How to care for a land tortoise. Caring for a land tortoise at home. Land turtle at home

The red-eared turtle, sometimes called the yellow-bellied turtle, - the most common among fans of domestic turtles. Today they can be found in almost every pet store, and sometimes just in the market. Cute and small at the time of purchase, the creations evoke a sea of positive emotions, both in children and adults. However, this popularity has a downside: a huge number of home red-eared turtles initially doomed to death or life in unsuitable conditions for them.

Is everything as simple as it seems at first? Maybe you have already acquired these beautiful creatures or are just about to - the decision is always yours. We will try to help with advice on how to keep, feed and care for them.

Types of red-eared turtles, sizes and features

The red-eared turtle includes three subspecies, which have their own characteristics of morphology (appearance).

The first representative of this species - Trachemys scripta scripta. Its peculiarity lies in the yellow color of the stripes on the muzzle (turning into a large yellow postorbital spot), which are connected at the neck. On the side (costal) shields of the dorsal shell (carapace) there are yellow stripes, and on the front shields of the abdominal shell (plastron) - yellow spots. In size, it reaches up to 27 cm.

The second representative, more familiar to all of us, - Trachemys scripta elegans. Her postorbital spots (resemble a bandage) - red, and they are quite wide. On the costal shields of the carapace there are transverse yellow stripes, and on the plastron - a large spot on each shield. Reaches up to 28 cm in size.

And the third representative, very similar in appearance to Trachemys scripta elegans, - Trachemys scripta troostii. The differences lie in the fact that in this subspecies the postorbital spot is narrower and has a yellow color (sometimes combined with red). On the costal shields of the carapace there are yellow transverse stripes, and on the plastron - a pattern of black spots similar to "eyes", or just small black spots. Reaches up to 21 cm in size.

As we can see, these turtles are far from "dwarf", as sellers in pet stores may claim.

It is also erroneous to believe that red-eared turtles - inhabitants of our regions and Russia as a whole. The homeland of red-eared turtles: North America, Central America and northern South America, they also live in Europe and South-East Asia. The main habitat is shallow water bodies, ponds and rivers with a gentle current or coastal zones.

Common questions for red-eared sliders

How many years do red-eared turtles live?

The life expectancy of red-eared turtles at home with quality care and maintenance is 30-40 years. Therefore, you need to understand that you make a friend for almost a lifetime.

How to distinguish a female from a male red-eared turtle?

Determining the sex of a turtle is difficult. It is better to entrust this matter to a specialist. And for 100% determination, even research methods such as radiography with contrast and probing may be needed. - it will show the presence of hemipenis sacs. However, you can try to do it yourself. For example, according to the length of the claws on the forelimbs: in the male they are much longer and look like extended bayonets. Or by the length of the tail: the male has a longer tail. Also, the male has a notch on the abdominal shell.

Do red-eared turtles hibernate?

Some scientists argue that red-eared turtles hibernate and they need it. However, this process can occur only under certain conditions of detention, which initially prepare the turtle's body for the state of suspended animation (hibernation): a gradual decrease in temperature, a decrease in the length of daylight hours and the amount of food.

The process of bringing the animal out of suspended animation will also be difficult. It is rather difficult to imagine these processes at home. Therefore, it would be more logical not to create difficulties for yourself and not cause unnecessary harm to the health of the turtle.

All three subspecies of turtles - representatives of the semi-aquatic lifestyle. In addition, they are all predators and begin to consume plant foods only at an older age.

They also require certain temperature conditions, lighting conditions and exposure to the ultraviolet spectrum.

Aquaterrarium for red-eared turtles

What is a terrarium? This is a specially equipped place created for keeping reptiles. In this case, we are dealing with an aquaterrarium, since the red-eared turtle needs both land and water. Content in boxes, basins, buckets is categorically not suitable for them!

In addition, we must remember that our turtles should live only in their "house" and in no case should they "walk" around the apartment. In hands, they can only be taken for an extremely small amount of time: during a transplant for feeding or cleaning.

The future size of our turtles indicates that they need enough space to fully grow and develop. But this does not mean at all that you can launch small turtles immediately into a large aquaterrarium. Every age - your "house", according to size.

