Search Results for: blog turtle care basics

The Luckiest Turtle

The turtle in question was already named Lucky… and then he earned it. Box turtle Lucky and his lady friend Lovey have a safe and happy life in their enclosed pen in a California backyard. But back in July, owner Sally Pyne found both turtles outside their pen. It seems a raccoon had shown up in the yard, attracted by food left for Pyne’s outside kitty. Lovey survived the encounter without harm, but Lucky was not quite so lucky. His front legs were gone. Lucky was rushed to the animal hospital, where he was patched up and given medication for … Continue reading →

Turtle on the Lam

You might not imagine a two hundred pound tortoise would be much of an escape artist. Houdini the turtle? Hard to picture… unless you know Willy. Willy is an eleven year old African tortoise who lives near Riverside, California. He joined the Larsen family as a birthday present. When Willy came home from the pet store, he was small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Nowadays, Willy is tipping the scales at two hundred pounds. He tips over tables and gives rides to young Larsen nieces and nephews. The family had no idea that Willy would get … Continue reading →

Turtles in the ‘Hood Part 3

If it wasn’t too long, I would’ve entitled this blog, “What I Learned From Buying Two Turtles Off the Street from a Street Vendor.“ If you’ve been following the pet blog today, you’ve probably already seen my first two blogs on buying a turtle from a street vendor. It has definitely been a learning experience and while my first two articles covered why on earth I would buy a turtle, and how it is we came to own two turtles, this blog is all about the lessons I learned from buying our impulse pets. Unlike the examples in Aimee’s blog … Continue reading →

Turtles in the ‘Hood

Aimee has written about impulse pets before. She gave examples of how you might win a lizard or a gold fish at the carnival or fair and voila–you are a new pet owner. She pointed out pros and cons. Had I read her blog right before our fateful trip down the street I may have saved myself some money. Ahem. . .to be exact I may have saved myself $100. But I’m getting ahead of myself. The point is she clearly states in that blog under “The Bad Stuff” that an impulse pet will cost you in “food, toys and … Continue reading →

Red Eared Slider Turtles

Several different types of slider turtles are kept as pets but the most common variety is the red eared slider turtle. If you’ve ever seen a tank of turtles at a pet store, you were probably looking at a pile of sliders. Red eared slider turtles are thought to be the same turtles behind the salmonella cases in the 1970s. If you will be handling any turtle, experts suggest you wash your hands with warm water and soap afterwards. In North America, the sale of slider turtles less than four inches long (carapace size) is prohibited — this is to … Continue reading →

Happy World Turtle Day!

May 23 is World Turtle Day. The American Tortoise Rescue was the driving force behind creating World Turtle Day, the first of which was held in 2000. They picked a day in May because this is a happening month for turtles: they have mates to find and nests to build. I love turtles. I think they’re fascinating. It’s really amazing I don’t have a turtle for a pet. (Well, when I was about six or so, my dad did bring home a turtle for me. I lost it in about half an hour. We let it roam in the backyard, … Continue reading →

Reptile Basics

Before you make a decision about adding a reptile to your family, be sure you know whether or not reptiles are allowed where you live! Many areas have laws pertaining to dangerous reptiles, including constricting snakes and venomous snakes. Pick a captive bred reptile whenever possible. Wild reptiles that have been tamed are not as used to human handling as captive bred reptiles are. At the pet store or breeder, be sure you pick out a healthy reptile. Look for a reptile with clear, alert eyes and no visible sores or lesions. Make sure your reptile seems to be generally … Continue reading →

Symptoms of Metabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles

Metabolic bone disease is an unfortunately common disease in reptiles. Though it is most often seen in iguanas, it can arise in any pet reptile. The disease is most often caused by poor care and diet, and can be easily corrected in the early stages. The symptoms of metabolic bone disease can vary depending on the severity of the case and the length of time over which the disease developed. Most of the symptoms are related to bone and muscle effects, as calcium is key for bone formation and muscle function. You may see a reptile with metabolic bone disease … Continue reading →

Reptile Awareness: Did You Know…?

Special note: gator photo by Elvis Santana For starters, did you know that today is Reptile Awareness Day? Did you know there even was such a day? (I only recently learned about it myself.) I admit I don’t know much about reptiles. I’ve never had one as a pet. About all I know is that frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, gators and crocs are all part of the reptilian family and are cold-blooded. (And that Murph takes delight in chasing lizards and frogs whenever possible.) Well, since I don’t know much I had to do some research. Here’s some things I … Continue reading →

Halloween Tricks and Treats for Pets: Toys

As I was admiring all the cute Halloween costumes for dogs, I also came across some cute Halloween-themed toys. Some of these just might provoke a few tricks from your four-legged friend. Doctors Foster and Smith • Halloween Trio –Ghost, Pumpkin, or Frankenstein: These are smaller toys (six inches) for small and toy breed dogs. But don’t let the name fool you –you don’t get one of each in the “trio.” You have to order them all separately. However, singly they’re $2.99, but buy all three and they’re $2.29 each. • Spooky Musical Odd Toys –Pumpkin, Ghost, or Cyclops: These … Continue reading →