Other Turtle Discussion :: Is it okay to let your turtle on the floor?

[ellman605]

Thats not the best idea if you read the replies above. If you want to let them explore, i would bring them outside on a warm day, providing you have a place for them to completely submerge in water and make sure they have some shade. The inside floor just isn't the best place to do something like that.

[SpotsMama]

Although, if you read some of the other replies above, some turtles love to get out and explore around the house. It totally depends on the turtle and the setup whether it's a good idea or not. You have to watch them every minute of the time and where ever they are they have to be safe from any dogs, cats, babies, etc. The little turtles are too nervous to enjoy being let out - they would just find it stressful - but the bigger ones often respond very well. Some turtles have more extroverted natures and enjoy exploring and some are more shy all their lives and never really get into it.

[Rocky YBS]

i bring my turts outside on the grass in my yard.
my turts love it!
exploring in the lovelly warm sun, in the bushes, next to trees, digging.ect.
i think my turts would love to get out and about, instead of being in that tank all the time.
all that space, turf, terrictory to just sunbath in.
turtles can stay out of the water for allmost 9hours, depending on size.
i let mine out for about 1-2hours

[octpusgirl8]

I put my turtle on the floor once to see if he would like it, he hid in his shell for about 5 mins then ran and wedged himself under the couch. So, i don't think he was into it. However, he really enjoys outside time, he never hides, he runs all over the yard. So i'm going to stick to supervised outside time when it's nice out.

[SpotsMama]

That sounds perfect.

When I take my turtle outside, he walks around for a few minutes then heads to the back door and crawls into the den! He prefers to be inside!

[DavidY]

ha ha, we're experiencing flooding here right now! I wish it were warmer, I could let my turtles swim around the backyard!

[SpotsMama]

Siince your flood waters are probably snow melt, I guess your turtles would rather be inside too!

I hope you're not in any danger. Are you able to get out and about? Any threat to property?

[DavidY]

Thanks SpotsMama. My basement flooded just a little but I got it cleaned up quickly. I sunk an automatic sump pump on one side of the basement last year (because of previous major flooding) and that worked really well. I just need to sink another one on the other side of the basement and I'll be all set.

I live across the street from a major river but it is still several hundre yards away and probably 30 feet below us in elevation so our house is fine. Others in the area have not been so fortunate though. They've evacuated a few areas because of the rising river and street flooding. The heavy rain has finally stopped, but the rivers will continue to rise for a while due to runoff (and snow melt).

Thanks for asking!

[kornygerm]

i let mine too, they like to wander around..Under my supervision, cause they can hide somewhere or someone could step on them!.the only thing i dont like is the stuff it gets on their plastron.

[SpotsMama]

korny, if they pick up stuff on their plastron, be sure and rinse them off before you put them back in the tank.

[myrtle1123]

Thanks everyone for your advice! Once and a while I dry off Myrtle and put her on a old face cloth on my bed. She likes to run around for a muintue then I put her back in her tank. I can't wait for summer when I get to bring her outside

[industrial_girl_2000]

I was on vacation last week and had a friend of mine feeding Sheba & the rest of the kids while I was away. He told me that Sheba would beg constantly to be let out every time he came over. She made all sorts of noise, splashed, & clanged against the side of the tank with her shell.

Sheba does not respond well to being cooped up in her tank while I am on vacation. I honestly believe that she thinks she is *ENTITLED* to get out anytime she pleases and woe to the person who doesn't do what she wants. ::sigh:: I have been well-trained to let her out on occasion to explore the house. I didn't burden my friend with that task while I was away, & Sheba was a little miffed at me when I came back from vacation....! If turtles had a shoulder, she gave me a cold one!