Turtles for Christmas?

Pikesville MD

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, and some species make better pets than others. They need expensive UVB lighting and a heat light if kept indoors, and not all turtles can hibernate outside in our area. Some species of tortoises grow to be over 100lbs and can go through chain link fence and dry wall when less than half grown. Water turtles can live 20+ years and box turtles and tortoises live even longer. They often DO NOT get along together, so they don't need a "friend" to be happy. 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. Not everyone wants a tank that big in the home and dorm rooms and many landlords do not allow aquariums over 20 gallons, and most turtles can't live permanently in a 20-gallon tank. A quality canister filter for a water turtle will cost about $100 - $150, too. Box turtles and tortoises need a large square foot space (at least 8 square feet but larger is better) of a "tortoise table" rather than an aquarium. 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. Maryland has special rules about eastern box turtles as well. Visit www.petfinder.com if interested in adopting a turtle or other pet. 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. 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 A good website for tortoises is: https://www.hermannihaven.com/ www.russiantortoise.org For box turtles visit: https://www.boxturtlefacts.org/resources