General Care Discussion :: Is a turtle a good pet to keep?

[comills]

Considering the amount of zoology involved? It is nearly impossible to sustain the natural environment of a turtle once it grows up and gets big unless you are wealthy? So my question is, is it a good idea to take this wild animal and make it tame, and keep it as a pet? Is a turtle really a domisticated animal? Obviously dogs and cats and fish can be domesticated but can a turtle really be domesticated is what I am asking? If they delete this I will know the answer.

[scripta_elegans]

I think that turtles which are bred and raised in capivity do make good pets. I am highly opposed to removing an animal from it's natural enviornment for the sake of keeping it as a pet, and this applies to turtles too. If you get your turtles from a reputable breeder, they are many generations removed from "the wild" and the differences are striking. 1)They have trouble adapting if they released in the wild, and often starve. 2)They do not hibernate in captivity as do their wild counterparts. 3) They generally do not have trouble adapting to an adequate enclosed space.
This additionally depends on the definition of domestication. The term means to genetically alter an animal over a period of time through careful selection to better suit man's needs. Dogs, cats, and fish have been in the domestication process for thousands of years, but there are still examples of all in the wild, including animals which are ancestors of the domestic. As an example, wolves are the start of the line of canines ending in the Pomeranian as the smallest dog of the family. Turtles have been bred for a very short time in comparison, but the fact that they will survive reproduce in captivity shows that they are a viable animal for domestication.
Can a dog, cat, or fish survive in the wild if relesed? The answer is sometimes just as it is with turtes. These animals do not nessisarily need people, no matter how many generations they are removed fom the wild. There are examples in the world all around us of domestic animals which adapt and survive just fine in the wild, which is where the term "feral" comes from. There are feral dogs, cats, goats, and even hamsters!
I believe that people should never adopt a pet which they cannot afford in the long run. I am willing to put the funds, time, and will into making the best enviornment that I can for my turtles. Can I provide a natural enviornment? Not exactly, but then they have never known a natural enviorment. There is also a trade off. They may get less space, but they are provided food, which they love, given veterenary care, and no threat from predators.
If removing animals from the wild seems wrong to you, you are not alone. There are many animal rights groups which are against people owning animals of any kind as they have at some point in the past, been removed from their natural ecosystem. They do not want people to own even the most distantly domesticated animal, because it is unnatural. Is it ever right to take any animal from the wild to alter it specifically to serve the needs of man? I am unsure of this. Are turtles able to be domesticated? As much as any animal can be.
-Nicole

[Boogerbutt02]

Great response Nicole... I totally agree with you

[missibsu]

A very good response. Well thought and well written!

[cprcheetah]

Nicole awesome response, and I totally agree. If you are concerned about the costs, it probably is't the pet for you. As they do require quite a bit of upkeep and when filters go bad, you need to be able to replace it etc...

[marisa]

I can agree with some of the points above, but I do not believe that turtles are viable for domestication because they survive and reproduce in captivity. They are inherently wild (classified as exotic pets) and I don't even consider them in the same category as dogs, cats, etc. (fish are domesticated???). They can learn who feeds them and can recognize and become comfortable with the presence of their keeper, but the instinct to flee is there and I don't think can be bred out of them (why would anybody want to try?).

1) I think that if a captive-bred turtle---who did not have any chance to become dependent on anyone for food---were released into conditions the turtle was native to, instinct would take over and the turtle would not have that much trouble surviving (of course the turtle would be subject to hunting for food and predators, which would make life more difficult).

2) Turtles who would do so in the wild will hibernate in captivity (I know people who have done this, and for some species it's better for them if they do) if conditions allow them to do so.

3) Turtles are adaptable, and can adapted to enclosed spaces whether or not they're adequate (with the turtle's health ultimately suffering if the space is not). How much trouble they have adapting, I don't know.

The definition of a "good pet" depends in large part on the expectations and needs of the owner/keeper. Some people prefer an animal that's warm and fuzzy. Some people want an animal that requires "little care" (is there one, I wonder). Some people want something out of the ordinary, and so on. A turtle, then, does not make a "good pet" for everyone. Whoever takes on the responsibility of caring for one, though, should be aware of what their needs are and be able to meet them.

[comills]

I think that turtles do not make good pets because they get too big, live too long, and are forced to live within the confines of an aquarium. I have found that these animals are very overbearing to care for. The filters are clogged with nastyness constantly. They always beg. They always want more from you. They enjoy a clean tank which is alot of work. Do you realize that having a captive turtle basically involves having a container that works as its diaper. A fish tank can sustain itself with much greater ease and requires monthly maintainance tops. A turtle tank requires weekly cleaning and even that is probably not enough. If you do not have a 200 gallon tank, plus all the expensive stuff to go along with it you are not able to have turtles. Turtles are cute when they are little and people get sucked into caring for them. Then they grow up and you are forced to dish out a ton of money and clean up after them on an over bearing level. I am much happier without turtles and wish I never would have gotten them in the first place. But that is just my opinion. Suit yourself. Having turtles not only requires alot of skill, knowledge, etc etc, but it also involves alot of hard work. Maybe they should make turtles DNA different so they never get bigger then when they were small. Then I'd have a whole different take on this.

