AS I sat down to write this article, I remembered that I had not fed Turto his breakfast, and I proceeded to do so. It was already noon, and there he was, patiently waiting.  His back was turned to me, and as I approached him, he started walking towards me, head outstretched.  He did not say this much, but from his demeanor, it became obvious that he was expecting me earlier.
As I put his meal down, he looked up at me as if to say ‘Thank you’, and then began to ‘dig in’.  I watched him take a few bites, then moved off.
Who am I speaking about?   My pet, Turto, the turtle.  I refer to it as ‘he’ because, from time to time, he has exhibited great fortitude and strength.  I never imagined I could have learned to love a turtle as a pet, and was not very sure that this was acceptable, given the climate and all the environmental regulations involved.  So I looked it up on the Internet, and after satisfying myself that I was not a victim of conservation violations, I could not be stopped.
Turto was found in my son’s farm in Silver City, Wismar, and brought to town in a toy car.  His back is yellow and black; his legs are red and black; and his eyes — not to be missed — are black and white.
When I first saw him, it was not my immediate intention to keep him, but with time and his unimaginable feats, Turto soon earned himself my guardianship.
It’s as if he understands and knows his name: He answers when he is called, and he hears and reacts to even the slightest sound.  Try to restrict Turto to a specific area, and you are wasting your time. So, he has the entire gated backyard to himself.  He swims, shelters under heaps of grass, and moves freely; and just when I thought that was all taken care of,  I happened upon Turto on the front lawns one day, and when he saw me, he wobbled to the back as quickly as he could (just like little children. I even believed he was laughing at me).
I never knew that a turtle could move so quickly. My agile Turto had leapt over the low gate of his gated community and into the yard; leaping over the barrier into the lawn along the concrete path, and into the front of the yard he went — to my utter amazement.
One morning, I found him sleeping under the steps.  He spent a few days there, coming out occasionally to bask in the sunshine.  I love to see him stretched out on his all-fours with an air of contentment.  Sometimes I do not find him for days, then, he suddenly appears.  I have long stopped worrying when I don’t see him, because I understand that he likes to do things his way.
Then, one day, he went into my kitchen garden, and was trying to cross over a concrete drain when he fell in.  I watched Turto as he struggled to come out. He paced the length of the drain several times. He fell on his back trying, but could not.  He detoured, crawled up and down, rested, ate and drank from the drain. He tried every means he had available.  I looked on, making sure he did not hurt himself, and marvelled at his fortitude and endurance.  My granddaughter eventually lifted him out.  She loves him, and with some caution, treats him like her doll.
My Turto has led me to believe that turtles are rather versatile animals, as far as their diet is concerned. The simplest answer to what they eat and drink would be ‘whatever is around them.’ In nature, turtles can turn just about anything edible into a meal; but as a pet, a turtle must be provided the same varied diet they would find in nature. For proteins, turtles will eat just about anything they can catch and subdue. Good examples are insects, like certain spiders and flying insects, besides worms and slugs.
Most turtles prefer to eat in water. This is not only because they feel more at home, but the water aids their oral digestion. Turtles do not produce saliva, so the water acts as a way of breaking food up easier for digestion.
Aquatics are often known to hunt small fish. Minnows, crayfish, goldfish and anything else in the “feeder fish” section of the pet store make tasty, protein-packed turtle treats.
Research has shown that all turtles need a lot of vegetation for essential vitamins and minerals. With the exception of baby turtles, the diet of most adults consists of at least 60% of plant life. Adolescent turtles are mostly carnivorous. It is believed that they stockpile protein for growth production, and shell development.
Most people who own pet turtles feed them a variety of vegetables. These include carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, collard greens, green beans, and most other vegetables. Fruits such as bananas, apples, berries and peaches can make great snacks. These should only be served as treats, due to their high levels of natural sugar. Stick to a high-vegetable diet.
My Turto loves to eat rice and bread; he doesn’t seem to go much for vegetables (carrots, bora and lettuce). So if you are thinking of keeping a pet turtle, here are some of the other things that you may want to take into consideration:
Like many other reptiles and amphibians, turtles are fascinating to children.  However, many people buy turtles based on their ‘novelty factor’, never taking into account the animal’s special needs.  When you purchase a cat or a dog, there are always several costly procedures that must be taken to ensure their good health and longevity  — shots, operations etc., not to mention crates, toys, dog houses, and grooming products.
Turtles aren’t as complicated to care for, but many die in captivity, because they aren’t treated with the same degree of care and attention as their fur-bearing counterparts.  If properly cared for, turtles can live for many decades, but this requires paying close attention to their diets, living arrangements, potty habits, and treatment.
