Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:45 pm
This is NOT urgent care, so be prepared for a mod to move it.
Yes, it is safe to let them walk around as long as you turtle proof and your turtles are over 4". Any animals (such as dogs) need to be locked away in another room. All stairs must be blocked off. If you have shaggy carpet, they cannot be allowed on it as their claws will get trapped and they can tear them off. It is recommended that they are kept on a tiled or hard surface so you can easily wipe up after them. They must be dried off and preferably rinsed (and then dried off) to avoid cross-contamination. Remember that there is always a Salmonella concern anywhere that the turtle has been, so if you have small children or other animals, whole surfaces should be disinfected. And everything must be turtle proofed. They will eat anything they can find, including house plants. They can climb very high and fall just as far.
Without purchasing additional equipment, they are limited to their aquarium. You can set up an indoor pond-style area with a place to roam (with no access from small children or other animals) or build an above-tank basking area to give them more room. However, remember that RES and other aquatic turtles are, well, aquatic and most comfortable living the life of a fish. Yes, they are perfectly happy, it's just your human nature telling you that they can't be!
JAX
- - -
Baby Boy - January 9th, 2011! (3 months old)
1 RES - 7" long - Umi (3.5 years old)
1 black lab/hound mix - Josie (1.5 year old)
2 cats - Mysti and Molly (6.5 years old)