The terrarium for the red-eared turtle should be of the horizontal type (rectangular in length). Adult pets require "homes" with a volume of at least 150 liters, and babies - about 50 l. Ordinary small turtles, which are sold in pet stores, can also be suitable for very little ones.

As for the location of the aquaterrarium in the apartment, a more suitable place is in the back of the room. In the autumn-winter period in the room where your turtle is kept, it is better not to open the windows, in order to avoid a cold draft. Yes, it is deadly for your cold-blooded pets, as a “cold” can cause a disease such as pneumonia, which becomes clearly visible when the turtle is already fully ill.

Aquaterrarium equipment

What should be mandatory in every aquaterrarium: a thermometer to control the water temperature, a shore, a water heater and a water filter.

The presence of algae and stones is not necessary, and sometimes contraindicated. Some types of algae are toxic and stones can be swallowed and cause blockages in the esophagus or intestines; in addition, they complicate cleaning. But if you still decide to decorate your terrarium in this way, then remember that the size of the stones should not be less than the head of a turtle, the stones themselves should not crumble and be multi-colored (when heated, they can release toxic substances). It is better to select algae after a preliminary consultation with a specialist.

Coastal part of the aquaterrarium

Why does an aquaterrarium need a shore? Turtles - cold-blooded animals that are not able to create heat with their own bodies, as we mammals do. In nature, turtles come ashore to warm themselves and take a break from swimming, the same must be done for them at home.

Land should not occupy more than 1/3 of the aquaterrarium. The angle of rise out of the water should not be too obtuse or straight. It must be sharp and motionless so that the exit from the water does not “run away” from the turtle.
The shore itself must be made of a sufficiently durable material, without the presence of easily leaving paint and odorless.

Lighting

Two types of lighting will be required: one for heating, the other - ultraviolet.

These two types of exposure will only have the following in common:

Both lamps must be installed above the shore.
The distance to the shore should not be less than 30 cm.
Both lamps should burn for about 12 hours.

Now let's talk about each type separately.

UV lamp for red-eared turtles

In the case of reptiles, only special lamps are used that are suitable only for them. Each such lamp has its own percentage of emitted ultraviolet (UVB): 2% (2.0), 5% (5.0) and 10% (10.0). Turtles are suitable lamps 5% (5.0).

What is it for, you ask? If you do not go into the specifics of the physiology of the metabolism of reptiles, then without ultraviolet radiation, calcium will not be fully absorbed and the gastrointestinal tract will not work, which will lead to quite dangerous and serious diseases in both adults and small turtles.

thermal lighting

For this type of lighting, conventional 60 W incandescent lamps are suitable. This type is required so that your turtles do not freeze while out of the water and can warm up normally for the full functioning of their body.

Water in the aquarium

This is one of those points that should not be ignored in any case, since it is in this environment that healthy turtles spend most of their time.

For our pets, filtered or settled water for at least a day is suitable. If the water was first filtered and then settled - you are a very good host. In this case, we are engaged in the prevention of many diseases of the shell and skin.

Water temperature in an aquarium for red-eared turtles

To create comfortable living conditions for our reptiles, it will be necessary to maintain certain temperature conditions!

The water temperature should be in the range of 22-25 0 C. It can be maintained either with the help of special heating mats (provided that the dimensions of the aquaterrarium are small enough), or water heaters that can be set to a suitable temperature. To constantly monitor the temperature, you will need a special thermometer, which must be installed in the water. In addition, it must be protected from the curiosity of our pets, as they can damage it, which will lead to hazardous substances entering the water and poisoning the body.

We maintain the temperature of the shore with a heating lamp. You can control it by adjusting the height of the lamp.
Normally, the temperature of the coast should be in the range of 30-32 0 С.

What do red-eared turtles eat?

Feeding - a very important part of the life of our pets. It is with food that they get all the necessary nutrients.

Remember: feed the turtles the same that we eat, - it is forbidden!

Remember: red-eared turtles - predators and plant foods in their diet should appear only in adulthood.

Not suitable as feed: meat, semi-finished meat products (minced meat, sausages, sausages), chicken meat, fatty fish, salty fish, fried, sweet and salty, ready-made dry food.

