Habitat, lifestyle and nutrition of the turtle. Turtle care at home

Before you start this exotic animal at home, you need to think carefully and familiarize yourself with the recommendations for caring for these animals. unpretentious pets. If she was presented, then you should immediately think about arranging a separate corner for her. Nowadays, it is not difficult to find out how to do this if the Internet is available at home.

Since there are water and, then caring for them is somewhat different. It is easier to take care of a land turtle than a water one, but the principle is the same. To land turtle felt comfortable, you need to have:

or a spacious clean box.
Availability of varied food.
Taking a warm bath once a week.
Permanent clipping of claws and beak.

As for the water turtle, for its normal maintenance it is necessary that there is always water, and therefore it has to be kept in an aquarium. Moreover, in the aquarium you need to equip a place where the turtle could eat and rest.

Turtle costs

If you decide to have a turtle at home, then you need to know and be prepared for the fact that you will have to lay out certain funds:

Terrarium with additional equipment - 3000 rubles.
Lamp for heating - from 1000 rubles per six months.
Feed expenses - from 500 rubles per month.
Veterinary examination - from 1000 rubles.

As can be seen from the list, the funds are not small, as for keeping such a small animal. But that's not all: in addition to funds, she needs constant care and attention.

For the normal development of the turtle, a varied diet is needed, including fresh vegetables (lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin), greens (dandelion, plantain, coltsfoot). At the same time, one should not forget that the turtle loves most of all - these are fruits (watermelon, melon, apple) and berries (strawberries, raspberries, cherries).

She is not averse to having cooled semolina or buckwheat porridge for dinner, and she also does not refuse oatmeal cooked in the traditional way.

So that she does not get sick from lack nutrients, cottage cheese, boiled eggs, raw minced meat. At the same time, she does not need to drink, since she receives the main liquid from vegetables and fruits, in addition, she can drink while taking a bath.

The diet of an aquatic turtle is mainly meat and fish, but it will not refuse snails, worms, mice, etc. But this does not mean that she should not be given food of plant origin. It should be at least 30% in the diet of an aquatic turtle.

Arrangement of a terrarium for a land tortoise

Firstly, it must be spacious so that the turtle can move more, and secondly, it must be clean.

Unsanitary conditions are absolutely unacceptable here.

Optional equipment:

Lamp for lighting and heating the recreation area.
Ultraviolet lamp for irradiation.
Flooring.
A place to hide.
Thermometer, for control temperature regime.

For an aquatic turtle, you will have to make an aquarium with partial land. Usually the ratio is: 3 parts of water and 1 part of land.

Hibernation of domestic turtles

As a rule, all domestic exotic animals are representatives of the wild. For them, sleep is an opportunity to experience some kind of abnormal experience. natural conditions as cold or great heat. If the turtle is kept at home under optimal temperature conditions, then it does not need to, and it will not. If the turtle moves a little and eats poorly, then you need to reconsider the diet, and even better - show it to the doctor.

About once a week, a tortoise should take a bath. To do this, warm water is collected in a basin, with a temperature of 30-35 ° C, and a turtle is placed there. The water level should be such that the turtle's head is above the water, nothing else is required, you just need to leave it in the bowl for half an hour.

The claws and beak of a turtle can grow to such a size that it will be difficult for it to move and eat. In this case, you need to get sharp wire cutters and cut off the excess. To shorten the claw of a turtle, it must be placed in the light, where the blood vessel will be visible. Stepping back from the vessel 2-3 mm, you can bite off the claw. The beak is bitten off in small pieces until the turtle's jaws close.

As for aquatic turtles, in this respect it is somewhat easier with them, since they do not need such procedures.

The red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta) is so named because of its phenotypic feature: two orange-red oblong spots stretch on the sides of the head from the eyes to the neck. Its second name - yellow-bellied - also speaks of feature, and more specifically - about the bright yellow color of the plastron (abdominal shield).

The high popularity of red-eared turtles from the American freshwater family (Emydidae) is quite understandable: these reptiles are unpretentious, beautiful, interesting to watch, and some owners even teach them to handle. But alas, many of the owners make gross mistakes that lead to the death of reptiles of this species.

