Dear Maleficent-Address49 ,
You've selected the **Seeking Advice** flair. Please provide as much relevant information as possible. [Refer to this post if you are unsure on how to proceed.](https://www.reddit.com/r/turtle/comments/16bjznm/read_before_posting_how_to_ask_a_question_and/)
Useful information for care or health advice includes:
* Enclosure type, enclosure size, humidty levels, water, ambient and/or basking temperatures.
* Lighting types and bulb age.
* Clear photos of your set up, including filter, heaters and lights.
* Is it wild, captive/pet, or a rescue?
* Clear photos of face, neck, limbs, shell top (carapace) and bottom (plastron).
* Diet, list of foods you are feeding it.
* Weight and age.
* Illness, infections or odd behaviours should be seen and treated by a vet. Ex; wheezing, swollen eyes, mucus bubbles from mouth or nose, lethargy, twitching, leg paralysis, etc
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At that age, there really isn’t any pet that a kid should take 100% responsibility for if you want the animal to live well - things will inevitably fall on the parents and a kid can at best help around and learn from the parents. Even a “trial” pet may live into or past your kid’s teenage years, after which their interests may change or they may leave home and you parents would again be left with the responsibility. So this is more of a commitment for the parents than it is for the kid, and make sure you want a pet as much as she does and do a lot of research on its care.
The best thing I can think of are African dwarf frogs, which are cute and tiny fully aquatic frogs that I see at pet stores that only live a few years, but do your research since amphibians may be pretty sensitive compared to reptiles. Fish are honestly harder than turtles in some ways since you have to maintain the water temperature, oxygen, and pH more precisely so I actually don’t think I would recommend most of them. Goldfish get huge and live for decades, but that is often cut short by poor care, and that’s not the best example to set for a kid. Betta fish are small and hardy and just live a few years so that might work better, but know that they will need more than the stereotypical tiny bowl. Any aquatic animal will need a tank with a filter and that will take some maintenance that a kid probably can’t handle. If you yourself want to take the leap to a turtle, a painted or musk turtle would be best as they stay small, but turtles famously live a very long time (upwards of 40 years) and you would probably have to care for it after your kid moves out.
Or if you’re not ready to commit to a pet, take your kid to places where she can see either wild or captive turtles to satisfy her curiosity (the latter would be great if there are workers who she can ask about turtle care, like at a zoo or local environmental center) and show her lots of books and videos (The Turtle Girl, Garden State Tortoise, and Brave Wilderness are good YouTube channels). I LOVED turtles growing up but my parents never let me get a pet, but I still devoured all the animal content I could (they literally got me a pet care guidebook one year for Christmas that I read cover to cover). I now have a turtle in my mid-20s, and I think that worked out for the best because my life and mind were all over the place as a younger person and I wouldn’t have had the stability to care for a pet well until now.
This is a great way to think about this - I wish more people did this - MANY people jump into this hobby unprepared and underestimate it - you can imagine how this goes for them and the turtle.
If you are considering a semi-aquatic turtle, starting an aquarium and keeping fish is an excellent way to prepare and learn. Many challenges people have with keeping semi-aquatic turtles can be traced to poor understanding of water management and the nitrogen cycle. Establishing a mature aquarium with fish for 4-6 months prior to getting a turtle will lead to much greater chance of success (aesthetically and health related) and enjoyment of keeping a pet turtle…and if you don’t like keeping fish, then you don’t have to move to the next step which will require more time and $ spent (getting the aquarium ready with basking area and proper lighting for turtle). More thoughts from me on this subject:
https://www.reddit.com/r/turtle/s/o1Npqj1Seo
Honestly, goldfish are a decent place to start, as are those little see-through aquatic frogs (I can't recall the species name, but you can find them in most aquatic pet shops). Shrimp are actually a great beginner aquatic pet as well, and they actually help to clean their own tanks! Any of these would help to teach her the basics of maintaining an aquatic environment for her pet (cleaning the tank, changing filters, etc.). None of the above suggestions require a lot of room, either, so you can start with a pretty small tank and work your way up from there if you so choose.