What to feed red-eared turtles at home, you ask? Let's discuss this now.
To make it easier to feed the turtles, they can be kept with fish, which they will catch and eat, getting all the necessary nutrients.

If this option does not suit you, then we adhere to the following diet, which you want to combine: beef liver (heart and liver), fish, insects (worms, crickets without legs, adjustable cockroaches without legs), daphnia, not dry gammarus.

What fish to feed the red-eared turtle?

As plant food for adult turtles, algae (water hyacinth, hornwort, duckweed, etc.) and plants (dandelion, carrot, lettuce) are suitable.

The serving size should be about half the carapace (back shell) of the turtle. But know that if she refuses to eat, then the portion size needs to be reduced, and feeding for this particular time needs to be stopped. The size of one piece should be half the size of the head and should be 1/3 of the thickness of the head.

As for the frequency of feeding, small turtles up to 7-9 cm in a carapace are fed once a day. Larger ones need to be fed less frequently. - once every other day.

Along with the food, you can give special vitamin supplements that are suitable only for reptiles, this will provide them with a complete diet.
But remember that for each age and gender group, the frequency and amount of feeding is different, so it is better to consult a specialist before giving.

To less pollute the aquaterrarium, the turtle can be fed in a specially equipped jig (if you feed it with non-live aquarium fish). The kennel in this case should be of a suitable size: so that the pet can turn around and move freely in it.

Cleaning

The most annoying and difficult thing to do. During cleaning, the turtle must be transplanted into a specially equipped jig (the jig for feeding and temporary keeping at the time of harvesting can be one).

Cleaning is done once a week. In our case, a complete treatment from algae and bacteria with the help of antiseptics is required, followed by rinsing under running water. Chlorhexidine, sold at any pharmacy, is suitable as an antiseptic, or you can use a mild soapy solution. During cleaning, do not forget to carefully process each wall and all corners of the aquaterrarium.

Remember, as long as the tank is treated thoroughly every week, the likelihood of skin problems for your turtle will be very, very low.

Epilogue

This article discusses the general rules for keeping red-eared turtles, which are suitable for all three subspecies.

Before you get a turtle, weigh the pros and cons well and consider whether you can provide the necessary conditions for keeping your pet so that he is healthy and does not need veterinary care.

Remember: it is always cheaper and easier to properly maintain an exotic pet than to treat diseases that can be extremely dangerous in reptiles, in particular turtles.

Recently, a fashionable trend has appeared: along with the usual pets, people increasingly began to acquire exotic animals, one of which are turtles.

These reptiles have inhabited our planet for more than two hundred million years and, depending on the habitat, are divided into aquatic and terrestrial. This article will be devoted to turtles that live on land.

General information about turtles

Currently, about 40 species of land turtles are known to science. Their sizes range from very small - the size of a matchbox, to giant ones - weighing at least 500 kilograms. But for home maintenance, a representative of this species, which has a completely mediocre size, has proven itself well.

Central Asian (steppe) or Horsfield tortoise - representative of reptiles, which feels quite comfortable in a home terrarium. Its natural habitat is considered to be semi-desert and steppe terrain in Central Asia, but it is also found on the territory of Pakistan, Afghanistan and even on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

These turtles live mainly in sandy soils, but are also found in clay soils. Despite the arid climate, the ground in the habitats of these animals must be wet. This is due to the fact that turtles dig holes and if the soil is dry, they are forced to wander in search of a suitable option. Another reason why reptiles prefer moist soil- Availability large quantities grass, which is their food source.

Peak activity of these turtles occurs in the early morning and evening. During the daytime and evening hours, they prefer to sleep under rocks, snags or in burrows.

In nature, these reptiles hibernate in winter and summer to protect themselves from the effects of adverse temperatures and from hunger, which threatens them due to a lack of food at this time. If the home conditions are comfortable for the turtle, it will not need to hibernate.

Appearance

The Horsfield tortoise has a rather modest size. The dimensions of its shell range from 13 to 25 centimeters in length. Males are inferior in size to females: their shell grows from 13 to 20 cm, and in females from 15 to 25 cm. But at home, these animals grow up to 17-18 cm in length.

