User:Joyce Leow/The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum of Singapore

The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum of Singapore is nestled in a quiet corner of the Singapore Chinese Garden. The Museum has the world’s rarest live turtles, tortoises and terrapins. It is the only live turtle and tortoise museum in Singapore.

Its founder, Mr Danny Tan, a turtle lover and enthusiast, contributes more than 180 turtles breed in the Museum. With over 52 species house in large tanks and extraordinarily constructed ponds, the Museum also exhibits above 3,000 turtle-related items collected by Mr Tan and his daughter, Ms Connie Tan.

For the largest collection in the world, the Museum was listed in the Guinness World Records in 2005. An ideal place for family fun, exploration and excitement, the Museum is open to visitors daily with minimal admission charges. The operation time starts at 9 am so visitors are encouraged to be early. Special feed is available for purchase.

History
Founded by Mr Danny Tan, The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum opened its doors to streams of visitors and hobbyists in 2002. Mr Tan, a local businessman who specialises in event management and venue decorations, started his collections when he was in his 20s. With a jade tortoise from Taiwan, his 40-year-old hobby now counts among his collections. Items hail from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Africa, United States of America, Russia, Spain, Germany etc.

The Tans’ love for turtles, tortoises and terrapins was no inexpensive affair. Over the decades, over a million dollars alone was spent on feeds and caring for their well-being. With more than 1,000 live turtles, tortoises and terrapins, the Tans opened the Museum to house their huge collection and gave their pets a haven they call, home.

Purpose of Collection
Cats, dogs, rabbits or perhaps hamsters are commonly kept as pets. Ms Connie Tan who helps her father to run the daily operations of The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is no exception. When she was a young child, she yearned to have a cat or dog as a pet. As every loving parent would do, they too worry over the health of their young children. As a result, she was not allowed to keep the cute little furry animals as pets. She turned to turtles and tortoises as alternative. With the continual additions to the already growing “family members”, separate toilet facilities in the house was arranged, specially meant for the turtles and tortoises for their cleaning and bathing purposes.

Keeping turtles and tortoises as pets was no simple feat. The amount of space needed for different species and the amount of food the creatures required are astounding. The cost to maintain and upkeep the creatures were massive, the energy put in to ensure each and every family member is well, was exhausting but enjoyable. Spending time with these pets was like a family affair, everyone chipped in, every member being adored. The amount of love and passion towards these creatures were unspeakable.

As a follow-up to a suggestion by a Minister to educate youth in nature conservation and the protection of endangered reptiles, The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is born in 2000, to provide ample space for the reptiles to live in and to display the huge number of artefacts collected.

Mr Danny Tan had greater plans when they began preparations to build the Museum; he also wanted to educate the public on the long-term commitment of owning a pet and how to keep such pets. The Museum occasionally conducts educational talks on how to care for turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The Museum also adopts abandoned terrapins, turtles and tortoises.

No amount of money can also buy Tan’s love for their pets. The turtles, tortoises and terrapins in the Museum are not for sale.

Collection Highlights
The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum has a collection of approximately 1,000 live turtles and tortoises. The Museum has the world’s rarest and endangered species. The world’s most ferocious species - Alligator Snapping Turtle, the world third largest species - African Spurred Thigh Tortoise and the world’s most beautiful tortoise – Radiated Tortoise are kept in the Museum. Indian Star Tortoise, Matamata and many other species can also be found in the Museum.

Artefacts
The museum has more than 5,000 numbers of toys, ornaments, tableware and even furniture created in celebration of the founders’ shelled friends. The artefacts are sitting on the shelves in the museum. Some are made of gold, jade and crystal, while others come in everyday materials such as coconut husk, stone and even grains of rice glued together. Most are ornaments but there are also jewellery, teapots, ashtrays and even a child's potty in the shape of a turtle.

Difference Between Turtle and Tortoise
The Museum has a number of live turtles and tortoises. Thus, there are several ways to differentiate and identify them. Turtle lives in water while tortoise lives on land. However, terrapin lives both on land and in water. The physical characteristics also differ for turtle and tortoise. Turtle has webbed feet with long claws and a shell that is almost flat in shape. However, the feet of the tortoise are short and sturdy with bent legs. A large dome shaped shell can normally also be found on tortoise.

In order to keep turtle and tortoise healthy, the correct diet must be identified. Turtle can be herbivorous or carnivorous while tortoise is herbivorous. Each species of turtle or tortoise will have its own specific dietary requirements, although several species may share similar tastes and nutritional requirements. Thus, feeding the turtle and tortoise accordingly is a must, to avoid health related problems to arise. A wide variety of foods are also important to ensure proper growth.

Deformed Shell
Turtles and tortoises may have deformed shell if they are not properly taken care of. Shell problems can be quite serious, especially in baby turtles and can impact the turtle for the rest of its life. Shells may be deformed due to birth defects caused by genetics or problems during incubation, physical injury, being kept in a small home, lack of sunlight or nutrition. Calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies can cause stunted growth and a soft, deformed shell with upturned edges.

People who have visited the Museum may have spotted a few turtles with deformed shells. These turtles are brought in by the public to allow the turtles to be treated and taken care of. Pet turtle is often kept in a tank at home. Under such living condition, the turtle is unable to absorb sufficient amount of sunlight and lead to a decrease in Vitamin D in its body which is essential for healthy growth. Pet owners also have little knowledge on the know-how to take proper care of their pets thus, correct and balanced diet may be neglected. With incorrect diet, the reptiles may also have deformed shell.

With a deformed shell, the reptile will be easily attacked by the other reptiles as most of its skins are exposed. This may cause the reptile to become more defensive in order to ensure its survival. In the Museum, such reptile will be kept in a separate tank so that it is not prone to being attacked. At the same time, it is fed with appropriate food and the tank is positioned in a way that the reptile is able to expose to sunlight. Turtles need sunlight to remain healthy, grow normally and maintain healthy strong bones. Without proper sunlight, they will get metabolic bone disease – a severe condition when the bones become weakened and “disintegrate”.

Some turtles with deformed shells when first brought into the museum were in a bad state. However, the turtles are recovering gradually with obvious improvement in the shape of the shell grown. Although the turtles are unable to have its shell grown back to a complete normal shape, it is fortunate to have the shell from deforming further and worsening the shape.

General Information
Address: 1 Chinese Garden Road, Singapore 619795

Tel: (+65) 62685363 / (+65) 62711846

Fax: (+65) 62787109

Email: sales@turtle-tortoise.com

Opening Hours: 7 days a week, 9 am till 6 pm daily

Getting There: The museum is a 5-minute walk from the Chinese Garden MRT Station (EW25).

Admission Fee: Adult - $5

Child - $3 (under 6 years old)

Senior Citizen - $3 (above 60 years old)

Guided tour is available for booking