Few days ago, one of my instagram’s friends who also has several turtles, posted a photo of a turtle being painted, it wasn’t her turtle…it belonged to another account. She was only sharing it to say that painting turtles is not okay!
As a turtle blogger, I realize that I haven’t yet written about this issue….and today is the time for me to share about it.
I once discovered a picture of a turtle being painted in one facebook group that shares about the love for turtle. This man was so proud of sharing his painted turtle…I was shock, how could someone who claimed to love his turtle was proud of doing such cruel thing? I told him that painting the shell is not the right thing to do.
Unfortunately…he was not the only one who didn’t know about that. My blog is easily found whenever anyone use google with the keyword “training a turtle“…so, I hope this post can also be easily found when people google about caring a turtle.
Some people might think that the paint and those glitters made their turtle look cuter but they don’t know what that paint will do to the turtles! …and to be honest, their original shells look a LOT better than the fake color and glitter.
Someone reminded me that I need to provide the scientific studies and turtle expert documentation on how paint on turtles shells are detrimental to the health of turtles.
What I wrote here are just common sense, you can either follow it or not…just use your logic and your love for animal because NO ANIMAL in this world deserves to be painted.
Everything written here are my opinion along with similar opinion by: chinatownturtle, Wichita Falls Reptiles Rescue, North Jersey.com, Aleks Haecky,
Turtle shell, in the wild, is used as protection, that’s why most of them have dark color as a camouflage to the predator, by painting it the turtle becomes so radiant and an easy target for the predator.
Paint is made of chemical and the shell can easily absorb it.
Most importantly, the paint will block UV from the sun…turtles need UV to grow their shell and their bones. I met someone who had a sick turtle, he said that he kept him alive as long as he could by letting him under the sunlight as often as he could. You see, UV makes turtle stronger and healthier.
NEVER PAINT A TURTLE for whatever reason you have!!
If you still want to see a different look on your turtle, make her/him a dress! you can put it on for a while (not all the time because they need to absorb UV). I did it once with my turtle but it was just for a photo, I like their original shell more.
If you are a turtle owner and claim that you love your turtles…then never ever paint them!!
If you don’t have a turtle…please never paint the wild one.
My instagram’s friend I have mentioned above created a new account to let people know that painting a turtle equals Animal Abuse!
Go check her account and see that there are a lot of animal abuse being shared on instagram…her hope is for everyone to stop abusing animals, not just turtles. All the photos I have shared here (except for Kame in dress) belong to her account.
Click on the image
Here are three pictures I chose to share to you!
Parents or adult should teach the right thing to their children!
Never EVER drill a hole in their shell…it hurts them!!
Look how bright the turtle is…his predator can spot him easily!
I know that most of my turtle’s friends are furry animals…but I hope you can help spread the word 🙂
Here’s Some extra information from some kind readers 🙂
From Andrew Schiffbauer
- Blood poisoning through paint seepage is still a risk.
- As is shell deformation as the turtle grows.
- There IS a type of paint that is safe for use on turtles – Markal Markers/Paint Sticks, which are used by Marine Biologists to mark turtles in the wild.
- In any case, if you DO paint your turtle, even with this safe non toxic form of paint, keep the design small and don’t leave it on long, because of the aforementioned Deformation issue.
Novroz
Kroten
Kurome
Papoe
Kame (R.I.P)
Underneath The Shell 
Well said! I love my turtles… The only thing I have ever painted on them is special iodine ointment the vet gave when one of them had a bad shell. Painting is cruel! =^.^=
Thank you Bailey 🙂
Yeah it’s a cruel act but not many people know that it’s wrong.
Ointment is also thing I have ever put on my turtle’s shell 🙂
i like to watch that you can take so many pictures from your turtles , my turtles are so shy
Thank you 🙂
It needs time to be not shy but you’ll get there.
how do u get your own website ? to help spread the word
Hi allison 🙂
So nice to know you want to spread the word ((hug))
You can easily join in any free blog site like wordpress (the one I am using) and blogspot.
It is very sad about the turtels. I think the turtels are very important for me.
