My 4 y/o daughter wants a turtle?

A turtle can be a great pet for a child, as long as you are willing to take all the responsibility for it. A child can not handle the responsibility of a turtle, let alone a 4 year old. We have 8 shelled friends in our house 6 aquatics and 2 tortoises. We also have 2 kids a 5 and 6 year old. When we got the first 3 turtles my girl was 3 and my son just turning 4.

True turtles can be carriers of salmonella (like many other animals) but if you take proper precautions, she should be fine. Wash hands after touching anything that has to do with the turtle, including the turtle you will need to make sure she cleans them thoroughly since she is so young. Keep a locking lid on the cage. (accidents happen when kids wake up first), keep cage clean, no drinking the turtle water, and no putting the turtle in one's mouth.

Yes they live a very long time with proper care. Expect 20-40 years for a healthy aquatic, longer for a healthy box turtle or tortoise. There are many species of turtles, too many to list here!

Cost depends on species and where you get it. Feed and care also depend on species. All have different requirements.

You need to decide if you want a box turtle or a water turtle. Or a tortoise. There are advantages and disadvantages to all. I'll summarize what you need for both:

Box Turtles

Advantages are they don't need a water heater, water filter or large glass aquarium. They do however need a large enclosure or outside pen. They need high humidity and a constant temp in their enclosure. They eat mostly fresh vegies and some proteins like live insects. They don't get real big, most get to be around 6 inches. Here are some care sheets on box turtles:

http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RM...

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Terrapenecare.htm

http://aboxturtle.com/

http://plato.phy.ohiou.edu/~mash/herp/boxturtlefaq...

http://www.boxturtlesite.info/

Water Turtles

Advantages are they don't need as much fresh food, pellets are the staple of their diet and it is easier to regulate the temp in their tank. They are more hardy and easier to care for then box turtles. Most water turtles get to be 6 to 13 inches big. The smallest water turtles you can get are Musks and Muds most of which get to be 3 to 4 inches. Maps also are a little smaller then Red Eared Sliders and Painted. Disadvantage some like RES can aggressive and have a mean bite for kids and adults alike.

Here are some care sheets for water turtles:

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/bcwaterturtles.ht...

http://www.turtletopia.com/care/musk/muskcare.shtm...

http://www.turtletopia.com/care/redear/redearcare....

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/

Tortoises-Advantages are they don't need a water heater, water filter or large glass aquarium. They do however need a large enclosure or outside pen. Some need high humidity and a constant temp in their enclosure. They eat mostly fresh veggies, grasses, weeds, flowers and some species will need proteins like live insects.

http://tortoisetrust.org/

http://russiantortoise.org/

http://www.chelonia.org/care.htm

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheets.h...

All turtles need the proper lighting. They need both UVB/UVA lighting and a heat lamp.

I'm not sure if a turtle would be right for a 4 year old as a pet. They are more of a look at animal rather than a play with me animal, and from personal experience they don't hold fascination for a super long time. If your daughter knows and understands this, though, and you are prepared for the responsibility I'd say go ahead and get one. It depends on what type of turtle you get to how hard it is to maintain. Water turtles are harder at the upkeep because their water gets dirty and has to be changed frequently, plus they tend to have an odor. I would suggest a box turtle or a tortoise, and with them you have the option of building a nice outdoor enclosure that can double as a garden area or keeping them indoors. They are safe for children as long as appropriate measures are taken. They do run a risk of carrying Samonella but that is usually for wild caught turtles or turtles kept in dirty enclosures (the problem came from people buying baby res turtles for little kids and the kids putting them in their mouths). If your child washes their hands after handling the turtle you should not have any issue with this. It depends on the child, when it comes to the saftey of the turtle. I've heard about tons of kids having them as pets and interacting with them fine, my 4 siblings and I had a painted turtle growing up and never had any issues with it. If your child is old enough to understand what behavior is appropriate when it comes to the turtle and you monitor their interactions you should be fine. Turtles do live a long time, if kept in appropriate conditions they live 30+ years. There are a variety of types you can look at, your best bet would be doing google searches on turtle breeds, box turtle breeds, and tortoise breeds. I would probably stick to a small tortoise like the Russian if I were you; they do not get to big, are one of the easier turtles to care for, and are one of the more sociable turtles. Turtles are not cheap. For a land turtle or tortoise you are looking at at least $400 for the intitial set up. For a box turtle/tortoise there are a couple basic reqirements:

Cage

UVB/UVA bulb

Substrate

Water Dish

Food Dish

Heat bulb

Food

Thermometer/Hydrometer

ahaha your four year old daughter wants a turtle? thats cute:) and no, she will not harm the turtle in any way, unless she SQUEEZES it :K and they are safe for children unless you get those HUGE ones some of them bite. Sometimes they can live a LONG time with great care about up to 25 or so yrs? There are MANY MANY types. Here are some that you might be interested in:

RES- red eared sliders grow up to 11 or 12 inches wide, can live more than 25 yrs, loves to swim!! active during the day.

Painted Turtle- lives to be about 20 yrs old, active durin the day

Spotted Turtle- grow up to about 5 inches / like to swim

Box Turtle- lives between 30 and 40 years. eats both platns and meat.

there are a bunch more but you can check those out later=P One should cost no more than $25 or ish for Red eared sliders. Im not sure for the other ones though. To feed it, and take care of it, you should buy some treats, such as krill, or shrimp or worms. Those are for treats, these are for food and meals : strawverries, bananas, a food brand called ReptoMin.