Their shell consists of 16 keratinized scutes on top and 13-15 of the same flaps on the bottom. Another 25 shields are located on the side surfaces of the shell. It has a rounded shape, slightly flattened at the top. From above, its color varies from olive-yellow-green to olive-brown. Dark spots are located on top of the main color, their color correlates with the color of the soil on which the turtle lives. The head and paws of the turtle are brown. There are four clawed fingers on the paws.

In nature, these animals live within 40-50 years, and in captivity, under comfortable conditions, their life expectancy can increase.

What do steppe turtles eat?

IN natural conditions reptiles feed on plant foods: grass, young shoots of shrubs. Sometimes they can treat themselves to berries and fruits.

Home conditions suggest for a turtle varied diet:

75-80% of the total amount of food should be fresh greens and hay
5% should be vegetables
15-20% fruit

Prepared food should be put on a plate or on a special surface, where the possibility of eating the soil along with food will be excluded. Hand feeding is not recommended.

As for the frequency of feeding, young individuals need to be fed daily. Adult turtles are usually fed once every 2-3 days. The serving volume should be approximately half the volume of the animal's shell.

Attention should be paid to the fact that excessive consumption of juicy food and fruits by the turtle can lead to the fact that in the stomach of the turtle the fermentation process will start.

In order for the animal to receive the amount of calcium and other trace elements it needs, it is necessary to include special mineral baits in its diet.

A land pet does not require constant access to water, so there is no need to put a container with it in the house.

The care that your land friend will need is not too difficult. But there are a number of conditions that must be met.

How to choose the right house?

It doesn't matter if, having acquired a turtle, you did not have time to buy a house for it. At first, a turtle can serve as a home cardboard box, the dimensions of which should not hamper the movements of the animal. It would be wrong to leave the reptile to live on the floor before buying a special dwelling, as this can negatively affect the life of the turtle. Your new land pet may catch a cold or hide in the farthest corner, where it risks starving to death in the future. If the turtle is small, even though it has a shell, it can be crushed by its owner, who did not notice and stepped on it.

Therefore, proper care and maintenance of a turtle means equipped terrarium where your pet will feel most comfortable.

Land tortoise care is a must includes bathing. This contributes to the stabilization of the water-salt balance, the replenishment of moisture reserves in the body and the normalization of work. gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to bathe the animal in warm water (+32-35 degrees) once every two weeks.

breeding process

Under natural habitat conditions, Central Asian tortoises reach sexual maturity at the age of about 10 years.

In the period from April to July, the female makes holes in the ground, in which she then lays her eggs. One individual can make up to three clutches, each of which contains up to six eggs. At a temperature of +30 degrees and a humidity of 60-70%, the incubation period lasts from 60 to 65 days.

Between August and October, the eggs hatch cubs about 3 cm in size.

At home, steppe turtles can become parents at the age of 5-6 years.

Breeding requires a female and two young males. After the mating process is completed, the female must immediately be isolated. For 2-3 months, the expectant mother is busy carrying eggs. During this period, her diet should be rich in vitamins and minerals.

The female lays eggs in the ground and safely forgets about them. They must be immediately taken out and placed in an incubator - a special place where the soil layer is at least 18 cm, the temperature is + 29-30 degrees and air humidity not less than 60%. An individual that has laid eggs should be kept separate from the rest for some time, continuing to feed it intensively. This is done so that the animal recovers after pregnancy.

Three months later, newborn turtles emerge from the eggs.

Baby care

In order to ensure maximum survival of the offspring, certain care is required for it. Small turtles should not be placed in the same terrarium with adult reptiles, as they can inflict injuries on babies that are incompatible with life. The bottom of the terrarium for young animals lined with small sawdust, the temperature regime is the same as for adult animals. You need to feed the cubs with plant foods with the addition of calcium.

Problems of maintenance and disease of turtles

The most common disease that owners of land turtles face is rickets. Its manifestations are noticeable only in the later stages, when the animal deformed shell and skeleton. This disease occurs due to a lack of ultraviolet radiation.

Treatment consists in irradiating the reptile under an ultraviolet lamp, adding calcium and vitamins of group D to its diet.

