untsmurf wrote:I agree that you should try showing the caresheet to your parents, that might convince them of your turtle's needs.
And, to clarify, other reptiles and 'fluffy kittens and puppies' are a responsibility as well, not just turtles
For now, you can try and make a basking area for your turtles, it might be cheaper than buying one. I've seen people using pvc pipe to made a stand, then placing something like a tile on top. Individual tiles usually only cost a dollar or two (maybe less if you don't care what it looks like) and pvc pipe is only $1-2 a piece.
You might also stack bricks along the side until its just above the water level. It might take away from swimming space for now and it might not be pretty, but it will allow your turtle to dry off completely. Just watch your turtle's shell to make sure it doesn't get scratched (if it does, you can put some of that no-slip shelf liner stuff down, it's really cheap)
Of course cats and dogs are a responsibility, it's just that most people who have not worked with exotic pets a long time, tend to think higher of cats and dogs, the super easy pets, than they do the not so easy pets like turtles. All a cat really needs is some toys, a litter box, food and attention. Yay, you have a pet cat. You don't even need to know common sense about wild animals to take care of a cat. (I've also lived with cats for 22 years).
I think some people tend to be so accustomed to the simple care needs of the fluffies, that they are surprised when a turtle needs more than a tank and some lettuce. Seems to me sometimes, a particular generation, believes turtles only eat lettuce (like my mother). I still don't know quite how turtles began to get so heavily compared to fish, especially since they have nothing in common besides living in water.
