Turtles make an excellent pet though they are not the first choice as pets. They live long and they are not high-maintenance. They can live in you drawer, play in your bed, in your palms and the most important thing is that they are not dangerous.

Types of Turtles

There are different types of turtles that you can have as pet. Not all turtles are allowed to made as pet especially those that are extinct. Extinct turtles are oftentimes seen in zoos or a manmade habitat where they are breed so they can produce more of their own.

Types of turtles that can be found in pet stores:

1.    Red-eared Slider – People say that this kind of turtle is very small but when they are fed well they can grow around one-foot long. Their carapaces are colored green with yellow blotches or stripes.
2.    Reeves Turtle – Also a small turtle that has a rectangular shape and originally from Asia. Like the red-eared turtle, its carapace is green in color that has shades of brown together with yellow stripes. They are fed with vegetables, fish, worms and turtle food. Taking care of this type of turtle is the same with the slider turtles.

Types of Turtles

3.    Asian Yellow Pond Turtle and Asian Leaf Turtle – these turtles have similarities with the Reeve’s turtle. Its color is a combination of brown and yellow. These turtles are considered more terrestrial than the sliders so they need a wider place to live. Caring for these turtles is similar with the way reeves turtles are taken care of.
4.    African Mud Turtle – Just like the Painted turtles, these turtles have carapaces that that is brown in color that has gray or yellow skin.
5.    Pig nosed turtle – Other names of this turtle are Australian pig-nose turtle, fly river turtle, plateless turtle and pitted shelled turtle. This kind of turtle can be found in freshwater lagoons, rivers, streams in the Northern Territory of Australia and New Guinea and it also known to have soft shells.
6.    Green Sea Turtle – Though this kind of turtle can be found in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, they are considered extinct. Killing, harming or even collecting them is forbidden. It is also composed of two different populations that can be found in the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

Types of Turtles

7.    Alligator Snapping Turtle – In the North America, this type of turtle is considered as the largest freshwater turtle. When compared to the common snapping turtle, this turtle is larger but less aggressive. While other turtles do not stay long under water, the alligator snapping turtle is able to stay under water for as long as an hour.
8.    Leatherback Turtle – This is considered to be the largest turtle of all the types of turtle. It is the only turtle specie that has a soft shell and it is a sea turtle so it might be hard to take care of them at home. When this turtle grow, they can reach twenty-five inches and can be as heavy as forty-four pounds.

Snapping turtle care can be difficult because they are considered as dangerous and aggressive. Aggressive means that when ever they can reach something they snap at it. When they are in the water they tend to be quiet until it is time for them to eat. They eat frogs, baby ducks, vegetables, crabs, fish and other tiny reptiles. They are considered to be passive hunters for the reason that they hide in the mud and wait for their prey to snap at.

Snapping Turtle Care

So if you are looking to take care of this kind of turtle better know the different kinds of snapping turtle care:

1.    Do not give this kind of turtle to a beginner or a child. Snapping turtles are easily irritated and have a bad temper and there is no exemption for a juvenile snapping turtle. If this turtle bites someone, they might need medical attention.
2.    Keep snapping turtles in an aquarium if possible. It is the safest place where you can house this kind of turtle. For hatchlings, the recommended depth is three to six inches and a dry basking spot on one end. Take note that snapping turtles grow quickly. So, it is wise to make a large habitat even if they are only hatchlings.

Snapping Turtle Care

3.    Snapping turtles are “bottom walkers”. When they are in the water there necks should be able to reach the surface for them to breathe.
4.    Quality of water is important. Your snapping turtles might suffer if you do not pay attention to the filtration system. Water gets dirty easily and smells fouls and this is what happens when the snapping turtles snap at their prey shredding it to pieces when they are in the water. Canister filters are recommended for adult snapping turtles because they can be cleaned easily and provides excellent water quality. For hatchlings, a power filter is recommended and regular water change is best.
5.    Though snapping turtles can be raised even without the basking facilities, everyday light cycle is still important for them. This is also said to help them be in their normal behavior. If you are planning to create an artificial basking area, place an artificial reflector clip light lamp, which is placed above the dry basking area together with a shelf that is slightly submerged.

Snapping Turtle Care

6.    When the weather is warm, it is also nice to setup an outside habitat for the snapping turtles. You can use a kid’s wading pool that is sunk in the ground and make sure that it is in a closed and safe area where children cannot easily enter. If you have extra money to spare, create a larger habitat for them complete with a filtration system.
7.    Snapping turtles should be fed properly and not overfed them. Over feeding your snapping turtles can lead to obesity. For adult snapping turtles, it is recommended to feed them two to three times a week and for hatchlings, feed them daily or every other day. They are carnivores but do not feed them hamburgers because it can easily foul their habitat due to its high fat content.

Make sure to take extra precaution when it comes to snapping turtle care because they are not the kind of pet that you can play with.