turtles

[fishbguy]

what are the dimensions? I'm sure it would be okay, as long as you take it out for "play" time

[Kaikoura]

Originally Posted by fishbguy

IMO, aquatic turtles are easier to feed...just drop a few pellets in and some feeders/frozen foods, and bam...your done, whereas land turtles need much more fruits and veggies that aquatic turtles...

I really just wanted to point out that, even though Aquatic turtles can survive generally healthy on pellets and some feeders/frozen foods, they also enjoy "fruits and veggies." More or less, those should be the kind they like to eat. I have a Red Eared Slider, and half of his daily diet is made up of aquatic "veggies" (plants) and some fruits.
But their tanks get messy very easily, too. Many frequent water changes and such. Not to mention any uneaten food, if it gets stuck behind a rock or ledge, especially of the basking platform, should you have one, may get moldy if you don't keep the currents moving.
Aquatic turtles rely on the water to eat, since they don't produce their own saliva. If you do plan on getting an aquatic turtle, or for just anyone in general, it's really easy to use a separate, even smaller tank to feed them, providing there is enough water in it. This can help to keep the tank cleaner, and smell a lot better, though you should probably have new water for the "feeder tank" each time.
Sorry to ramble. Just thought it'd be good to point out.

[fishbguy]

That is good to point out, however, I've never had good luck getting my aquatic turtles to eat veggies or fruits, ever. I give them to them once or twice a week, but they've never touched them.

[Gourami Swami]

any turtle is going to be your pet untill your at least 57. its a big commitment.

[karazy]

a 30 breeder is 36x18x12

[fishbguy]

yeah...that should be large enough, but sill take him out an let him explore...it's fun for both you, and the turtle...till it poops...then it's just fun for the turtle...lol

[karazy]

haha. i might put out some newspaper when i do that cuz my whole house pretty much is carpeted. but ya, i wud be able to let him out like 1-3 times a week

[ash9494boo]

avoid map turtles! eastern mud turtles only get 4.5"

[Willow]

Yeah, if you get ANY kind of turtle or tortoise, count on having it for the rest of your life.........well, I think some of the aquatic turts only live for 30 years or so, but any tortoise will live at least 50 years. So you need to be absolutely SURE that's what you want.

[karazy]

i think i like box turtles more than tortises cuz they take up less space and they r very cool looking

[karazy]

what kind of box turtles would you guys and girls say i shud get?(i also like egyptian tortises. they stay uber small,but they r very endangered so nevermind then )

[fishbguy]

I like male 3 toed box turtles and ornate/western box

[karazy]

ok. well i live in the west and ive seen some around, so orantes shudnt be to hard to find if i decide to get one. and y male 3 toe instead of female?

[Gourami Swami]

Males stay smaller.

Finding them shouldnt be too hard, but all tortoises/box turts are very pricey.

[Buggy]

I have a western ornate female. She's been with us for 4 yrs and the best I can tell she is about 5 yrs old. She lives in a very large rubber storage container. She gets fresh dirt and grass clippings to burrow under, Large flat rock to climb on, Wide shallow dish of fresh water for drinking and bathing. She eats cantalope, tomatoes, tuna, kippered herring, water mellon, canned cat food but she refuses any other vegetables and commercial box turtle food. We take her out to run around and get exercise in the warm months. And like all of my pets she is spoiled rotten.
In some places it's illigal to take box turtles out of the wild and keep them as pets but she was a rescue (from the middle of the highway) and we don't have any laws in my state against keeping this species so my daughter kept her. Daughter grew up and moved out...guess who got the turtle?

Here is a link with some info on them. Mine looks exactly like the picture. http://artemis.austincollege.edu/aca...be/tornata.htm

[karazy]

lol. ya. i think the best thing about box turtles is how they eat bananas. it makes me laugh so hard and i dont know y

[Gourami Swami]

I love my aquatic turtles. Ive got a pair of red ears and an eastern painted. They are certainly a lot more active than box turts and are very fun to watch.

[Buggy]

Never tried her on bananas, I'll have to try that. lol

[vettech909]

mexican musk turtle or stinkpot turtle do very good and need little care.

[jt84]

ok hold on you said the tank is 36x18x12 so thats 36" long and 18" top to bottom and 12" front to back? if so that is not big enough for the turtle they dont need a tank that tall it needs to be wide and long not tall so you need to think about this before you get one in that size tank