[scripta_elegans]

There are smaller turtles. Some aquatic species only get up to 6 inches. I agree that turtles are a challenging pet, and not for everyone. However some people do actually research their pets proactively, and enjoy caring for RES for the duration of their prodigious growth and long life. I don't think it's a matter of people being suckered at all, but instead being irresponsible and impulsive; buying a pet that they have no idea how to care for. People have free will in adopting a pet, the pet does not have the same choice about who adopts it. The quote marisa has chosen as her signature is both apt and profound "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." People must learn to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences brought about by them. This includes, but is not limited to, the animals people chose to domesticate or in other words tame.

[missibsu]

I have found that these animals are very overbearing to care for. The filters are clogged with nastyness constantly. They always beg. They always want more from you. They enjoy a clean tank which is alot of work.

It sounds to me like this is more of an issue with you not wanting your turtle. All of this is a fact of life. When you were little, you had to be cared for, changed regularly, fed regularly. Someone was obviously there to care for you.

I trust that if you decide not to keep your turtle that you will be responsible about finding it another home. You've been on the site long enough to read the effects to turning RES into the wild.

[daredevilgirl013]

Turtles are a lot of work and take a lot of money but I love my Michelangelo. But it takes time and dedication. But it's nice to know that you have something that you can show responsibility for and can give that animal a chance. I know when I got Michelangelo that afterwards, the dealer was turned in because they were selling the turtles illegally because they were under 4 inches. I know darn well that those other turtles that were with Michelangelo that were not bought were killed. So therefore I've given Michelangelo a chance that would have been taken away from her if I didn't buy her. True everyone gets a little annoyed at how much stuff costs (I just spent 50 dollars yesterday on food and several chemicals for the water) so yeah it costs a lot more compared to a dog, but this animal is literally a labor of love.

[cprcheetah]

Yes turtles are a lot of work. I LOVE my Zeke. I had NO idea how much work they were. My husband has been very supportive, even rigged up 2 old filters...which is on the fritz right now so we are back to using the Aqua Clear (ARGH!) But yesterday he mad a filter box out of the plastic canvas you can get at Michaels...to hold the Charcoal/Ammonia Reducer. It's working great. I love it. Zeke is so much fun to watch, he knows and recognizes me and it feels so good to know that he knows the hand that feeds him.

Perhaps if your turtle isn't right for you, you will do the responsible thing and find it a new home with someone who doesn't mind all the work.

[Boogerbutt02]

I agree with you guys that a turtle is a labor of love.... I love my turtles and I love all the work and engery and time I put into caring for them... They may not be able to show you love back like my dog can be they do love you back...

I purchased my turtles with out the knowledge of how much care turtles take... I did the rescearch on them and learned how to cared for them... if I could go back and do it again I would... I love my turtles and I want more turtles in the future...

As for cleaning the tanks weekly, WHAT??? I have about a 100 gallon stock tank for my female RES and I do a complete water change once every 3 to 4 months... the only other thing that has to be done is to add 5 gallons once a week... no other major cleaning is needed for her tank... For my male turtle, who is in an aquarium, I clean it about every month and half... I also clean my fish tank at the same time...

You say that turtles are forced to live in the confines of an aquarium, but no they are not!!!! I take my turtles outside for freshair and sun everyday or atleast 4 times a week... This is done so they are not "stuck" in the confines of their tanks... Their tanks are their homes and they feel safe there, where if they were in the wild they would be on the constant watch for predators...

It is not hard to take care of these wonderful animals if you really want too... Mind over Matter... if you really wanted to care for your turtles you would have done it...

[comills]

Its more of an issue of me not wanting to be a fool and waste my money on a larger setup. Turtles are just not that rewarding to me. Thats my opinion. I personally do not think it makes a good pet and I will continue to believe that. I do not think that animals in a zoo are very happy and I certainly do not think that God put turtles on Earth for children and adults to play with. I also think that Charles Darwin would say that RES will never adapt to a domesticated enviornment. By the way I gave my turtles up for adoption to a very well qualified individual.

[cprcheetah]

Well that is your choice. I just hope if you do decide to get rid of your turtle, you will do so through the proper channels, and make sure he/she gets a proper turtle loving home that it deserves.

[SpotsMama]

I appreciate comills honesty and recognizing that turtles aren't for everybody and if they are not for you, it's a lot kinder and more responsible to give them up than to neglect them.

Nobody going into this would believe how high maintenance a turtle is, but I too love the work. I think some people are very nurturing types and that's what turtle keeping requires.

Turtles are fascinating. I used to think all reptiles were slow, stupid and cold. Spot, though, is just loaded with personality. I tell people he has more personality than my cat, my dog, my husband or me! He displays all sorts of interesting behaviours - basking, paw fluttering, hissing, food preferences, etc. He's active. He's responsive too. He comes in that neat carrying case, too.

A turtle would not be a good pet for the vast majority. But they are just right for a few.