Turtles (Terrapins)

[Libspero]

Wife wants one for Christmas,  and the kids want a pet.

I don’t know anything about them,  but I don’t want anything big..  so smaller is better,  easy to look after is better,  “pretty” if there is such a thing for turtles would also be nice too.

Our local pet shop has:

Chinese stipe neck turtles

Florida Softshell (stinkpot?) turtles

Baby reeves turtles

 

What should I get?  Any suggestions, Comments or advice (including it’s a terrible idea) ?

@stokiescum  don’t you have some experience with exotics?

[King Penda]

14 hours ago, spunko said:

Tortoises get nicked a lot as they're pricey. I've always fancied instead getting a snapping turtle and anonymously tipping off the local pikey scum that there's a tortoise in my back garden... it'll take their fingers clean off.

Yes scary fuckers ain’t they

[Andersen]

Buy a pair - so it's not alone in it's new home  

[King Penda]

11 minutes ago, Libspero said:

Wife wants one for Christmas,  and the kids want a pet.

I don’t know anything about them,  but I don’t want anything big..  so smaller is better,  easy to look after is better,  “pretty” if there is such a thing for turtles would also be nice too.

Our local pet shop has:

Chinese stipe neck turtles

Florida Softshell (stinkpot?) turtles

Baby reeves turtles

 

What should I get?  Any suggestions, Comments or advice (including it’s a terrible idea) ?

@stokiescum  don’t you have some experience with exotics?

Lots keep them my mate had an evil snapping turtle but they harbour I think a few nasty things if your not carefull and some grow bigger than you expect .I’d go for a tortoise but they are not has exciting and  they could potentially outlive your kids 2 of my kids have a a toitose https://www.pbspettravel.co.uk/blog/the-beginners-guide-to-keeping-terrapins-turtles/ 

[One percent]

28 minutes ago, Chewing Grass said:

You even be a charidee, a tortoise sanctuary.

Scam little old ladies out of their money, just like donkey sanctuaries.   

[Kurt Barlow]

1 hour ago, One percent said:

I thought that it was illegal to buy a tortoise now but no, a quick google shows you can. Bloody expensive though. 

Illegal to import. 

I assume you can breed them. Perhaps a niche occupation - hiring out your stud tortoise. 

[Libspero]

2 hours ago, spunko said:

Where would you keep these, in a tank? If it's a terrapin or proper turtle you need to worry about heating, tanks, water etc. I'm not expert but when I did look into it, it seemed like a faff - similar to having a gecko or snake.

Tell the wife to wind her neck in if she insists on a terrapin.

 

Yes,  tortoise would be easier..  we have friends with a tortoise and it seems to spend the whole time hiding or hibernating.

My wife had terrapins as a kid so there’s a bit of a childhood attachment  in there.  
 

They don’t seem to be that difficult..  you need a tank,  with some water at one end and a heat lamp at the other.  They are a bit more active than a tortoise and they don’t hibernate.

Chance of me telling my wife to wind her neck in?   I can’t afford the divorce 

[Libspero]

2 hours ago, Chewing Grass said:

Tortoise, you can have them roaming round the house, terrapins are grim things, the local pond at the park has red eared ones in it, not good as they have eaten everything in it.

Might save me a few quid..  which park?  I’ll take my net 🤣

[spunko]

Tortoises get nicked a lot as they're pricey. I've always fancied instead getting a snapping turtle and anonymously tipping off the local pikey scum that there's a tortoise in my back garden... it'll take their fingers clean off.

[spunko]

Where would you keep these, in a tank? Personally, if it were me, I'd get a tortoise that can roam in the back garden. They're easy to come by, and will obviously live for decades in the right conditions. The kids will have fun putting it to sleep when it hibernates, and just generally watching it mill about eating lettuce. If it's a terrapin or proper turtle you need to worry about heating, tanks, water etc. I'm not expert but when I did look into it, it seemed like a faff - similar to having a gecko or snake.

Tell the wife to wind her neck in if she insists on a terrapin.

 

[Chewing Grass]

Tortoise, you can have them roaming round the house, terrapins are grim things, the local pond at the park has red eared ones in it, not good as they have eaten everything in it.

[One percent]

I thought that it was illegal to buy a tortoise now but no, a quick google shows you can. Bloody expensive though. 

[Chewing Grass]

13 minutes ago, One percent said:

I thought that it was illegal to buy a tortoise now but no, a quick google shows you can. Bloody expensive though. 

If you are lucky and patient, they breed, take up less space than Alpacas and are cleaner than dogs.

[One percent]

27 minutes ago, Chewing Grass said:

If you are lucky and patient, they breed, take up less space than Alpacas and are cleaner than dogs.

I see a new business opportunity.  

[Chewing Grass]

12 minutes ago, One percent said:

I see a new business opportunity.  

You even be a charidee, a tortoise sanctuary.

[MrPin]

17 hours ago, Chewing Grass said:

Tortoise, you can have them roaming round the house, terrapins are grim things, the local pond at the park has red eared ones in it, not good as they have eaten everything in it.

I remember Mitcham pond was full of the buggers, thrown away after the "mutant turtle" craze. They grew to the size of german helmets (stahlhelm), and to be removed.