Am wanting to get a pet turtle & need as much care info as possible, which is better long neck or short neck?

Answer 1

i got friend that got turtles and is sorry he did. he says he spend alot of time cleaning the tank,becouse of the bad smell,due to their urine. they look cute but smell bad,lol

Answer 2

If you like the turtle-type creatures, consider a tortoise instead, they're cleaner.

Turtles need very large aquariums with a powerful carbon filter, and will still require at least weekly water changes, as their excrement smells awful and will dirty the water very quickly. They also carry higher levels of salmonella than most reptiles.

A tortoise can stay in an enclosure with only a water bowl, and they don't smell as bad or need constant cleaning.

If you have your heart set on a turtle, you will need an appropriate tank- no less than 20gal long for 1 turtle, 40gal or more is better. They need a place they can leave the water to bask, with a powerful basking heat lamp over it. There are immersible filters designed specifically for turtle-type aquariums, and you will need one of these. An inch or so of gravel at the bottom is also a good idea. Most turtles do fine on packaged turtle foods, or you can feed live food such as ghost shrimp and rosy red minnows, which are sold at most pet shops.

Also make sure you get a bottle of hand sanitizer (pet stores sell some made specially for reptile handlers) to keep near the tank, and always scrub your hands well after touching the turtle. NEVER let small children handle turtles!! They are very susceptible to salmonella poisoning.

Also, try to get an adult turtle instead of a tiny coin-sized baby. The smaller the turtle, the more germs they carry!!

If you change your mind, care for a tortoise is fairly simple, a large dry enclosure (you can use carpet or wood chips for bedding), a commercial tortoise diet mixed with fresh fruit and veggie, a water bowl, and a heat lamp. Very similar to large lizards.

Good pet shops will also have care sheets or books for both species. Good luck!

Answer 3

1. NO pet turtle is easy. You need to provide:
- at least 10 gallons of swimming space per inch of turtle, so a small 4" turtle needs at least 40 gallons to swim in.
- natural-like lighting that simulates the sun, including UV-B rays
- good heating and strong filtration
- a really good diet, not the junk everybody says to give them

2. "Long neck or short neck" is not the key issue. Fully aquatic turtle, pond turtle, or land turtle is the first question- what kind of habitat do you want to provide? The next question is what is available around you?

Check out this site for other ideas...

Answer 4

I love turtles! But, they are messy and need a lot of the right care. Please check out www.anapsid.org for complete info on care. It is the best reptile site out there.

Answer 5

Maybe you would like to check the e-group called e-tortugas.

Answer 6

http://www.allturtles.com