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Originally Posted by Bronwyn Hubby found a baby turtle at work covered in Polymer. He cleaned it off and brought it home to show our 4 yr old son. We thought we might try to keep it as a pet. Its only about the size of a quarter, and hubby says it's a box turtle. I've never owned a turtle, only snakes and an Iguana. Need some advice. 1st is should we really be keeping it or will it be better off if we put it out in the woods?
We set it up in a cage. Water, food, wood chips etc. I take him out every day and set him in a large shallow pan, slightly tilted, with a small amount of water that pools at the lower end. I put in some food. I just need to see how he's doing, because when he's in the cage, he burrows under all the vegitation. So far I have observed him eating and drinking. He is pretty active when I put him in the pan.
Anyone ever cared for a turtle before???? |
If you want to keep him, be aware that turtles have a VERY VERY LONG lifespan. Once you domesticate him, he can't be released. You could do what a buddy of mine did as a yute. Put the turtle outside and build a large frame around it (in excess of 8' to a side) where the turtle can be "free" but provide it with natural food (worms) in a single location. It will still have the benefits of being "free" but will come to expect to find food in that location, but will also know to go other places to find food. He did tht with a turtle one year and it came back every year for atleast 5 years. After the first year, he did not put the frame around it.
A family in California (I think) had a turtle that took up residence under a shrub. They would feed it. This went on for like 10 years. When they sold the house, taking care of the turtle was a rider on the contract.
You could also give the turtle to me. I'd like to show it to my kids, and take it to a cub scout meeting to show off, and then release it in the woods behind my house.