Making sure a turtle has enough room to live in; making sure it has enough light, shade, moisture, clean water, and (depending on where you will house it) a basking lamp are just a few of the steps you need to undertake to keep your pet turtles healthy. I prefer the natural sunshine, which provides with Vitamin D3.
Also, remember to wash your hands after handling your turtles, in order to avoid contamination.  Not all turtles carry salmonella, but it is safer to maintain good hygiene when dealing with pets and their habitats.  This goes for the turtle, too, as you should keep its tank or pen clean, and its water fresh, free of waste. Natural spring water for your turtle’s drinking water and de-chlorinated water for the swimming area is recommended.  You can remove the chlorine from water by letting it sit for 24 hours before putting it in the tank.  Some people argue that using chlorinated water helps prevent deadly bacteria from forming, but it all depends.
Also, steer clear of using tree bark or wood chips in the turtle’s dwelling.  These are fine for rodents, but can cause problems with turtles that may ingest them.  Furthermore, these will get contaminated very quickly, and favour the growth of mold and fungus.
Keep your turtle out of the way, so that small children or other house pets cannot get to it.  Remember to stay attentive to your turtle’s behaviour, and take care of it as you would take care of any other pet.  A turtle is not a novelty item; it is a living being, and it is also intelligent enough to know who its friends and enemies are.  A happy turtle can provide years of enjoyment for your whole family, and is a great way to help teach younger children about responsibilities.
What is the cost and time commitment? One veterinarian advises:
“As a veterinarian, I deal every day with animals of all species, (which) lead an unhappy and miserable life because people get them for all of the wrong reasons, and fail to inform themselves of the needs of that particular animal. Even more unfortunate are the small pocket pets, reptiles, and fish that are often purchased on a whim, bought for a child, or received as a gift.
“These species are often inexpensive and unique, but what people do not realize is that they can often require a much higher level of husbandry and care than a dog or cat. Every year, thousands of these animals end up on the examining table of the veterinarian, dying very premature and miserable deaths because their simplest basic nutritional and housing needs were not met.
“And even more pocket pets never make it to the veterinary clinic, and end up buried in the yard or in the trash. These animals deserve better than that. Turtles and tortoises are very complex organisms, and they have a very specialized set of needs. If turtle owners do not provide these specialized needs, these animals will lead a very poor quality of life, and die premature deaths.
“It always amazes me when I read an expert’s description of a captive species that says it is normal, that it does not breed in captivity, or only lives to a fraction of the normal expected life span it would in the wild. Reproduction and a normal life span are some of the most basic requirements of life; and if these are not being achieved, then we are not even close to providing a suitable and realistic natural environment for that captive species.”
While there are many turtle owners out there who provide an excellent environment for their captive turtles, there are many others who do not. One of the first questions that you have to ask yourself is: Why do I want a turtle or tortoise? While there are many reasons why we take animals as pets, some of them are not very good ones, and completely fail to take the welfare of the animal into account.
Obtaining a turtle or tortoise is a very important decision, and much thought and planning should go into the decision.
Some things to consider before you obtain a tortoise are:
* The initial expense of purchasing a turtle or tortoise is by far the cheapest part of owning a turtle. To properly care for a turtle, you will need to provide appropriate housing, food, vitamins, bedding, temperature, humidity, and veterinary care, which can total thousands of dollars a year. Are you willing to invest that kind of money?
* Turtles can live for a very long time, often 25 years or longer. Are you prepared to care for this animal for its entire life?
* Turtles require clean, fresh water and bedding. Are you prepared to spend time each and every day cleaning and caring for your turtle? I tell owners they should expect to spend at least half an hour each day caring for the turtle.
* When you travel your turtle will still require daily care, and cannot just be left to fend for itself. Will you be able to arrange for its care in such an eventuality?
* Most turtles and tortoises hibernate from 10 to 20 weeks. Are you prepared to provide the correct hibernating environment and care for your turtle?
* To properly care for a turtle or tortoise, you need to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, or insects or mice. Are you ready to deal with the extra work this entails?
Getting a pet is always a very important decision, and one that should be made only when you are aware of what having this pet will entail. The type of turtle, the source of the turtle, and estimates of the time and money it will take to properly care for the turtle are all important considerations.
I keep Turto as a pet because he is positive.  He is fun; he is temperate, strong, full of endurance, a great companion, and full of confidence in himself; and, most of all, he is intelligent.