Turtles and Tortoises for Beginners

Congratulations on your new friend! Here are some tips to make everything go smoothly:

First of all, turtles are reptiles. Reptiles have different needs than dogs, cats, hamster, and other warm blooded companion animals. Reptiles are cold blooded animals. That means they cannot regulate their own body temperature, the way warm blooded animals can. Therefore it's vital that you pay proper attention to your friend's home.

There is an important consideration with your turtle's housing: indoors or out? There are good points to either choice. An outdoor home (if seasonally appropriate) can provide a healthier and more natural environment and that's great for your friend's quality of life. But there are safety risks to an outdoor home - cold, predators, and other threats are very real. Properly set up, an indoor home can be much safer for your friend, but there are important things to think about here as well. The area should be large enough for your turtle to get enough exercise. A sedentary life is not healthy for anyone.


Personally, I prefer a combination of the two types of housing. This provides the greatest benefits coupled with the greatest safety. During the warm months (and warm days in the cold months) all my turtles and tortoises spend most of their time outdoors. Everyone comes indoors at night, and at other times when I'm not able to adequately supervise them.

Do you really want an iguana?

Did you know that iguanas are a relative of the alligator? These creatures are among the exotic animals people tend to "own" as "pets" in modern society. Given this trend, many "pet" iguanas sell at a ridiculously low price. Those who are sold, are usually young, and oftentimes the purchasers have not the first clue about how to take basic care of the animal, much less to give it a happy life.



While an iguana can be a wonderful companion, it's important to never forget that adequate food and medical care are a must. You need to know about the animal - you need to research what they require and make a decision about whether or not you have the potential to be an adequate human companion for an iguana.


There are many species of iguana. Some live in desert areas, while some are found in tropical forests. Most common are are green iguanas, which are native to the tropics. Iguanas are divided into 2 sub-species, but the green iguana is the one we'll deal with here, as that is the most common in the "pet" trade.


Interesting Iguana facts:

• If well cared for, a companion iguana can live more than 20 years!
• The word iguana is derived from a Taino Indian word - iwana. (ee-one-ah)
  
• Green iguanas are not always green. Many adults can be varying shades of brown.
• In the wild, iguanas have been known to sharre nests with alligators.
• Iguanas have a primitive "third eye." They are the only reptiles to have this!
  

If you still want to consider sharing your home with an iguana, it's a good idea to plan at least a few visits to a home that already has an iguana. This will let you see the habitat you will need to provide and get first hand advice from someone with experience.

I'd love to hear about your iguana experiences!