Is it cruel to have a pet turtle

Apparently a lot of people think it is cruel to release a turtle back to the wild after being kept as a pet for so long. Apparently a lot of people think it is cruel to release a turtle back to the wild after being kept as a pet for so long.

A small turtle may seem harmless giving parents a false sense that theyre a safe pet for children.

Is it cruel to have a pet turtle. Salmonella isnt just a food-borne illness. Turtles and other reptiles carry salmonella bacteria which can be easily transmitted to people. A small turtle may seem harmless giving parents a false sense that theyre a safe pet for children.

But the disease risk is so great that selling small turtles. If released into the wild pet turtles can be a danger to local populations of turtles and tortoises. Because of the pet-trade red-eared-sliders are now considered one of the worlds 100 most invasive species.

Turtles and tortoises need about 10 gallons of tank space for every inch of shell. Red-eared sliders are the most common and least expensive pet turtle and they grow. Plus its illegal to SELL baby turtles AS PETS - period - in all 50 states and has been since the 70s.

If you see baby sliders being sold to the public you can report this to the regional FDA office. In most places its OK to have baby turtles just not sell them in connection with a business as a pet. Have you ever considered having a turtle as a pet.

Well most people will say that turtles are the best animals to have as pets considering that they require very little attention little care and less work in general compared to other pets like dogs and cats. While this has some truth in it it is not all true. Turtles are like other pets and they need the attention you give to the other pets.

That is what you sign up for when you get a pet. Apparently a lot of people think it is cruel to release a turtle back to the wild after being kept as a pet for so long. Im pretty amazed that so many people feel this way although I wonder how many people who make these claims actually know a great deal about reptiles.

The majority of these objections come from forums like Yahoo Answers YouTube comments opinions I would not trust. The following are just some of the things that you should think about carefully before adding a turtle to your family. Turtles are happier in their natural homes in the wild.

Turtles and other reptiles sold in pet shops are either wild-caught that is stolen from their natural habitats or bred in cramped filthy breeding mills. Many do not survive the journey to the pet store and those who do often arrive in. Your answer will depend on the type of turtle you want for a pet.

Do you want an aquatic turtle or a tortoise land-dwelling turtle. There are large differences between the two species that will affect the care and enviornment the an. If the turtle is in unimaginable pain and nothing can be done to save it humanely putting it down is not cruel.

If you kill it needlessly for pure enjoyment or anything alike to that that is. The Red-eared slider is one of the worlds invasive species. It is also one of the most popular and commonly kept pet turtles.

It is a semi-aquatic reptile that can grow from 6 to 8 inches with a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. This pet turtle can be more cautious and will likely hide in its shell when hand-carried. Though with time it will be able to recognise you and may even swim to you to beg for more food.

Most importantly if you find out that a pet turtle is not for you please dont release it into the wild. Many pet turtle species are not meant to live in the wild and will die without care or can introduce diseases that can sicken wild turtles. There are plenty of animal shelters or turtle rescues that will take in an unwanted pet.

Turtles are fairly cheap compared to the average household pet that you would buy for your child. They are easy to care for and you can find them in most pet stores. Theyre easy to take care of.

Turtles are easy to maintain. All you have to do is feed them give them space and leave them alone. The other thing to be aware of when youre considering a turtle as a pet is to never take one from the wild and bring it into your home.

Its also cruel to the animal. Most of them dont adjust very well to captivity. They often dont eat very well.

Theyre not used to the captive diet. Theyre not used to people. And theyre not used to being in enclosed spaces.

So again if you see a turtle or a tortoise in the wild its not recommended that you keep it as a pet. Wild sea turtles swim long distances in clear waters. So imagine the cruelty of trapping one in a small tank.

Packed together thousands of turtles at the Cayman Turtle Centre spend their whole lives fighting for space in cramped tanks. The shallow tanks do not allow their natural behavior of diving and foraging for food. Instead the turtles get sick and stressed.

Their behavior changes and they turn. Turtles are fascinating quiet and relatively undemanding in nature. This can make them an appealing option as a pet.

Owning a pet turtle however wont be for every household. They arent particularly interactive or cuddly creatures they can carry diseases and with their famously long lifespans they may even outlive you. While sea turtles like the flatback turtle loggerhead leatherback sea turtle hawksbill and green sea turtle may be appealing and unique many of these species are critically endangered.

Its best to leave the care and conservation of these sea turtle species up to the professionals. Do you have a turtle. Share them on our Wide Open Pets Facebook.

And as it turns out these turtles can make great pets in many cases. Box turtles are relatively small turtles who rarely exceed 5 or 6 inches in length which means theyre generally easy to house. They do however require terrestrial and aquatic areas in their enclosure so youll still need to provide them with a relatively large habitat.

They neednt have access to deep water an inch or two. The apparent reason for this is you want to have a turtle for a pet. That is very understandable as I also own a pet turtle for more than 5 years now.

So far I have learned a lot when it comes to pet turtles. I started learning about them even before I got one for myself. I would research the best turtle to have as a pet.

Today I am going to share with you some of the things I have learned. Never take a wild turtle home as a pet or release an exotic pet into the wild. While habitat loss and road mortalities remain the largest overall threat to Ontarios turtles it is thought that poaching for the pet trade has been devastating to some species such as Spotted turtles Wood turtles and Blandings turtles.

Never take a turtle or any wild animal home with you. Not only is this illegal in Ontario but it is also damaging to wild turtle.