This morning my 7 year old son found a turtle in our yard. Well, I do not know a thing about taking care of a turtle. And of course he wants to keep it. What can I keep the turtle in, what does he eat? Basically how do I take care of the turtle? My son would be devastated if I did not let him keep it. Please help me!
2006-10-27 02:24:01 · 7 answers · asked by Kail 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
This would be a good time to teach your son that not every animal we encounter out there needs rescuing.
Turtles and/or tortoises are in preparation for the winter. Depending on where you live they may already be in hibernation.
If you interrupt their way of doing things you may end up disrupting the natural chain of events causing them to die this Winter.
Take your son to the library to learn all about the animals he is so interested in. It's wonderful that he is showing an interest at this age. Let him visit zoos and shelters and pet stores. Look things up with him on the internet.
And maybe get him a pet at a pet store or from a shelter. Whatever you do, try to get him to understand that bringing wild animals inside is not only bad for the animal it is also illegal in a lot of states. It's just one of those lessons in life and now is as good a time as any to let him learn it.
2006-10-27 12:03:40 · answer #1 · answered by Huh? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you found a "turtle" in your yard, it's probably a "tortoise" which does not need water all around in the bottom of its box. Because it lives on land unlike a turtle, which needs a lot of water and can swim, it would do fine with a crate, or box, or something of the sort and a small shallow dish for drinking, or maybe one of those things that you hang up on the side of a cage that hold water and have a ball at the end, so it doesn't spill. Then, yes, calling or maybe going by your nearest pet store for some info and food would be an excellent idea. The pet store employees should be of great help. I believe they are very inexpensive to feed and pretty low maintenance. good luck.
2006-10-27 02:46:15 · answer #2 · answered by stacey a 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Foryour health sake, reptiles (lizards, snakes, and turtles), are especially likely to pass salmonellosis to people. Many different kinds of Salmonella can make people sick. Most people have diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain that start 1 to 3 days after they get infected. These symptoms usually go away after 1 week. Sometimes, people have to see a doctor or go to the hospital because the diarrhea is severe or the infection has affected other organs. I don't think you really want to give your son that.
Tell your son that the turtle has a mom and dad that will be very sad if they never see their little turtle again. It is never good to remove any wild creature from its environment.
2006-10-27 02:32:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you can do for the turtle is put it back outside, its his home. If your son wants a pet then do the research and go to a petstore and buy one. Turtles need a very big tank and very good filtration, they can also live for more then 30 years. Think about that stuff before you decide on getting one.
2006-10-27 02:48:12 · answer #4 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a turtle, i got a plastic container with water at the bottom and a rock that is taller than the water so it would have somthin to rest on out of the water. with the food just go to the pet shop and buy turtle food and change the water every other week or every week cuz it get really dirty.
2006-10-27 02:31:36 · answer #5 · answered by Daisy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a turtle when I was a kid. It ran away. Just wondering if that's my turtle you found. Take good care of him. I wonder if he remembers me? Tell him I miss him...and I forgive him.
2006-10-27 02:35:52 · answer #6 · answered by paganvegan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
)smooth underneath= male
curved underneath = female
Grapes, tomato's lettuce, fresh water
a dark corner( they do hibernate )
no cedar chips
lite pine chavings are OK
2006-10-27 02:42:58 · answer #7 · answered by timestamps 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