Turtles are very popular pets, especially for people who live in a small house, have children, or for those who are allergic to other animals. You can admire and appreciate them, but not necessarily cuddling with. 

But, before adopting a turtle as a pet, you should know that they live a better life in the wild. According to animal experts, turtles have certain needs that could not be met at home, but in their specific environment. “No two turtle species are exactly alike. However, they have one thing in common: They typically do not make good pets,” says Sharon Deem, DVM, PhD, director of the Saint Louis Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Medicine.

So, here are some things that you should know before adopting a turtle as a pet! Read on to find out more!

There are many species of turtles that are endangered 

Unfortunately, there are many species of turtles that are on the verge of extinction because they are taken out of their natural habitats. 

“Many turtle species are endangered due to over-collection for the pet trade,” says Jeanine Refsnider, PhD, a conservation biologist and herpetologist at the University of Toledo. “Demand for turtles as pets fuels this over-collection and continues to drive wild turtle populations toward extinction.”

Turtles are also known as “ecosystem engineers” because they play an important role in the ecosystem, namely that their roles as prey and predator are beneficial to wildlife. “When a turtle is taken in as a pet, we lose its important role in the ecosystem,” said Dr. Deem.

Turtles can put your health in danger

First of all, you should know that all species of turtles carry salmonella. Salmonella is a bacteria that can be found in reptiles, but especially in turtles. They carry this bacteria in their feces, which can spread all over their bodies… nevertheless, they are safe, but the humans not so much.

Unfortunately, in people or other animals, salmonella could lead to severe gastrointestinal diseases, such as excessive vomiting and diarrhea, and this can in some cases even cause death. Moreover, if you have young children, try to avoid owning a turtle as a pet. 

“While all pets are capable of passing diseases on to people, turtles are notorious for shedding salmonella bacteria in their feces, which can spread all over their bodies and their habitats,” says Jennifer Coates, DVM, a veterinarian on the advisory board of Pet Life Today.

If you still want to adopt a turtle, then you should wash and disinfect your hands before and after interacting with them.

They need your commitment 

According to animal experts, turtles can live up to forty years or more and you will need to commit to them for the long term if you still want to adopt one. 

To be more specific, if you want to travel more or you can’t keep it because of your family or other life changes, what would you do? You can’t abandon it in your backyard! In fact, there are some species of turtles that can’t survive outdoors, because they need special care. 

Moreover, if you abandon your turtle, “it can become dangerous for local wild populations of turtles,” notes Claudine Sievert, DVM, since a pet turtle can spread diseases to local animals.

Turtles require high maintenance costs

Buying a turtle as a pet is not that expensive, but they require high maintenance costs that can be difficult to handle. For instance, they need bigger tanks, special accessories and food that can cost you over $1.000. According to Dr. Coates, it involves “a minimum of 10 gallons of tank space per inch, in length, of a turtle.” 

Yet, turtles should not live in a tank that has a glass top because they need light to produce vitamin D3, and the glass can filter out the UVB light. Plus, they need a UV light, enough space for swimming, and a heat source.

They need special care

As you already know, turtles need special food and fresh water every day… just as other animals do. Also, all species of turtles must live in a well-prepared environment, which means that the air and water in their tanks must be kept at a specific temperature. Of course, you have to check it regularly to make sure that everything is in order. 

According to Sara Ochoa, DVM, a veterinary consultant for DogLab.com, turtles need “proper diets, exercise, sunlight, habitat, and, for the species that need it, the ability to bromate.”

You should keep them wild

If you still want to adopt a turtle as a pet, you should try your best to keep it wild. “For every turtle taken from the wild, that species may be one step closer to extinction,” says Dr. Deem. “My advice—keep ’em wild!”

If you love turtles, you can still help them with donations or volunteering by garbage collecting on the beach, because they need your help even though they live in the wild. So, all you have to do is to find an organization that protects them and you can help with donations or volunteering.

Pay attention to their diet

In general, turtles need high quantities of vitamin A in their diets. Their body can’t produce this vitamin by itself, so they need specific foods that can provide them all essential nutrients. Moreover, you should choose the food based on the species and you can opt for dark leafy green vegetables and red, orange or yellow veggies, such as bell peppers and squash. 

If your turtle doesn’t get adequate quantities of vitamin A, it will develop swollen eyelids and other health problems.