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Best pet reptiles
- Thread starter poppycorn
- Start date
Tyger9791
Animal Care Specialist
True, but they get quite large. eventually you will need to build a pond for it to live in. i'm biased though, i'm not fond of aquatic animals. i like land animals. :crazy02: most aquatics need at least a 50 gal tank. and you cant really handle them at all. whereas with land turtles, you can let them roam about.
kimbyra
cornsnake addict
I agree with the red slider as a bad idea. I have one, and she is huge, in a giant tank, and will need a pond built pretty soon! They are so cute when quarter sized. Pets stores should have to tell people what they are getting into when buying one. The same goes with th espurred tortoise. Kings are a little too predatory (may bite), and garters are great, BUT are too flighty to be handled much (ribbons are worse). Someone mentioned a hognose - Don't get a hognose! Most people don't know that they are actually poisonous! Bet that surprised a few people. I'm not sure if its a newer discovery, but they have rear fangs. They have to chew on you to get the poison in, but its happened. A chinese water dragon is a good beginner pet.
kimbyra
cornsnake addict
Her is a link about what happened when a hognose didn't play chicken...
http://www.herpnet.net/bite/
http://www.herpnet.net/bite/
Slippery Ernie
New member
I'll agree that the eastern box turtle makes it a good candidate because of it's size. But I kept one for years when I was a kid and it never really thrived unless I was able to take it outside almost daily and let it roam around. I think they need a large enclosure, preferably outdoors. Otherwise they just kind of sleep 24/7 and refuse to eat.Tyger9791 said:
I just don't see a kid building an outdoor pen, or taking the time to get the turtle outside often enough.
TripleMoonsExotic
I <3 Stripes!
kimbyra said:
The correct terminology is VENOMOUS and VENOM. That also is not new news.
They also are in no way shape or form like most venomous species, their venom causes reactions only in individuals who are allergic to the venom (similar to bee venom) and a bite, even if you are allergic will not kill you.
On another note, Hognoses are not considered venomous by most because their venom is difficult to inject and not deadly, which is why you see them for sale at "Non Venomous" shows.
With that, no I wouldn't recommend them for a child. Mine at least try to intimidate you by hooding and hissing loadly, then once you pick them up they're complete dolls.
Taceas
USW = UB313
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Eastern Box Turtles illegal to sell in pet stores? I know they are in Indiana, at least. They're a threatened species here, so that may have something to do with it.
I've hatched quite a few the past few years. Due to living in a forest and all, the female box turtles think my nice soft garden soil and flower beds make great nest sites.
Garden Turtle 1
Garden Turtle 2
Turtle Eggs
I dig the nests up to avoid them getting damaged or pilfered, and incubate them in the same incubator as my cornsnake eggs. Same duration and temp requirements for incubation. I then release them back into the wild after a few meals of supplimented worms and bugs and hope for the best.
While adorable as babies...
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
They really need an outdoor environment, and if the proper nutrients aren't met they can be disfigured for life. Most of the people who own the wild caughts around here, make a large high-sided outdoor enclosure for them to roam and eat what they need, and suppliment them a diet of healthy greens and fruits.
Plus, most seem to need to hibernate, and will try to sleep through the winter even while indoors. So that's just one more thing to have to worry about.
I can attest to how hard they are to care for properly. And me, while not a beginner to herps by any means...I had a hard enough time managing, so I can't imagine the typical average beginner. I just don't think turtles or tortises are a wise first reptile pet for most young beginners. They're a lifetime committment, imho.
I've hatched quite a few the past few years. Due to living in a forest and all, the female box turtles think my nice soft garden soil and flower beds make great nest sites.
Garden Turtle 1
Garden Turtle 2
Turtle Eggs
I dig the nests up to avoid them getting damaged or pilfered, and incubate them in the same incubator as my cornsnake eggs. Same duration and temp requirements for incubation. I then release them back into the wild after a few meals of supplimented worms and bugs and hope for the best.
While adorable as babies...
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
They really need an outdoor environment, and if the proper nutrients aren't met they can be disfigured for life. Most of the people who own the wild caughts around here, make a large high-sided outdoor enclosure for them to roam and eat what they need, and suppliment them a diet of healthy greens and fruits.
Plus, most seem to need to hibernate, and will try to sleep through the winter even while indoors. So that's just one more thing to have to worry about.
I can attest to how hard they are to care for properly. And me, while not a beginner to herps by any means...I had a hard enough time managing, so I can't imagine the typical average beginner. I just don't think turtles or tortises are a wise first reptile pet for most young beginners. They're a lifetime committment, imho.
Tyger9791
Animal Care Specialist
You may be right on the boxies. they might be illegal in some states, though i'm not sure of all state laws. and pretty much so any turtle is going to require lots of space. i'm not sure about the hibernation thing...but i'm down in FL, so we dont have long winters.
i would recommend my central american wood turtles, but they require careful care or else they dont thrive in captivity. not a good beginner's turtle. though they are a very social and cool looking turtle.
i think as far as reptiles go for kids, lizards and snakes should top the list.
i would recommend my central american wood turtles, but they require careful care or else they dont thrive in captivity. not a good beginner's turtle. though they are a very social and cool looking turtle.
i think as far as reptiles go for kids, lizards and snakes should top the list.
PtDnsr
I like calculus
We have three western hogs - one (the oldest) likes to talk loudly and wouldn't necessarily be suitable for a child. The other two will hiss occasionally but not nearly as much and I attribute this to them being hatchlings and getting used to being held. Maybe they should be classified for teenagers or something simlar. I would never in any regard consider them a danger to my person like I would a different venemous snake (like a rattlesnake or something similar).blckkat said:With that, no I wouldn't recommend them for a child. Mine at least try to intimidate you by hooding and hissing loadly, then once you pick them up they're complete dolls.
IMO anyone that lets a snake bite and chew on them for 3-5 minutes without trying to get them off doesn't deserve to have snakes. Personally, if a snake bites me and doesn't let go I'm going to go dunk it under water immediately to get it to release - not wait a while to see what happens.
~Katie