When you've made the decision to buy a turtle, research what kind of turtle you want to own. There are both aquatic and non-aquatic breeds, and the information in this article pertains to Red Ear Slider Turtles. The Red Ear Slider Turtles are the least expensive, and, more importantly, the easiest turtles to care for. They are a perfect breed for the beginner.

What turtles bask and what turtles don't? In pet stores, you will see turtles basking and turtles swimming.  Whatever your choice, it doesn't depend on the behavior of a certain turtle. It depends on you, its owner, and how you set up its environment. With the correct set-up of its surrounding, your turtle will bask when it wants and swim when it wants, in other words, it will do as it pleases.

It is best to buy a young turtle because as they grow, they will adapt to the habitat and feeding schedule that you provide. Ask the pet store owner what food pellet he's been feeding your turtle, and you can use the same type for your own. Your turtle will continue to eat without rejecting new food that you may introduce.

Buying an older turtle is not a good idea, for several reasons. First, they are usually overpriced. They are already set in their feeding habits, and will not take well to changes. The size of the turtle does not correlate with its age, but more likely to being overfed. It may be a young, perhaps only a few months old, over-fed turtle. This condition will cause damage to the internal organs, thus decreasing the creature's life span. A valuable tip-off for turtle newbies would be signs of pyramiding (large bumps) of the shell, indicating that it may be too late to heal with UVA/UVB scale lights.