A girl who wants to do something for the first time, often, so she will!
"Traveling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." -iban Battuta
Meet Lucy the Turtle. She is a Red Eared Slider Turtle and is the most popular pet turtle in the United States. She is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world. Her species, therefore, has become the most commonly-traded turtle in the world. Native to the southern Unites States and northern Mexico. She loves to swim and will grow to be 12 inches in length. After much discussion on our next family pet, we landed on a turtle. We were all over the place while trying to make our decision. We considered: Hedgehog, Hamster, Snake and Guinea Pig. All of which we'd never had as pets. I've never been a huge fan of turtles but have always been oh so curious. They fascinate me. In the spirit of trying something new often, I'm glad we decided on Lucy the turtle. With glee and great anticipation we acquired Lucy from PetCo. She is the coolest ever and fits right into our family: Dad, Mom, 3 kiddos, Naomi the Dog (Blue Heeler/Pit bull), and now Lucy the Turtle. She was in a huge tank with about 7 other Red Eared Slider Turtles. She was the feistiest. When she saw a human she would swim to the front of the tank and follow them from one side of the tank to the other. The entire time we were in the pet store, which seemed like an eternity, she wasn't basking like most of the turtles were. She liked to swim. After looking at aquariums and accessories for way too long, my 12 YO made a decision. We took our goodies and new family member to the check-out line. When we arrived at home with turtle and accessories in hand, we were greeted with Cheshire cat sized smiles and offers of a helping hand. Dad set up the tank while the rest of us watched Lucy the Turtle try and climb out of her temporary cardboard box home. The younger kids took turns putting one finger on her hard, beautiful shell. My oldest picked her up with no hesitation. Naomi the Dog watched from afar. After her 14 gallon aquarium was good to go, she was placed on her basking "rock". She immediately jumped into the water. We watched her swim and get acquainted with her new habitat. We then fed her and stared some more. If you're looking to add a member to your family and you've never considered a turtle, I suggest you do. Please make sure to do your homework on whatever you decide. Pet ownership is a privilege and huge responsibility.
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