They are also important for me 🙂
I am going to share this! I can’t believe people are doing this!!! That’s terrible!
Thank you soooo much Caren ((hug))
I hope the more people sharing it the more they understand the danger of doing this.
I can’t believe people would want to hurt turtles – I’m glad you’re getting the word out that this isn’t cool! I’m gonna share too!
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Sometimes, they didn’t know that it’ll hurt the turtle. They think that it’s not hiting or poking.
Thank you Snoopy…the more sharing the more people can be educated 🙂
It never would have occurred to me to paint a turtle! I had one when I was small. People do some weird stuff! Thanks for the educational Information.
Yeah…sad but it happens everyone, people unintentionally (or intentionally) hurts animals.
You’re more than welcome 🙂
Those are all great reasons people shouldn’t do this! I’ve never seen a turtle painted like those! Crazy… I’ve seen a couple that had a little bit of paint on their shell but it wasn’t much and definitely not that drastic. I also once met a turtle with painted toenails. I think you offer a nice alternative with the turtle dress 🙂
Fortunately, the owner has taken away all the pictures of her painted turtles…and she is now part of us. She will erase the paint.
Painted toenails?? What the?? I wonder why people think doing that unnatural things will make their pet cuter. I just saw someone put earring on guinea pig 😦
Hehehe I have other alternative to paint turtle without hurting the turtle 😉 it’ll be my Wednesday post.
ridiculous!! turtle are not the things for show piece they are live creature.. And they are already beautiful and cute, they no need any tuchup from cruel people..
when such type of issue solve?
when we understnd that the any creature are not a thing to be kept as show case.
?
😦
Well said, Niharika 🙂
Unfortunately there are still many people who don’t know that.
I’ve never heard of painting turtles before, but am so glad you’ve shared this
Spread the word, Misaki 🙂
Since I don’t own a turtle I never thought about this issue. I think I have seen a picture or two of painted turtles over the years. Thanks for informing us of the dangers.
Thank you for reading Jessica 🙂
Hope you can spread the word and safe more turtles from being painted
how could you be so mean people
Some are uneducated, some are ignorant 😦
That is so wrong xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
Hear Hear!!
Cruelty comes in too many forms. Sharing.
THank you for sharing Sue ((hug))
Yeah…they might not think it’s a kind of cruelty because it looks so simple…but it’s still cruelty!
How awful that people are doing such stupid things for their own amusement. It’s great that you’re raising awareness about this, it needs to stop. Great post.
Totally agree!! They should know that Pets are not toys.
Thank you Daisy’s Mum, I sure hope this can reduce the ‘artist’ who thinks it’s okay to use turtle and other animal as their canvas.
Good information! It seems obvious but you know what they say about common sense… it isn’t!
Thank you Jen 🙂
Yeah…I know…sad but that’s what happen all around us.
I’ll tweet and pin this. Great information!
Thank you soooo much Flea ((hug))
It’s unfortunate people do such things. I assume mostly out of ignorance, but no turtles or other animals should painted or decorated like that. If you want to color a turtle, color a picture of a turtle or get a coloring book.
It’s a sad thing that some people has no respect toward animal…what’s scarier is that they are proud to show it off. I saw some chicks being painted into blue, red and other colours whereas their real bright yellow colour is more beautiful.
Totally agree!! Do it on coloring book or use drawing app/software ( I have this ready to publish few hours from now)
Dyeing baby chicks different colours used to be done at Easter. Not widespread, but it did happen. And it probably wasn’t done with non-toxic dye. They used to also give the as pets at Easter. And then the cute chick grows up (if it’s lucky) to a not nearly so cute chicken that no one wants.
Poor kitten 😦
A lot of people still seel them here.
Hope that Easter tradition has stopped
[…] A couple of days ago, I shared about turtle awareness which is NEVER PAINT ON A TURTLE. […]
Natural patterns of turtles already beautiful for me. I never understand why people try to paint and hide those patterns 😦
Me too! They think that bright colour is more beautiful than what God had created for them…so sad
Wow why would someone do such a thing! There’s no need to paint their shells!
