Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have 3 box turtles that we rescued about 2 years ago from different people that had them and were not taking care of them (in plastic tubs filled with water, etc.) 2 female easterns and 1 male three-toed. My son is very interested in reptiles and agreed to care for them. He works (cutting grass) and spent the money to have my husband build 2 outdoor habitats for them (measuring 4'x6' each. The 2 females are together in one and the male is by himself. They have a great place to live, are fed well, have all sorts of hiding places, etc. The problem I have is my 13 yr old son now has lots of other interests and does not have the time or wants to make the time (with school work, etc) to care for them properly. I am doing all the work now. I am torn about finding them a new home. My son use to go and handle them some and take real good care of them, but not much anymore. I am considering trying to find them a new home. Would they adjust well if we found someone that had similar habitats or could take ours apart? It is my understanding that they can not be released back into the wild (we have 8 acres with woods that would have been perfect). I am not the type to make a committment to care for pets and then just get rid of them, but I am considering this. My son is very upset that I am thinking about rehoming them, but I don't want to force him to care for them. Any thoughts on how well they would adjust somewhere else? Maybe I just need to sit him down and make him understand the committment he made when he got them. Anyone else out there with this problem? I really hate to get rid of them, but my schedule is busy too now. Thanks for any input.

Just sit him down and make him understand the committment he made when he got them.
Then have him help you find them a new home. Maybe someone on here could take them were are you located.

If he has loss interest you can't make him refind the interest. But having him help find a new home would let him follow through and both of you would feel better about were they were going.

All we have is rescues, so I know other would take them in also. Best Peeperkeeper

I feel you pain, I have more than I should. Finding good homes is harder than most think or seldom think about which is even worse. Good luck : ) Rusty

Peeperskeeper had good advice. But may I say that many children's interest in their pets wane, only to come back later. If your son has totally lost all desire for animals in general, then yes, he may never regain the desire to keep pets. Find these turtles a loving home. But if he still has some interest, he may yet be a life-long herper, just like so many of us here.

Since he is unhappy about the thought of losing these turtles, I think he is not really ready to give them up, in which case he should be forced to take care of his turtles. How much time does it take to feed the turtles and check up on them a few times a week? It should be his chore and a part of the allowance he gets. Good luck Tess