Turtles are exotic animals that take a lot of time and money to look after and they live for a very long time. They are not the most cuddly of animals as they do not like to be handled or touched and are happy just being by themselves and being left alone most of the time. However, if you decide to get a turtle as a pet, then you have to do your research so as to find the species that is best as a pet and best for your household. The best species of turtles to purchase as pets are the Red Eared Sliders, the Box Turtle, the Painted turtle, the Map Turtle and the Mud Turtle. Each of these turtles has specific needs with respect to their habitat, their diet, the temperature that they need to live and be healthy in captivity. Turtles tend to be prone to diseases such as salmonella and soft shell and owners need to be vigilant so that themselves and their turtles will remain in good health by regularly cleaning the turtle’s habitat and washing their hands before and after touching them. Additionally, the turtle should be taken to the exotic animal veterinarian if they have a fungus, respiratory disease, swollen eyes and any of the other conditions that are common in turtles.
