Proper Pet Care: Turtles and Tortoises

Are you considering a turtle or tortoise for your next pet? Our Proper Pet Care series can help you make your decision!  Our zookeepers broke down a few considerations a prospective pet owner should make before choosing a species of turtle or tortoise. These animals are a well loved bunch, but caring for one of them can be deceptively difficult. In the video below, zookeepers Geordi and Patrick discuss a few things potential turtle or tortoise owners ought to know before purchasing a pet like this.

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Size, habitat, and lifespan

Many species of turtle commonly sold in pet stores actually require complex care. Red-eared sliders are a great example of this. When a person buys a red-eared slider, they typically don’t realize that these turtles can grow to have a foot long carapace, or shell length. A turtle this size requires a very large tank with a good filtration system. Turtles in general are very messy animals to care for. They prefer to be solitary, and some males will even fight to the death if they are placed in a tank together.

Furthermore, turtles and tortoises live very long lives. The red-eared slider can live to be about 25-30 years old. That’s a huge commitment for a pet, especially one that needs special equipment and care.

Diet

Diet is a crucial part of keeping turtles and tortoises healthy. They require a variety of specialized pellets, greens, insects, and fruit. Each species of turtle or tortoise requires its own particular diet, so a lot of research is required before purchasing an animal like this.

Health concerns

The consequences of improper care can be enormous for a turtle or tortoise. For tortoises, pyramiding on the shell becomes a problem when their habitat lacks the humidity they require in their formative years. For both turtles and tortoises, metabolic bone disease (MBD), or the softening of the bone, is the result of too little sunlight or calcium in their diet.

Is a turtle or tortoise right for me?

Only you can decide whether or not one of these animals is right for you. If you have done extensive research on your specific breed, and you are ready to make the time commitment and the financial commitment, a turtle or tortoise can be very a rewarding pet to keep. A beginner-friendly turtle to start with is the painted turtle, which we have created a care sheet for here.

We hope you have found this information helpful! Always remember to do your own research on the specific species of animal you’d like to own as a pet. An understanding of your pet’s specific needs is the best way to keep them healthy and safe.