If you properly care for the turtle, it will delight you with its company for many years!

The yellow-bellied or red-eared tortoise (Trachemys scripta) is a species belonging to the family of freshwater American tortoises. This freshwater reptile is deservedly one of the most common and very popular species among lovers of exotic pets such as turtles.

Characteristics of the red-eared turtle

Experts recommend purchasing a reptile in early spring, which will allow the baby to adapt as easily as possible to new conditions during the summer period. A seasonal feature of reptiles purchased in the fall is slow adaptation and slowing down of growth processes, as well as the risk of developing rickets, beriberi, or pneumonia.

When buying a red-eared turtle, you should pay attention to the condition of the reptile's shell. It must be undeformed and not soft, of correct shape, without scratches or any other damage. There should be no cracks or spots on the skin of the reptile. Sick and dehydrated animals have sunken eyes surrounded by a small "notch". The eyes of the red-eared turtle should be free of discharge and puffiness. The mouth of the turtle should not have a whitish coating, abrasions or wounds.

This is interesting! A strange-looking formation located on the plastron is most often the residual part of the yolk sac - a food source for a small turtle. Such a formation resolves on its own, after which the reptile begins to actively feed.

It is important to be able to independently determine the sex of the red-eared turtle, and also to remember that very small turtles, regardless of gender, look exactly the same. It is only as they mature that the differences between females and males become apparent. The latter become sexually mature more quickly, having a shell of about 10-12 cm in size by this age, but the females of this species are noticeably larger. Among other things, males have longer claws, which are located on the front pair of legs, as well as concave plastrons and a longer, thicker tail. The cloaca of the male is located closer to the middle part of the tail.

Aquarium device, filling

Proper Diet for Turtles

In captivity, the red-eared turtle should be fed lean, preferably river fish, and raw beef liver is given to the freshwater reptile once every two weeks. The diet of an exotic pet must be supplemented with snails, as well as crickets, fodder cockroaches, earthworms and medium-sized aquarium fish. The vegetable part of the diet can be represented by various aquarium plants, leaf lettuce, dandelion and plantain leaves.

This is interesting! When placing food in an aqua terrarium, it must be remembered that red-eared turtles do not chew food until they completely submerge their head under water, which is due to the lack of saliva.

The aquarium water should contain calcium in the form of Vitakraft Seria mineral stone. Many owners of red-eared turtles feed their pets with special ready-made diets: Tetra ReptoMin, Sera and JBL. From vegetable crops, preference should be given to carrots, which, in crushed form, are given to freshwater reptiles no more than once a month. Turtles under one year of age should be fed daily, while older turtles should be fed once every two or three days.

Caring for the red-eared turtle

Friendly and rather unpretentious, red-eared turtles require simple, but specific care.. Pure water is the key to the active growth of young animals and maintaining the health of adult animals. To fill the aqua terrarium, you should use water that has been settled for five days. By installing a powerful filter system, the frequency of water changes can be reduced. To maintain optimal temperature indicators you can use a traditional incandescent lamp, the light from which should be directed directly to the island of land. In this case, aquarium water will not require too active additional heating.

Important! It is erroneous to believe that cramped turtles do not grow and remain attractively small. Under such conditions, the reptile can die very quickly.

After some time, the adapted animal learns to take all its food exclusively on land, which makes the feeding process very convenient, and also prevents the risk of polluting the water too quickly. It is desirable that the island for resting and feeding the reptile has a textured surface. Experts consider it inappropriate to keep turtles inside one aqua terrarium, which have noticeable differences in size.

It should be noted that the sluggishness and slowness of the red-eared turtle is often very deceptive, therefore, sometimes such domestic exotics are able to show tangible activity not only in water, but also on an island of land. It is for this reason that it is very important to choose the right dwelling for a reptile. The minimum height of the walls should be approximately 35-45 cm. Too low walls of the aqua terrarium can cause the turtle to jump out and quickly die from severe injury, dehydration or starvation.

Health, disease and prevention

Almost 90% of all diseases of the red-eared turtle result from improper maintenance or non-compliance with care requirements. The presence of dirty water in the aquarium quickly causes a sharp deterioration in the turtle's health.

