Be a Hero to the Half Shells

Thursday, 17th August 2023

We will not be selling Turtles for the foreseeable future, especially as there is another â€˜Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesâ€™ movie release.

At Exotic Pets, animal welfare is our number one priority. We refuse to contribute to the number of unwanted turtles in the UK, currently awaiting new homes in rescue centres. They are an invasive species which can affect native wildlife populations and sadly, many abandoned turtles end up dying through the winter.

We understand the appeal

Yes, Turtles look ridiculously cute when they are the size of a 50p piece, but they grow quickly! Commonly kept species can reach anywhere up to 13 inches, weighing over 3kg and have very specific care requirements in order to thrive as pets.

Turtles, for most families, do not make great pets

They cannot be handled as they will readily nip, meaning that most children will lose interest quickly once the novelty has worn off.
They live for an average of 25+ years - these are not disposable pets.
They produce a lot of waste and can be smelly, and are highly sensitive to air fresheners and scented products; the best remedy is keeping the tank spotless.
Water quality is vital, they require a 25% water change on a weekly basis and good filtration to avoid eye infections, shell rot and fungus.
They require a large aquarium with enrichment, not the small cheap plastic pools marketed online.
They require access to heat and good quality UVB lighting to keep shells healthy.
A widely varied omnivorous diet - not just pellets. With vitamin supplements to keep their shells healthy.

Rehoming

We understand that there are people out there who genuinely want a pet Turtle for the right reasons; they can be rewarding pets if given the lives they deserve. If you can provide everything a turtle needs for its entire life and have thoroughly researched every aspect of their care, brilliant! We urge you to contact your local reptile rescue centre and rehome one which has been dumped, neglected or surrendered as sadly, there are hundreds in need of forever homes.