A question bout a turtle?

Question

Me and my cousin were driving down the road and almost hit this turtle my kids wanted us to go bk and get it so we did I have never had a turtle so I have no idea what to do how to take care of it what it eats etc. PLEASE HELP ME so it doesnt die on me?

Answer 1

I'll make you a deal... I won't nag at you to release it IF you promise to try to care for it the right way.

You see, by taking it you have basically promised it you will offer it the right cares, and this will take some work- wild turtles do not make the best pets ebcause of the stress of capture.

1. Research. Knowing the species will REALLY help, because the care for one species can kill another species. Try the World of Turtles gallery at http://www.austinsturtlepage.com for ideas on this. This site also has great care sheets and articles.

2. I'm going to assume this is a 5-6" Painted Turtle- a common size fo a common wild species. Remember- this would NOT be the right cares for other species!

3. If you decide this is too hard to do, please try to release it as close to its home as possible, and as soon as possible.

OK...

We will start with a 75 gallon aquarium or strong plastic tub, filled almost 3/4ths with clean water. Warm the water to 75-80F (this might take a couple small heaters to do well.)

You don't really need anything on the bottom, so let's keep it simple for now. Whatever you do with the bottom, avoid colorful aquarium gravel- turtles think it is food.

Filtration will be important- you'll want a BIG filter. See the above link for a good article on filtration. Know that this filter alone will probably run over $100.

Light the tank. Most people will use a basking light to heat the basking area (see below), and a good light of some sort to ligh the tank as a whole. A good UVB light is a great idea, but we can deal with that later.

Basking site- the quickest and easiest would be a store-bought 'turtle dock' or 'turtle ramp'. You can make one out of wood or plastic- but avoid most rocks. The turtle needs to get totally out of the water, should have an option of a couple basking sites, and at least one should be heated to about 90F.

Diet- For our imaginary 5" Painted Turtle, the diet would be an amount of food about the size of his head- every other day. It would be about 25-50% good quality turtle pellets (you'll get what you pay for in this), and the rest split between veggies (dark leafy greens, water plants, and/or yellow-orange veggies) and meat (live or frozen/thawed 'fish food' like small fish, worms, shrimp, krill, insects, etc.)

Answer 2

First of all, be sure you REALLY want the pet turtle. Some varieties live over 50 years in captivity, and once it's been fed for a while, it will no longer be able to fend for itself if you release it in the wild.

If it is an aquatic turtle, like a painted or slider, it's basics needs are: a tank of water at least as deep as the turtle is wide, a filter, a rock or "dock" where it can get totally out of the water, a UV light source, a heat light, and food. (Live and pelleted foods, plus greens if it will eat them).

A land tutrle like a box turtle needs a tank with bedding, a cave or something to hide in, UV and heat lamps, a water dish it is able to climb in and out of, and food (Fruits and veggies, pellets and live foods to supplement).

Either way, it is an investment over the lifetime of the turtle, and they will continue growing, so the tank will need to be upgraded every several years.

Answer 3

What kind of a turtle is it? Are you sure that it's a turtle and not a tortoise? It may need a tank, or it may drown in a tank- it depends on what it is. You need to find out a whole lot more before you can just take it home and raise it as a pet.

Answer 4

Coming from a turtle expert......

It would be best to just release it back in to the wild. Turtles are becoming more and more rare every day and we need every chance we can get to keep them at their normal population.

But if you insist on keeping him it will cost you a few $$$ to set up a correct habitat. (again coming from an expert) And please keep in mind that once you take him out of the wild he will loose most of his survival instincts if you decide to put him back. Remember this is a life time responsibility.

So, like I said please put him back. Close to the area you found him but as far as possible away from the road.

For more info this is the best place to find it. Good luck!

www.turtletimes.com

Answer 5

Really need to know what kind of turtle it is, a box turtle has different requirements then a painted turtle, a picture would be helpful.

Answer 6

permit IT bypass! timber turtles are endanged and guarded in maximum of their variety. In captivity, they require a bathroom or stream habitat- between the harder habitats to reproduce for keepers- a annoying stability of moist and dry with a better variety of microclimates than primary. in simple terms offering the splendid warmth point is annoying- those adult adult males stay in habitats that exchange between very heat and mildly chilly and that they do an outstanding form of thermoregulation. the common nutrients plan is a 'salad' of blended vegetables, greens, culmination, and a splash protein- yet to maintain the splendid well being, the combination has to the splendid ratios of the splendid meals. there is likewise the issue that wild-caught turtles not often consume properly because of the trauma of being captured and positioned right into a very unfamiliar concern. Now- my advice: timber turtles are eye-catching, clever animals. i could save it for some days and enjoy it, then launch it the place it grow to be got here across. cope with it as low as possible to sidestep giving it any ailments. do no longer hardship approximately fod too a lot for a pair days, yet a splash salad or some worms, etc. could be constructive if it eats them. make optimistic, besides the indisputable fact that, it has get right of entry to to sparkling water in any respect situations.

Answer 7

hi there i had a turtle also and at wal-mart they have turtle food think it cost about a $1or2 no more then that and put some rocks in the tank and check online to see what kind of turtle it is by looking at your turtle some needs water some don't and they have little turtle dishes too hope this helps bubblel35

Answer 8

that same thing happend about 7 years ago and we still have our turtle his name is henery
just give it regular turtle food give it a tank and keep it around a smaller size because it gets as big as their environment
when you put the water in you need some start right in the water to perify it. Clean his tank when it gets looking dirty use a hose in the yard and let the turtle walk around grass area but don't let him in a bush you will probably never get him out. Put some shells and those little rocks that are in fish tanks and some bigger rocks cause the love to clim on things

Answer 9

It is nesting season. The turtle was probably looking for a place to lay her eggs.
You really should release her where you found her.

Answer 10

They eat crickets, lettuce, etc. You should take it to the vet to make sure that their is nothing wrong with it. Put it in a tank with a large water bowl and heating lamp. Or you could fill up all but a medium-sized rock with water so it could swim. It depends on the kind of turtle really, so like I said, ask the vet, he/she would know.