A sick aquatic animal must be kept at a temperature increased by about 2-3 ° C, which helps to improve the functioning of the immune system. It is also necessary to monitor the turtle's drinking regimen, since dehydration can cause the death of a freshwater turtle against the background of the rapid development of kidney failure.

The characteristic of the movements of the swimming red-eared turtle testifies to the ill health of the animal. A sick pet most often moves in the “on its side” position or simply sinks to the bottom. If an infectious nature of the disease is suspected, all pet care items should be carefully treated with an antiseptic that is safe for a pet. As a rule, the first symptomatology of a bacterial infection is represented by the appearance of edema and necrotic changes. In this case, an antibiotic treatment regimen is prescribed, and a complete replacement of the water in the aquarium is carried out.

When injured, in a red-eared slider, under the influence of an infection that has entered the body, blood poisoning develops, accompanied by reddening of the paws and very pronounced lethargy. Such a pathology belongs to the category of intractable, therefore, it requires urgent and qualified assistance from specialists. Untimely treatment often causes the death of a pet as a result of a violation of the functions of internal organs.

Preventive measures are presented:

daily inspection of the turtle;
regular cleaning of the aqua terrarium;
regular change of water in the aqua terrarium;
proper catering;
prevention of hypothermia;
regular checks of illuminators, as well as heating and filtering devices;
compliance with the rules of personal hygiene when caring for a pet;
systematic cleaning of the tortoise shell from algae;
mandatory quarantine for sick or newly acquired turtles;
limiting contact of the sick turtle with any other pets and family members;
control of the movement of the animal outside the aqua terrarium;
periodic ultraviolet irradiation and sunbathing;
regular checkups with a veterinarian.

If the diet is incorrectly compiled, a freshwater animal develops a calcium deficiency, which manifests itself in the form of a curvature or severe softening of the shell. Too much calcium deficiency significantly increases the risk of death in rubella domestic turtle. In order to quickly normalize the general condition of the reptile, the veterinarian prescribes calcium preparations in injections.

Most pet lovers prefer to enjoy the company of warm-blooded fauna covered with wool or feathers. True, there are also a lot of fans of the underwater world and those who want to start an aquarium with fish in their home. But those who choose terrariums and the reptiles, amphibians and insects living in them are rare. But if only a few risk making snakes, spiders and scorpions their pets, then, for example, many turtles start without hesitation. Like, the animal is quite safe, and caring for a turtle at home will not be difficult.

But it was not there! Having got such an exotic pet at home, the newly minted turtle owners face a lot of problems. After all, the turtle, first of all, needs special conditions of detention, it needs specific feeding. In addition, this animal has the peculiarity of falling into hibernation, and it is not immune from all kinds of diseases. So, having decided to get a turtle, you simply have to arm yourself with the necessary knowledge.

Types of domestic turtles

The most common types of domestic turtles are red-eared, Central Asian and marsh. These animals are distinguished from other pets by a very long lifespan. In comfortable conditions and with proper care, they can live for about thirty years.

Most often, by purchasing these pets in pet stores, we become owners of red-eared turtles. These are water turtles that spend most of their time in the water. However, they need to periodically get out on land, where the red-eared turtles rest and walk. This type of turtle is distinguished by a patterned coloring of the shell and special marks - red or yellow spots on the sides of the head.

Central Asian turtles lead a land lifestyle. These are quite large specimens, reaching a mass of more than one and a half kilograms. Their shell length is about twenty centimeters, and its color varies from light red to dark olive. In nature, Central Asian tortoises are active only about three months of the year. The rest of the time they spend in burrows.

Swamp turtles. These habitual, and not at all exotic turtles are widespread in Russia. And as a rule, they get into our houses directly from nearby ponds, bypassing shops and markets. Simply, tempted by the opportunity to settle such unusual pets in our house, we make pets out of free animals. They do not differ in their bright appearance (they have a single-color dark shell), but they can boast of excellent health.

Some new owners of turtles are mistaken in believing that any kind of these domestic inhabitants requires standard conditions of detention. Yes, of course, in many ways the requirements for keeping turtles are similar, but there are some differences.