In our article, we will talk about the features of care, maintenance, feeding, the most common diseases and their treatment, as well as some other nuances that, we hope, will help your turtle live a long and happy life. And some specimens of this species, by the way, live up to 40 years in captivity.

The first thing we advise you to pay attention to when buying a "red ear" is its size and condition. A turtle that has not grown to at least 4-5 cm will be much more difficult and difficult to grow, because at this age they are very susceptible to various diseases. Alas, nature is harsh and thus regulates the survival of a healthy generation. Therefore, a five-centimeter turtle is the best choice.

When buying, carefully inspect the turtle. She must have all claws intact, tail, carapace (upper shield) and plastron must be smooth, lenticular in shape, without spots, scratches, dents and "humps", solid. Eyes are shining skin clean, also without whitish and pinkish small spots. In the aquarium, the turtle should swim smoothly, without falling on its side.

Red-eared turtles are amphibians. Therefore, they need to spend part of the time on land and part in the water.

They fall into hibernation at home extremely reluctantly, and the process of transferring them to this state is rather difficult. It is necessary to gradually lower the temperature and provide sufficient food, because if the turtle does not gain required amount calories, she may not come out of hibernation. Simply die of hunger.

It is very important to clean the aquarium from green algae. The turtle itself cannot wash its shell, and the algae, settling under the scales of the carapace, gradually destroy it. Moreover, a dirty aquarium is a source of fungal and bacterial infections.

It is advisable to feed the turtle in a separate container. Tearing food into pieces in the water, the "rubber" pollutes it very much. And on land, turtles of this species do not eat.

By the way, pay attention: if your turtle has eaten, then it is advisable to give it a little more time to free the intestines from the remnants of digested food.

Turtles have the same not very aesthetic habit as rabbits - they eat their own excrement. Only, unlike long-eared rodents, this reptile does this only when hungry.

Periodically (once every three to four days) you can wipe the shell with a clean soft cloth, removing algae and other dirt. It is impossible to lubricate the shell with oils and creams, since this, although it makes the turtle “beautiful”, is very harmful to its skin breathing.

It is desirable that the water in the terrarium or aquarium be soft, although tap water may well be suitable. It is only necessary to defend it for at least two days in order to ensure the almost complete evaporation of chlorine. Once a week, you need to add water with the selection of about 1/3 of the "old". A complete replacement is not recommended, as the aquarium creates a microflora that provides a favorable environment for the turtle to live.

As for feeding, here you must follow the principle: the first year the turtle is fed every day, the second - after two days, the third and all subsequent ones - after three or four. You need to give food as much as she can eat in five minutes. A young turtle should eat mainly animal food with the addition of vegetable food, a 3-4 year old turtle should eat vegetable food with the addition of animal food, and old reptiles in general are shown a predominantly vegetable diet.

You can determine how hungry a turtle is by its behavior. She begins to actively rummage in the stones at the bottom in search of food. Feeding time can be any, but preferably no later than 7 pm.

Keeping a red-eared turtle

Before purchasing, you must immediately stock up on all the necessary equipment:

an aquarium;
islet;
ultraviolet lamp;
an incandescent lamp that can be installed above the island;
filter;
water heater;
large (!) decorative stones, pebbles.

Do not purchase aquarium plants, either live or artificial. Red-eared turtles are omnivorous and also like to dig in the ground (rocks), so the whole decor will either be eaten or torn to pieces or torn off the bottom. You can decorate the bottom with snags, but they must first be boiled for at least an hour in boiling water. Plastic products it is also possible to install in an aquarium, provided that they are not toxic. The soil, island and all decorative elements should be washed every one and a half to two weeks under running water.

Aquarium

Ideally, 150 liters or more, but a 10-liter is enough for a start. However, prepare for the fact that your pet will grow rapidly, adding 3-4 cm in height every year until it reaches its normal size (20-30 cm depending on sex and subspecies). And they also need to move a lot so as not to get obese. Yes, turtles can also suffer from this disease. Therefore, the minimum dimensions of the aquarium should be such that its width is not less than three lengths of the shell, and its length is not less than six lengths.

