
I like turtles is a phrase that first entered the public consciousness in 2007, when a 10-year-old boy named Jonathan Ware uttered it during a local news interview at the Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon. The phrase has since become a meme, used as a humorous non-sequitur to indicate a person's disinterest in a topic or their ignorance about it. However, the phrase can also be used to express a genuine affinity for turtles. While turtles can make good pets for some people, it is important to consider the risks to one's health and the commitment involved in their care before acquiring one.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Used as a response to | Boring questions or epic fails that you don't feel like answering |
Created by | Ten-year-old Jonathan Ware during a local news interview |
Went viral | In June 2007 |
Inspired | Video remixes, memorabilia, and further memes |
Can be used to express | True love for turtles |
Turtles | Can carry diseases such as salmonella |
Need a lot of space and a lifetime of specialized care | |
Are not generally a good choice of pet for young children |
What You'll Learn
Turtles as pets
Turtles are often marketed as low-maintenance pets, but they require specialised care and a lot of room to grow. They need the right lighting, temperature, and water filtration system. They also carry salmonella bacteria, which can be easily transmitted to people and cause fever and diarrhoea, and in some cases, life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is illegal to sell turtles with shells less than four inches long in the United States.
Turtles are quiet and relatively undemanding, making them an appealing option as a companion. However, they are not particularly interactive or cuddly and can become stressed or aggressive if handled too much or improperly. They also have long lifespans, sometimes surpassing 50 years, and can even outlive their owners.
If you are considering getting a turtle as a pet, it is important to do your research and be prepared for the commitment and responsibility. It is recommended to adopt from a local animal shelter or rescue group instead of buying from a pet store.
Some popular turtle species that make good pets include:
- Red-eared sliders: One of the most popular aquatic turtle species. They tend to be friendlier and more sociable, active, and widely available. They require a large tank with adequate areas for basking, UV lighting, and a good water filtration system.
- African sideneck turtles: Unique aquatic turtles with long necks that can't be fully retracted into their shell. They have complex care requirements, including weekly water changes or a good filtration system, and a varied diet to prevent vitamin deficiencies. They need a large tank, preferably at least 75 gallons, with suitable basking platforms and UV lights.
- Eastern box turtles: These turtles need a lot of space but are adaptable and can live indoors or outdoors. They require a humid environment with a shallow pool of water and a moist substrate, as well as a UVB basking light if kept indoors.
- Western painted turtles: These turtles are distinctive and attractive, with detailed shell markings. They require a large tank or outdoor space, a good water filtration system, and basking lights to maintain a warm temperature.
- Mississippi map turtles: These turtles have a distinctive dorsal fin running along their shell and do not need as large an enclosure as some other aquatic turtles. They can be more wary of people and prone to stress, so handling should be kept to a minimum.
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Turtles and salmonella
Turtles are known to carry the salmonella bacteria, which can be easily transmitted to humans and cause illness. Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, and other gastrointestinal issues. The bacteria are shed in contaminated water or food and can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with turtles or their droppings.
While salmonella is often associated with food-borne illness, it is important to recognise that turtles and other reptiles can be carriers. In fact, it is a common part of their normal gastrointestinal microbes, and they may not show any clinical signs of infection. This means that even a turtle that appears healthy and clean could potentially transmit salmonella to its human handlers.
The risk of contracting salmonella from turtles is particularly concerning when it comes to children. Young children are more likely to develop severe illness from salmonella infection, and small turtles may seem like harmless toys that can fit in their mouths. As a result, the sale of small turtles with shells less than four inches long has been banned in the United States since 1975 to help prevent the spread of salmonella.
To reduce the risk of salmonella infection when keeping a turtle as a pet, it is crucial to maintain good hygiene practices. This includes washing your hands before and after handling the turtle, supervising children's interactions with the turtle, and regularly cleaning the turtle's enclosure and equipment. It is also important to keep turtles away from areas where food or drink is prepared or stored and to avoid direct contact between turtles and young children or individuals with weakened immune systems.
