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Photo by Chuck Cook, The Times-Pikayune

September 7, 8:38 PMLittle Rock Animal Care ExaminerLeslie Ray

If you've been canoeing in late spring or early summer, you may have come across a clutch of baby red slider turtles in the rivers and lakes. Later in the summer, suburban and rural residents alike are bound to see turtles crossing the road. And, in both cases, when children see a turtle, they ask the inevitable question, "Can we keep it?" Turtles are adorable, no doubt. But,
should you allow your children to keep them as pets?

The turtles we most commonly see in the U.S. can be divided into two groups: aquatic and land turtles. Of these, the most popular are red-eared sliders (aquatic), and box turtles (land). Red-eared sliders are native to the following states: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. (They have been found in non-native states on occasion.) There are four subspecies of box turtles in the United States: Florida, Gulf Coast, Three-Toed, and Eastern. The Florida box turtle lives in the peninsula of Florida. The Gulf Coast box turtle ranges from the panhandle of Florida westward along the gulf coast to eastern Texas. The Three-Toed box
turtle lives in the Mississippi River Valley from northern Missouri southward across southeastern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma into south-central Texas, and southeastward across western Tennessee and Georgia to the coastal lowlands. And finally, the Eastern box turtle covers the largest area, lives from Michigan and Maine in the north, and ranges south to the boundaries of the other subspecies.

Photo From Panoramio.com

Red-eared sliders have been popular pets for many years, and they are relatively easy to keep, provided one knows something about their care. Still, it isn't a good idea to take these little beauties from the wild. They are best left in their natural habitat.

 There are breeders of captive turtles in the U.S., and some pet stores carry these. They are a much better option as a pet than a wild-caught turtle. Furthermore, when you purchase a turtle from either a captive breeder or a pet store, they can give you instructions for their care.

Box turtles are not as readily kept as red-eared sliders, but they can be kept as pets, as well. Captive breeders will have a variety of box turtle subspecies available, some non-native. It is advisable to choose a native subspecies. If non-native box turtles should escape into the wild, they may survive, and their presence can harm the ecosystem.

Both red-eared sliders and box turtles have varied diets. That is, they are omnivores. They eat insects, worms, plants, vegetables, and fruit. The diet of the Red-Eared Slider tends to change as they grow older. They will eat less protein matter and more plant matter.

It's important to provide an environment that resembles the turtle's natural habitat. Aquatic turtles will require water to immerse themselves in, and rocks or a sandy/loamy area to rest on. Box turtles will require an enclosure with mostly earth and plants, but they will need easy access to water for drinking and soaking. (Box turtles, like many other amphibians and reptiles, will hydrate themselves by soaking in water.)

If the idea of having a turtle sounds appealing, and you've done your research into their care, then you will find them to be fascinating pets. They may not require as much interaction as a dog or a cat, but they still require considerable attention to their diet and other necessities.

When allowing a child to keep a turtle as a pet, it is important to teach the child to wash his or her hands thoroughly after handling the turtle. Turtles sometimes carry Salmonella, which can cause a disease called Salmonellosis in humans. While Salmonellosis can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and even death, the good news is that it can be prevented by washing hands well with soap and water.

For more info: 
http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/
spotlight_an_turtles.htm,
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/aquaticturtles/f
/feedingturtles.htm,
http://www.boxturtlesite.info/diet.html,
http://nationalzoo.si.edu
/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts
/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm,
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs
/reptilesturtles/a/aquaticturtles.htm