First Time Turtle Owner: Three Signs To Help You Avoid Buying An Unhealthy Pet Turtle
Article by David Anders
For the first time turtle buyer choosing a pet turtle may not be such an easy task. once you’ve decided what species you want and make your way to the pet store you will want to make sure that the turtle you buy is healthy and not in anyway hampered in health.
Here are three important signs you should be on the look out for when your deciding on which turtle to choose.
1)Look for signs of a poor nutrition.
If the eyes of the turtle is not clear and bright or the turtles eyes are pasted shut this is a sign of poor nutrition and is a problem you as a turtle owner won’t want to have, so avoid these kind of turtles when trying to select your ideal pet turtle.
2) Make sure that the turtle is breathing properly and does not have any respiratory problems.
The best way to check for this is to look closely at the nose and mouth of the turtle. If there are fluid bubbles or dripping coming from the nose or if there is any wheezing while the turtle breathes then it is very likely that they have a respiratory infection and you should not take on caring for such a turtle as a pet. Without the right kind of care the chances of a turtle with these symptoms living a long life is very slim.
3) Examine the turtles shell condition.
Carefully examine the turtles shell and skin, look for any patches and parts where the scutes or scales are missing or possibly wrinkled. If you see anything like this it is often a sure fire sign that the turtle might have had a burn or scar injury. These types of injuries to the scutes easily become infected and can later become a big problem. A turtles shell should always be hard and solid, if the shell moves when you press down on it or feels very thin then it is very likely that this turtle has had a poor diet which has prevented them from develping a strong shell.In order to help the turtle develope a stronger shell a professional or experienced turtle owner may be needed.
About the Author
I Hope you enjoyed this article and it was helpful. To find out more about pet turtle care and how to look after your pet turtle once you’ve brought them home visit
