i know how to take very good care of my turtles. But its not really all what you supply them its about how much love and attention you give them also.

And my other 3 are treated just as good just like children don't do for one it you cant do for all. And my 4th one is a painter's turtle which of course is in a separate 10 gal. So i have had her for a year and she has her own little village with her dock heat lamp and all so with my Maltease and my Turtles and my family and friends im a and my new Grandbaby im a rich women.

So if you want to buy a turtle you buy one if it doesn't work out then im sure you can find someone who would take it in.

This whole article is more about how terrible of a pet owner you are rather than good reasons not to get a turtle as a pet. I have no intentions of getting a turtle for a pet, but you sound like a complete idiot when it comes to pet care. We never had problems with them, we also had 15 dogs 12 rat terriers and 3 chihuahuas and all they did was play with them.

I sometimes let him roam around the apartment and my chihuahua puppy loves to play with him, the old chihuahua I have however is scared of turtles. I found this article helpful. However my 10 yr. They pretty much come to me when they need anything. Timing is key to understanding they're needs. Turtles do play.

I have two turtles ,Jack and Jill ,they are red eared sliders and they are about 3 months old now, they healthy and they look happy , although i dont have any uvb or uva light, they are healthy , i take them for sunbath for 15min and its fine , you can see jill on my youtube channel ' Clumsy Turtle '.

I care them with love and its enough for them. Why dont you directly say you dont like turtles? I think you hadnt care them proper thats why they died sorry for grammer.

You know, not everybody thinks they know everything just because they read one article or book. I've been studying for months and read about like 32 articles. That's just you, I guess. Sorry, but you sound negligent. I think that these are examples of why YOU shouldn't have a pet, not examples of why I shouldn't Turtles are one of the easiest pets to care for. If you've killed that many turtles, that's on you. My neighbour has had her turtle for two decades and it's completely healthy and happy.

My friend also has had hers for a little less than a decade. I have had a tort for about six or seven years. Torts are definitely a life commitment, as pets. They live for decades and a tort could outlive its owner. Therefore, if you are not ready for such a commitment, please think twice before you get a tort. These cute animals are not at all easy to deal with. Unlike dogs and cats, torts cannot be trained to do anything: they only run for food.

I have 2 tortoises and they no not take much to care for them the way this article states. Of course just like every animal they need care but not the way it's making it seem.

I've had them for 2 years now and they have never needed that much care, they never needed to go to the vet or ever had mice to eat. The only thing I need to do constantly is make sure I clean up the food they don't eat so the tank doesn't get dirty, give them water and sometimes taking them outside. Also just to add something else, I have a dog and he does not try to eat them I let the turtles walk around the house he goes to sniff them and runs away. I'm pretty sure he is more scared of them then they are of him.

I hold them, my turtles love the affection I give them, some people say "They are turtles what feelings do they have," but in all reality they love to be held and they love it when I gently rub the top of their head and underneath. Just wanted to put a little out there, but turtles aren't at all hard to care for unless you can't be buying food often. Lettuce, apples, sweet potatoes and grapes is what I feed my 2 lovely turtles.

I hope this can help someone with some of the information they wanted :. I have two pet tortoises and the only thing I need to keep up with daily is taking the food they don't eat and tossing it out.

They are quite easy to care for. Tortoises do not require insects to eat! In fact that is not at all part of there diet regime nore do they eat mice!!!!!

Some weeds i. They are also suitable for responsible children! They are wonderful creatures, just because you couldn't care for them don't try and put everyone else of. So basically I'm not trying to be mean, but then you did kill so many with such simple and avoidable errors. You sound to me like someone who gets a reptile without truly studying them because you had a gerbil once in grade school. There was a list of things I wanted to point out, but looks like some fellow named Bill already went down that line very well.

I will only point out that anyone CAN give the animals all the things they need unlike you say, the problem is most are like you. They don't. I picked a sulcata tortoise myself, rescued from a shelter with those ones, that's typically best because many get them then throw them out. They push me to be the best I can be.

My family supports me and always cheers me up when I am down. My family cares so much about me and will do anything for me if it is legal. I really couldn't imagine a world without them. November 4th, I am thankful for my teachers. They might give me a lot of hassle and work to do.

Yet they come through by trying to help however they can. Teachers can be funny and kind of cool. November 5th, I am thankful for my character traits. My hard-working trait, my try to be amazing at things trait, my sweet trait, my fashion trait, and my smart trait, and my love trait.

