Tag Archives: captivity

How do you care for fairy shimp?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin| 2 Comments

I was on a hike collecting insects and found some little crustaceans on the top of the mountain in a very little pond. They fascinated me so much I collected a few of those as well. I was originally going to put them in alcohol and preserve them, but I am wondering if there is any way to keep them alive in captivity? How do I provide food for them? Do they need sunlight? How much water? If I can’t figure out how to care for them, I will probably kill them before they die and rot. Thanks

p.s. Please don’t bother giving me answers about how horrible of a person I am. I am a scientist, and have no problem with this. The only thing that kind of answer will get you is two points, and my annoyance. Thanks

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Tagged alcohol, captivity, crustaceans, Fairy, insects, little pond, sunlight

Releasing a box turtle?

Posted on January 21, 2012 by admin| 6 Comments

I rescued a box turtle 12 years ago and I still have him. I want to release him back to the wild in a nice park near my house. He had 2 surgeries of rectal prolapse and recently the vet said it is because he is in captivity so it’s time for him to go back to nature. My question is this, after all this time of ME providing his food, will he be able to survive in the wild? I know they are born with survival skills but I’m wondering if he will be okay? Thank you for your answers in advance.
In the past week he is showing signs of minimal prolapse again but it’s not all the way out like before.
I called the Mesker Zoo in Evansville Indiana to see if they will take Dakota. I have not heard back yet. After reading the posts, I won’t turn him out on his own as he would be lost by himself. Right now he’s walking around the house (he’s small) and getting in to things like a little kid, lol.The backyard structure for him is a good idea.

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Tagged box, box turtle, captivity, House, Park, prolapse, rectal, Releasing, surgeries, survival skills, time, turtle, vet

Is it OK to keep a pet turtle?

Posted on June 22, 2011 by admin| 8 Comments

My friend said it’s keeping an animal in captivity in a cage and it’s wrong.

He was telling me that I’m its jail warden.

I said that it’s keeping my turtle safe and fed.

What am I to think?

He told me to set it off free and that it has natural instincts.

From what I’ve read/heard, a domesticated turtle can’t be set free because it doesn’t have the same survival skills of a wild turtle.

What should I do?
My turtle is a red-eared slider. I keep him in a container of water. I would really let him live on a pond, if it was possible.

I got him from those illegal sellers in Chinatown when I was 12.. I didn’t know back then that it was illegal and wrong. I’ve kept him for about 6 years now.

Now my friend is saying that I should set him free because it’s sick that I keep him. He said that if I bring my turtle with me to his place, he would set it free on the creek.

I just feel horrible and the way he said things, I’m pretty much feeling guilty.

He’s the only person who would make me feel bad…..

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Tagged animal, cage, captivity, friend, pet, pet turtle, turtle, wrong