Habitat - Indoor :: Letting them roam around the house???

[KYLA]

This is really going to seem a stupid question but I have to ask it anyway so try not too laugh too hard at me ok ..... alright, my guys always want out, seems they never want to be in their tank except when they are basking....how long is it safe to leave them out of their tank for?? The house is turtle proof so theres not much they can get into but they could stay out all day if I let them.... what is a safe time frame to let them venture around before going back to the tank????

[Stacey]

I think I remember Old Turtle letting his turts run around in a giant hamster ball, correct me if I'm wrong OT72.

I have too many other animals to let my turtle run in the house, but when the weather is nice I'll take mine outside in the kiddie pool, but I place one of those rubber "welcome" mats on the edge of the pool so he can climb out onto the grass and run around (completely surpervised of course) and he absolutely loves it! Whoever said turtles were slow were wrong

[KYLA]

THats for sure....the female just runs and runs from room to room...its a large loft like appt so there are so stairs to fall down so when Im home and doing things around the house i'll let them out for a while, he just finds a spot under a chair where its dark and goes to sleep...she on the other hand is a little raskle and trys to get in everything and climb everything, she never succeeds so shes never in any trouble but its actually quite funny to watch her try and climb a wall... But when she sees me comming she tried to run b/c she knows its time to go back to the tank...

[jenaero]

I'd have to advise you not to let them roam around the house. No matter how turtle proof you think it is, there are plenty of ways for them to get hurt. Not only that, but when aquatic turtles are out of the water, they scramble trying to find water. Roaming around the house would cause a lot of stress, which can lead to bigger problems like illness. They don't need to get out anyway. It would be a little different if you were talking about a land turtle or tortoise. Please don't do it. Oh, and don't use the hamster ball either...turtles aren't as flexible as hamsters (spine doesn't bend) and they could get hurt, not to mention SUPER stressed.

[tissigirl]

I have had my turtle for 16 years, and I have always let him out when I am cleaning his tank. He absolutely loves it! He usually would beg to get out for a few days after. Now I have to let him out to give him his antibiotic shot everyday. I definately wouldn't suggest it if you have stairs or pets that may bother him. I have 2 cats, but they pretty much act like Mr. Turtle doesn't exist. Actually, if I didn't let him walk around I would have never found out that his leg was hurting him and taken him to the vet. And if I hadn't taken him to the vet I would have never done research on how to better care for him, and would have never found this forum!!

And Stacy you are right....those suckers are fast! LOL

[jenaero]

I'd still say not to do it. If you were giving him regular health checks, you would have caught the leg problem...I pick my guys up every other day just to check their eyes, shells, legs, etc. Keeping them out of the water for any length of time will stress them out.

[tissigirl]

Just picking him up and looking at him would not have shown that his joint had a problem. The only way I knew is by him walking across the room. He didn't act any different on his basking rock.
I also can't give him his shot by just picking him up and putting him back in. He kicks around too much to give him his shot safely. I have to put him down for a few minutes. Once he walks around a bit he calms down and I can give him the shot, and he barely even notices it.

[KYLA]

I dunno my guys are always begging to get out, they climb the walls of the tank to get my attention to let them out...of course I watch them and I have no other animals and sometimes I put the kiddy gate up so i know exactly where they I was told by Ray's Reptiles here that there is no harm in letting them out and play I just didn't know how long they can be out for, cuz if I put them back in they swim at the walls of the tank and climb up it again.... any body else let them out...what do you do... and how long do u usually leave them out for

[marisa]

I have in the past let my turtle roam around when I cleaned his tank, but he always seemed to be getting underfoot. To solve the problem, I did buy a really large hampster ball and would put him in it to keep him safe (and out of my hair) when I was busy. I've read that such balls are sometimes used in rehabilitating turtles. If large enough for the turtle, there isn't really a problem. The ball works fairly well, however, I haven't used it in a while--my turtle would inevitably roll into/against an object that would stop his travels, and it wouldn't always dawn on him to turn in the opposite direction. He usually signaled his frustration by pooping, and if I didn't catch it in time he would eventually get the ball moving again and track the poop inside, making a real mess to clean. He also has really long (beautiful) front claws and once noticed a chip on one of them which I think was the result of getting it caught in one of the air slits in the ball.

I wouldn't let my turtle roam in the house if there were other pets, stairs, or wall-to-wall carpeting (linoleum or hardwood floors are cleaner and easier to clean after a turtle has been on them). But when the weather gets a bit warmer, he will be allowed to roam under my watchful eye outside. It will give him some exercise, not to mention some healthy unfiltered sunlight.

[tissigirl]

If you are going to do it just be very careful and keep a close eye on your turt. I wouldn't recommend it if they are really small. Mine is 16 yrs old, so he can't get lost as easy as if he were still really tiny. Like I said I have 2 cats, but they pay absolutely no attention to him whatsoever. Just be very cautious especially at first until you know how they are going to react.

[KYLA]

Definatly, I watch them all the time, they are between 6-8" so they cant get into anything, but I am careful plus there is only 2 of us in the house so we always know when they are out and where they are plus like I said no pets and nothing to fall down or hide in plus they seem so happy to be out and not in the slightest stressed out But I will make sure I am extra careful.... but thanks for the words of caution!!!

[tissigirl]

Yeah Mr. Turtle never seems stressed out either. He has his favorite spots to climb around, so I always know where to look for him! He likes to hide under things, like a pile of clothes I was getting ready to pack away.

[steve]

mine like to roam around too, though we limit them to one room if we can't provide constant supervision. i don't think it's stressful and they love to explore. just make sure the area is turtle proof and you are extra careful in that room. i have to keep a constant eye out for poop, which can be a huge mess. also, they love to climb everything and my little guy with his long claws climbed up halfway onto my bed once before i saw and grabbed him.

[KYLA]

If im not able to watch them constantly then I put up the kiddy gate so that I know where they are....they must have something with clothing because if there is any shirt or sweater anywhere on the floor, he always finds it right away craws around under it until he finds a comfy spot then just stays there...they seem to each have there favourite spots so its pretty easy to find them but i will be careful, do you have a time limit that you leave htem out for? I just dont know how long they can be away from the tank and water ?

[lydia_lady_fla]

turtles have been lost in peoples homes for weeks even months and found not healthy Im sure so they can survive but my advice would be and this is only educational guessing if its playtime perhaps you let them out certain time of day every time and limit it to 30 min -1 hr. then they can get accustom to a routine just like feeding times are done use this time to clean tank or check tempture etc then send em home I think everything likes schedules and routines so just like people and other pets why should turtles be any diffrent I guess if you do it everyday week ends only every other day once a month what ever is really up to you just try for consistant time including out of the tank.....how long and often are they out now? oh yeah thanks for supervising em