But I also am thankful for those who stick around when my bad traits come out like my sassiness, my moody trait, my sensitiveness, my grumpy trait, my angry trait over dumb things, and even my trying to be amazing at things trait because I always try to be perfect.

Thanks, friends, and family for sticking around. Arthur Bozikas has penned a memoir that is heart-breaking and gutsy, as well as being full of hope and gratitude. This book is guaranteed to lift up readers and have them believing in the resilience and transcendence of the human spirit, making it a must read for years to come.

When reaching adolescence, most teenagers want more freedom, independence and control in their lives. For Arthur, it was the opposite, as he discovered that his lifespan would only last up to adulthood. After becoming an adult, Arthur was waiting for his death. It was at the eleventh hour, at the age of twenty-one, when Arthur was introduced to a miracle treatment, but only after the damage of iron overload from all the blood transfusion was done to his body.

Grateful to be given a chance to survive for a few more years, Arthur decided to do something with his life; to get married, buy a house and also to have children, knowing he had no prospect of any future for himself. At the age of sixty, Arthur and his wife Helen celebrated their thirty-five-year marriage anniversary. Recently we caught up with Bozikas so we could learn more about this amazing human and very talented writer. Why was you story Iron Boy one that you felt you needed to share with the world?

I promised myself if I made it to the age of 40 years old, I would put it all down in writing. I didn't know it will take me another twenty years to do it? When reading Iron Boy, the book struck me as a story on struggle, but more so about survival and endurance. How has that challenges you faced growing up helped shape you as an individual today especially as it pertains to business and entrepreneurship?

This is the first of its kind worldwide, from the prospective of a patients' point of view and not from a specialist or doctor. I wish I had something like Iron Boy when I was young and very afraid of my prospects!

As a professional CEO for over twenty years, the challenges in business is that you need to equip yourself with the right information or you are dead in the water! People with my condition now do have my book to prepare for the future because there is one and it's up to the individual to believe! Being married for 35 years is a huge accomplishment, what is the secret to your success that you can share with younger couples looking to hopefully have the same success in their marriages?

I think if both couples feel like they can't wait to share a new idea with one another or are not prepared to go anywhere without their partner by their side, then this is the only secret that any younger couples must desire for a successful marriage!

These two examples will resolve all arguments that every couples get into a marriage too or later! From a life lesson perspective what are some of the key points that you hope others can take away from your story 'Iron Boy' and even more so what is something that you hope you leave behind to your children that you hope they can apply to their own lives?

My children have been raised to see the person, and not the disability, that they have. I would like for a life lesson that the world can refer to us as "people first" regardless the disability one has. People with a disability and not disabled people…always put "people" first. See the person and not the disability!

How do you feel now? How is life after the 'miracle' treatment and is there any message that you would like to share with others who are struggling with the same challenges that you faced but that you are also facing here today?

I feel very grateful and life is wonderful for me and my family. Although health issue will continue to always be a big issue for me, I will deal with them each one at a time. The important thing is that young people worldwide with my condition can inspire others to do great things would something I would love to inspire!

Aging can make getting around much harder. Make sure your parents are safe in their own home by following these tips. There is going to come a time when your parents need a little help to safely live in their home. This is just an inevitable part of life.

The goal is to keep your parents as comfortable as possible while also knowing that they will be safe when alone. Luckily, it is fairly easy to make a few adjustments to the house that drastically improve its livability for seniors. These are the four things you must do to help your parents create a safe home as they age. Poor eyesight, reduced hearing, and imbalance put older individuals at risk of falling while moving around the house.

Falling is actually the main cause for injured seniors. Since this is a dangerous problem, you need to remove all fall hazards from their house immediately. Throw rugs, long cords, and old unused furniture all pose a huge risk. Some tortoises are shy and reclusive, while others are charismatic, inquisitive, and have personality.

All tortoises are quiet, attractive and exhibit interesting behavior. The key to keeping your tortoise healthy is to follow these simple rules. Biological Facts There are numerous species of tortoise kept as pets. The tortoises most commonly seen in the pet trade are generally those that are the easiest to breed and care for.

What follows are very general guidelines. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek more detailed information on the particular type of tortoise they own. The gender of a mature tortoise can usually be determined by external characteristics.

Male tortoises generally have a concavity on the plastron lower shell. Animal protein may be fed in small amounts. Sulcata and Leopard tortoises are fed a high-fiber diet of grass hay, leafy greens, vegetables, and tortoise chow.

Fruits are fed sparingly or not at all, and no animal protein is provided. Greek and Russian tortoises should be fed a high-fiber, low-protein diet of leafy greens, grass hay and vegetables.