Is a turtle a good pet for a kid?

Several species are actually ideal for allowing first-timers and young kids to get the hang of reptile ownership. Although turtles aren't often where people's minds go when they first start thinking about what kinds of pets to get their children, they're actually a fantastic option as a child's first pet.

What is the best turtle for a child?

The first is the red-eared slider. These turtles spend a great deal of time in the water. While red-eared sliders are some of the easiest turtles to care for, they are also on the smaller side and should not be handled by young children. The second type of turtle is the box turtle.

Are turtles a safe pet?

Turtles commonly carry bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces that can make people very ill. Geckos and bearded dragons can also infect people. Turtles commonly carry the Salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces. Reptiles like bearded dragons and geckos can also infect people with Salmonella.

Are turtles poisonous to kids?

Turtles (along with lizards, geckos, snakes and frogs) are often carriers of the bacteria Salmonella, which can cause serious, even life-threatening, illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infection linked to pet turtles.

Are turtles good family pets?

Turtles are one of the oldest kinds of reptiles on the planet. Their hard shell and slow-moving mannerisms make them unique pets. They're hardy creatures and can be fun to care for. They may seem like low-maintenance pets, but most turtle species can live for decades, which makes them a lifelong commitment.

Turtles DO NOT Make Good Pets For Everyone | Top 5 Reasons Why

Why are turtles good for kids?

Turtles enjoy being handled (safely), and their upkeep is so simple that many children can manage it themselves, so long as they have an adult looking over their shoulder, making sure they're doing everything up to the standard needed to keep the animal happy and healthy.

Do turtles stink?

You might think of reptiles as not having much odor at all, and certainly a wet turtle doesn't smell anything like a wet dog, but they can still produce unpleasant smells. It is also possible for a tank to develop a bad smell from causes other than the turtles, for example with stale or rotting food.

Will turtle pee hurt you?

It is not illegal to own or to buy a turtle under a shell length of 4 inches, again, unless it is a protected species. "Turtle urine causes brain damage in humans when it comes in contact with your skin."

Can I kiss my turtle?

“Don't kiss or snuggle with your turtle. This can increase your risk of getting sick,” the CDC says in its guide, titled “The Trouble with Tiny Turtles.”

What is a good pet for a 7 year old?

Is it OK to touch a turtle?

When people touch turtles, the germs can get on hands or clothing. This is true for any turtle—no matter if they are in a home, at a petting zoo or school, or in the wild. The germs can also be in the water turtles live or swim in and can get on cages, aquariums, terrariums, and other containers that house turtles.

Do pet turtles bite?

Though their shells provide very effective protection, most turtles will bite to protect themselves if necessary. This is especially prevalent among wild turtles, but pet turtles may bite as well. While this is a relatively minor concern for owners of small turtles, bites from large turtles can cause severe damage.

Do turtles like being touched?

Turtles prefer to be alone, and they never welcome being picked up and handled. Because turtles aren't affectionate, don't like to be held, stroked or cuddled and don't play with toys, many people lose interest and cease to take proper care of them.

Can children play with turtle?

Don't let children younger than 5, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems handle or touch your turtle or anything in the area where it lives and roams, including water from containers or aquariums.

Should I Buy 2 turtles?

If you obtain your turtles when they are juveniles, you should size the tank based on their expected adult sizes unless you plan to upgrade the tanks as they grow and are confident that you will be able to actually do so when the time comes. If money is tight, you probably should keep just one turtle.

Do turtles have germs?

Turtles can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings, even while looking healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to their bodies, tank water, and habitats. People can get sick after they touch a turtle or anything in their habitats.

Do turtles poop out of their mouths?

"Contrary to this common notion, our results suggest that the mouth can be a major route of urea excretion in soft-shelled turtles." The scientists conjecture that Chinese soft-shelled turtles excrete urea through their mouths instead of with their kidneys because of their salty environment.

Is it okay to wake up a turtle?

Avoid partially waking your tortoise.

It is important to maintain your tortoise's environment while he is hibernating to avoid partially waking him up. If the temperature changes in his environment, his metabolism will be kick started and he could start to wake up.

Do turtles get lonely?

No! The fact is that turtles will be totally fine on their own. They don't need to share a tank with another turtle to be happy and content, and you don't need to worry about turtle loneliness!

How do you play with a turtle?

Why is my turtles water red?

POSSIBLE CAUSE: Discoloration due to mineral-rich source water containing iron (i.e. well water). Aquariums with high oxygen levels may experience a more pronounced discoloration (redness) due to the oxidization of dissolved iron particles.

Why is my turtle poop red?

If there are red flecks of blood in the turtle's stool, but it otherwise looks healthy, it is more likely a problem lower down in the digestive tract. For example, if they have a cut or abrasion on their cloaca, it is possible the fresh blood appears in their poop.

Do turtles poop a lot?

How often should my turtle poop? Baby tortoises and turtles poop more frequently than adults – usually every day. It is not normal for a hatchling to stop pooping for more than a day or so.

Do turtles have teeth?

But unlike cows, turtles don't have any teeth at all! Like a bird, they have a beak. With their strong jaw muscles and hard beaks, carnivorous turtles crush the shells of their prey – crabs, sea urchins and clams, for example. Baby turtles have something called an egg-tooth, or caruncle, but it's not really a tooth.