Baby turtles make great pets if handled properly. Everything you need to know about them is contained in this article.

Baby turtles - Facts

1. Description:

   Baby turtle are very small, sometimes only about two inches. They have a carapace, or hard shell, that is their "home".

2. Varieties:

   Some popular types of baby turtles are red-eared sliders, map turtles, painted turtles, and pond turtles.

3. History:

   Acquiring baby turtles became a craze in the 1970's when many parents decided it was a good idea to get baby turtles for pets. Most of these pets were the young red-eared sliders. Unfortunately, people were not educated as to the risk of Salmonella bacteria, and many children became ill. The U.S. decided to make it illegal to sell a turtle with a carapace of less than four inches. Now, there is a resurgence of interest in baby turtles, and you need to be careful and do your research. It is not illegal to own a baby turtle or to give one away, but it is illegal to sell them.

4. Physical Traits:

   A turtle's shell is actually its ribs that are joined together with a thin layer of skin over it. It has "plates" that grow at the edges to allow for the turtle to grow and keep the same shell.

5. Other Defining Characteristics:

   Most characteristics will change between different types of turtles. You will need to research which one you will want.

6. Habitat:

   Most turtles are both water and land animals.

Baby turtles - Concerns

1. Benefits:

   There is a great accomplishment in raising a turtle from a baby. It is a very difficult and demanding job, but well worth the effort.

2. Liabilities:

   They are very difficult to raise, and most die within a year. You need to do your homework and be prepared to do what it takes to care for baby turtles.

3. Health Issues:

   Baby turtles require a lot of care. If they do not get the care they need, they will get sick and die. Many baby turtles will die in their first year in captivity.

4. Specific Care Needs:

5. Reaction to Children and other Pets:

   Baby turtles and children do not mix! The risk of Salmonella is too high. It is especially risky with young children, who always want to put their hands in their mouth, and a child is not above putting the baby turtle in his/her mouth.

6. Special Household Needs:

   You need a special home for your new pet.

Baby turtles - How to Choose

1. What to Look for:

   You should look for a turtle close to home. Baby turtles do not travel well and over fifty percent will not survive a long trip.

2. Supplies:

   You will need to research this particular kind of turtle so you can acquire the proper supplies.

3. Expense:

   Raising a turtle from a baby can be an expensive endeavor.