You need to pour enough water so that the turtle can stick out its muzzle while standing on its hind legs. If the aquarium is deeper, then a stone or snag can be placed in it for this purpose.

It is strictly forbidden to use small stones as soil! Carried away by getting food, small turtles (and sometimes adults) can accidentally swallow a pebble, which will cause intestinal obstruction and, as a result, the death of the animal. Remember that some aquatic plants (elodea, lagenander, ambulia) are poisonous to reptiles.

Island

Now there are different options for turtle islands on sale, but when buying them, pay attention to what they are made of and how they are attached to the aquarium. Usually, plastic frames with suction cups are used as fasteners.

But when your turtle grows up and weighs about a kilogram, the suction cups will constantly come off. Ideally, it is desirable to use a flat area as an island, on which your pet (pet) will get out of the water.

That is, a ladder is needed for the island, which does not prevent the animal from swimming in the aquarium, but, at the same time, sinks to a sufficient depth so that the turtle can sit on it when it gets hot under the lamp. We do not recommend buying islands made of painted polyurethane foam. Sharp talons adult turtle crush it with ease.

Lamps

An ultraviolet lamp is necessary in order for the turtle to produce vitamin D3, which is involved in the absorption of calcium. In nature solar lighting contains enough ultraviolet radiation, but at home you need special lamps. Household UV sources are not suitable for these purposes, because it is difficult to provide the necessary wavelength with their help. The most common terrarium (aquarium) lighting options are Repti Glo 5 and 8 lamps. Place these lamps at a distance of no closer than 40 cm, as they can cause burns.

An ordinary incandescent lamp (from 40 to 60 W), the light spectrum of which includes infrared rays, is needed for turtles to digest food. A variety of metabolic processes in cold-blooded animals, which include reptiles, occur only at a certain temperature. environment, which is provided by the lamps. A decrease in temperature entails a slowdown in metabolism and hibernation.

Terrarium lighting for red-eared turtle

Heater and filter

Choose these devices based on the volume of water in the aquarium. There are many filter options, some of them allow you to change the water once a month. External filters require less maintenance, and there is no chance that your reptile will remove it from the wall, swallow the suction cup or cut through the electrical wire. As for the heater, one is needed that could automatically regulate the water temperature within the specified range. A comfortable temperature for a turtle is 20-27 ° C.

What to feed red-eared turtles

Young turtles should receive "live" protein. Many of the owners make a serious mistake by feeding their pets only with special mixtures. These mixtures should be in the diet no more than a third. The other two are plant and animal foods. Of the plants, it is best to use the leaves of young cabbage, spinach, duckweed (only beforehand it must be washed very well under running warm water).

Providing turtles with animal food requires a serious approach. Of course, she can be given lean beef and chicken once a week. chicken liver. But such nutrition is not natural. Small turtles can be remarkably fed with bloodworms, gradually replacing it with fish. Be sure to give your pet shrimp, insects, earthworms or Canadian worms (they, like bloodworms, can be bought at fishing stores), aquarium and grape snails. We do not recommend adding slugs to the diet, since they secrete a lot of mucus in the water.

By the way, you can throw into the aquarium and river snails, and even empty shells. The turtle, which needs calcium on a regular basis, eats them remarkably, grinding them with its powerful jaw plates that replace its teeth. You can give a boiled egg.

You can not feed turtles with flour products and potatoes, berries, legumes (peas, beans, lentils, soybeans), citrus fruits.

However, sometimes it is allowed to give them carrots. Cereals and raw cereals are also contraindicated for these reptiles, but dandelion leaves for them are a rich source of vitamin PP ( folic acid) and some other valuable substances. Everything that you "extract" in nature (snails, worms, dandelions) must be washed from dirt.

When accustoming a turtle to a new type of food, in case it refuses to eat it, do not give up. Keep her hungry for a couple of days, and then throw a small piece directly into the aquarium (after turning off the filter so as not to clog it).

