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Dutchtown Animal Hospital

13604 Eads Road

Prairieville, LA 70769 USA

(225) 677-9900

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  • Turtles

Turtles are not easy or low maintenance reptiles. Generally, turtles (including the commonly found red eared sliders) are messy, long-lived, get quite large (so need large housing), and need exposure to ultraviolet light. If you can deal with these factors and commit to caring for a turtle over its long life span, a turtle might be a good pet for you, but by far the most important factor is knowing the proper dietary and environmental needs of the species you choose.

Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles are popular as pets. The most well known is probably the red eared slider, although there are several other species which are kept as pets. Turtles have been popular for a long time. Baby red eared sliders were readily available and inexpensive many years ago, which unfortunately resulted in a lot of neglected turtles. They were often sent home with tiny plastic bowls with a little plastic tree (unfortunately these are still sold with turtles in some places). With no filtration system and no room to grow, these little babies didn't have much chance. In the 1970s, the US government banned the sale of turtles less than 4 inches long, once the connection was made between turtles and Salmonella infections, especially in children. It is not that baby turtles carry more Salmonella than larger ones; it is more of a case of children being more likely to handle the smaller turtles (and/or put them in their mouths!).

Sadly, many turtles are still sold to people who have little idea how much care turtles require, including large tanks, special lighting, good filtration and lots of cleaning. Even worse, they are sometimes given out as prizes at fairs and at other events. All too often aquatic turtles die due to stress and neglect - and sometimes they suffer so much stress, overcrowding and neglect during transport and in shops (and fairs) that even if a new owner provides ideal care the turtles may be so ill they die anyway.

Turtles & Children
Turtles are not ideal pets for children. They are not easy to care for, not great for handling, and in addition they often do harbor Salmonella bacteria which can be passed to the children who don't understand the need for careful hygiene. Many children do not have the interest or ability to provide the amount of care and cleaning that a turtle rightfully requires, so parents must realize the responsibility for care ultimately falls to them if the kids lose interest.

Size & Life Span

Many people also do not realize how big aquatic turtles can get. Red eared sliders and a couple of the other commonly available pet species will grow to at least 10-12 inches long and thus will require correspondingly large enclosures. All turtles have the potential to enjoy a very long life span (i.e. several decades!) if cared for properly.

Housing
Aquatic turtles require fairly elaborate housing. They need regular exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, so pricey bulbs designed for reptiles that produce UVA and UVB light are needed for turtle tanks. Without this light, metabolic bone disease (soft shell syndrome) can result. Turtles are messy, and a good filtration unit will be necessary to help maintain water quality, as will regular cleaning. They should have deep enough water to allow swimming, along with a place to get out of the water to bask (heated from above with a basking light.) In addition, appropriate water and ambient temperatures should be maintained.

Feeding
Although turtle foods have come a long way they are not recommended as a sole source of food for aquatic turtles. Most are omnivores (and preferences for different foods might change at different points in the life cycle), and offering a good variety of foods is the best way to feed most turtles. As a rule, feeding turtles in a separate plastic tub will allow the mess associated with feeding to be contained (turtles are messy eaters, and this will reduce the need for tank cleaning a bit) and allow monitoring of food intake of each turtle if multiple turtles are kept.

If You Choose A Pet Turtle

Having said all that, given the right person and the right commitment turtles make beautiful, fascinating, and enjoyable pets. The first step is to research the species available and the care required by each. While the basics of aquatic turtle care are similar for all species, potential owners need to consult specific care sheets for details on housing, environment and feeding for the species in which they are interested.

For beginners, the hardier turtles are recommended, such as red eared sliders, cooters, and mud and musk turtles, keeping in mind that sliders and cooters will reach a mature length of greater than 12 inches, while mud and musk turtles are about half that size. Map and painted turtles, as well as some of the less common species are a bit less hardy. Softshell and snapping turtles have a reputation for being large, aggressive, and generally more difficult to care for so are not good for beginners.

Beyond providing a proper environment and diet for aquatic turtles, they do not need a lot of attention, although regular interaction may result in a tame and sociable turtle. In any case, they are lovely and if properly cared for should provide years of enjoyment.

  • Red Eared Sliders
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Reptiles, Turtles

    Red eared sliders are semi aquatic turtles that are very commonly kept as pets. Unfortunately, lack of understanding what they require means that many red eared sliders have died from improper care. While they are not overly demanding as pets, many unsuspecting owners have been told that it was fine

    Read more
  • Box Turtles
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Reptiles, Turtles

    North American box turtles are mainly terrestrial turtles, although they do spend some time in shallow water (Asian box turtles tend to be a bit more aquatic). Compared to aquatic turtles such as red eared sliders, they are more challenging and complex pets, and are not the best choice for beginning

    Read more
  • Tortoises
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Reptiles, Turtles

    Tortoises can make an interesting pet, although they can present a challenge, due to their size and dietary habits. Their diets vary based on species, but all need quite a variety of foods, with careful attention paid to the amount of roughage as well as calcium/phosphorus balance. Some species have

    Read more
  • 1
  • We Help Your Pet With
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    I love this place! Our first time taking our beloved Prairie to a Louisiana vet and we were very pleased. Everyone was nice, polite, and helpful. Jennifer W.M. Prairieville, LA

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

7:00 am

8:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am

5:30 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am

5:30 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am

5:30 pm

Friday:

7:00 am

8:00 pm

Saturday:

7:00 am

12:00 pm

Sunday:

Boarding PickUp

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

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Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "The staff is amazing and they go beyond what is expected for my fur babies. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this clinic and everyone from the front desk to the back is simply wonderful."
    D. Rayborn
  • "Super nice people and great service. The staff follows-up and provides a very welcoming feeling."
    D. Stuntz, Prairieville
  • "The vet stayed in our room addressing our concerns thoroughly. We didn't feel rushed and I can tell that the staff really enjoys their jobs. We have switched both of our dogs to Dutchtown now and look forward to working with them in the future."
    T. O'Bannon
  • "Amazing service. The receptionist acted like they loved helping me and loved my animals like their own."
    .
  • "Everyone is so friendly and greets Max like his long lost friend. We are always completely satisfied with all the services provided each and every visit."
    J. Strain, Gonzales
  • "Staff was great and made us feel welcome on our first visit."
    J. Constantin
  • "I have been going to DAH since it opened & I always will! I feel safe bringing my sweet dogs & cat there knowing that they will be taken care of & we will all be treated with respect! I love the staff there especially Dr. Grayson!! Thanks y’all!!"
    Trisitin Murphy
  • "They genuinely care about you and your pet. We all sat on the floor and cried together when we had to put our dog down. Very caring vet."
    K. Kelly
  • "Dr. Grayson saved our kitty's life. She was missing for 6 weeks and was found emaciated, severely dehydrated, and had a damaged liver. She was only a couple of days away from death. Many vets might have thought it was hopeless and recommended putting her down, but not Dr. Grayson. Best of all, we were able to use our Care Credit, which gave us 6 months no interest to pay the bill off. Thank you Dr. Grayson and all the staff at Dutchtown Animal Hospital!!"
    Crystal M. / Prairieville, LA

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