In recent times, keeping exotic animals as pets has become quite a trend. People see adopting an exotic animal as an enhancer for their status. Whereas, Some just want to be adventurous and out of the box. When it comes to the adoption of exotic animals, turtles are one of the top choices for a pet. They have a cute and cuddly appearance instantly attracting people to get one for themselves. But, should you keep these shelly animals at your place? This question may come into the head of anyone wanting to be a turtle parent. Well, today, Team Desiwoof is here to clear all your queries!

Turtles do not thrive in captivity :

Turtles may appear submissive and trainable. But, they are wild animals who are not supposed to be kept as a ‘pet’ in a limited area. Their bodies have evolved in such a way that they are habitual of living in a complex, wild environment. 

A baby turtle is small in size and easily accomodating. But, as they grow up they get huge in size and housing becomes quite a challenge. 

They are classified as amphibians. They like to spend time in both land and water. Hence, they require a rather large housing tank and sufficient space in the backyard to roam. If you have a small apartment, this might become a major issue. They might not age well due to the void of a proper living environment. Many times, turtles get lost when taken out of the tank to roam in the open. If not found on time, they can get hurt or even face life-threatening hazards. You need to surveil their movements round the clock to avoid any mishaps. 

It is expensive to take care of turtles : 

Turtles can not regulate their body temperature on their own. They take up heath from the environment to do so. Hence, sunlight becomes a vital source of survival for these amphibians. When you keep them inside your house, you need to set up UV light panels to provide them with a suitable environment. Irregular temperature settings can be fatal for their lives. People often skip buying these panels due to high costs and the poor turtles end up facing the consequences later. Furthermore, it is essential to have a water heater and filtration system installed inside your tank to regulate the water temperature and to keep the water free from toxins. The setup of the tanks, panels, and enclosure costs a lot, and then you have to keep spending a chunk of money on food and other resources. So, overall raising a turtle can become quite an enormous expense. 

Requires great commitment :

Turtles are known to have a very long life with ample care. In captivity, their lifespan ranges from 20-60 years. So, there are chances that your turtle might even outlive you. Raising a turtle requires a lifelong commitment to the responsibilities. So, you need to make up your mind well if you are ready for the responsibility or not!

Spreads diseases : 

Turtles can spread serious diseases like salmonella and herpes. It is not advised to take naps with them. Kids often play with the turtles and do not wash their hands and continue with other activities. This can lead to the transmission of disease. Another major reason to not buy a turtle for your kid!

They don’t like socializing with people :

Unlike dogs or cats, turtles don’t like socializing with humans. They only interact with their kind. They only interact with their owner at the time of feeding. Mostly, people just don’t want a pet but a friend. So, if you want a mutual level of attachment, I would suggest you not go for a turtle.

Illegal in many countries:

In many countries, like India, it is illegal to house turtles. The poaching of turtles is on the rise in India. They are endangered turtle species that need to be protected at all costs. Close to 10 species are forbidden by the government to be kept as a pet. It is hard to differentiate between the species when the turtle is young. So, you have to be very careful or you might end up getting yourself in great trouble. 

Concerning the increase in the population of abandoned turtles :

Often, when the turtles grow up that reaches about half their sizes, they start requiring a lot of care and surveillance. Due to this reason, there has been a drastic increase in cases where people have abandoned their pet turtles. 

Releasing a turtle into the wild is a bad idea. Once, they get used to the captive environment, their chances of surviving in the wild decrease sharply. Moreover, they can infect the other wild turtles due to competition over resources. 

If you have any more questions, please leave a comment. We would love to help you!