- Joined
- May 26, 2011
- Messages
- 12
Just curious why it is so hard to keep a baby tortoise?
Eweezyfosheezy said:Well it depends on the species of tortoise. But most babies really aren't that hard to take care of at all given the right setup. Any type of tortoise you are specifically talking about?
Kristina said:Sometimes, even if you do everything right, babies die anyway. I have seen it countless times and it has happened to me. In the wild it is called natural selection. In captivity, it is heartbreaking to watch a hatchling fail. If you get an older tortoise, you know that it is already healthy and established. It is ultimately your decision to get what you want, but personally I don't think that any first time tortoise owner should ever get a baby. There is a lot that goes into tortoise care that comes from experience.
Terry Allan Hall said:Kristina said:Sometimes, even if you do everything right, babies die anyway. I have seen it countless times and it has happened to me. In the wild it is called natural selection. In captivity, it is heartbreaking to watch a hatchling fail. If you get an older tortoise, you know that it is already healthy and established. It is ultimately your decision to get what you want, but personally I don't think that any first time tortoise owner should ever get a baby. There is a lot that goes into tortoise care that comes from experience.
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What Kristina said.
Kristina said:Sometimes, even if you do everything right, babies die anyway. I have seen it countless times and it has happened to me. In the wild it is called natural selection. In captivity, it is heartbreaking to watch a hatchling fail. If you get an older tortoise, you know that it is already healthy and established. It is ultimately your decision to get what you want, but personally I don't think that any first time tortoise owner should ever get a baby. There is a lot that goes into tortoise care that comes from experience.
Madkins007 said:A lot of people think that reptile pets are generally as easy as something like a goldfish. Get a tank, add some stuff on the bottom, toss in some food from a storebought jar, and you are done.
LOL! I KNEW I was going to hit on this. Every animal I have researched the care on has always turned out to be harder than I thought, and the 'typical' way definitely shortens the lifespan.Kristina said:Madkins007 said:A lot of people think that reptile pets are generally as easy as something like a goldfish. Get a tank, add some stuff on the bottom, toss in some food from a storebought jar, and you are done.
The truth is that not even goldfish are that simple. Sure, you might keep one for a year, two, maybe three like that, but they will never live their potential 25+ years of age, or potential full size.
Sorry, but I hate when people say goldfish are easy. I know for sure that they don't have a 15" long fantail that is 6 years old, or a 12" long one that is 10 years old. I on the other hand, do.