I'm thinking of getting a turtle, anyone with one?

Question

Tutrles are so cute, how much and how big tank should I get for him? How much does food cost? what are their sleep habits?

Why? Why not. Turtles are sooo cuuuute...

Answer 1

I have three turtles. They mostly eat crickets, just about any veggies, and just about any fruits. NO bananas and NO tomatoes. They are bad for them. Mine each have their own tastes, though, and will reject any fruits or veggies they don't like. Crickets, however, they love!!!! Apples, carrots, and grapes are favorites. Even anacharis is a fave of the water turtles. One of my turtles is even a free roam turtle....she just wanders around my apartment. The only drawback is that I have to put her back in a cage when it starts to get cold, because she will try to hibernate.....I have to put her under a full spectrum light during the daylight hours of fall, winter, and spring. They don't really keep you up at night or anything. You basically just need to keep them on like a healthy balanced diet....with proteins (crickets, feeder fish), veggies, and fruits....you can even feed them some carbs with potatoes or corn. The cost of crickets and fresh fruits can get a tad pricey, but you really only need to feed them every 2-3 days. As far as tank size, it depends on the size of the turtle you aquire....I just try to give them plenty of room to be able to get their exercise. My malaysian box turtle is a med. size turtle and lives in a 40 gal. feeder tank (or hot tank)....it's short and wide, and I've filled it halfway with water and sort of a shelf on top, with rocks, for land. I also have to provide him with a light during the day, a water heater, and a filter....water turtles are pretty messy, so you definitely need a filter for the water in the tank. The land turtles definitely require less care than the water turtles. Hope this helps and good luck with your turtle!!

Answer 2

I have 2 red ear sliders & I dont have no problem with smell. for the ones who said that do you have a filter in the tank?? the key is dont over feed them, and when they use bathroom use net and get it out, keep your filter clean. Red ear sliders are very easy to take care of. you also can by this liquid stuff to drop in their water like once a week it keeps the waste down in the tank. and the only way they usually carry salmonella is if you get them to small is what i was told, but you should always clean your hands after handling them anyways. It dont cost much to feed they dont eat alot, but i get the turtle pellets so they get vitamins & keep shell condition, and i also by live feeder fish like once a month and i buy smelts from the seafood dept at the store and feed them that too. the part that cost is gettin everything you need..tank, heater, dock & a basking lamp so they can sunbathe its good for their shells and then a filter. and the food i buy is the H&H turtle bites & I buy Bio Care Turtle Clean that the drops to add to water to help eleminate the turtle poop. to get an idea on pricing go to petsmart.com website and you can get an idea. I love mine I got a girl and a boy had since they was the size of a half dollar.

Answer 3

Turtles are not easy pets. It takes an investment to get things set up, and daily work to feed and maintain them.

The tank size rules are:
- Aquatic tank: 10 gallons per inch of turtle shell length
- Land turtle: 100 square inches per inch of turtle shell length

Food costs: Good quality pelleted food for either, with some fresh food supplements and vitamins will run about $10/week or so.

Sleep habits: Turtles are diurnal, so tend to sleep at night.

See the sites below for more

Answer 4

Turtles look cool but are a pain because they smell so rank when you put them in a tank. I've never had one so I don't know about food costs or sleep habits, but my brother did and the smell was horrible.

Answer 5

Go for the ones which are not on the endangered list... like the red-ear sliders or painted turtles... i have 2 red-ear sliders and yes they are verrrryy cute... ofcourse, u need to change their water on a daily basis specially after feeding them... after an hour, when they are done with their eating discharges... who loves to live in dirty environment anyways!!... also, regarding the tank... u dont need a big one as these red ear sliders dont grow very fast, unless u over feed them... so during feeding hours put them in a small tub, they cant swallow as they dont have saliva... after feeding if u have sufficient area, watch them runing around, staring back @ you, yawning and sleeping ... they also rub their face while they sleep.. regarding cost.. its good to have a mix of turtle food and live worms (tubifex and bood-worms) also cuttle fish bone in water will be good.. just see to it tey get ample direct sunlight in the morning... if u cant provide full spectrum lights... dont worry about salmonella, keep kids away, dont kiss and wash hands with anti-bacterial soaps after playing with them... :) ..share with me ur experiences..

Answer 6

if you get a turtle, do not get the little ones they sell at the mall. they will make the entire room stink. get a turtle that is bigger, but doesn't dig. make him a pin outside and bring him in when it gets colder out

Answer 7

box turtles are cooler than red ear and less work but make sure you are committed to taking care of it every day

Answer 8

Why a turtle?

Answer 9

I hear you can get salmonella from turtles...

Answer 10

Watch out, they bite. OW!