User:MISTa FOLGERS/Squirt (aquatic pet)

Squirt (c. 2002 -) is a domestic aquatic testudine living as a household pet in the care of Greg Vandas, currently in Ballwin, Missouri, USA. He was discovered in Ballwin's suburban wilderness in 2001 or 2002, and has lived in captivity with multiple different owners since. Squirt is presumed to be a member of the species Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans, the common North American Red-eared slider, although this matter is debated in the academic community. Squirt's exact age and gender are also disputed, but recent studies indicate that he is probably a male and that he may be up to seven years old.

Background
It is unknown exactly when and where Squirt was born, making it difficult to precisely determine his age and species. Most sources accept that he was already an adult when first discovered, and being in captivity since 2002, this makes it likely that he is anywhere from 7 to 10 years old. Sources also typically assume that Squirt was born in the vicinity of where he was discovered, so many estimate him to be a native Missouri species. Given the widespread popularity of red-eared sliders as pets in the United States, and the fact that Squirt has a shell and colorings conspicuously similar to those in photos of the species, modern science has begun to reach consensus on the matter.

After spending nearly six years with his first owner, Squirt was given to a friend in 2009, and he has lived with this second caretaker ever since. He remains contained in the 15-in. x 10-in. x 12-in. plastic terrarium he began his captive life in, although fund-raising efforts started in summer 2009 aim to purchase Squirt a larger, more accommodating habitat by 2010.

Diet
Squirt enjoys one meal of ReptoMin floating fish meal and wheat starch food sticks every day, a diet specifically designed for small reptiles and formulated with calcium and vitamin C. He is often fed small amounts of ReptoTreat 100% sun-dried freshwater shrimp, of the species Gammarus pulex, as well.

Squirt typically only feeds for a few minutes, and almost always with the food floating in his water. He seldom eats dry food from dry surfaces.

Behavior
Aquatic turtles spend nearly 80 percent of their lives in the water, and Squirt is no different. When his terrarium is placed near a window allowing sunlight in, he will spend large parts of the day basking on the exposed part of a partially submerged fake rock. If the weather is overcast, or if the temperature drops, Squirt chooses instead to brumate inside his shell, usually underwater.

Squirt seems intelligent and observant enough to recognize objects and people outside the confines of his terrarium. Frequently, when someone walks in the same room as him, he immediately becomes active and "climbs" the inner plastic walls, attempting to make contact with the person by repeatedly scratching his fore legs. This action has been historically interpreted as a sign of happiness and excitement, but again, the actual emotion it conveys has several proposed alternatives.

Accomplishments
Squirt is an outspoken activist for reptilian rights, and more generally the rights of all animals, with the important exceptions of his primary predators (several species of snake native to Missouri and most large birds of prey) and competitors for his specific biological niche (a variety of freshwater fish, crustaceans, and small amphibians), in reference to whom he has been quoted as saying: "Go to hell".

In 2009, Squirt managed to successfully and repeatedly escape confinement by a set of Transformers chess pieces.

Controversy
The debate surrounding the identification of Squirt's species became somewhat of a controversy in scientific circles earlier in the decade. Several taxonomists proposed the creation of an entirely new species for Squirt, citing his interest in professional ice hockey as uncharacteristic for most extant aquatic reptile species. However, a study conducted by zoologists at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 2007 concluded that Squirt is indeed a member of genus Trachemys, although his species membership in this classification remains unclear. The study also decided that while it is true that no member of genus Trachemys has ever demonstrated serious concern with ice hockey or any other winter sport, Squirt may just be a naturally ambitious and curious individual.

The years of controversy garnered Squirt and his caretakers much publicity before the AR-Pine Bluff study was published. As a result, Squirt became a household name in many isolated areas of St. Louis County and has been fighting off paparazzi for most of his adult life. However, Squirt maintains a distance from the public eye, appearing disaffected by even the brightest flashbulb. He generally declines to be interviewed, and has not made a public statement since February 2009.

Squirt was invited to attend the 82nd Annual Academy Awards ceremony on March 7, 2010, but declined due to scheduling conflicts, citing increasing pressures to brumate under his fake rock as the primary factors preventing his appearance.