What do people like about turtles and tortoises?

[gambite]

I know, its kinda lame for me to be asking this when I keep tarantulas, scorpions and other inverts, but I never really understood what was so attractive about turtles and tortoises. While some of them have kinda cool looking shells, they seem like a boring pet. What am I missing?

 

[K-TRAIN]

i dont know about other peoples ideas about keeping turtles, but i have three. (mississippi map turtle and two red eared sliders) and they do seem boring, because of the constant water changing, overall though i think its interesting to watch them eat, swim, and grow.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

It's the breakneck speeds, man!

 

[Crono]

I'm a fan of the caramel/pecan insides within the chocolate shell myself.

 

[AneesasMuse]

I'm a fan of the caramel/pecan insides within the chocolate shell myself.

...oooh, me too!!


Oh, and Joob does a great job of eating all the stray rocks, snails and slugs in my... err, HER ..garden! She's kind of colorful, too.. Cherry Head Red Foot, that she is. I think torts and turts are right in there with everything else.. "to each his own" kind of outlook. I mean, we do keep very big spiders and T's, etc. ...not what every person thinks of as "normal" and/or "exciting"

 

[Mina]

I've had a hinge back tortoise for 15 years. She is really cute. She is adorable when she is eating, and very determined when she wants something. I know people say the don't make noise, but that isn't true, they just don't make loud noises. She will stand on the edge of her food dish and make a noise that sounds like she is clearing her throat when she is hungry. I have always found her very interesting, cute, and easy to care for. Whats not to like?

 

[Takumaku]

I use to think the same thing, that was until my neighbor showed me her red foot (Geochelone carbonaria) tortoise. The animal is very beautiful and extremely personable. I have seen the animal follow my neighbor around like a dog. On a few accounts, the animal has come over to me and allowed me to "pet it".

So extreme color, very personable, hypoallergenic, easily cared for, and long-lived animal are a few of the traits I could see why people are attracted to them.

 

[DITB]

im not really a fan of turtles but i think mata matas are awesome. Sadly turtles are illegal to keep as pets here in Tennessee