Her best friend gave her a turtle. She carefully brought it home, and fussed over that darn turtle like it was a baby. Was the water the right temperature? Was the warming lamp properly positioned? She adjusted the small rocks for optimum turtle-happiness. The turtle didn’t say much, but he (she) (it?) seemed content enough.
All in all, a good birthday.
We returned home from running some errands to find Pete’s little body in the living room, right near the entry. WTF? We have a dog and a puppy, but there are gates up that show no sign of being knocked over, and the little terrarium was intact on the kitchen counter - not moved, knocked over, or anything.
Our 11 YO son found the turtle first, and my husband put Pete in his pocket. Anyhow, it goes without saying that a trip to the pet store will be taken first thing tomorrow to find a Pete-looking turtle.
That is odd. Was the turtle big enough to climb out of the terrarium (assuming there was no lid on, of course)? Maybe he climbed on some of the stuff in it like a ladder and toppled out. Still odd, though.
My dad used to bring home big turtles he found while working (little smaller than dinner plate). We’d put them in our basement (unfinished), give them some lettuce and put them in the woods a few days later. They never moved around much.
If I were to get an aquarium pet, I’d get a little turtle. Turtles are cute. And they’re normally not psycho like other aquarium pets (hamsters - freaky). But I don’t like cleaning up poop, so I am not a pet person.
My cousin got a turtle just last year from the pet store-unfortunately, something must have happened with the little guy, because he died a few months ago.
The official statement was that he died during an escape attempt.
I’d be careful buying Neo-Pete from the same shop as the last one. They might think that you’re part of a turtle-fighting ring. Especially if you put the razor-spurs on his hind legs.
It occurs to me that the turtle might actually still be alive. Turtles are cold-blooded, and will stop moving entirely if they get too cold. If you put it back in the terrarium where it’s still warm, and it might start moving again.
This is a big if, of course, and depends on a lot of things - the biggest one being, “How cold is it near your entryway?”
Having raised a few turtles, they can, and do climb out of their tanks. I came home and found my last turtle high centered on the corner edge of his tank with all four feet air flapping. He’s pushed the aquarium cover aside to get out. He now lives in a friend’s water garden in Mississippi. Moral, don’t put anything near an edge where Pete can reach the top.