Depending on the natural habitat conditions for different turtles (aquatic or land), they need to be equipped with appropriate conditions in captivity. So, for example, to keep any turtle you will need a terrarium or (and) an aquarium. But…

For the red-eared turtle, only a spacious aquarium or aquaterrarium with a volume of at least 100 liters is suitable. In addition to water, there must also be an island of land. It is best to purchase a special island with a sloping descent, a rough surface and a large area of the island itself. The size of the surface of the island should be at least a quarter of the total area of the entire aquarium. Here you also need to install a lamp under which your turtle will bask. The aquarium is filled with settled water, which is changed once a month.

To keep the Central Asian tortoise, you will need a spacious terrarium with soil and a system for maintaining temperature and humidity. The comfortable temperature for these turtles is 25-28 degrees. The layer of soil should be thick enough for your turtle to dig into. In addition, a lamp must be installed in the terrarium. In the summer, land turtles can be walked, and if possible, then equip a street enclosure for them.

Bog turtles are quite suitable for the same aquaterrarium as for red-eared turtles. Only the water in the aquarium should be much less, since in nature these turtles live in shallow water. Above the island of land, it is also necessary to install a lamp under which the turtle could bask. Marsh turtles eat in the water, and here they defecate. So the water in the bog turtle aquarium needs to be changed more often.

As for lamps for turtles, they must be incandescent lamps, since fluorescent and ultraviolet lamps do not heat up. And turtles have the peculiarity of hibernating in winter. However, for a successful experience of this period, the turtle needs special conditions with constant maintenance of the required temperature. Therefore, it is better not to let your pets hibernate in winter. To do this, you simply need to raise the temperature in the terrarium or aquaterrarium as soon as you notice that the animal has become less active and has begun to refuse food.

Feeding

Among the turtles there are completely harmless herbivores, there are predators, and there are those who will not refuse both plant and animal food. Therefore, when purchasing a pet turtle, be sure to find out what type of food your pet needs.

For example, red-eared turtles need protein food. Therefore, they are fed with bloodworms, minced meat or special granulated feed. Note that only turtle meat cannot be given otherwise they will get rickets. Therefore, include fish (boiled) in their diet and supplement the menu with green salad, young cabbage leaves and pond algae. Red-eared turtles under the age of two years are fed daily, and older individuals are given food two to three times a week.

Land Central Asian tortoises are fed with coarse fiber plant food. Non-starchy root crops (carrots, beets), leaf lettuce, white cabbage, tough grass, dandelion leaves, zucchini, apples are perfect for their nutrition. All these fruits and vegetables (except lettuce and cabbage) must be grated, then put in the feeder, and after one and a half to two hours, remove the leftover food from the terrarium.

Bog turtles are carnivores, although some are omnivores. Therefore, the basis of their diet should be protein food. It is best to feed them with earthworms, large bloodworms, pond snails, fish and meat. But if adult marsh turtles can be given whole fish or small pieces of meat, then for feeding young turtles this food must be crushed, cut into small narrow strips that look like worms.

Hygiene

Unlike the same cats, dogs or even birds, turtles do not need constant and thorough care. The main care for these pets comes down to timely and proper feeding, as well as cleaning the aquarium or terrarium. However, for example, Central Asian land tortoises also need to periodically trim their claws and beak. True, this need arises only when the bedding in the terrarium is not hard enough for the claws to grind naturally. For this procedure, the turtle's paw is viewed through the light. If the tips of the claws are transparent, then they can be cut off - this is exactly the extra regrown part without blood vessels. Trim nails with pliers. The edges of the beak are also cut off, which are then leveled with a nail file.

In addition, land turtles need periodic bathing. This procedure is necessary not only for hygienic purposes, but also to maintain the water balance of the body of turtles, as they drink through the skin. Once a week, the turtle is placed in a bath for twenty to thirty minutes. The water should be soft, without the addition of detergents and a temperature of about 30 degrees. Chamomile decoction can be added to the water, and baking soda during the molting period. And do not forget that this is a land turtle, so while swimming, her head should remain above the water.

