Turtles are fun and interesting to watch.
When my turtles' tank was set up beside the TV I would
catch myself watching my turtles instead. Although owning
turtles can be a lot of fun, it can be a great a chore
to properly care for them. In the beginning, ownership
is new and exciting. However, after the excitement wears
off, they still need to be cared for.
To help you care for your turtle I have
put together some care sheets (water
or land).
These care sheets include some guidelines to help ensure
that your turtle lives a long healthy happy life. I've
also included a section on first
aid for your turtle. This section consists of tips
on the healing of turtle injuries and sickness, and
preserving the shell after the unfortunate loss of your
turtle.
There are times when you may need the
help of a veterinarian. There are a lot of clinics that
don't treat reptiles, and there are some that do but
aren't knowledgeable about reptile treatment.
The ARAV
(The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians)
is a nonprofit international organization of veterinarians
and herpetologists founded in 1991. Their goal is to
improve reptilian and amphibian veterinary care and
husbandry through education, exchange of ideas and research.
On their site they have a list of members, alphabetical
and by geographical region. The list of their members
is here.
