Child Friendly
No, Those who are well-versed in caring for turtles may find the Apalone spinifera, or Sawback Turtle, to be an interesting pet, but families with small children may want to think again. Whether or not Spiny Softshell Turtles are a good fit for households with kids depends on a number of things.
First, it could be difficult for young children to satisfy the specific care needs of Spiny Softshell Turtles. Younger caregivers may lack the maturity to devote the necessary time and energy to maintaining the aquatic environment, checking the water quality regularly, and feeding the fish a balanced diet.
Also, young children should probably not handle Spiny Softshell Turtles because of their special handling needs. Although they usually don't attack people, they might become angry or stressed out if treated wrong. Mishandling a turtle may result in harm from its sharp claws and beak, making it a possible danger to small children who might not know how to handle the animal securely.
In addition, unlike other pets that children often keep, like dogs or cats, Spiny Softshell Turtles spend much of their time swimming and may not be very gregarious or engaged. Submerged for the most part, they may eventually know their caregivers but, unlike more sociable animals, they aren't usually looking for or enjoying human contact.
Spiny softshell turtles provide a health risk to people because of the salmonella bacterium they carry. People may get the disease by coming into contact with contaminated water or dropping an infected egg from a contaminated turtle. Salmonella and other diseases may spread more easily to children under the age of five because their immune systems are still maturing and because they have a propensity to put everything, especially their hands, in their mouths.
Individuals of the Spiny Softshell Turtle species may live for decades. Their lengthy lifespan makes them attractive to caregivers looking for a lifelong friend, but it also means they demand a lot of attention and money over a long period of time, which may not be suitable for kids whose interests and demands are always evolving.
Due to their unique care needs, risk of harm, restricted contact, and cleanliness concerns, Spiny Softshell Turtles may not be the best choice for children, while they may make interesting pets for informed and careful owners. Before bringing a turtle into their home as a pet, families should do their homework on what the turtle requires and whether or not they can provide enough care and supervision for the turtle and their children.