Red-eared turtles, if necessary, cut only the claws, and do not touch the beak. Bog turtles do not shorten their beak or claws. So all hygiene procedures for these turtles come down to changing the water and cleaning the aquarium.

Contraindications

In the care of turtles, as well as in the rules for their maintenance, there are peculiar taboos. Violation of these prohibitions can lead to very sad consequences, since it is very difficult to treat an injured or sick turtle. And so that the animal kept at home is not exposed to potential danger, remember what not to do.

You can not feed predatory turtles with only one protein food. Be sure to give them plant foods as well.
You can not give herbivorous turtles meat in any form. Feeding meat will lead to irreversible changes in the liver and even death of the animal.
You cannot keep turtles (any!) without additional source heat.
It is impossible to keep water turtles in aquariums without an island of land. They might just drown.
It is impossible to keep animals of different sizes or several males in one aquarium (terrarium). Injuries and fights are inevitable.
You can not keep turtles on a free range. It is dangerous for their life and health.
You can not feed turtles with food from your table (no comment) and special food for other animals.

In a word, everything that can adversely affect their health or be dangerous to their life should not be allowed in the maintenance of turtles. How else? After all, we are responsible for those who have tamed.

Many owners, with an inept approach, shorten their life to 3-5 years. Some believe that to keep a turtle at home, it will be enough to put a basin of water and put a pebble in it. However, turtles are demanding animals and for their normal development, you will need to purchase an aquaterrarium, build or buy an island for relaxation, a UV lamp and a heating lamp, a thermometer and a water filter.

In addition to water, the turtle needs, and with a comfortable and non-slippery lift, so that the turtle can easily crawl out onto land and warm itself. Islands can be bought in specialized stores or made by hand. You can put a snag, a stone with a rough surface. But store islands, unlike those made at home, are more stable and have a textured surface. Another factor that determines the quality of the island is the absence of piercing burrs and sharp corners.

soil and plants

Depending on the purpose for which the turtle was purchased: as a pet or for breeding for sale, soil is selected. In the first case, the bottom of the aquarium can be decorated with large stones, since turtles can swallow gravel. When breeding, shallow soil is required so that the turtle can freely tear it open and lay eggs. You can pour a layer of washed river sand.

Aquarium plants are of interest to the turtle, she tries to try each of them “by the tooth” and if she likes it, the plant will be eaten, if she doesn’t like it, it will be uprooted. Therefore, it is recommended to “plant” artificial plants in aquariums.

Coastal heating and temperature maintenance

Turtles are heat-loving animals and, living in natural conditions, they love to bask in the sun. To bring content at home closer to natural, you will need to install. To maintain the optimum temperature in the aquarium must have a thermometer.

When placing the lamp, you should pay attention to two things: firstly, it should not be located too low above the island, and secondly, a protective glass will have to be installed between the lamp and the water so that splashes of water do not fall on the hot lamp.

The operating time of the lamp for heating is 10-12 hours a day. You can buy it in a specialized store.

UV lamp

Depending on the age of the turtles, the power of the UV lamp is selected:

for young individuals - 5% UVB;
for adults - 10% UVB.

The presence of an ultraviolet lamp is the main condition for the normal development of red-eared turtles. To prevent animals from getting eye burns, install a UV lamp at a level of at least 25 cm and turn it on for 10-12 hours, turn it off only at night.

Ultraviolet prevents the development of rickets, improves metabolism, affects the activity of turtles. The rays help to absorb calcium, which is necessary for building a shell.

Water

For the successful keeping of the red-eared turtle, it should not fall below +20 ºC, the most optimal parameter is +22 + 28 ºC.

The turtle spends most of its time in the water, so you should make sure that the water is clean. Animals sleep, eat and defecate directly in the water, so it needs to be changed frequently. A filter must be installed in the aquarium.

Pathogenic microorganisms develop in a dirty aquatic environment, which cause various infectious diseases of turtles, which are then difficult to cure.

The water level in the aquarium should be higher than the size of a turtle shell. This is done so that the animal, inadvertently on its back, can easily roll over on its own.

The normal development of red-eared turtles is possible only when created for them good conditions. The turtle becomes a beloved pet, so you need to take care of it accordingly.