Kathleen feagan, age 8, of San Diego, Calif., for her question:

Is a turtle the same as a tortoise?

This question can be very bothersome if you have one of these sturdy little pets. A turtle is not quite the same as a tortoise, and he needs a different kind of home to live in. Both the turtle and the tortoise will be happy in a box with glass sides, but the turtle needs a swimming pool for himself bec8use he is very fond of the water.

The tortoise lives on land and needs a patch of sandy soil for sunbathing. His stubby feet have claws for walking over the ground. The turtle's legs are meant for swimming, and he is not too good at walking. We have far more turtles than tortoises in our country. So chances are your little pet is a water loving turtle.