# Pete & Repeat were walking on a log. Pete fell off - who was left? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809 "2006-04-08T01:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/1 "2006-04-08T01:43:20Z")
Not Pete, that’s for sure. OK, today is our DD’s birthday. She is 17. Yay! 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. Sheesh. I feel bad. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/2 "2006-04-08T02:27:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/3 "2006-04-08T02:58:10Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/4 "2006-04-08T04:31:27Z")
This is the very reason why you need to have their wings clipped. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/5 "2006-04-08T04:36:27Z")
Have them de-clawed, too, while you’re at it. I know; many say it is cruel, but think what they can do to your leather sofa. ---
**Author:** ![the\_only\_bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b2d939/32.png) [@the\_only\_bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_only_bunny)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/6 "2006-04-08T05:35:40Z")
Did you hear the one about the interrupti ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/7 "2006-04-08T06:53:43Z")
> [@Seven](#): > > This is the very reason why you need to have their wings clipped. :eek: _Koopa Paratroopas!_ ---
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/8 "2006-04-08T15:39:12Z")
> [@the only bunny](#): > > Did you hear the one about the interrupti LOL By the way, I like your user name. DH is out now, looking for a Repeat to replace Pete. Pete had freckles and blond hair, so hopefully the new turtle will look just the same. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/9 "2006-04-08T16:26:18Z")
Any idea what kind of turtle it was? and how big? I have lots of turtle expertise, so might be able to give some advice. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/10 "2006-04-09T00:02:04Z")
I am so going to hell for laughing at this thread… ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/11 "2006-04-09T01:02:40Z")
You might also want a shock collars that goes off when he barks. You can also find them with a remote trigger. Use it to give them a little zap when they jump up on guests or try to hump the cats leg. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/12 "2006-04-09T01:09:56Z")
> [@purple haze](#): > > 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. Elementary dear Watson. The turtle was pushed. Clearly opportunity existed. What we need to determine now is motive… Suddenly I’m remembering snippets of every Sherlock Holmes story I ever read. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/13 "2006-04-09T01:11:29Z")
> [@movingfinger](#): > > Have them de-clawed, too, while you’re at it. But leave their back claws, so they can still climb trees to escape predators. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/14 "2006-04-09T17:02:13Z")
> [@](#): > > We returned home from running some errands to find Pete’s little body in the living room, right near the entry. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/15 "2006-04-10T00:29:40Z")
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?” ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/16 "2006-04-10T02:14:50Z")
Now you’ll just have to physically restrain yourself from parroting “Re-Pete” everytime (new?) Pete is addressed by his first name. -foxy ---
**Author:** ![spiritturtle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@spiritturtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiritturtle)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-repeat-were-walking-on-a-log-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/351809/17 "2006-04-10T14:44:44Z")
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.