Why Is Having A Water Turtle As A Pet Complicated?
Having a water turtle as a pet is tricky. Not only because of the care it requires, but also because most species are invasive or abandoned animals.
invasive species
Invasive alien species are allochthonous animals that cause damage to the new ecosystems they arrive at. This phenomenon started to become more common with the opening of several maritime trade routes around the world.
In the 20th century, this phenomenon grew even more, thanks to the habit of domesticating exotic species. There are numerous examples of this habit, such as Kramer’s parrot, raccoon and some species of American pond turtles.
The water turtle as a pet
Water turtles as pets are very popular. As they are small when young, low cost and require little responsibility, many people think about acquiring one of these reptiles.
Animals like the red ear turtle have a long life expectancy, reaching 30 years of life. Furthermore, they can reach up to 40 centimeters in size. In other words, they can hardly be kept in the small terrariums we buy for these animals.
And we must emphasize that, as they get older, the risks of transmitting salmonellosis increase. The domestication of water turtles poses dangers to public health. Outbreaks of the infection have been reported in countries like the United States.
This, added to the difficult management, both in terms of nutrition and environmental conditions required by the red ear turtle. All of this makes these animals more likely to visit the vet when they are raised by inexperienced people. Because of this, it is common for owners to decide for abandonment.
The consequences of having a water turtle as a pet
The abandonment of pets is not something exclusive to these turtles, although most animals born in captivity do not survive rejection. In the case of pond turtles, they not only survive but do so successfully that they endanger our ecosystems.
For this reason, the capture of invasive species is done to reduce and control their populations in the wild. These animals can be kept in captivity as long as they are bred before the current legislation enters into force. Thus, their capture currently results in their being placed in specialized centers or, unfortunately, in sacrifice.
Therefore, it is good to remember the great responsibility of having a water turtle as a pet. Or any other species, whether exotic or domestic. In the case of certain species, abandonment is a problem for both nature and groups of animals.
Can I have a water turtle as a pet?
Despite all that, a water turtle as a pet can live up to our expectations and there are many cool species. Just take into account all the aspects mentioned in this text.
Finally, we need to consider the costs of veterinarian visits and specialized feeding. If you are a responsible person, having a water turtle as a pet might not be a bad idea.
