Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed a couple of posts in response to Ricky that box turtles (and other turtles too) are not pets, but most folks here in the forum have them as a hobby. How does one define "pet"? My turtles don't react to me like my mom's dog responds to people he likes, but the do interact. My aquatics will stop whatever it is they are doing when I get close to their tank, and get as close to the glass from the side I am coming and stick their heads up and/or swim against the glass. My little box turtle doesn't react to me much yet, though, I admit.

But part of having a pet is just enjoying watching them - and this is true with dogs as well. But I enjoy just seeing my box when I take "him" out to feed "him", and I enjoy seeing my aquatics bask up on their rock.

One definition of the word pet is a companion animal...turtles might not fit the traditional description of a companion animal, i.e. one that accompanies you on a walk, or sits on your lap while you're reading, sleeps at the foot of your bed, etc., etc.

I for one have a hard time considering mine to be 'pets' in that sense: after all, I don't even see them for the several months out of the year when they are hibernating.

Oh, and my aquatic take food from my hand when I hold it over them.

I think a "pet" is in the eye of the beholder. I disagree with the idea that a turtle can't be a "pet", but I would say that maybe turtles would not be a good pet for most children, allowing room for the unusually precocious child, one who is
passionate about animals and destined to become another Steve Irwin or Bob Clark.

While I may not relate to my turtles in the way I do my dog or cats, I do feel a connection. But it took my abilities as an adult to research the best way to keep them, to maximize that relationship.

I remember as a child I would occasionally find a box turtle.
I would put in in a cardboard box on the back patio, feed it iceburg lettuce, paint a name on the back on its shell (yes...bad, bad, bad,...I know) and within a few days it would have dug through the cardboard box and escaped.

While I valued that experience, all in all, I didn't feel sad when the turtle left, because there was no meaningful interaction and I think I understood that the turtle would not do well in that sort of situation.

It took being 30 years older, access to the internet and seeing how my inlaw's neighbor had set up a box turtle habitat that led me to look for a more significant experience with a turtle.

I was somewhat a turtle enthusiast as a child, and kept one baby painted and two baby snappers over one winter. I enjoyed watching them back then, as now.

To me they are pets, I don't see what I do as a hobby it's my way of life.
The person I knew who worked at the pet store in 2002 who wanted me to take in the sulcata that we have now moved away 2 years ago to another state.
She had more than a dozen snakes, several turtles, lizards, parrots, fish, cats, dogs, prairie dogs- all kinds of animals and to her they were just live ornaments.
When she moved she got rid of almost all of her animals-even one of the dogs, I could NEVER get rid of my dog because I am moving. I have one of her lizards.
Her reptiles did not have names, they were just specimens in tanks or other types of enclosures.
I'm not saying that how she did things is wrong but I never understood it. I name everything because they are pets & even though they don't keep me company like the dog does, they're still my companions. I interact with each every day, they'll take food from my hands, they know the sound of my voice, they know me by sight... to me that's a pet.
I think it's true what was said before- pet or hobby is in the eye of the beholder.
-----
PHRatz

All of mine have names, too, and certainly their own personalities.

It's a different level of interaction, though, and I think it's an important distinction to make, especially if asked whether or not turtles 'make good pets'. My answer to that question is usually 'not really', simply because many of the people who ask me want something they can keep in a tank in the kids' room and basically forget about.

Many of the active posters here are adults who have the time, interest level, financial wherewithal, patience, and understanding of the commitment level involved in keeping these animals, whether they consider them a 'hobby' or as 'pets'.

I think that turtles are fascinating, but I also take great pride in the knowledge that I can bore most people to tears by expounding on the subject.

>>All of mine have names, too, and certainly their own personalities.
>>

Hobby or pet either way I think that's a good thing to give them a name. You have to ID them one way or another.

>>It's a different level of interaction, though, and I think it's an important distinction to make, especially if asked whether or not turtles 'make good pets'. My answer to that question is usually 'not really', simply because many of the people who ask me want something they can keep in a tank in the kids' room and basically forget about.

