Pet Turtles

Noah and Ally got pet turtles this past weekend. ...I'm already wishing they hadn't. I am really hoping that these don't turn out like our pets in the past. The poor kids can't keep a pet! :) We have bought 3 dogs since Ally was born and they were either sold or given away because we realized that none of us gave them the attention that they needed. The kids promised to, in the beginning, and then the dogs either jumped on them and scratched them, which they couldn't handle, or they just lost interest. Anyway, I was talked into getting Noah some sort of pet because he keeps trying to make bugs and worms a part of our family. We started out thinking that we would get them each a tiny turtle, a little aquarium and setup for about $20 a piece. Wrong! We found out that it's illegal to sell turtles smaller than 4" in Alabama. The 4" ones were $20 each, just for the turtle, but no one had any left. We finally found one place that had 3, but they were $30 each! So, two 4-5" turtles, and an aquarium. Then we went to buy rocks and things for the aquarium, and found out that turtles must have complete water for swimming and complete dry land for basking. We finally found a way to slope the rocks to make both. After talking with a pet store employee, we also found out that they need a heat lamp andUVB lighting! Ugh! Oh, and the original aquarium that we bought did not have a pump, so we returned it and got one that does. I forgot to mentioned that after we bought them, we found out why it's illegal to sell them smaller than 4". Turtles can carry and transmit salmonella! Yay! :( ...and my biggest concern was somehow killing the turtle!!? Well, the aquarium has been set up, a swimming pool and tanning salon added, and we've found that the pump does not reach the water! By the way, "Charlie" and "Trixie Ann" were purchased by Ally and Noah with their own money and the help of their Grammi (who also bought the aquarium kit). So, it's a little harder to give up on these pets! I will keep you updated on their survival in the Gentry home. Just please pray with me that Charlie and Trixie Ann don't ever become parents!

I will post a picture of them later.