Search Results for: blog turtle health and handling

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 →

Endangered Bog Turtles in NJ

Bog turtles used to be abundant throughout New Jersey. Now they are found in the rural areas of Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, and Salem counties. These tiny, palm-sized turtles like to live in wet meadows and mucky, saturated bogs. Most of their lives are spent in the cool muck, which helps keep them cool in summer and allows them a safe place to hibernate during the winter. Learn more about bog turtles: Bog turtles have a shell length between three and four inches at adulthood. These rare turtles are prized by collectors, but it is a violation of state and federal … 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 →

Turtle Health and Handling

If you’ve got your tank ready… it’s time to pick out a turtle! The best time to buy a turtle is in the late spring and summer months. The rest of the year is hibernation time for turtles — so those you see in pet stores may be stressed during the fall, winter, and early spring. How to pick out a healthy turtle: Pick up the turtle — support the body in your hands. It should feel weighty, not like an empty shell. Gently tug on a back leg. The turtle should strongly pull his leg away. Look at the … Continue reading →

A Warning for Parents with Pet-Loving Kids

That’s my daughter with her pet snake. Okay, that slithery creature never actually made it home with us.  Thank goodness!  However, other slimy critters have sauntered, swam and slipped into our lives due in large part to my child’s obsession with being a pet owner. We’ve had Lola, Pongo, Charlie and Charlie II. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of exotic animals, but when you are a parent of a pet-loving kid, you learn to master the fine art of sacrifice. You also learn the importance of doing research on the type of varmint your child so desperately wants to … Continue reading →

What is Salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by a bacteria called salmonella. The current salmonellosis outbreak (related to raw tomatoes) is caused by a variant of the bacteria called salmonella saintpaul. There are approximately forty thousand cases of salmonellosis reported in the United States each year. Problems are more common in summer than in winter, but can happen at any time of year. Causes of salmonellosis can include: Food contaminated during processing or handling — always prepare food on a clean surface. Food contaminated by unwashed hands — always wash your hands when touching food! The bacteria can be … 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 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 →