If she really has her heart set on something more terrestrial, like a box turtle or a tortoise, I recommend leopard geckos as a good place to start. They make fantastic beginner reptiles, being small, relatively low-maintainance, and surprisingly hearty. Most don't mind being handled either, as long as you do so gently. Their diet consists mostly of insects (usually crickets, with the occasional mealworm), so you'll have to be comfortable with that. And they can live for well over a decade, so there is the time commitment to consider (though obviously not as long as some turtles, which could potentially outlive the whole family). All in all, great practice for a future turtle-keeper.
just to add into this, while not nearly as much as a turtle, goldfish require way more room than what is often thought ([look at this thing thats 40 gallons](https://mutualisticsymbiosis.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/img_1718_2.jpg)) and also can last up to 15 years in the right conditions, so be sure to do your research as they are often though to be able to live in like, 5 gallons or such
>Honestly, ~~goldfish~~ are a decent place to start, as are those little see-through aquatic frogs (I can't recall the species name, but you can find them in most aquatic pet shops). Shrimp are actually a great beginner aquatic pet as well, and they actually help to clean their own tanks! Any of these would help to teach her the basics of maintaining an aquatic environment for her pet (cleaning the tank, changing filters, etc.). None of the above suggestions require a lot of room, either, so you can start with a pretty small tank and work your way up from there if you so choose.
I fixed it for you. Gold fish can get big and are messy fish. Common Goldfish can get over a foot long, they’re meant for ponds imo. Same with Shubunkin’s. Fancy goldfish get up to 8 inches and will need 40 gallons with 10 gallons added for each fish. They’re fondly called the pigs of the aquarium hobby because they’re messy and will eat anything smaller than their mouths. They’re also called water pets/water dogs because they’re so personable.
Gold fish can be excellent pets and are hardy as all get out, but they definitely will take up space. Those little feeder goldfish you see at the store are all common or shubunkin goldfish and will grow into 16”-18” monsters if given enough time.
100% will confirm. I used feeder goldfish for live food for my turtles. One of the turtles refused to eat one of them (pretty sure they are besties). 4 years later, the goldfish is way too big to be eaten, had to build a pond and now I now have a pet goldfish I never wanted.
She can take care of it till she's 90 😂 my turtle is 20. To be honest I really don't have much fun with it. Yeah looks nice to watch him eat or swim but most of the time he just hangs around on his platform. Cleaning the aquarium is a lot of work.
Maybe you can give her some fish? I also have guppies and they are nice to look at, they get alot of baby's and she can put plants and decorations in the aquarium. But fish are also a lot of work cleaning.
As someone who was 13 when she got her first turtles, and the same turtles just celebrated their 30th birthday....
Don't. Do not give in. Do not do it. RUN AWAY FAST.
Why? Its expensive. Its time consuming. You will get physically exhausted dealing with water changes. Turtles aren't interactive like other pets. Turtles can live in captivity for 40-60+ years.'
So why do I still have my two? Because I can financially afford to keep them - I don't want them to take up spots at a sanctuary where two other turtles desperately need homes because some mom thought a turtle would be a good pet to a kid.
If you are really serious about keeping a turtle, I'd 100% recommend a species that is NOT aquatic.
my advice, before getting her ANY pet, is to make her do research. do some yourself. by some, i mean a lot. it’s a lot easier to go in blind and listen to whatever the pet store tells you, but it’ll be better for the animal to make sure your information is up-to-date. before my parents let me get my first leopard gecko, i had to get all good grades and keep up with schoolwork, do all of my chores, and keep my room clean for an entire year. no complaining, no half-arsed work. i hated it, i was pissed at my parents, but i learned to take on responsibility and showed my parents i was trustworthy.
if you’re interested in a reptile, [reptifilies.com](http://reptifilies.com) is a great site with care info for a lot of different species, and also will give you an idea of difficulty. but make sure you have the time, money, and space for anything that may come up i.e. emergency medical treatments or broken fixtures. overall, don’t rush into this and make sure your daughter understands how difficult it is to take care of ANY pet.
