A Pet Turtle: The Red Eyed Slider

My daughter, Caroline, has a pet turtle, a red eyed slider called Snapper. I dread the words “We’re going out of town for a few days. Can you take care of Snapper?” I have to say yes because she and her husband have done me a lot of favors and she’s my daughter. But anyone who thinks taking care of a pet turtle is easy had better think again.

Snapper started her life as a pet turtle with one of Caroline’s friends who gave into her children’s begging and bought the turtle at a small fair. Very quickly she learned that pet turtles are high maintenance and not a pet suitable for children, or most adults for that matter. Caroline got Snapper when she was about 3 inches long. The law requires pet turtles be at least 4 inches when sold because baby turtles often get sick in pet stores and carry salmonellae that they give to children. Snapper is now 13 inches long and about 6 inches across and is thriving.