If you do not give the turtle a liver, then once a week you need to add special vitamin complexes (for example, ReptoSol) to its diet. In general, it is advisable to pour them directly into her mouth with a pipette.

To fill in the vitamins, you need to take the turtle in your hand (by the side) and hold it tightly, as it will try to escape. Then bring the pipette to your mouth and tap on it. The turtle will hide its head in its shell, but you have to be persistent. When she gets tired of hiding, she will start to hiss and try to scare you. At this point, you need to have time to inject vitamins.

Such torment has to be endured only when the turtle is small. As an adult, she aggressively defends her territory and rushes at any unfamiliar object, which can be a pipette with medicine in your hand.

Reproduction of red-eared turtles

Males of this species of turtles begin to breed at the age of 4, and females at five. If the owner wants the turtles to give birth, he must prepare the aquarium accordingly. Firstly, the thickness of the water layer should not be more than 10 cm, since during the mating process the male can hold the female under water for a long time, as a result of which she suffocates. Secondly, you immediately need to prepare a container on land where the female will lay her eggs.

By the way, sometimes females have the ability to lay eggs without males, but, in this case, they will be unfertilized. Therefore, turtles do not hatch from them.

The male can be distinguished from the female not earlier than at the age of about a year. In males, the plastron is concave to make it easier to stay on the female, the tail and claws are longer.

The claws of males are only 3-5 mm longer than those of females. By the way, like many reptiles, females are slightly larger than males.

To start breeding, red-eared sliders need ultraviolet light in the range of 320-400 nm. Shorter wavelengths of UV light are needed to prevent rickets. In addition, reptiles begin to mate only if they have enough plentiful and nutritious food.

Please note that there should be only one male and one female in the aquarium. Otherwise, the males will fight, and they fight very aggressively, biting off each other's tails, crippling their paws.

For the same reason, you can not leave laid eggs in the aquarium - you must definitely move them to the incubator. The size of the container with sand for eggs must be selected based on the fact that the egg in diameter reaches 4 cm and there can be up to 10 of them in one clutch. That is, in order to lay eggs, the turtle gently dig a hole of the appropriate diameter and depth. Above the container with sand you need to create a small shadow.

Red-eared turtle egg incubator

After the turtle lays eggs, the container with them must be placed in an incubator that you can make yourself, or you can use one that is used for chicken eggs. Optimum temperature in the incubator should be maintained at 27 ° C (plus or minus two degrees).

Hatching of turtles can be expected up to 5 months, however, if the ideal temperature regime is observed, you can wait for them to appear after 2 months. Babies should not be released into an aquarium with adults, since these reptiles have no maternal and paternal instincts and they can attack and injure the younger generation.

Baby turtles in the aquarium

If you do everything right, and at the first sign of illness in your pets, do not hesitate and immediately contact a veterinarian, then the turtles will delight you for decades.

Video: keeping a red-eared turtle at home

As you know, the common land tortoise is in the Red Book. Therefore, if it is decided to have such a four-legged friend, then the matter must be approached responsibly. Before buying a pet, you need to learn how to properly care for a turtle so that it does not have health problems in the future. Being the owner of such an animal is prestigious and interesting.

Types of turtles and their features

When it comes to turtles, everyone imagines ordinary ones. But in fact, there are more than 37 species of representatives of this family in total. Most of the animals are native to Africa.

The most common type of turtle in Russia is the Central Asian

The most common types of turtles that are often kept as pets are:

