Other Turtle Discussion :: Why do you have turtles?

[totlecmitd]

My daughter found a baby RES one day and there was no water near by so she insisted she wanted to keep it for a pet. 1 yr later she decided that the turtle was "scary" and didn't want her anymore so she decided it would be great to give her to my youngest son (nice big sister). We transported this poor turtle from WA to CA. Got her a larger home and plenty of attention and she is now a very spoiled turtle. She is nearly 10 inches long. Between my kids we have had her 6 yrs now.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

I live near woods so turtles would naturally wonder up from them into the yard. I just thought they were awesome so i had to have them!

[crazydiamond]

I have always loved turtles and frogs. I was raised in Florida where frogs and lizards run rampant. I moved to Ohio as a teenager and fell in love with turtles. I got the two that I have from my 18 yr old cousin from KY who bought them from a private seller. She had a pond outside her home but had nowhere to keep them for the winter. I had a large tank in my garage so I took them.

I am so much in love with them. They are really fun to watch. I've read a lot but I still have a lot to learn about them. I seem to be doing good because thay appear content, are healthy and growing. I have yet to name them because, since it's Spring, I'm afraid that my cousin will come and take them. I don't think she had named htme either. So I just call them boy and girl.

[theartbook35]

My mother has always loved how cute the hatchlings are. She heard that a locla fleamarket in the city we used to live in, was selling them again, and asked me if I'd be cool with us getting one or two. I said sure, but asked them to let me find out some care info and get a tank set up before we got them. I've been into reptile care for years and years previous to getting turtles.

Well, a couple days later, my mother's boyfriend that we were living with, came home with four turtles. Two for me and my mom, and two for his two sons. His daughter still has the ones he gave them.

That weekend, we rushed out to this cheap pet store, bought a 10 gallon tank, gravel cause I saw they liked to dig, a tunnel for hiding, and a big rock to climb on for basking. And that was it. I didn't have money for the heat bulbs or UVB at the time. Now I have all the essentials of course.

If I had done the research ahead of time, I would've said no turtles, or hassled them into making a huge habitat before getting them. And we wouldn't have the same turtles that we have right now, either. In other words, I am grateful for the way things worked out. I have two beautiful, sweet natured, trusting animals in my family.

I wanted a pet that was different. No more cats and dogs and other furries. I wanted an animal that would live just as long, but be unique and a challenge to care for. Plus, like I said, I love reptiles. Turtles have been around since prehistoric times, it's like looking at a modern day dinosaur.

[CassieJade]

Green is my favorite color! haha! The RES turtle is a tricky kind. They don't fit what people think of when thinking of turtles at all! They are faster than a cheeta when trying to swim away or crawl away for that matter. The RES turtles I've come in contact with do not just go in their shell and hide from u. They either chill and are cool or get away from u FAST! Hatchlings do go into their shells but not the mature one I've seen. I'm just saying...They got the rest of the world fooled! I love that about the RES.

[Fezan Ray]

simple reason, when I was 19, my cousin asked me to take care her RES, for around 2 or 3 weeks. I never have turtle at the time,but it so fun. So from the moment, I wish I could own RES.. 1 month after that, I brought my own RES...(my 1st two RES named Ariana & Ariados ).

[sx2r]

i always wanted turtles, they are my second favoret animal, (first are penguins and you deff cant has those as pets)
then recently i seen some at petland and talked to my fiance about them and we agreed on getting one.. then he decided he wants one too, so we;re getting two... we dont have any yet as we are getting all the tank stuff working.. (which is almost done) and then we're going to get them..

actually the other day my friend asked "why do you want turtles anyways? they stink" i honestly didnt know how to answer that question... but really, you could ask that for any pet.. "why a dog"