2 years, 1 month ago
via pets-questions.com
I love tortoises. A lot of people love tortoises. The question is, do you know what are you getting into?
I chose a pet sulcata tortoise. He's getting to be really big, which was expected. I work with a lot of reptiles and it's been really interesting looking at all the tortoises over the years. There are several that remain a really nice compact size. A leopard tortoise and a redfoot tortoise come to mind.
But that adorable little African spur thigh tortoise, another name for the Sulcata Tortoise at the pet store is the third largest land tortoise on earth! Second only to the Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises, Sulcatas get huge and live for decades.
I was thinking the other day about how many people abandon their pet iguanas. Why? Because that darling little green lizard at the pet store is not 6 feet long and people simply are not equipped to handle a lizard of that size.
Any ideas for people planning on buying an exotic pet regarding how to research it properly before getting one?
In the first photo, assorted tortoises.
In the second photo, 7-year-old Sulcata Tortoise annoys the cat
In the third photo, giant Sulata tortoises stand behind their offspring, 1-2 years old
But that adorable little African spur thigh tortoise, another name for the Sulcata Tortoise at the pet store is the third largest land tortoise on earth! Second only to the Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises, Sulcatas get huge and live for decades.
I was thinking the other day about how many people abandon their pet iguanas. Why? Because that darling little green lizard at the pet store is not 6 feet long and people simply are not equipped to handle a lizard of that size.
Any ideas for people planning on buying an exotic pet regarding how to research it properly before getting one?
In the first photo, assorted tortoises.
In the second photo, 7-year-old Sulcata Tortoise annoys the cat
In the third photo, giant Sulata tortoises stand behind their offspring, 1-2 years old
images:
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M$2 Answers
I love your photos, it's clear that you know exactly what you're doing with this type of animal, unfortunately few people take the trouble to find out what the requirements are for keeping any type of pet, never mind the more exotic ones! Do you remember the craze for turtles when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film was released? When they became difficult to keep, the zoos were inundated with unwanted turtles and these were the lucky ones! Far more were simply flushed away.
Human nature being what it is, I think the only solution is legislation to stop anyone being able to buy this type of animal unless they are able to show that they are aware of and able to meet the needs of these creatures. This could take the form of a requirement to research the subject and then provide evidence that they have, including a visit to the reptile house at a local zoo to see the living conditions that they provide. This would obviously not be a popular move with the more unscrupulous pet shops whose main interest is the sale of and not the welfare of the animals on their premises. I believe that pet shops themselves should be subject to tighter regulations.Here in Spain, I always try to avoid them for that reason. It's just too upsetting to see the animals receiving inadequate care.
Another possibility is education in schools, if children were taught to respect all animal life and that pets are a big responsibility, maybe things would gradually improve.
Some people are cruel when they think they are being kind, I have a friend in England whose daughter rescued a very large snake, I think it's a Boa constrictor. Last I heard, it's in excess of 10 feet long! She,s feeding it correctly and keeps it clean, but it lives in a not very big glass tank, she has small children and other pets, so does not get let out very often. I know little about snakes, but feel sure that this is not ideal, surely they need to be able to stretch out from time to time?
On a lighter note, we once had a small tortoise arrive in our garden in England. He was delightful, so we kept him after being unable to trace the owner, we named him Houdini, he had one mission in life, escape! He always ended up in a neighbors garden eating the vegetables she was trying to grow, this became very embarrassing, so we finally gave him to another family who had other tortoises and knew a great deal more about keeping them than we did! As far as I know he's still there.
Human nature being what it is, I think the only solution is legislation to stop anyone being able to buy this type of animal unless they are able to show that they are aware of and able to meet the needs of these creatures. This could take the form of a requirement to research the subject and then provide evidence that they have, including a visit to the reptile house at a local zoo to see the living conditions that they provide. This would obviously not be a popular move with the more unscrupulous pet shops whose main interest is the sale of and not the welfare of the animals on their premises. I believe that pet shops themselves should be subject to tighter regulations.Here in Spain, I always try to avoid them for that reason. It's just too upsetting to see the animals receiving inadequate care.
Another possibility is education in schools, if children were taught to respect all animal life and that pets are a big responsibility, maybe things would gradually improve.
Some people are cruel when they think they are being kind, I have a friend in England whose daughter rescued a very large snake, I think it's a Boa constrictor. Last I heard, it's in excess of 10 feet long! She,s feeding it correctly and keeps it clean, but it lives in a not very big glass tank, she has small children and other pets, so does not get let out very often. I know little about snakes, but feel sure that this is not ideal, surely they need to be able to stretch out from time to time?
On a lighter note, we once had a small tortoise arrive in our garden in England. He was delightful, so we kept him after being unable to trace the owner, we named him Houdini, he had one mission in life, escape! He always ended up in a neighbors garden eating the vegetables she was trying to grow, this became very embarrassing, so we finally gave him to another family who had other tortoises and knew a great deal more about keeping them than we did! As far as I know he's still there.
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M$
Well now with some education I could handle a tortoise as a pet as that’s not too much different then the turtles we used to find back home as children. We left the snappers alone though!
I remember the turtles never were much of a problem to care for and they were so much fun to watch. On warm days, we would take ours outside and place them in a kiddie’s pool. The pool would have a few inches of water in it but also some rocks piled in the center so the turtles could climb out of the water and sunbathe. It was fun watching them swim around. When we were done enjoying them they went back into the aquarium so they would not wander into the road.
Having a tortoise that could walk around out in the yard would be awesome, they would enjoy the small water pool I am planning to put in. The pool will not be deep, its just for looks and a few koi.
I remember the turtles never were much of a problem to care for and they were so much fun to watch. On warm days, we would take ours outside and place them in a kiddie’s pool. The pool would have a few inches of water in it but also some rocks piled in the center so the turtles could climb out of the water and sunbathe. It was fun watching them swim around. When we were done enjoying them they went back into the aquarium so they would not wander into the road.
Having a tortoise that could walk around out in the yard would be awesome, they would enjoy the small water pool I am planning to put in. The pool will not be deep, its just for looks and a few koi.
images:
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M$
They are certainly very impressive, I'll take a look at your guys, I think it would take me a while to get used to them, but you never know. I do think that they are very interesting, what kind of of characters do they have? BTW, what are your thoughts on those guys who jump into rivers in South America and wrestle Anacondas? I think they must be crazy!
The tortoises are great, I'd be happy to meet with them any time.
I have the Infamous Nine cats, all but one is rescued and currently 5 dogs (one is a paying guest) 3 of my 4 were rescued off the streets, Spain is not a good place to be a dog! the other is my Chihuahua, Blue, I really love Chihuahuas, for 35 years I've had them as pets.
All the best people are animal mad aren't we?
All your questions are so good I can't resist answering, I'm amazed that more people don't!
Re the snake: when my friend was at her daughters house they had the snake out, Zena was sat drinking a cup of tea, like you do, when to her surprise, her daughter shot across the room just in time to stop a wall unit which was about to come crashing down on Zena from behind the chair she was sitting in!
Said snake had got behind it and pushed, tilting it forward! It just shows the strength of these critturs! At this point I have to confess that there is nothing on earth that would have made me go there and do meet and greet with this guy, even if he was in the glass tank,I would rather meet a lion! ( OK I know the snake would be safer,) it's the way they move, gives me the shudders!
Well, I'm observing my 4 right now. You can see them as babies on my How to Care for Corn Snakes page. (Short video) Snakes, once you get used to them, are beautiful and amazing creatures. I love them. Also tortoises and cats and stuff!!