- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,173
- Location (City and/or State)
- South of Southern California, but not Mexico
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-82549.html
the tread above was regarding systematics on tortoises, and I derailed it somewhat with a reference to "let's Play Barbie" tortoise tables. Some one sought elaboration on what I mean by that, so here goes. . .
As a B-TFO thought, you as a turtle keeper back in the day could buy a small red eared slider for $0.25 to $0.50 at a "five and dime" and for a few dollars more could buy a kidney bean shaped plastic 'tank' for about $2.00 more. Those tanks were not intended for a long term pet, they had a little ramp to an island where the turtle could get out of the water, and a little plastic palm tree for .. I really don't no what the intention was.
It was a toy enclosure for people who sought a toy pet, the cheap red-eared slider.
Today you can still buy plastic tanks and use plastic plants, and that can be an excellent enclosure, for example the water land tubs, by simple definition are plastic tanks, and you can use plastic plants. However they are what I would call an excellent enclosure that you can breed chelonians in.
It's not about the plastic, it's about the life the animal will have in the enclosure. Those little kidney bean pools are Ok for a small aquatic turtles for as long as a week, maybe two, if the microclimate parameters around that small plastic pool are good for the turtle overall. They might even be a fun way to give an animal to someone else who understands the ridiculousness of them, and who will promptly put the turtle(s) in a more proper enclosure.
To me a "let's Play Barbie" tortoise table is not just any tortoise table. It's one that reflects a short term enclosure for someone who is getting the animal as a toy. I did not play with GI Joe's as a kid, my sister had a Barbie doll. so that is the source of the sexist POV. When I worked in a pet shop as a young teen, I saw people buy squirrel monkeys on a whim for $750, only to return them a week later as it "didn't work out". Price of the animal is not a barrier to this toy pet phenomena.
I have seen some folks place images here on TFO, and elsewhere, seeking endorsement for the effort put forth, an enclosure that if they do take care of the animal well, will be an appropriate size for a very short time. These often also include plastic plants (not for the tortoises benefit to hide as a plastic palm tree on a tortoise table just won't do that), little walkways, signs indicating where fido sleeps etc.
It takes alot of effort to put that all together and some look like elaborate museum miniatures of a city or something. I find myself scratching my head wondering what will become of the tortoise, as all that effort is not likely to be put aside in a few months for a larger enclosure. And to replicate a museum exhibit or Barbie House probably is not going to happen again and again. I see 'toy' tortoise when I see that.
I use many plastic containers with the art being high utility and life support, keeping things as clean as possible etc. The animals within outshine the utilitarian set up, they are still interesting to look at.
I see what I am no doubt failing to communicate here with this thread, when I see painted dog toenails. I'm not talking about grooming, I'm talking about dolling up a dog, making it a toy. I do know of very old red eared sliders that started life in a kidney bean shaped tank. Of the tens of millions sold though, it is not a wining average.
Dolling up a tortoise with a table that offers about the same utility as a plastic kidney bean shaped pool is "Let's Play Barbie". It is projecting onto the animal something . . . no point in completing that sentence.
If you get what I mean, then you get it. If you don't I'll try to elaborate even more. If you are offended by this, well "sorry, lets be friends" as Barney says.
I hope this prompts better before buying thinking about the animal and it's needs. Tortoise-on.
the tread above was regarding systematics on tortoises, and I derailed it somewhat with a reference to "let's Play Barbie" tortoise tables. Some one sought elaboration on what I mean by that, so here goes. . .
As a B-TFO thought, you as a turtle keeper back in the day could buy a small red eared slider for $0.25 to $0.50 at a "five and dime" and for a few dollars more could buy a kidney bean shaped plastic 'tank' for about $2.00 more. Those tanks were not intended for a long term pet, they had a little ramp to an island where the turtle could get out of the water, and a little plastic palm tree for .. I really don't no what the intention was.
It was a toy enclosure for people who sought a toy pet, the cheap red-eared slider.
Today you can still buy plastic tanks and use plastic plants, and that can be an excellent enclosure, for example the water land tubs, by simple definition are plastic tanks, and you can use plastic plants. However they are what I would call an excellent enclosure that you can breed chelonians in.
It's not about the plastic, it's about the life the animal will have in the enclosure. Those little kidney bean pools are Ok for a small aquatic turtles for as long as a week, maybe two, if the microclimate parameters around that small plastic pool are good for the turtle overall. They might even be a fun way to give an animal to someone else who understands the ridiculousness of them, and who will promptly put the turtle(s) in a more proper enclosure.
To me a "let's Play Barbie" tortoise table is not just any tortoise table. It's one that reflects a short term enclosure for someone who is getting the animal as a toy. I did not play with GI Joe's as a kid, my sister had a Barbie doll. so that is the source of the sexist POV. When I worked in a pet shop as a young teen, I saw people buy squirrel monkeys on a whim for $750, only to return them a week later as it "didn't work out". Price of the animal is not a barrier to this toy pet phenomena.
I have seen some folks place images here on TFO, and elsewhere, seeking endorsement for the effort put forth, an enclosure that if they do take care of the animal well, will be an appropriate size for a very short time. These often also include plastic plants (not for the tortoises benefit to hide as a plastic palm tree on a tortoise table just won't do that), little walkways, signs indicating where fido sleeps etc.
It takes alot of effort to put that all together and some look like elaborate museum miniatures of a city or something. I find myself scratching my head wondering what will become of the tortoise, as all that effort is not likely to be put aside in a few months for a larger enclosure. And to replicate a museum exhibit or Barbie House probably is not going to happen again and again. I see 'toy' tortoise when I see that.
I use many plastic containers with the art being high utility and life support, keeping things as clean as possible etc. The animals within outshine the utilitarian set up, they are still interesting to look at.
I see what I am no doubt failing to communicate here with this thread, when I see painted dog toenails. I'm not talking about grooming, I'm talking about dolling up a dog, making it a toy. I do know of very old red eared sliders that started life in a kidney bean shaped tank. Of the tens of millions sold though, it is not a wining average.
Dolling up a tortoise with a table that offers about the same utility as a plastic kidney bean shaped pool is "Let's Play Barbie". It is projecting onto the animal something . . . no point in completing that sentence.
If you get what I mean, then you get it. If you don't I'll try to elaborate even more. If you are offended by this, well "sorry, lets be friends" as Barney says.
I hope this prompts better before buying thinking about the animal and it's needs. Tortoise-on.
I want to see the pink flamingoes and the [PALM TREE]
