Help please!!!!!!!!

[fredyfidget]

Ok. Me and my wife wnt a turtle or tortise that won't get biger than 10 inches. We also don't want one that requires a large pool of water. Me and my wife do not want to go throught the hassle of changing and cleaning the water every 2 days. I can deal w/ changing a large water bowl every day. I was looking at a leopard tortise But the cost was to much it was $150. I want to buy a pair at $120-160 and a single for no more than $80. I live in California USA. And if you have one in mind that sounds right for me give me a little background information on their requirements. Such as food, caging, Etc..... Thanks in advance for all of your time and info.

[latazyo]

eastern box

[kidchameleon]

youre not really gonna find a pair of tortoises for $120-160. you'll definately find turtles at that price, but not a pair of tortoises, except maybe russians. good luck

[Wu-Gwei]

I have seen hatchlings leopards for around US$85 in San Diego. I forget the company, but they are on KS classifieds. They show up every so often. It's local pick up only. Look around and you'll find the deals.


Cheers,
JJ;)

[kidchameleon]

if youre talking about how k i n g s n a k e got replaced with *'s, its always been like that, or atleast it has been like that every time ive seen/typed it.

[Linds]

Please research the animals beforehand. Leopard tortoises are some of the largest tortoises available, much larger than 10". You are lucky you guys are down in the states as the availability of tortoises down there is much better :) Also realize that they require somewhat large enclosures in relation to their actual size. Box turtles would be a good choice, however I think they may exceed your price range. I know up here they do. Good luck with your search :)

Originally posted by johnnym1972
I just want to point out that the Moderator that decided to censor my advice did so due to some obviously childish and arrogant nonsense, which most likely is in response to some kind of competition among herp websites which is complete crap!!! Whatever happened to a global community, or a herp oriented net society?!?!? You really need to seriously re-consider and re-think your motives for this kind of crap!!!!! I can't believe that you have stooped to this low, low, low, level!!!!!


No mods censored your post. It is an automatic filter, same thing will happen if you type in any profane words. We never had any problems with them until they began banning people for even mentioning us, deleting whole threads, not enabling us to post pics hosted by this site - generally forcing everyone to choose sides, which is highly unfortunate, but what can you do. So please before you start accusing the sSnakeSs team of such, please acknowledge the facts first.

[fredyfidget]

OK. No more tortise. Or ground turtles. I got a great deal on a 20 gal aquarium turtle set-up. Now my question is what turtle would be able to live in a 20 gallon aquarium the rest of its life. I think obviously no pair would fit in a 20 gal I mean just one cute looking little turtle that won't try to bite me every time I try to pick him up. I've read smaller turtles are more agressive then larger ones. Any advice please.

[JeffT]

I dont think any turtles can live in that. Even a beautiful turtle as simple as a red eared slider needs a minimum of 50 gallons. You shouldnt have gone and bought a cage and set up with out knowing what you are getting. Go on www.google.ca and search up different types of turtles anc their CARE and find out what animals are in the best interest of yourself and the best well being of the animal.

Good Luck, Jeff

[snakers55]

You are looking for the wrong thing in a turtle,or any reptile for that matter.. They aren't made to be cute and cuddly... Get a hampster...

[K1LOS]

There is no turtle that can be properly housed in a 20 gallon aquarium. Think about it, that isn't much water to begin with, and you are gonna have to take up more of that space building a land section for your turtle to escape the water. Who ever said a 50 gallon was correct, i wouldn't house a turtle in anything less. Go return your tank, get a bigger one, maybe an indoor pond? That'd be too cool. What were you thinking for filtration? i'll tell you right now, those little submersible fluval's aren't that great, and you should get a filter that is recommended for double the size of tank you have. The recommendation is for fish, and turtles are alot dirtier then fish. Good Luck, and keep us posted

Geoff

[Wu-Gwei]

A good small turtle is a musk turtle and they can live in 40G for all of it's life. 20G is way to small for any turtle... it can only house a htachling for a year or so. Research a turtle you like and then find out its requirements. The enclosure is actually one of the easiest things about keeping a turtle. There's filtration, and most importantly husbandry.

I think a musk or a southern painted will stay small and good for a beginner to get. They cost about $15 in the US.


Cheers,
JJ;)

[sapphire_moon]

When I was looking into getting a turtle I found this website that has a tub specificly made for such reptiles.

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Product/The_Amazing_WaterLand_Tubs_112100.html

It is a bit expensive, but something I would definitly look into getting if I were serious about keeping a turtle in the proper sized cage.

I think a female red eared slider can get up to 14-16 inches long and like 6-8 inches wide (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!:) ) And females NEED dirt areas because they can lay eggs without being fertilized, and if they don't have a laying area, they will retain the eggs becoming egg bound (again, correct me if i'm wrong!:) )

Don't forget that most/all turtles/torts NEED uvb lighting as well as heat.

they need GOOD filtration, as someone else above said, they are dirtier than fish, and might even need 2 or 3 filters just to keep it clean.

submersible heaters, probably a couple depending on the size of cage you have

uvb light, and heat light

plus somewhere to get out of the heat on land.


Goodluck finding what you want. just go to a search engine and type in "small turtles", it will bring you to web pages where you can find the name of turtles, write down the ones you think would interest you, and go research on them.

Also as said, turtles aren't cuddly (they may be cute though), and aren't exactly a pet that you would take out and walk around with.