carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Another totally un-Supra thing from me, but you guys are a pretty good selection of society with generally decent intelligence, so I'll ask away.. We have a turtle, or a tortoise.. (it's the one that goes under water), and I feel really sorry for it. This poor thing lives in a glass box probably 50cmx35cmx45cm (LxWxH), about a third full of water with an artificial log type thing that he climbs up onto so he can sunbathe under the flourescant lamp. What a life. Livin' in a box. So I pop the lid of the box maybe once a day and drop in some of these food pellet things ("Floating Fish Food Sticks"), and that's about it. Every time I feed him I think "poor Toby" I just think it's a really miserable existance. I feel the same about a lot of caged birds, and I know you can't just let them out because they can't survive outside over here, but people shouldn't buy them in the first place then there'd be no market for them. Amanda's had this turtle for a while and says she bought it from the pet shop because the shop owner had it and didn't really know what to do with it or where it was from/type/anything. Anyway, what would you do? My gran & grandad have a good sized pond in their back garden which has mainly goldfish in it, some really quite large. Should I think about moving him into there? Would he kill all the fish? At least he'd be able to climb out to the top although he'd still be covered by the netting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Here he is: http://www.css-networks.com/toby/1.jpg http://www.css-networks.com/toby/2.jpg http://www.css-networks.com/toby/3.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I doubt he/she would survive in the pond because i think your tank is heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Errr - he looks plenty happy to me, and the tank looks fine for him. I think this is your problem, not his!!! Google brought up a lot of good info for keeping turtles happy: http://happyturtle.ms11.net/setup.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 I doubt he/she would survive in the pond because i think your tank is heated. It is. hmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 He wouldn't survive in the pond for long, hope you find a good solution coz you seem like a really decent fella:thumbs: maybe get a much bigger tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edd_t Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 bigger tank and a friend would probably be a good idea. he wont survive outside, being a reptile he needs to be kept warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 A pond would be too cold for it in Britain - they're cold blooded so they need to sunbathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 I was thinking of a bigger tank. He used to have about half the level of water he's in now, no pump or heater and nothing else, just the light. He was kept in the back room where nobody goes and one day the house absolutely wreaked, like really bad So I made us sort him out. We put stones in there, gravel whatever it's called, pump, heater, artificial plants and this log thing, but just lately I've been thinking he can't moved around much. You hear him clonking and half the time it looks like he's trying to swim through the glass. I took all the gravel out so that he'd be easier to clean, but then he couldn't climb aboard his log, so I sawed that down to make it lower, and took most of the artificial plants out so he has a bit more room, but I still think it's too small. What I'd really like is a big tank with a special drainplug / tap in the bottom so it's really easy to clean out. If left for more than a week or so now it'll start smelling bad. I use a syphoning thing and it's really good for emptying the tank but when the gravel was there there'd be stuff you couldn't clean out underneath it. I've googled but can't find any tanks with drain taps in the bottom of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Errr - he looks plenty happy to me, and the tank looks fine for him. I think this is your problem, not his!!! Google brought up a lot of good info for keeping turtles happy: http://happyturtle.ms11.net/setup.html Thanks for the link. I did read parts of a site like this before we went out for the heater and logs and stuff, but this looks like a good thorough site, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 A partner would be super. We'd need a big tank then though and we'd need to find out what sort of partner is compatible with him. That's assuming we're right about him being a he Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_y3k Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 isn't it a terrapin if it likes the water ? an old friend used to have a cpl when we were kids, andthey did have a massive tank which seemed far to big, but they were quite active. good at biting as well though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Mini TV? Mobile Phone? PS3? IT'S A TURTLE! IT'S WHAT THEY DO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamer Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Maybe a flat in Knightsbridge and a weekly visit from an escort would brighten up his life a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Mini TV? Mobile Phone? PS3? IT'S A TURTLE! IT'S WHAT THEY DO! They're not meant to be kept in boxes are they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 i had some they grew huge and are hard to maintain so i gave them away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Maybe a flat in Knightsbridge and a weekly visit from an escort would brighten up his life a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 bigger tank and a friend would probably be a good idea I think bigger tank = bigger turtle? Isn't it a thing that they stay a certain size in relation to their environment? or maybe I dreamt that. Just don't leave any copies of Cannibal Holocaust lying around (contains a fairly nasty turtle death) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbonut Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 It always saddens me to see wild creatures, not bred for domestic life couped up in cramped spaces, awfully cruel. In terms of space in relation to size, what would you want for yourself in comparison??? Think of its natural habitat, limitless space and lots of other turtles/terrapins He's living a lonely, isolated and cramped life. Imagine yourself stuck in a tiny single room with no company It would be better to take him to a zoo where they have breeding programmes and expert advice on how they should be looked after, and he/she would have plenty of space, an ideal environment and lots of friends with a choice of mates. Bear in mind that some of these creatures are also endangered species. Probably not what you want to hear but just my 2p worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 It always saddens me to see wild creatures, not bred for domestic life couped up in cramped spaces, awfully cruel. In terms of space in relation to size, what would you want for yourself in comparison??? Think of its natural habitat, limitless space and lots of other turtles/terrapins He's living a lonely, isolated and cramped life. Imagine yourself stuck in a tiny single room with no company It would be better to take him to a zoo where they have breeding programmes and expert advice on how they should be looked after, and he/she would have plenty of space, an ideal environment and lots of friends with a choice of mates. Bear in mind that some of these creatures are also endangered species. Probably not what you want to hear but just my 2p worth They were my thoughts exactly, hence asking. I didn't think of a zoo though. Thanks for the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 What a life. Livin' in a box. I want to come back as a turtle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Chester Zoo have lots of reptiles, and they have an adoption thing, but that's where you adopt a pet, sort of like sponsoring a pet like you do with undernourished Kenyan babies and things. Anyway I've emailed them. Hi. We have a turtle. My girlfriend bought it from the pet shop before I met her. I think it’s cruel for him to live in a glass box all his life, but I’m not sure what to do. I’m told my grandma’s pond, although large and full of life, will be too cold for it. So, I’m wondering if you take animals in from the public? We could adopt it i.e. pay the £50/year thing but you guys give it a nice life. What do you think? Thanks, Carl p.s. some pictures of Toby attached. Here's hoping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I'm not sure that zoos can do that sort of thing, but the RSPCA should be able to help. Very nice email though, and I'm sure you'll get a response. Good luck with re-homing Toby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I'm gonna miss that little guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 I've had a reply, stating that the lady has forwarded my details onto the relevant department, who will be able to advise if this is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.