Re: Need Info!!!

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Posted by Marissa on April 29, 2000 at 23:26:50:

In Reply to: Need Info!!! posted by RT on April 29, 2000 at 13:40:32:

Well if your sister is 11, then she should be actively involved in the research for the turtle or tortoise. If you have limited space, then I'd not really recommend a tortoise or turtle as Niki stated they do need a lot of care. In fact, I think that turtles and tortoises need alot more care than many other reptiles, contrary to popular belief. If she is looking for a nice easy reptile to start with, have her look into a leopard gecko or small snake even. Even these reptiles need very specific and constant care but geckos are fairly friendly and an adult leopard can live in a 20-gallon long tank quite comfortably. Keeping in mind they need a calci-sand or repti-bark substrate, water dish filled with clean water at all times, some interesting "cage furniture" such as wood logs and such to hide in, a heat/basking lamp with a 60 or 75watt bulb in it, a "hydration chamber" (I use a large tupperware with a hole cut in the side and it's filled with moist cypress mulch) this helps them shed and maintain health skin...they will go in it frequently to maintain hydration and it will help them shed. Many people don't use these but I think they should be. Leopard geckos eat mostly crickets but can also eat meal or superworms. They can be tame and handled carefully. They need their crickets and worms to be dusted with Rep-Cal (or similar) reptile calcium powder as well as a reptile vitamin powder like Herptivite. In my personal opinion, a turtle or tortoise is not an appropriate pet for a child unless completely supervised and overseen by a knowledgeable and responsible adult.

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: Well if your sister is 11, then she should be actively involved in the research for the turtle or tortoise. If you have limited space, then I'd not really recommend a tortoise or turtle as Niki stated they do need a lot of care. In fact, I think that turtles and tortoises need alot more care than many other reptiles, contrary to popular belief. If she is looking for a nice easy reptile to start with, have her look into a leopard gecko or small snake even. Even these reptiles need very specific and constant care but geckos are fairly friendly and an adult leopard can live in a 20-gallon long tank quite comfortably. Keeping in mind they need a calci-sand or repti-bark substrate, water dish filled with clean water at all times, some interesting "cage furniture" such as wood logs and such to hide in, a heat/basking lamp with a 60 or 75watt bulb in it, a "hydration chamber" (I use a large tupperware with a hole cut in the side and it's filled with moist cypress mulch) this helps them shed and maintain health skin...they will go in it frequently to maintain hydration and it will help them shed. Many people don't use these but I think they should be. Leopard geckos eat mostly crickets but can also eat meal or superworms. They can be tame and handled carefully. They need their crickets and worms to be dusted with Rep-Cal (or similar) reptile calcium powder as well as a reptile vitamin powder like Herptivite. In my personal opinion, a turtle or tortoise is not an appropriate pet for a child unless completely supervised and overseen by a knowledgeable and responsible adult.

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