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| | | When selecting a turtle for a pet, the first consideration is its home -- will it be wet or dry? Turtles are mainly aquatic and tortoises live on dry land. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Common aquatic pets include the Eastern Painted turtle which has red and yellow stripes and olive or black shells. Priced around $15, they reach 5-10 inches in length and live between 15-25 years. Red-eared sliders live 30-70 years and cost $7 -$18.
- Dry-land species include the small box turtle which grows 5-6 inches long and runs $30 -$75. They regularly live 30-40 years, while some have been known to reach 100. Russian Tortoises cost $75 -$95. Young Sulcata tortoises cost $50 -$75, and mature to around 2.5 feet in length and up to 110 pounds. On the higher end, the spur thigh tortoise costs about $150 and the Leopard tortoise costs around $250.
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| What should be included: | |
| Additional costs: | - Aquatic setup: A tank, heater and filtration unit can run $400 -$700. Red-eared sliders need a large aquarium filled with water 1 and a half times deeper than the turtle's width. A full-grown slider will need a 55-72-gallon tank for around $100, a UV spotlight for $20 -$30, a large flat river rock for about $30, a water heater for $20 -$30, a water pump for around $20, an aquatic filter for $20 -$50 and aquarium gravel which runs $14 for a 25-pound bag. An aquarium stand designed to keep the turtles up off the floor runs about $50.
- Dry set up: Dry tanks cost $150 -$200 and include a UV light for $20 -$30. The Tortoise Trust maintains an online guide to caring for a box turtle. A water dish large (around $10)must be available all the times. Indoor terrariums must be misted daily to maintain humidity.
- Turtles require a combination of animal protein, vegetables and commercial turtle feed. Typically, turtles are fed 3-4 times a week with some fruits and vegetables at an average cost of $20 -$40 a month. Add $25 per year for pellets or 50-cents a day for cat food. Vitamin supplements run about $10 per year. Live food costs around $20 per year.
- An initial veterinarian check up will cost about $120. Typical annual veterinary visits run $20 -$80. Expect to spend $100 -$200 for any treatment requiring lab tests.
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| Shopping for a turtle: | - TurtleHomes.org helps place turtles and tortoises and provides an onlineadoption application.
- Turtles may be purchased online at several stores which include overnight shipping.
- Petsmart sells red-eared sliders. Check the store locator, then call for price and availability.
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Article updated September 2007 |
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