Other Turtle Discussion :: Buying a shell for my kids - Good Idea / Bad Idea?

[apondfortimmy]

My kids always want to touch and examine the turtle shells when I'm handling the turtles, but ... well, they have little fingers and hands and I won't let them hold the turtles themselves unless it's under really strict conditions.

I thought, "What if I could get a shell that they could handle and examine?" Well, you look up "red ear slider" on eBay and there are many auctions for slider and other turtle shells to use in taxidermy. While it creeps me out (and makes me a little sad), I think it would be a great way for the kids to get a hands-on experience without risking a fingers-off experience with the living turtles.

What do you guys think?
As someone who loves turtles, the thought of having a dead shell in my house makes me frown. I know if people show an interest in these things, the demand will increase and they'll be more turtles killed. I wouldn't want to contribute to that, but on the other hand, these turtles are already caught and killed (they mention wildlife permits in the auction description) and ... I think a shell would be neat for the kids.

I am so torn. I know that when our turtles die, I won't be wanting to use their shells or ANYTHING like that. They'll get a proper burial and that'll be the end of it. (Though mounting them with a nameplate and a picture would be cool in a morbid way.) I'm all for learning but I also have live creatures similar to the one that once lived in that shell. I know I don't want to bug a living turtle just to teach the kids about them up close, but I also want my kids to learn everything they can when they can.

HELP.

[apondfortimmy]

I'll also mention that my oldest has a science collection of rocks, gems, snail shells, bones, and anything he can get his hands on to learn about. I know he'd enjoy the heck out of something like this, but I'm still up in the air over it all.

[steve]

I'm wary of the sources of shells. If one of your turtles is calm while being held, I would use him or her to let the kids feel it. A couple of people have used shed scutes to put something like a shadow box together.

[cheezu]

How old are your kids, by the way?
I think teaching little kids how to deal with and handle animals from a young age is really the best thing to do.
I was 4 years old when I got my first pet hamster. I loved it and cared for it. Not all kids will just grab animals and squeeze them to death; they just need to be told and reminded to be gentle from time to time. I think kids also tend to mimic their parents' attitude so if they see how you treat the turtles, they'll want to imitate that in some way.
If I were you, I wouldn't bother with the shell (not to mention the fact that it's, well, a shell, and not a real living being)... just try to expose them to your own turtles.
This is just my personal opinion, of course, and in the end you should go with whatever you find comfortable.