Mediterranean turtle. It is small in size, its diameter usually does not exceed 28 cm. The shell is convex, the rings located on it form an uneven pattern in the form of ovals. Basically, this species feeds on vegetation, but can also feed on earthworms or snails. Caring for a turtle at home is not so difficult: experts do not recommend taking for home breeding too young individuals, because they rarely survive in such a case. It is right to buy an already adult, formed turtle, then it will delight its owner for many years.
Red-footed coal turtle. Its largest size is 55 cm. To keep it, you will need a small terrarium, at the bottom of which lies sand. And also she will need a container of water in which the animal will bathe with pleasure. Caring for domestic turtles is simple: the Central Asian eats various vegetables and fruits, beef or turkey meat. The animal needs to be kept at home in high temperature air (at least 28 C) and high humidity.
Leopard look. Its size does not exceed 60 cm in length. It has a light-colored shell, on which dark neat spots of small diameter are located. If the turtle is kept at home, then its food should consist only of soft lawn grass. She is forbidden to give vegetables and fruits. The terrarium must have a bathing tank and a lamp for heating the air.
Leopard species - the second largest species from Africa
Radiant variety. This breed belongs to the most attractive species of turtles. Its size reaches up to 40 cm in length, it has a high, domed shell. The pattern is dark brown or dark in color, inside the oval there is a spot of a light shade, from which “rays” radiate to the outer edges of the pattern. Animals feed on sprouts or greens.
Central Asian breed. This type of animal is most common in Russia as a pet. It has a high oval-shaped shell, on which dark spots are located. On average, their length is 20 cm, and males are smaller than females. IN vivo of residence, such a breed goes into hibernation 2 times in 12 months. But with home maintenance, this is better not to allow. If the animal has enough food and the air temperature does not drop below 28 C, then the turtle will not go into hibernation.

If the turtle is kept at home, then its care should be approached very carefully. Some owners allow the turtle to crawl freely throughout the home, but this is wrong. This is dangerous for the health of the land Central Asian. The owner may not notice the animal under their feet and accidentally step on it, thus the turtle may be injured. Or the animal will crawl into a far corner, breathe in dust, which will negatively affect the lungs.

Turtles do not respond when their owners call, so there is a danger of not finding a pet in time, then he will be hungry for a long time. While on the floor, the turtle may catch a cold due to drafts, which are often, especially in winter time of the year.

In order to avoid problems with keeping a pet, he needs to purchase a house called a terrarium. In order for the pet not to be cramped, it is necessary to choose a size so that the turtle can easily move in it. The substrate is usually gravel, pressed sawdust, straw or sand; a layer of at least 8 cm is made. natural environment Central Asians live in a hot climate, so the temperature in the terrarium should not fall below 26 C. Turtles love to swim, so the house should have a shallow container with warm water for swimming.

Shelter and sleep shelter

Animals prefer warm, quiet and dark places to sleep, so they need shelter. . Where to keep the house and how to make it:

The materials for the manufacture of the house are selected washable, because the animals will have to be constantly monitored for cleanliness.

Lamp for lighting and heating

The terrarium should have a lamp no more than 60 watts. It is needed not only to illuminate the terrarium, but also to warm the air. Once every 6 months, the lamp is changed, even if it has not burned out. If you do not put a lamp in the aquarium, then this threatens with serious health problems for your pet.

An ultraviolet lamp is necessary when caring for turtles at home, because it is from ultraviolet that calcium is formed in the body, which is subsequently used by the body of the Central Asian to "build" a strong shell. And an ordinary lamp is placed so that there is always warm air in the terrarium.

Proper turtle care

Required diet

At home, as well as in nature, the main menu of Central Asians is plant food: grass, vegetables, berries or fruits. And it is better if everyday nutrition includes balanced mixtures. Food is laid out on a small flat dish so that it is convenient for the turtle to grab it. Fruits and vegetables in summer time you can diversify with sorrel, dandelion, pea leaves and other greens.

In addition to the main menu, meals should include:

Mineral supplements: glycerophosphate, bone meal, eggshell or carbonate. Dosage is calculated depending on the size of the animal: 100 gr. per 1 kg of pet weight.
Of the vitamins, the Central Asian breed will need B12, D3, A.
It is forbidden to give oily types of vitamins and D2.
If the diet is correctly composed, then the pet will receive all the other necessary vitamins from the main menu.

