Turtles are often a first pet. They are small and seem easy to care for. But turtles need the right kind of tank, warm water and food to thrive. Turtle owners love their pets. The only way to become a good turtle owner is to learn all about their needs.

Both water turtles and land turtles can be kept as pets. These unique creatures are not the most common pets, and it is best to try to re-create their natural environments as much as possible. A happy pet turtle can live for a very long time, sometimes as long as 50 years!

An introduction for young readers on the basics of how to care for a pet turtle. Bright photos and clear, simple text lay the foundation for children to take greater responsibility and a more active role in their pets' lives. Additional features include a table of contents, a glossary of key words and phrases, a fun-facts section, a list of needs and dangers to the pet, and sources for further research.

The Box Turtle Manual seeks to “help prospective owners keep their turtles healthy and happy.” Given the low price tag placed on a box turtle in a pet shop, many casual shoppers add a box turtle to their household without preparation or knowledge about how to keep the animal alive. Since quality information is difficult to find on box turtles, Philippe de Vosjoli and Dr. Roger Klingenberger remedy the situation with this Advanced Vivarium Systems edition dedicated to box turtles. The authors believe that these popular and beautiful turtles….”may teach you one or two lessons about the delicate balance of life, natural law, and the many ways in which intelligence in manifested in nature.” The book presents background information and guidelines for caring for a box turtle, including selecting a health specimen, acclimating the turtle, indoor and outdoor housing, heating and lighting requirements, feeding and handling, hibernation and breeding. The authors recommend three specific species of box turtles as good pet candidates: they provide photos and information on ornate box turtles, common Asian box turtles, and Chinese box turtles. Dr. Klingenberger provides a chapter on diseases and disorders that gives specific advice about dealing with dehydration, nutritional problems, parasitic problems, and vitamin deficiency. A five-page troubleshooting chart for health problems concludes the chapter. Resources and index included.

The commercial pet food industry has a secret to hide -- and Ann Martin wants to make sure you know it. Her research reveals some startling facts: that the pet food industry conducts animal testing in order to improve their product, and includes euthanized cats and dogs in the mix to heighten protein content. In this revised and updated edition, Martin continues to explore the shocking processes by which commercial pet foods are produced. She offers alternative recipes for feeding pets, nutritional advice, and an exploration of "Pet Peeves," in which she explores several scams aimed at pet owners. This groundbreaking book gives us a glimpse into exactly what we are doing when we buy pet food.

In Turtles, early readers will learn how to care for a pet turtle and find out what it needs in its tank. Vibrant, fullcolor photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they discover what it takes to be a pet owner. A labeled diagram helps readers understand what a turtle needs, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about pet turtles online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, ageappropriate websites. Turtles also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index. Turtles is part of the My First Pet series.