Turtles for Christmas?

Red Lion PA

Description

Are you considering a turtle as a Christmas present for someone? Please consider your options carefully, as turtles are more work than most people consider or want. Most water turtles need roughly 10 gallons per inch of shell, so a typical 5-6" turtle in a pet store will need at least a 55 gallon aquarium. Box turtles and tortoises need a large square foot space of a "tortoise table" rather than an aquarium. Turtles can live 20+ years, and dorm rooms and many landlords do not allow large aquariums (or aquariums over 20 gallons). Eastern box turtles are illegal to keep in PA unless the keeper has a permit from the state issued when the regulations changed in 2007 or 2008. The Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society has turtles for adoption, and care information to help you decide if a turtle is right for you or a loved one. Please visit www.matts.petfinder.com to see some of our available turtles. We'll have a table at the York Reptile Expo Dec 19th, 10-3, if you have questions or want to see some of the adoptable turtles. http://mdreptilefarm.com/events/category/reptile-shows/york-county-reptile-show/ We currently have an adult male yellowbellied slider that makes a good beginner turtles, but he needs at least 55 gallon enclosures. Not everyone wants a tank that big in the home. A quality canister filer will cost about $100 - $150, too. Female sliders need at least a 75 gallon tank. Try this care sheet if considering an aquatic turtle https://nebula.wsimg.com/ae4cb36565545a257b1ff6f17a885dc2?AccessKeyId=A3E784782F81D21389AD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 We also have juvenile red-eared sliders - we can't tell if a slider is a male or female until they're about 4" long, so we don't know the gender of the juveniles. We have an African mud turtle, for those wanting something a little different. Some of our turtles even come with a tank for a small extra fee. Russian tortoises and other small species of tortoises do better in "tortoise tables" than aquariums, and should have at least eight square feet of space indoors. Most Russian tortoises in the US are wild-caught imports, so that's something to keep in mind. Visit www.matts.petfinder.com for more information, and e-mail to request an application. An application must be completed before an adopter is considered, and if approved, a picture of the completed enclosure must be provided before adopting the turtle. Keep in mind that PA residents cannot adopt species native to PA. Maryland residents need a DNR permit to keep a turtle under 4" in shell length. It's easy to get a permit from DNR, though, and they cost $10 a year. A baby/juvenile slider will be 4" in about two years. Here's a great book on aquatic turtles, and it can be downloaded for free at https://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-lunsford/captive-care-of-north-american-water-turtles/ebook/product-17551523.html