My nephew found a turtle today. Who to do, what to feed it?

Question

What should I put it in (something I would have at home) and something to feed it. besides apples, canteloupe, and lettuce. Also, is Coleslaw lettuce OK?

Answer 1

If it is not injured, the best thing for the turtle would be to let it go, because wild turtles (or any animal) do not adapt too well to being kept in captivity. Or contact your local wildlife carer. But, if you have to keep it for a time, feed it, vegetables and fruit... but make sure it's cut up smaller than the turtles head, live food such as crickets feeder goldfish or guppies, earthworms (as long as they weren't raised in manure - ie. from bait shops), meal worms and grammarus (maggots). Make sure you keep it in a very large tank, as if hte turtle grows and the tank is too small, the shell can crack.

Answer 2

Hey people she didnt ask your advice on whether to let it go or not just answer the question because if she keeps it she doesnt know how to take care of it. Okay so you are going to have to google it because without a picture or a little more detail I cant tell you what it is. Look up your state reptiles and you will find out what kind of turtle it is. After you find out look up what they require or ask yahoo answers again. Some things I can tell you for sure are that you will need a 100 gallon tank. You can get a stock tank as they are cheaper than glass aquariums. You will also need a UVB light. Please look up your turtle and ask what they require. It is best to release the turtle because they can live without you and at 7 inches wont adjust well to captive life. Although I couldnt leave you without some advice just in case you decided to ignore the fact that you should let it go. Good luck.

Answer 3

Please release it- it takes a lot of work to keep a wild turtle happy and healthy, and if you are not set up for it, you just plain won't have a lot of fun. It can easily cost $150 to set up a good simple turtle habitat.

Next is the information element. You don;t say the species, and each species has specific needs- most turtles SHOULD NOT eat lettuce, apples, OR cantelope. In fact, I can only think of one species that would do well on a diet like that.

Then there is the detail that many wild turtles are protected in many states- box turtles and wood turtles, for example, are protected in most of their ranges.

If you decide to keep it, lets look at what it could take.

First, I'll assume it is a smallish Painted Turtle, about 2" long as an example.

1. Tank that can hold about 30 gallons of water with about 4" of space at top. (Aim for 10 gallons per inch of shell)
2. Heater that can keep the tank at 75-80F during the day.
3. Basking logs, with lamps over them heating them to about 90F
4. Good filter- and this is usually $75-100 itself
5. UVB lighting, runs about $40 for the bulb
6. Good food- a combination of good pellets and live or frozen 'fish food' like worms, krill, shrimp, crickets, etc.

One good general purpose site you can try for more info is http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

Answer 4

I agree with Amy. If your nephew wants a pet turtle, you should take him to the local pet store and purchase one that was captive-bred.

Catching a wild animal, and then forcing them to live in small quarters and fed things that they probably wouldn't be eating in the wild......it's just cruel.

You shouldn't teach your nephew that it's acceptable.

Answer 5

Do not keep Mr.turtle .If you want to feed him lettice is fine and wont do any harm but the best thing to do with a wild turtle is find where he came form and put him back

Answer 6

no don't keep it u don't know what kind of a turtle it is and where i live some turtles are endangered and some carry diseases call animal control or take it to a pet store and have them check it out.

Answer 7

Just let it go. Wild turtles don't do well in a captive environment.

Answer 8

Let it go. If you dont it probably wont live very long.

PLZ dont let it die. If yall want a turtle go to the petstore and buy one.

Answer 9

Set it free. It belongs in its own environment. It wasn't bred in captivity like the ones you see in the pet stores. It will most likely die in captivity.

Answer 10

HOMEY LET THE TURTLE GO IT WAS BORN FREE AND THATS HOW IT SHOULD STAY! IF YOUR NEPHEW WANTS A TURTLE GO BUY ONE ! I MEAN DO YOU EVEN NO IF ITS A TURTLE OR TORTISE?