Some people don’t know better 😦
I don’t understand why would a person paint their turtle! I would never do such a thing to my pet turtle Finn. But the dress thing is a cute idea but what if your turtle is a boy? A dress on a boy? Doesn’t it sound a bit weird?
I don’t understand it either 😦
I think you can consider it more like costume for boy 😉
I recently bought a painted turtle, I was looking to see that it was bad but do you know a easy way I can take off the paint without hurting the turtle?
I am sorry I haven’t got a clue. Maybe you can try scrubbing it with toothpaste. Or maybe you can use paint remover but be very careful not to let it touch its skin and then clean the paint remover off the turtle afterward.
my friend wants to buy 4 turtles and paint their faces to look like “ninja turtles” is this safe? what would be the reaction to the little creature?
Hi Gaby…no, it’s definitely NOT safe as I have written above. poor turtles.
If your friend has good heart, she/he better makes a costume for them rather than painting them
For those of you wondering why anyone would paint a turtle, well, I had a slider as a kid that I had to let go in the wild. I painted his name on his shell because I thought I’d be able to find him again. I had no idea then that it would harm him… I feel soo bad now, but I was like 10 then.
Hi Daxel.
Not knowing is a lot better than knowing but still doing it…and sadly many are like that.
what if you use paint that washes off?
It’s okay if you are going to wipe it off soon…but still what’s the point of painting an already beautiful turtle?
I had a snapping turtle (that’s what I called it) when I was a kid. I painted his name on his shell as did my brothers for their turtles. we used to have turtle races. harmless fun. glad you shared this. I never painted the whole shell. we also had the tiny turtles in the fish bowl. never painted their shells.
I am glad you never paint them again 🙂
and i never will. 🙂
Thanks for the post. My wife was trying to convince me to paint our tourtle… and I would have, but I realized how ignorant we were by reading this.
Thank you J J. I am glad this post can help you make up your mind about what’s right and wrong. I hope everyone who stumble upon this blog will act like you ((hug))
My daughter is putting her two turtles in a race this weekend. Honestly we just painted them last weekend. I never thought about it doing harm…got me feeling bad now 😦
Hi Mommy Crissy 🙂
Don’t beat yourself, you didn’t know but now you know. It’s awesome to see you regret the thing that you had done because it only means one thing…You’ll never do it again 🙂
I was going to put some paint on turtles I stop for while they are crossing the road. Just to make them more visible. I will refrain from doing that now!
Thank you Sam 🙂
It’s always heartwarming to know some people will take action after reading this post 🙂
If you see them crossing just help them cross the road. That’ll will help them a lot.
Im glad someone stepped up to bring up about not to paint turttle shells , i thought of painting mines today but i thought of checking on line anything about painting turtles, thanks for the warning.
Hi Lyle 🙂
Thank you soooo much for not painting your turtles ((hug))
I’ve been painting my red eared sliders for a long time know and I have WELL researched it before it has no effect on their shells or organs my family had a turtle in the family for 31 years and we always painted her. Her nails and shell although we didn’t foully cover her shell when Blink 182 was in we did the smiley face on her shell and it had no effect on her what so ever. But I understand ware your coming from the paint I use is either child’s paint like Crayola or non toxic nail polish but I just ordered a new paint called Turtle Paint for their shell its light and airy for the shell but again you could get Crayola paint stick it in the blender and mix it for 10 to 15 min. it works the same way but Im ordering the paint to have it last a little longer. I hope I’ve been help to you people. :>
Hi massie,
I am not going to judge you because you’re usong non toxic, but still it covers the shell from the sun.
For me, their beautiful shells are more beautiful than any painting made by human 🙂
Just saying.. there is a paint especially for turtles’ shells. When u paint it on their shell it doesn’t affect at all. Sun and air can go through it.
If u really love ur turtle u would see that the shell is pretty as it really is
When I was younger I wanted to paint a symbol on my pet turtle but I never got around to doing that and thank god I didn’t paint on her.
(Btw my turtle’s name is marry she is so adorable X3)
Glad you know better than most people 🙂