Terrapin Times
The red-eared slider has become a popular aquatic pet
- Published: 9/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Brunch
It took Mol Pratangtane almost seven years to see her miniature pet to full growth, and those years have been full of happiness and enjoyment. Day after day she developed a strong bond with her tiny turtle, a red-eared slider known as tao yee pun (Japanese turtle) in Thai. Her passion for this pet is still intense.
SWIMMERS: Red-eared sliders are popular among pet lovers who want to keep aquatic animals as pets.
"Normally, red-eared sliders grow very slowly. They start getting bigger when they are about two years old. So I had to wait a long time before I could appreciate it when fully developed. My turtle can grow up to a foot [30cm] long. It's worth the wait!" said the turtle lover.
Ms Mol said red-eared sliders are more popular with Japanese people than Thais, however their popularity in Thailand is growing. Due to its long and difficult-to-pronounce name, Thais tend to call the red-eared slider tao yee pun.
At present, it is a common sight to spot red-eared sliders in many pet markets. Though popular, this tiny turtle needs extra attentive care, but sadly only a few keepers realise this.
"I don't want to encourage people to keep tao yee pun if they have no time or basic knowledge about the species. All kinds of pets, whether small or large, need proper care.
"Any minor negligence can lead to an untimely death. So I don't support the idea of pet fashion," she said.
Ms Mol spent several years studying nature and the behaviour of animals before she decided to take on the responsibility of owning a pet that would likely stay with her for the entirety of its life expectancy.
"A red-eared slider is a freshwater turtle. It has a round green shell with patterns that look like wood. When it grows bigger, these patterns disappear and its shell will turn brown. Normally, the male is bigger than the female. Its tail is also longer. Its belly is rather curved and its nails more pint-sized," she explained.
Apart from keeping tao yee pun as a household pet, Ms Mol also engages in turtle breeding. Her pet shop serves as a learning centre where a group of turtle lovers can share and gain new knowledge of the species before adopting it.
"Red-eared slider lovers come in all ages. They like exotic pets. Some of my clients know everything about the turtle. They read a lot of textbooks about them. And we always share knowledge with each other," she said.
But for those who have no background in this species, there are many facts pet owners should know to prevent the abandonment of the animal in the natural environment.
"Red-eared sliders are cute when they are young. But when they grow bigger they will eat more and excrete more. Besides, the colour will not be as attractive as when they are smaller. So some people quit halfway in caring for them and then release them into natural waterways. This is not fair to the animal," she said.
Red-eared sliders are also rather tough and strong. The chance of them surviving in a natural environment is high. These turtles can steal the food source of native turtles, which can lead to their possible extinction.
"Red-eared sliders are suitable for truly responsible people who don't just like to follow a pet fad. These types of people are real animal lovers," she said.
Ms Mol said a one-month-old tao yee pun is the perfect choice for those who want to keep it. It is rather easy to select a healthy one; turtles with no scratches on its shell or belly are the ideal choice. Also, the eyes must not appear swollen.
Ms Mol explained that tao yee pun can be kept separately or in a group, depending on the space available to each pet owner. For those who want to observe its behaviour closely, a fish tank is perfect, which also creates a cosy home for the marine reptile. For easy cleaning, don't line the tank floor with anything except two or three rocks or a small piece of wood on which the turtle can climb up to bask. The water level should be at least 10cm above the tank floor.
"It doesn't like to live in deep water. The level of water should be appropriate to the size of the turtle, just enough so the animal can swim," she suggested.
The fish tank should be placed in a sunny area because basking is a turtle's favourite activity. If the turtles are kept indoors, a light bulb can serve the same purpose.
"Sunlight helps to stimulate the animal's system, which means turtles will grow faster if kept outdoors. More importantly, sunlight can help kill germs, especially fungi living on its shell. Fungi can make the shell rot and the animal could eventually die," she stressed.
By nature, tao yee pun is an omnivorous animal. When young, a red-eared slider eats more meat than vegetables. But as it grows bigger its staple diet is vegetables. If properly treated, red-eared sliders can live up to 30 years.
"In fact, it is somewhat easy to take care of red-eared sliders. Problems only occur if owners have no basic knowledge about the turtle's likes and dislikes, a nutritious diet or the proper environment," she stressed.
Most turtle keepers feed their pets a commercially produced diet, the most suitable choice as it contains all the necessary nutrients for the animal's health and growth. Still, turtle keepers can choose to give their marine pets supplementary food.
As for a young turtle, commercial food can be given alternately with animal meat such as small shrimp, mealworms or earthworms. Never feed a young turtle too much vegetable since it is indigestible.
An adult red-eared slider enjoys eating a wide variety of vegetables, including morning glory, gourd, cabbage or even water hyacinth.
But before feeding a turtle vegetables, keepers must fully clean it for the safety of the animal since most of the vegetables available at the market are contaminated with pesticides, which of course are detrimental to the animal.
"Soak the vegetables in clean water for several hours or even overnight to make sure all hazardous chemicals are eliminated. Many turtle keepers tell me that their turtles die after being fed vegetables. You can keep your animal alive if you pay more attention to what you feed it," she said.
Apart from food, water also plays a vital role in the survival of the animal. Dirty water is a source of germs that can carry countless diseases and harm the turtle.
"The water should be changed from time to time to reduce the accumulation of germs. Or, for convenience, a filter can be installed in the tank to help purify the water," she said.
Apart from proper care, Ms Mol stressed that love and responsibility from turtle keepers are always on the top of the list to keep these marine reptiles happy and healthy.
"Don't adopt any pet if you are not sure that you can take good care of them. All lives are equally precious. Take care of your pet with your heart," she said.
About the author
- Writer: Chompoo Trakullertsathien
- Position: Reporter
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