what's your advice/solution to silly question

[jojodesca]

I have another question...hear me out....you know those hamster balls? I was wondering if it would not be cruel to put a turtle in one..I wanted to let my turtle roam around the house, but not go under furniture. I don't know if this is plausible..or cruel, I just wanted to know if anyone had heard of it..could it work if the inside was modified with some grip strips or padding? I wont try it unless i knew it was safe...or do you know if they make turtle balls?


I am however planning to make a turtle playpen....where they can roam around but not wander away....

 

[dmarcus]

I would be worried if they decided to stop walking and the ball kept rolling, Im sure that wouldn't go so well...

 

[jojodesca]

I would be worried if they decided to stop walking and the ball kept rolling, Im sure that wouldn't go so well...

That is true..I didn't think of that..turtles can be fast and the momentum might make to ball go...I need to get these turts some exercise..I saw the Grounds crew out spraying pesticide around the Apartment.. However I was told months back by the management that they are "pesticide free"..It's a good thing when I took Ninja out i just let her roam around on a blanket in the grass...now I wont risk taking them out in the grass...(If i was an inventor I would fashion some sort of turtle treadmill)...

 

[dmmj]

I would imagine a turtle would not do well in one. Traction issues aside, I would imagine a turtle would just not be able to use one like a hamster, hamsters are more flexible. I would not use one personally.

 

[ascott]

If i was an inventor I would fashion some sort of turtle treadmill)...

How about your bathtub? maybe put a touch of warm water in there (just enough to keep the bottom from being cold and not too deep) and let her go to town running round? Also, she would get a dip in

I would be worried if they decided to stop walking and the ball kept rolling, Im sure that wouldn't go so well...

Totally agree

 

[dmmj]

My box turtles do like a nice shower in the bathtub, it does waste water, but they really enjoy it.

 

[Tom]

I wouldn't put a hamster OR a tortoise in one of those.

The play pen sounds like a much better idea.

 

[dmarcus]

My box turtles do like a nice shower in the bathtub, it does waste water, but they really enjoy it.

Mine do also, they love swimming in the tub and just floating in the water...

 

[pryncesssc]

That's a good idea to let them run in the tub ! Maybe ill try that in the summer , although I was going to get a crummy plastic kid pool and all some substrate for some supervised fun in the sun !

 

[jojodesca]

My box turtles do like a nice shower in the bathtub, it does waste water, but they really enjoy it.

Mine do also, they love swimming in the tub and just floating in the water...

Really?..I heard box turtle could not swim...I only allow them to sit is water that barely rises over the top of their plastron...just enough to drink and poop.....how much water can i put in the tub?

 

[dmmj]

Box turtles do swim, they just are not as good swimmers as water turtles. IMHO if you have a box turtle pen, a little wading pool for them is a great idea, just make sure they can get out of it easily.

 

[dmarcus]

Mine enjoy it, I will try and see if I still have a video of mine swimming. May have been on my old phone...

 

[Tccarolina]

Box turtles can swim on the surface, or walk on the bottom. Once they let their air out, they will sink, and have to walk out. The only danger is if they cannot climb the sides from the bottom, like in a plastic-lined pond. They can hold their breath for a very long time, and have been known to even hibernate at the bottom of ponds. Of course, if there is no way back to the surface, they will eventually drown.
I've observed my eastern, Molly, spend a half hour underwater at the bottom of the pond scavaging for worms. Others have spent hours at the bottom, and I don't believe they came up for air all day. It used to scare me, and I would fish them out.

 

[jojodesca]

found this on youtube...NOT MY TURTLE...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZJvki8Qo4g&feature=player_embedded#![hr]
this one too...btw there are hundreds of them


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12NwFYwEgWg

 

[terryo]

I would never put mine in a hamster ball. I think it is cruel and stressful for them. We should be trying to make everything as natural as we possibly can for them. I rarely handle mine and they are still friendly and come up to me when I am in the turtle garden looking for a worm or a piece of fruit.

 

[jojodesca]

I would never put mine in a hamster ball. I think it is cruel and stressful for them. We should be trying to make everything as natural as we possibly can for them. I rarely handle mine and they are still friendly and come up to me when I am in the turtle garden looking for a worm or a piece of fruit.

That is what I was worried about..that it was cruel....I dont think I would do it...I am just going to get something that they can roam around in inside and put it in my livingroom, for exercise..since I dont want them outside with the pesticides I saw the grounds keepers spraying...

 

[turtlemann2]

i wouldnt do it : ( id rather a big ol blue kiddie pool : ), i let the water go maybe two inches up as long as they can put there head out of water is fine, ive seen them swim before on youtube but id error on the side of caution