October, 2020 - By Koaw
I had the pleasure of being invited down to Southern Virginia to meet Ty “The Snakeman” Smith and meet his animals. He is a wildlife expert and he rescues animals, including turtles.
We went over seven of his turtles species while discussing the pros and cons of keeping each one. The video is packed with helpful experience and knowledge about turtles and caring for these shelled-reptiles!
The Key Points:
Keep wild turtles wild: Finding a turtle out in the wild is always cool! But more than likely it’s not a good idea to take it home. Before taking a turtle out of the wild it’s important to have an in-depth knowledge of that turtle species as well as the local laws concerning that species.
Captive bred species are (more often) best as pets: There are certain turtle species that do really well as pets and are actively sold at pet stores. Wild-caught animals are often packed and shipped in foul conditions where survivability is low; not to mention these harvestings from the wild populations has the potential to disrupt the health of populations and ecosystems. The African side-necked turtle (Pelusios castaneus) is a species of turtle that Ty Smith recommends as a pet, especially for people with limited space and/or have kids.
It’s a big commitment: Ty compares the ownership of a turtle to that of having a dog as a pet. Proper nutrition is essential. It can get expensive consistently providing the right type of foods to a pet turtle. Adequate housing is necessary and it varies on the type of turtle. Aquatic turtles need aquariums with a sufficient amount of water as well as a basking area with the proper lights. Tortoises need plenty of space to walk around and dig.