by Lokemun Magar

Created on: December 16, 2009   Last Updated: December 17, 2009

Children have lots to learn from looking after pets. If the children are young, and need assistance in looking after a pet, it is best to get one that is low in maintenance. Animals that need constant grooming or have cages that need daily cleaning and maintenance should be ruled out, as these take up time, and it would not be fair to the animals to be neglected in their care.

Care of baby terrapins:

Terrapins make easy to look after small pets. They are inexpensive, and need very low maintenance. They need the most attention when they are babies, that is, when they are four centimetres or smaller in size. Bear in mind that terrapins that are sold in pet shops are usually hatched in incubators or  gleaned from the nests once they hatch, and many do not know how to swim or hold their breath in water. Hence the water level of these tiny terrapins should never be higher than the edge of their shells, even if there are items that they can crawl up onto. This is because often the terrapins move when they are asleep, and might drown if they slip into deep water in their drowsy state.

Water care:

As the terrapins grow bigger and stronger, and are stable on higher surfaces, gradually increase the water level, and monitor their comfort level in the amount of water. If the terrapins avoid the water, it is likely to be too much or too cold for their liking, even if they are cold blooded animals. The water should be changed once it starts looking murky, and should not be left to stagnate. Let the water stand for a few hours so that it reaches the ideal room temperature before transferring the terrapins into them.

Calcium blocks that come carved in the form of terrapins or rocks can be introduced into the water. These blocks release calcium into the water so that the shells of the terrapins are strengthened. While the calcium compound also helps to remove the unpleasant smell from the water, others, including the terrapins, may not find the smell tolerable.

Suitability of the enclosure:

Be in the know that terrapins can grow to as big as ten to twelve centimetres within a year, and hence, ensure that you have an enclosure that the terrapins will grow up comfortably in. Be aware too, that terrapins are territorial animals, and if you intend to introduce new terrapins within the same enclosure, you would have to ensure that your enclosure is big enough for the terrapins to call cosy corners their own. The older terrapins

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