While "salmonella-free turtles" have been marketed in recent years, it is important to note that even these turtles may eventually test positive for salmonella. Therefore, it is always important to take the necessary precautions when handling turtles and to provide them with proper care and specialised living conditions.
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Turtles in popular culture
Turtles have made their way into popular culture in various forms, including cartoons, comics, animation, TV shows, and movies. One notable example is the beloved franchise "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," which has spanned multiple media formats, including comics, television series, and films.
In animation and cartoons, turtles have appeared in "Kung Fu Panda," with Master Oogway as a wise old tortoise, and in the classic "Bugs Bunny" cartoons, where Bugs is often depicted racing Cecil Turtle. Moving to literature, turtles take on a more fantastical role in Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" book series, where the world is carried on the back of a giant tortoise named A'Tuin, the 'Astrochelonian'. Roald Dahl also features a tortoise in his sweet love story, "Esio Trot."
In television and movies, one notable mention is the character Verne in the animated film "Over the Hedge." Additionally, the phrase "I like turtles" gained popularity and became a trend, emerging from an online video where a reporter asks a boy about a surfing competition, to which the boy replies, "I like turtles." This phrase has taken on a life of its own, often used sarcastically or humorously to deflect boring questions or respond to epic fails.
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Turtles and their lifespans
Turtles are known for their long lifespans, which vary depending on the species. Some species of tortoises can live for 100 years or more, with several common species of pet water turtles living into their 40s. The largest species of tortoise, the Galapagos tortoise, can only be found in the wild.
A turtle's lifespan depends on its species, diet, and other aspects of its environment. Most turtles will easily live at least a few decades if they survive past the first few years of life. For example, red-eared sliders, if cared for properly, are likely to survive into their 30s, and tortoises can easily live past their 50s and even into their 80s.
Some of the longest-living turtles on record include Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise that reportedly lived to be 255 years old, and Harriet, a Galapagos giant tortoise that died at the age of 175. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is the current record holder for the oldest living tortoise at 191 years old.
It is worth noting that turtles require years, sometimes decades, of specialized care. They also carry salmonella bacteria, which poses a health risk to humans, especially children and those with lowered natural resistance to disease.
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Turtles and their care
Turtles can make great pets but they require a lot of care and attention. They are often marketed as low-maintenance pets but, in reality, they need a lot of room to grow and require specialist care.
Housing
Turtles need a lot of space to move around. The general rule is that their enclosure should be at least 10 gallons of space for every 1 inch of shell length. For example, a 4-inch-long turtle needs a 40-gallon aquarium that measures at least 20–24 inches in length by 16–20 inches in width. The water inside the aquarium should be 6–8 inches deep.
The tank should be made of glass or plastic and be watertight. It should also have a secure cover to prevent the turtle from escaping.
Lighting and temperature
Turtles need access to a basking area with a temperature of 85–95 F, and a cooler area of around 75 F. You can use a basking bulb or ceramic heater to create a basking area. The water should be maintained at 75 F with a submersible heater.
Turtles also require exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light to produce vitamin D, so you'll need to provide them with 10-12 hours of UV light per day.
Filtration and water quality
A high-quality filtration system is essential to keeping your turtle's habitat clean and removing harmful toxins such as ammonia from the water. The filter should be powerful enough to process all of the tank's water at least four times per hour.
You should also test the water's pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels every few days to ensure they are stable and within a safe range. The ideal pH is between 6.0 and 8.0.
Change 25% of the water in the tank every week, or 50% every other week. Always treat new water with a turtle-safe water conditioner to remove chlorine and other pollutants.
Diet
Turtles enjoy a variety of foods, including commercially available turtle pellets, sticks, and fresh foods such as lettuce, krill, insects, worms, fish, and other plants and vegetables. Juvenile turtles require more protein in their diet, while adults should eat more plant matter.
Most turtle species should be fed every other day.
Handling
Turtles do not generally enjoy being handled frequently. They can also carry salmonella bacteria, which can be transmitted to people and cause sickness, so always wash your hands before and after handling your turtle or its habitat.
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