You'll need a large tank which costs around 50-400ish dollars. You need to add water!!!:)

you should check out a book called

"CARING FOR YOUR TURTLE"

from the Weigl Publishers INC.

im reading it now^^

hope this helps^^

my journey from turtles has been all of those i bought from a puppy save have had serious shell subject concerns while bought decrease than 4 inches. that's unlawful in some states. i stay the place there's a river and that i've got caught turtles there my comprehensive existence and any length have grown quicker, more suitable and greater healthy than any i bought. so, in case you purchase a turtle purchase one over 4 in and be sure it sounds as though particularly particularly healthful its problematical to hold a turtle returned and not utilising a herpatologist and not all vets particularly understand plenty approximately reptiles in case you could capture one or understand somebody who am i able to could adivce you capture one , it may desire to be unlawful yet no person particularly cares. additionally bear in techniques turtles very in maximum cases carry salmonilla and that's why turtles decrease than 4in are unlawful because of the fact little ones can and could placed them of their mouth. be sure you wash your arms and your daughter's arms whenever you manage the turtle. do your learn on cage set ups, and warmth policies and weight loss plan. alot of turtles will consume the pellets yet in addition they savor stay fish.

Turtles, especially aquatic turtles, are very difficult to maintain to a healthy adulthood. They can live many decades (20-40 years is an average lifespan). Also, many states do not allow the sale of turtles under 4 inches, because many people do not realize that turtles can grow to be much bigger (a red earred slider, which is the most common turtle seen in a pet store, can grow up to 12 inches in length!).

Finally, the CDC is concerned about turtles as pets for children. Turtles are known to carry salmonella and many children contract salmonella from them because the children will handle the turtle and then put their hands in their mouths.

I would not recommend a turtle for a child that young.

All reptiles carry salmonella. (turtles included)

There are around 74,000 cases of Salmonellosis per year (in usa) that are associated with exposure to reptiles or amphibians (direct or indirect). Children under 5 at the largest risk.

Infact, small turtle sales are forbiddin under USA law simply because it's the most common reptile pet that small children would want and parents would give them. ( Public Health Service Act (section 361, 58 Stat. 703)

Reason: "The ban applies to small turtles (under 4 inch carapace length) because these are most likely to be held for sale as children's pets, and the purpose of the ban is to protect children from turtle-born salmonellosis"

The CDC says: (Center for Disease Control, USA)

"Reptiles or amphibians should not be kept in homes with children younger than 5, or with anyone who is immunocompromised for any reason. Likewise, children under 5 and immunocompromised people should avoid contact (direct or indirect) with reptiles or amphibians, and child care centers should not house these animals"

They are not safe for children, even indirect contact can be unsafe for a small child, where the child never even touches it. It's just not worth it for a child that young, their immune systems can't handle a lot of this bacteria.

It can be fine with an older child, if precautions are taken.

(Indirect is something like you touching reptile, you then touching child -- or, you touching a table, child touching same table, child touches mouth -- or anything from that enclosure touching something the child can touch, and then touch mouth)

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This is serious. If you don't think my answer is best, that's fine, but please talk to your doctor first and not take some answers here as the answer, that young of a child, indirect contact can be dangerous. Hell, there are FEDERAL laws about it, simply cause kids liike turtles. Risk not worth it.

Definitely steer away from aquatic turtles. I love them but they are a lot of work and really quite messy. Lotsa turtle poop! I don't think a 4-year-old should be handling turtles. Perhaps you could steer her towards an aquatic frog like African Dwarf Frogs. They're fun to watch, can't be handled and can live in an aquarium quite nicely if you do some research first. That's true of any committment to an animal. Do lots of research as to the pros and cons and what is best for a small child.

If she really wants a turtle i would go with the box variety, they are generally more expensive but much more child friendly. I would put them in nothing smaller than a 40gal terrerium which is about...36"x18". with a reptibark or reptile carpet bedding... i prefer repti bark because it provides them something to dig in which is instinctive to them. ..then you will want to furnish the cage with log hideouts and a big enough water dish that they can get in (remember to get a bowl that they can easily climb out of). Aside from having the right substrate, water dish and some place to hide from the heat. as far as lighting goes you will want to get a uvb and uva light the uvb provides nutrients they normally get from the sun and the uva provides heat. The whole thing can get really pricey but they are much more worth it and their diets are alot let intensive than that of a water turtle and best of all... no water changes!!! if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Aquatic turtles are by no means sweat free maintenace. Easiness is in the eye of the beholder. They do poop a lot, especially after you clean the aquarium. They require a large aquarium, heavy duty filter, super stable basking spot, UVA/UVB lighting, also a source of heat from light. Oh yeah, they need to be fed too. They do carry salmonela. If you do get one don't put it in the childs room, or yours. (It will smell!). Also, inforce washing hands, put a bottle of purrel by the tank. Always watch her when she is handling, and remember, you will be cleaning the tank.

Turtles have recently given many children salmonella. don't buy a turtle, buy a snake. snakes rule and are really easy to maintain. try a corn snake. they don't bite, are GREAT with children and are really sweet and docile. buy a CORN SNAKE but get everything set up and read a lot about them first. they rule for first snakes. check out this site it gives a lot of books on corns!!!