So, I was thinking that my kids and preschoolers would love to have a pet around. I didn't want a pet that would take a lot of energy or ruin my house. Driving home one day, I passed a guy who was selling turtles and I figured that turtles have to be really easy pets-- little upkeep, and they basically fend for themselves.
Was I ever wrong-- first of all the guy who sold me the turtles just said that I needed a long tupperware box. Fill it half up with water and half up with rocks. All I would have to do from there is feed them and clean out the box every other day.
So, when I got home I put them (yes, I got a boy and a girl) in the long tupperware container and then went to take a nap. An hour later I returned outside to find one missing. Despite our best efforts we couldn't find it anywhere (we even went on a walk around our neighborhood and got quite a few chuckles when we asked people if they'd seen a turtle).
When I got home I decided to look Red Eared Sliders online and found out that there was a lot more to it than just that. They are aquatic turtles that had a lot of specific needs. They are notorius for being great escape artists, etc... Well, we did the best we could but within 3 weeks the one that was left had died.
The funny thing was that about a week later we were doing yard work, when Darin said, "is that your missing turtle". Sure enough- there was our other turtle crawling across the grass as if he had never disappeared. Since he had fended better then the girl, I decided to continue to let him loose in our backyard and we left out food and water in case he wanted some. Needless to say, he soon met his end too.
So, from this sad tale-- I have learned that I am not a pet person. Sorry turtles, I feel bad that you have only reinforced this sad truth.
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