This may not be the right forum, but it seemed like it would be.

Ok so Lucas will be 1 next month and I didn't want to get more toys and he doesn't need clothes or diapers so I was clueless. Then we went and visited a friend who has a pet store in a nearby town and Lucas found a red-eared slider (turtle) that he just wouldn't stay away from. We came home and I talked to hubby for a couple weeks and we decided to get it for him. He loved watching it and it would be good "science" for the older homeschooled kids.

So, yesterday I go get him and his new tank and come home to set it up. I read pages and pages and pages online on things they like to eat and all that. I found ways to raise some of their favorite foods (snails, earthworms, and crickets). I mean, yeah, we live on a farm so technically I could just go outside and get some bugs, but raising them would be so much more fun and educational!

I get up this morning and find a big plastic box, clean it up, and set up a cricket haven. Here's what I'm so excited about... I went to town less than an hour ago and buy crickets, put them in the box and they are already laying eggs :D I guess they're happy there and I did well! It's just too bad that I'm afraid of them and they're going to be food for the turtle lol.

Oh, BTW the turtle is really happy too. He bit my friend's son in the pet store then he stuck his hand in the tank so I was weary, but he lets me hold him and Lucas rubs his back. I think he likes his new home and family.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share :D

Congratulations on your new turtle! What is his/her name?

Cool! I think watching the crickets multiply would be almost as much fun as watching the turtle. But I don't think I'd want to watch the turtle eat the crickets. Blech. My son had a snake for awhile and it just kiiiiiilled me that it ate baby mice. I wasn't sad when the snake finally went to reptile heaven.

It's not been named yet and I don' t know how to tell if it's male or female lol.

The crickets are supposed to take 50 - 60 days to hatch - I'll be stalking the cage lol. We also started one for earthworms (thus my post in SuperCrunch - I know what it smelled like outside when the temp hit 100 lol), but feeding them wouldn't be as bad as a mouse! They told me he'd eat guppies and minnows, but they have eyes and would be looking at me and I just don't think I could do that. Hubby uses crickets and worms to fish with, so I guess I've been de-sensitized for them or something.