I want a Turtle for Christmas! But theres one little problem...?

Question

Ok...I want to get a Turtle for Christmas and my parents are telling me NO! "why" i asked..."BECAUSE ITs GOING TO SMELL!" they said and "You dont even know how to take care of it!" But I really want a turtle because it cant get run overed...run away...or get poisoned by a neighbor...So I need to know how to take care of a turtle and what I should have for it...should I get a little aquarium for it? What do I feed it? How much is $ is will it be? Will my turtle always stay small? Are there different kinds of turtles? I NEED YOUR HELP!!!! PLEASE!!!


Xoxo
Audge*Paudge

Ok...I want to get a Turtle for Christmas and my parents are telling me NO! "why" i asked..."BECAUSE ITs GOING TO SMELL!" they said and "You dont even know how to take care of it!" But I really want a turtle because it cant get run overed...run away...or get poisoned by a neighbor...So I need to know how to take care of a turtle and what I should have for it...should I get a little aquarium for it? What do I feed it? How much is $ is will it be? Will my turtle always stay small? Are there different kinds of turtles? I NEED YOUR HELP!!!! PLEASE!!!\\\I WANT A SMALL TURTLE...THAT WILL STAY SMALL FOREVER!....PLEASE HELP!!!!

!!!IT HAS TO BE A SMALL TURTLE!!!
why? BECAUSE I HAVE A SMALL ROOM!
& IT HAS TO BE INSIDE! PLEASE HELP ME!


XOXO
AUDGE*PAUDGE

Answer 1

hey calm down.Just go to pet store and ask for small turtle.They'll show you.I don't think the turtle will cost more than $30.I got mine for free.But he grew up to be very very big.More than 1 foot! When I found him by the lake he was only about 4 centimetres but as 2 years passed he became huge! I had to put him back in the lake since he was very big but I can still go to the lake everyday and visit him.I named him Tutu.He weighed about 95 pounds.Needed to use a cart to put him back.

Answer 2

Just get about a ten gallon or less tank that suits a reptile. Make the ground made of small clorful rocks or pebals.Get a log of any type even if its for them to crawl under or obove.Then make the setup like a beach.Little land and alot of water that should go up at least a 3rd of an inch. Everything for the requirements of money depend on the size of the turtle. If the turtle is small then it will keep growing to the size of its environment.(meaning it will only get so big to an inch or two.)Next it would be a could idea if your family opens the doors alot then you should have fly paper somewhere around the tank. Yes it will stink some times but thats why you should clean it at LEAST every month. It would also be a good idea if you let the turtle outside every so often so it can catch some sun and thats how it also gets bigger is natural heat.

Answer 3

The smallest common pet turtle is the Reeves turtle, which usually stays around 4-5". Mud and musk turtles also stay small.

The tank size is part of the care issue- aim for 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle- so a 5" turtle needs a 50 gallon pond, and probably a 75-100 gallon tank or large plastic tub.

You'll need to heat the water to 75-80, and filter it about 2-3 times more than a fish tank would require, or be ready to change the water a lot.

If you are unwilling to do a tank that large, then a turtle really isn't the right pet for you at this time.

For more info, try http://www.austinsturtlepage.com They even have good articles on your first turtle, etc.

Answer 4

Turtles do not stay small forever. Some uneducated stores will sell a baby turtle in a small container in hopes that the turtle will stay small by environmental factors that's animal cruelty.

Most turtles will grow around 4" to 12".

Turtles can give people salmonella which is fatal to children under 5 and old people or, people with bad immune systems. So you'll have to clean before and after handling the turtle with antibacterial soap.

The tank will only stink if you do not take care of it. If you have a land turtle you have to constantly dump out the substrate(fake dirt) and replace it. If you have a water turtle the filter will get some of the stuff and you'll have to scoop the rest with a net.

Either way you'll need to clean regularly. The turtle will slowly get sick and die without the basic requirements.

Your tank set up will depend on the turtle you get.

A land turtle will need
-------------------------------
*20 gallon tank(minimum)
*tank hood
*uva/uvb light
*heating light
*substrate(fake dirt)
*a rock or something to climb on to absorb heat


A water & land turtle will need
---------------------------------------
*20 gallon tank (minimum)
*tank hood
*uva/uvb light
*heating light
*a dock rock or floating lilly pad to climb out of the water
*filter
*net to clean

All turtles eat pellets sold in pet stores with a picture of a turtle on it.

You can check ebay for used stuff sometimes including all the the things you need.

Stores sometimes sell packs that have a good majority of the things you'll need for the tank. It'll probably be like $120 - $200.

With any pet comes a lot of understanding and effort to keep it healthy. Your parents maybe right that you do not know how to take care of a turtle but, if you have the patience and time you can learn and prove to them you do know how to take care of a turtle.

Here is are some good pages to read about turtle care.

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilesturtles/a/aquaticturtles.htm

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/firstturtleenclosure.htm

Answer 5

There is no such thing a 'small' turtle - all small turtles eventually get bigger. Red-eared sliders are a good choice (http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html)

However, if you're very concerned about how much it will cost, you may not be ready for this type of pet. You will need a large fishtank, at least 40 gallons (you can get one for 50$, used, probably). You will need lots of water (6-8 inches deep and at least twice as long as the turle), so you will need a small filter to keep the water clean. You will also need a heat lamp over a rocky area for your turtle to bask. You should also buy a small submersible heater, unless you keep your house warm. The water should not drop below 75F.
And of course you need to pay for food.

It won't smell if you keep it clean (even with a good filter, you'll need to do weekly water changes) and take good care of your turle.

However, if you think it may be a little too much for ya, try looking into a leopard gecko. They are smaller, easier, and may be considered less 'gross' by your parents.

Answer 6

turtles do tend to smell ALOT. there is alot of turtles. if you have a water turtle he/she will like an aquarium with small gold fish to eat. alost a clamp light to keep him nice and snug when its cold and being a reptile he will need this anyway. turtles will stay small depending on the type. some breed of turtles have been know to move a tractor. turtles can cost 15 or up to 100. if your get a desert tortoise it can change alot the price will be higher

Answer 7

get a water turtle they are like the size of your hand and so cute it will only grow a tiny bit i have 2 they cost me £20 which would be about $40 per turtle

Answer 8

I had a box turtle. and he was in a 10 inch tank. I bought a big bag of pellets (like they use for rabbits bedding). i bought a lamp that clip to the tank. It cost alot at first. you can feed them mostly anything but regular lettuce and spinach. mine liked mustard greens, peas, strawberries, shredded carrots. if you take him outside they can get away. slowly thought. I would change his bedding 2 a week. merry christmas and I hope you get what you want.

Answer 9

Get a box turtle they do not need water to swim in so you won't need to bother with filters chemicals or scummy stuff. They eat veggies and raw hamburg so no crickets to chase around the house. Mine never smelled and theres was a couple of times i was lazy when cleaning the cage awesome and inexpensive pet!! Maybe you should ask Santa!

Answer 10

It really depends on what type of turtle/tortoise, you want.
If you want a water-turtle - Red-Ear Sliders.
http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/turtles/red-ear-slider.php

Land tortoise - Russian Tortoise.
http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/turtles/russian-tortoise.php