so my boy wants a turtle

awesome, ya have any pic's? And I actually have 3 butterfly bushes in my yard, purple, red and a tricolor would like to see your box he lives in.

 

the issue with turtles is there is a real good chance of catching salmonella, not that there isn't with tortoises but there is far less of a chance with them than turtles.

either way be sure to have you and your son wash your hands after handling them

 

I'll try and get you some pics tonight, it lives in a 40G breeder during the winter, I'll try and get some pics of the box although I have it covered with a tarp to keep the snow out.

 

yeah i'm thinking a tortoise is a much better choice, the last thing i need is another tank to clean

 

Cosmo, my advice is go with the tortoise.....I kept turtles when my boys were young and I definitely was the one that did the most maintenance (seems to always work that way with young kids). They grow quickly if you get them and they are "dirty" to keep and a lot of maintenance to keep the tank clean...makes me shiver remembering cleaning that tank......

 

I had a red eared slider growing up and it was pretty cool. I would do a tortoise though unless like what was said, you have a freshwater tank along with a turtle. Maintenance was bad though, as they are pretty dirty.

It was cool watching my red eared slider hunt his guppies. I had a self sustaining food source for him lol. The guppies would breed and turtle would swim around eating guppies when he felt like it. It was pretty cool.

 

Your going to have another tank to clean regardless which way you go. Tortise crap to you know lol

 

nah, a tortoise would be kept in a caged off area of the floor. luckily, I think the crisis is adverted and we got 2 new critters called degu's the other day, although when we move to florida, I foresee having one there

 

Here in AZ we have Tortoise rescue organizations.

You need a rescue link like a hole in the head, but here you go.

Reptiles & More Rescue Groups < Ohio >

Do not let your kid see the link, or open a zoo.

 

thx cheryl, already have my feelers out locally, I never buy pets, except fish, i can always wait for a rescue and rehome as necessary, hence the new degu's, sure to not last long, but when I do move south, I will have a tortoise