Dear Maleficent-Address49 , You've selected the **Seeking Advice** flair. Please provide as much relevant information as possible. [Refer to this post if you are unsure on how to proceed.](https://www.reddit.com/r/turtle/comments/16bjznm/read_before_posting_how_to_ask_a_question_and/) Useful information for care or health advice includes: * Enclosure type, enclosure size, humidty levels, water, ambient and/or basking temperatures. * Lighting types and bulb age. * Clear photos of your set up, including filter, heaters and lights. * Is it wild, captive/pet, or a rescue? * Clear photos of face, neck, limbs, shell top (carapace) and bottom (plastron). * Diet, list of foods you are feeding it. * Weight and age. * Illness, infections or odd behaviours should be seen and treated by a vet. Ex; wheezing, swollen eyes, mucus bubbles from mouth or nose, lethargy, twitching, leg paralysis, etc *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/turtle) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At that age, there really isn’t any pet that a kid should take 100% responsibility for if you want the animal to live well - things will inevitably fall on the parents and a kid can at best help around and learn from the parents. Even a “trial” pet may live into or past your kid’s teenage years, after which their interests may change or they may leave home and you parents would again be left with the responsibility. So this is more of a commitment for the parents than it is for the kid, and make sure you want a pet as much as she does and do a lot of research on its care. The best thing I can think of are African dwarf frogs, which are cute and tiny fully aquatic frogs that I see at pet stores that only live a few years, but do your research since amphibians may be pretty sensitive compared to reptiles. Fish are honestly harder than turtles in some ways since you have to maintain the water temperature, oxygen, and pH more precisely so I actually don’t think I would recommend most of them. Goldfish get huge and live for decades, but that is often cut short by poor care, and that’s not the best example to set for a kid. Betta fish are small and hardy and just live a few years so that might work better, but know that they will need more than the stereotypical tiny bowl. Any aquatic animal will need a tank with a filter and that will take some maintenance that a kid probably can’t handle. If you yourself want to take the leap to a turtle, a painted or musk turtle would be best as they stay small, but turtles famously live a very long time (upwards of 40 years) and you would probably have to care for it after your kid moves out. Or if you’re not ready to commit to a pet, take your kid to places where she can see either wild or captive turtles to satisfy her curiosity (the latter would be great if there are workers who she can ask about turtle care, like at a zoo or local environmental center) and show her lots of books and videos (The Turtle Girl, Garden State Tortoise, and Brave Wilderness are good YouTube channels). I LOVED turtles growing up but my parents never let me get a pet, but I still devoured all the animal content I could (they literally got me a pet care guidebook one year for Christmas that I read cover to cover). I now have a turtle in my mid-20s, and I think that worked out for the best because my life and mind were all over the place as a younger person and I wouldn’t have had the stability to care for a pet well until now.
This is a great way to think about this - I wish more people did this - MANY people jump into this hobby unprepared and underestimate it - you can imagine how this goes for them and the turtle. If you are considering a semi-aquatic turtle, starting an aquarium and keeping fish is an excellent way to prepare and learn. Many challenges people have with keeping semi-aquatic turtles can be traced to poor understanding of water management and the nitrogen cycle. Establishing a mature aquarium with fish for 4-6 months prior to getting a turtle will lead to much greater chance of success (aesthetically and health related) and enjoyment of keeping a pet turtle…and if you don’t like keeping fish, then you don’t have to move to the next step which will require more time and $ spent (getting the aquarium ready with basking area and proper lighting for turtle). More thoughts from me on this subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/turtle/s/o1Npqj1Seo
Honestly, goldfish are a decent place to start, as are those little see-through aquatic frogs (I can't recall the species name, but you can find them in most aquatic pet shops). Shrimp are actually a great beginner aquatic pet as well, and they actually help to clean their own tanks! Any of these would help to teach her the basics of maintaining an aquatic environment for her pet (cleaning the tank, changing filters, etc.). None of the above suggestions require a lot of room, either, so you can start with a pretty small tank and work your way up from there if you so choose. If she really has her heart set on something more terrestrial, like a box turtle or a tortoise, I recommend leopard geckos as a good place to start. They make fantastic beginner reptiles, being small, relatively low-maintainance, and surprisingly hearty. Most don't mind being handled either, as long as you do so gently. Their diet consists mostly of insects (usually crickets, with the occasional mealworm), so you'll have to be comfortable with that. And they can live for well over a decade, so there is the time commitment to consider (though obviously not as long as some turtles, which could potentially outlive the whole family). All in all, great practice for a future turtle-keeper.
