Queensburgh pet owner shares the real 411 on keeping turtles as pets
While the turtles uShaka have agreed to foster before they are returned to the ocean might be very cute, a Queensburgh animal lover, who has rescued some freshwater turtles, warns that they are far more difficult to look after than many who might see them as potential pets are aware.
TURTLES might look very cute, especially when they are hatchlings, but keeping them as pets is a tricky, costly exercise for pet owners as Anlie MacDonald of Queensburgh is quick to point out.
With the news of the hatchlings at uShaka spreading along with photos of the cute little logger-head turtles, which landed at King Shaka International Airport after having been found stranded at various locations along the Cape Coast, many people might well be thinking turtles would make cute pets.
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However, unlike the uShaka Sea World, which is fortunate enough to have a specialised world-class turtle rehabilitation facility, and is positioned along the warm Indian Ocean, many people are not equipped to home turtles.
According to a statement released by uShaka last week, the 50 little turtle hatchlings will spend their pre-release period in Durban.
This is to make space at the Two Ocean’s Aquarium for more stranded hatchling turtles requiring care.
“All 50 of the turtles would have hatched sometime during this last hatchling season between January and March,” explained Stephen Brown, speaking on behalf of uShaka.
“After making their way into the ocean, hatchlings head out until they reach the Agulhas Current which takes them on a journey southwards and then outwards and upwards into the Indian Ocean Basin.
“The strong onshore winds recently experienced in the Cape meant these little turtles did not head outwards and upwards, but rather into the cold coastal Cape waters where they are unable to survive.”
Look out for hatchlings
Brown added that although hatchling rehabilitation times vary and are case dependent, their convalescence is usually much shorter than older turtles as they are merely in need of rest, rehydration and nourishment before once again heading off on their ocean journey.
“These 50 precious VIP’s that each weigh no more than 150g and can fit into the palm of your hand, are all Loggerhead turtles. If all goes well these little Loggerheads will be back in the ocean before winter.”
While it may be tempting to keep a hatchling you find on the beach, senior aquarist, Malini Pather, advised against this but also advised against simply putting it back into the sea.
“If you find a turtle hatchling on the beach please do not put it back into the sea as it is clearly in trouble. Rather pick it up and keep it dry, out of the wind and direct sunlight and place it, if possible, in a tub on a piece of dry towel,” she said.
“As soon as you are able, please call uShaka Sea World Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on 031 328 8222 (24 hours),” she said.
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Animal rescuer, Anlie MacDonald, echoed the advice given by Pather.
“While the turtles they are dealing with at uShaka are sea turtles, the ones I have are freshwater ones.”
Turtles cost money
While MacDonald has rescued abandoned freshwater turtles she agreed that uShaka is the best place to contact if you find a hatchling on the beach.
“Contact uShaka because to raise a turtle, you have to have the correct habitat and know exactly what they eat, the correct temperature of the water and keep them clean when they hibernate. It is very hard work and takes a lot of dedication to keep a turtle,” she said.
MacDonald said that people often underestimate what is involved when they take on a turtle as a pet.
“When I got our first turtle it was the size of a matchbox and three years later it is about 20cm in diameter so you cannot keep a turtle in a tank for the rest of its life unless it is in a very big tank.”
She also cautioned that keeping turtles can be a very costly exercise.
“Well our pond cost us about R5 000 to build,” said MacDonald, “The food for the two I have cost me about R1 000 a month and then there is also the work of changing the pond water once a month. You have to be very dedicated to look after turtles.”
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