Steph I agree with you on that. I don't tell people just willy nilly that turtles make good pets.
It does depend on who asks & why they ask. If they're looking for a pet toy for the kids then no they aren't good pets.
If they are adults who have a real interest & want to learn about them & if what you want in a pet is one that doesn't want to interact with you like a dog does, then yes they can be good pets.
Yes the level of interaction with my turtles compared to my dog is very different but they are what they are, we have to accept each species for what it is then go from there.
-----
PHRatz

PHRatz your animals fall under a passion not a pet or a hobby. Even though I don't know you I always enjoy reading your post.

I think a hobbist enjoys the animal in their enviroment or try to make a enviroment as close to nature as they can. Where a pet is in the enviroment of the people.

Interesting perspective!

I tend to think of hobbists as people who breed animals. I haven't got to that point yet. But keeping my turtles/tort as pets is a hobby of mine.

I think interesting to hear everyone's oppinion of how they veiw their own people/turtle iteraction/relationship and everyone's view is the correct one, but I don't think that was the original poster's point. The think the point was that a well intentioned yet novice person taking a wild animal in and trying to make a domestic pet out of it rarely has a positive outcome for the people or the turtle. The point was right on, the rest is oppinions and language. I hope this doesn't offend any persons and if you think about it I think you will just smile and say it's true; I think the male turtle people focus on the point and the female turtle people focus on the feelings and the language. And yah, my wife agrees with me. lol

My turtles are my pets. The act of keeping and breeding them is my hobby. I am passionate about turtles...I have been since I saw the very first one.

>>PHRatz your animals fall under a passion not a pet or a hobby. Even though I don't know you I always enjoy reading your post.
>>
>>I think a hobbist enjoys the animal in their enviroment or try to make a enviroment as close to nature as they can. Where a pet is in the enviroment of the people.
>>

Thank you for the kind words.
I read this a couple of days ago, got tied up & didn't get back until now but I pondered it for a while. I think you've got me pegged.. it is a passion.
I agree with other statements I've read on this today, it is very interesting to see the different opinions on this subject. I haven't seen anything that I find right or wrong, just different opinions.

As for it being about feelings with female keepers, for me that's true. I suppose that's why I never could understand the woman who had all the reptiles without naming them.
She & I are very different women, she's still a tomboy even though she has a husband & now a little girl, she's a tomboy who just doesn't like feminine things. No make-up, doesn't do her hair, doesn't care what she wears.
When I found out they were having a baby I thought OMG wouldn't it be hilarious if they had a little girl & then the little girl likes dolls and ribbons/bows, pink clothes and ya know.... the baby isn't old enough yet but my my won't life be interesting for my old pal if that's how the baby girl turns out. LOL
-----
PHRatz

>>she's a tomboy who just doesn't like feminine things. No make-up, doesn't do her hair, doesn't care what she wears.
When I found out they were having a baby I thought OMG wouldn't it be hilarious if they had a little girl & then the little girl likes dolls and ribbons/bows, pink clothes and ya know...
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

I don't know where the rest of my post went.... but this is what it was supposed to say after the quote!

HEY!! When did you meet me and my family?? (makeup?? we got makeup??) I go for a hike in the woods and find a bunch of maggots under a log. I quickly scoop them up and bring them home as a treat for all my critters. Our oldest daughter however, would have to first do her hair, makeup, and clothes, then would refuse to go in the woods for fear of finding something "icky"!
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

>>HEY!! When did you meet me and my family?? (makeup?? we got makeup??) I go for a hike in the woods and find a bunch of maggots under a log. I quickly scoop them up and bring them home as a treat for all my critters. Our oldest daughter however, would have to first do her hair, makeup, and clothes, then would refuse to go in the woods for fear of finding something "icky"!

LOL now that's funny right there.
I tend to not go anywhere without having first done my hair, makeup, & nails but I'm also a jeans & T-shirt person & I'll scarf up that something icky if I think my turtles would like it.
I guess I'm kinda somewhere in the middle lol.
-----
PHRatz

i agree.