Do you have the time and resources to walk a dog, clean a cats litter box or maybe even train a horse? Or do you live in an apartment or condo where your pet options are much more limited? If this is the case you may want to learn about pet turtle types.
Have you had pets for years, or are you looking more for a low maintenance or "starter" pet? Maybe even your child's first test drive for the responsibilties of pet ownership. Regardless of your situation a pet turtle could be a great addition to your family. A little information on the different turtle types will help you choose the right turtle.
There are four basic types of turtles: Turtles, terrapins, tortoises and sea turtles. These are all turtles, but with their own unique lifestyles and manuerisms.
First off theres the turtle. Two prime examples of turtles are the red eared slider and the painted turtle. These are considered turtles because they're amphibious, meaning they live partially on land and in water.
This is far different from the terrestrial, or land dwelling tortoise. A box turtle is a good example of a tortoise. If you thought turtles and tortoises were one in the same you need to read on. If you put a box turtle in a painted turtles amphibious habitat with a swimming area, your little tortoise could drown! Tortoises have been known to wade in shallow waters, but can get fatigued and drown if they can't easily escape deep waters.
The terrapin is actually what a pet turtle/tortoise is refered to in the UK. If you ever visit england and start bragging about your pet turtle be prepared for some funny looks. When people in the UK discuss turtles they're refering to sea turtles, which can grow to a whopping 2 meters and are certainly not considered pets. Therefore, pet turtles are dubbed terrapins.
Sea turtles inhabit every ocean in the world except for the arctic ocean. It is far too cold to support a sea turtle. As beautiful and magestic as they are, most sea turtles are not considered pets. However there are fully aquatic turtles that you can keep in their fish tanks. To avoid confusion these are simply labeled "aquatic" turtles in pet stores.
Depending on whether you have a turtle, tortoise or terrapin the animals diet will vary. Some turtles like minnows and other feeder fish while others prefer pellet foods and maybe the occasional insect snack. Most all types of turtle/tortoises enjoy leafy greens as a healthy nutrient rich staple of their diet.
All turtle diets are not created equal, but with a little know how, pinpointing the best food for your turtle can be a painless experience. You could talk to the people at pet stores for ideas or check the internet. There's a whole lot to be learned. If you don't find what your looking for, there are several different books to teach you the ins and outs of caring for pet turtles.
Whether you're interested in a turtle, tortoise, terrapin or sea turtle you can be a satisfied turtle owner in a very short time. There is a bit to learn due to the fact that people underestimate turtles as a no brainer pet. It definitely can be easy with just a little know how and routine maintenance you would give any other pet. These types of turtles all have their own unique needs and care, so adjust accordingly.
Pet turtles have a high fatality rate due to ignorance of how to care for turtles. Turtles are oftenviewed as something like a pet rock. This no maintenance neglectful attitude will cause illness and unnecessary death. No matter what your choice, make sure you educate yourself on the matter. That leaves less room for error and your pet turtle will thank you for it.
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