Pet Turtles
Some people have cats, others have dogs, and some choose to buy turtles. One of the most popular types of pets, cross the world, is the turtle. In fact, one such turtle, Timothy, was written about by naturalist Gilbert White, and as a result, many turtles in the United Kingdom were named Timothy. Many pet stores sell turtles, but few tell the customer that they can, in the right conditions, grow to 150 pounds.
Getting the Pet
You should always do your research before ever thinking about getting a turtle as a pet, and you should be aware that many pet turtles are shipped in inhumane conditions and often get sick or die before being sold.
Taking care of the pet turtle
Pet turtles are actually not easy to care for, and they can live for up to 30 or 40 years. It is important that anyone thinking of buying a pet turtle knows about the large amount of commitment it takes with caring for a pet turtle.
Captivity Problems
Pet turtles can become sick if they are kept in captivity, and some will develop various diseases if they are not cared for properly. These diseases include Metabolic Bone Disease, Dystocia, bacterial infections, Obesity and respiratory infections. These are often caused by poor owner understanding and veterinarian inexperience.
Pet Turtle Diet
Pet turtles will often eat plant and animal matter, however some prefer eating fish and water birds when they are in the wild. Before you by the pet turtle, know what it eats beforehand.
Human Health
Just like risks to the turtles health, there are risks to human health as well. Reptiles can carry salmonella bacteria, and pet turtles carry this in their digestive system without getting sick. After handling turtles, an individual needs to wash their hands well to avoid risk of contracting it.
Conclusion
Pet turtles can be a neat pet to have, but before you get one, you need to understand the risks to not only yourself, but the turtle itself. As well, take into consideration the difficult state of affairs that the turtle is put through on a regular basis with being transported to the pet store. Lastly, dont forget to take into consideration how long pet turtles can live and if you are not ready to make the commitment to raise one, then do not get it. If you think you can handle, then you are in store to have a very interesting pet.