The kids found this tortoise/turtle wandering around the garden and want to keep it as a pet.

Poor thing looks a bit old and beat up and I don't like the idea of keeping it, but I think a couple of days for them to make a fuss of it and learn some responsibility would educational.

I did some Googling but can't identify it so some local knowledge is called for

As the title says is it a tortoise or a turtle and what does it eat?

Cheers

I think it depends on where you are from. i.e. British or Americam. However

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Tortoise_vs_Turtle

I think it depends on where you are from. i.e. British or Americam. However

http://www.diffen.co...toise_vs_Turtle

I thingk it's a Malayan box turtle Google it to be sure.

I think it depends on where you are from. i.e. British or Americam. However

http://www.diffen.co...toise_vs_Turtle

I thingk it's a Malayan box turtle Google it to be sure.

It's neither it is a rice field terrapin ~~~~ v common in Thailand ~~ see

http://www.earth-touch.com/result.php?i=Terrapin-on-the-forest-floor

TBWG

wash hands well after handling each time: turtles = vector for salamonella types.

bina

With the links provided and some more Googling it seems to be a Malayan Box Turtle that eats mostly aquatic plants and some worms and water snails

From the size of the shell(about 8in long) it seems to be a full grown adult but don't know if it's male or female.

It has become quite friendly walking freely about the house and letting us stroke it's little head and tickle it under the chin.

Think I'll wait till after the weekend when the kids are back at school to set it free, hope they won't be too upset as they do make a big fuss of it, the poor dog is feeling quite neglected.

a little turtle/tortoise tale. I'll call them turtles.

we were at the lake in Chanthaburi city today, watched a woman carefully select and buy a turtle from the ones being sold to be released (for Mothers Day merit maybe?).

She chose and paid for her turtle, knelt riverside holding it up in front of her while a few prayers were sent.

I expected her to then gently release it and watch it crawl into the water.

But no.

She stood up, and with a throw that resembled an Olympic discus thrower, hurled it out into the lake. Skimmed once, hit the water again and sunk.

End of today's story.

Gee! I hope it was a turtle and not a tortoise at least it would then have a chance

Gee! I hope it was a turtle and not a tortoise at least it would then have a chance

I still reckon it is a rice field terrapin and a female judging by the size. I which case it eats mainly water snails and small shrimp.

Best left in its natural evironment.

TBWG

Release it at a pond in the local temple.

Bring the children, realising a turtle gives merit.

They have these turtles at my local market for food.

No do not release it to a temple.

This is a malaysian snail eating turtle.

I bought one for 50 baht and it cost me 7000 baht for vetenarian costs.

These turtles are very rare and get sick easy. They also eat snails like malayasian trumpet snails.

Rare?

Hundred of them in local food market.

Whatever it was it escaped

I told the kids how strong it was, like a tank pushing anything in it's way aside. Told them it could climb fences, well a tortoise I had in the UK as a kid could climb a chain-link fence so assumed this could do the same. Told them it was fast.

That is where I think my credibility with the kids took a hit. Everybody knows these things aren't fast "slow as a tortoise" springs to mind and who has not heard the story of the hare and tortoise.

Anyway they decide to put it out on the grass for a wander around while keeping an eye on it. The attention span of kids is not that impressive, well mine ain't, so you've guessed it they turned round for just a minute and the thing was gone

We couldn't find it anywhere, even the dog could not sniff it out - talk about fast

Kids are upset but at least I'm not the bad guy this time.

Buy a new one at the market for 50 baht.

Saves one from the stew.

Nah! two kids and a crazy soi dog is enough animals for this household

Well you could check wikipedia. They're native to southeast asia but they're not found in the pet trade.

Well you could check wikipedia. They're native to southeast asia but they're not found in the pet trade.

Not in the pet trade, you'll find them in the food market.

Well you could check wikipedia. They're native to southeast asia but they're not found in the pet trade.

Not in the pet trade, you'll find them in the food market.

Too bad it isn't in America. I'd really like to have one of those turtles.