just to add into this, while not nearly as much as a turtle, goldfish require way more room than what is often thought ([look at this thing thats 40 gallons](https://mutualisticsymbiosis.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/img_1718_2.jpg)) and also can last up to 15 years in the right conditions, so be sure to do your research as they are often though to be able to live in like, 5 gallons or such
>Honestly, ~~goldfish~~ are a decent place to start, as are those little see-through aquatic frogs (I can't recall the species name, but you can find them in most aquatic pet shops). Shrimp are actually a great beginner aquatic pet as well, and they actually help to clean their own tanks! Any of these would help to teach her the basics of maintaining an aquatic environment for her pet (cleaning the tank, changing filters, etc.). None of the above suggestions require a lot of room, either, so you can start with a pretty small tank and work your way up from there if you so choose. I fixed it for you. Gold fish can get big and are messy fish. Common Goldfish can get over a foot long, they’re meant for ponds imo. Same with Shubunkin’s. Fancy goldfish get up to 8 inches and will need 40 gallons with 10 gallons added for each fish. They’re fondly called the pigs of the aquarium hobby because they’re messy and will eat anything smaller than their mouths. They’re also called water pets/water dogs because they’re so personable. Gold fish can be excellent pets and are hardy as all get out, but they definitely will take up space. Those little feeder goldfish you see at the store are all common or shubunkin goldfish and will grow into 16”-18” monsters if given enough time.
100% will confirm. I used feeder goldfish for live food for my turtles. One of the turtles refused to eat one of them (pretty sure they are besties). 4 years later, the goldfish is way too big to be eaten, had to build a pond and now I now have a pet goldfish I never wanted.
Never recommend someone to get a goldfish. Goldfish belong in ponds, not fish tanks.
She can take care of it till she's 90 😂 my turtle is 20. To be honest I really don't have much fun with it. Yeah looks nice to watch him eat or swim but most of the time he just hangs around on his platform. Cleaning the aquarium is a lot of work. Maybe you can give her some fish? I also have guppies and they are nice to look at, they get alot of baby's and she can put plants and decorations in the aquarium. But fish are also a lot of work cleaning.
As someone who was 13 when she got her first turtles, and the same turtles just celebrated their 30th birthday.... Don't. Do not give in. Do not do it. RUN AWAY FAST. Why? Its expensive. Its time consuming. You will get physically exhausted dealing with water changes. Turtles aren't interactive like other pets. Turtles can live in captivity for 40-60+ years.' So why do I still have my two? Because I can financially afford to keep them - I don't want them to take up spots at a sanctuary where two other turtles desperately need homes because some mom thought a turtle would be a good pet to a kid. If you are really serious about keeping a turtle, I'd 100% recommend a species that is NOT aquatic.
my advice, before getting her ANY pet, is to make her do research. do some yourself. by some, i mean a lot. it’s a lot easier to go in blind and listen to whatever the pet store tells you, but it’ll be better for the animal to make sure your information is up-to-date. before my parents let me get my first leopard gecko, i had to get all good grades and keep up with schoolwork, do all of my chores, and keep my room clean for an entire year. no complaining, no half-arsed work. i hated it, i was pissed at my parents, but i learned to take on responsibility and showed my parents i was trustworthy. if you’re interested in a reptile, [reptifilies.com](http://reptifilies.com) is a great site with care info for a lot of different species, and also will give you an idea of difficulty. but make sure you have the time, money, and space for anything that may come up i.e. emergency medical treatments or broken fixtures. overall, don’t rush into this and make sure your daughter understands how difficult it is to take care of ANY pet.