Determination of the sex of a pet

It is possible to say with accuracy what sex the turtle has only after the onset of the period of maturity. Animals differ in several signs, the difference lies in the claws, shell, tail, dimensions of the Central Asians and eye color. Males have thicker and sharper claws. In nature, this is provided for the male to be firmly fixed during mating. In females, the claws are less long and blunt at the ends.

main way

Experts distinguish the sex of a turtle by its shell. Boys have an elongated shape, while girls have a round shape. In males Bottom part, which is called the plastron, has a concave shape. And on the hips there are spurs, which are provided by nature so that the male is kept on the female during mating. The tail of a land breed has special meaning- it contains the sexual organ. In boys, the tail is wider and longer, while in girls it is thin and small.

You can also determine the sex by the size of the animal. The female is larger because she bears offspring. If there are several turtles in the terrarium, then the difference in size is very noticeable. The most obvious sign of how sex can be determined is eye color. Girls are yellow and boys are brown.

Common diseases

Turtles, like any other animals, have diseases that they are most susceptible to. In order for the pet not to get sick, he needs to provide him with the right lifestyle and diet. The most common diseases are:

sense organs

Animals have excellent hearing, can distinguish low-frequency tones. They also have sharp eyesight. Everyone around sees in color. Red-eared turtles have a highly developed sense of smell and smell. They see not only above the water, but also below it. The nerve endings are on the shell. They have a good sense of touch - pets distinguish the taste of food. An aquatic breed cannot stay under water for a long time because it does not have gills. To get air, the turtle floats above the water.

In nature, life expectancy does not exceed 30 years. At home, with proper care, pets can live up to 50 years. At home, pets grow faster because they are provided with quality food and comfortable living conditions. To determine the approximate age of an animal, you need to look at its size and count the number of circles on the shell. In 12 months, 3 rings are formed.

But by the number of circles it is impossible to determine exactly how old a reptile is, because their growth depends on the quality of life, nutrition and hibernation. The older the animal, the paler the color of the rings and the smoother the shell. Juveniles are brighter in color.

The land tortoise as a pet is a very interesting animal. But when it is kept, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules of feeding, providing medical care and maintaining cleanliness in the terrarium, then the pet will please its owner for a long time.

There are over 335 species of turtles that inhabit various continents. Some species are very popular and easy to buy in pet stores, some are rarer, and some species are difficult to see even in zoos.
At home, animal lovers in Russia most often keep the following types of turtles: freshwater red-eared, freshwater marsh, freshwater turtle trionyx and the Central Asian land tortoise. Found in southern Russia mediterranean tortoise And bog turtle, in the east of Russia, the Far Eastern trionics is found, in Ukraine and in Belarus, the marsh turtle is found. Red-eared turtles in in large numbers they are brought from nurseries in Europe and Asia, and then bad people release American tortoises into Russian ponds, so we have a very high chance of meeting a red-eared turtle in a river or in a pond.

Here are the most popular types of turtles:

Land (lat. Agrionemys horsfieldii)

A yellow-beige turtle with darkening on the shell, usually up to 25 cm long. The turtle is listed in the Red Book and the CITES list and is prohibited for sale without documents, which is ignored by pet stores and, of course, by smugglers.

The Central Asian tortoise lives in the states Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan in the steppe and semi-desert regions.

It feeds, like all land turtles, on vegetation (field plants, dried fodder grasses, houseplants, occasionally permitted vegetables). Meat, milk, bread and white cabbage, fruits are strictly contraindicated for her. Once a week, the turtle should receive calcium and reptile vitamin powder.

For maintenance you need: a terrarium from 100 l + UV lamp 10-12% UVB + incandescent lamp + soil (sawdust / hay / wood chips + pebbles) + house. The temperature in the terrarium should be between 25 in a cold corner and up to 35 in a hot one (under a lamp).
Hibernation is optional for turtles, and harmful and dangerous if not done properly, so it's best to avoid it. It is recommended to bathe the turtle once a week.

freshwater Pond slider(lat. Trachemys scripta)

This bright green (turns darker in adulthood) turtle with red "ears" on its head has become very popular all over the world in the last 25 years. The turtle can bite painfully, although it is not very aggressive.

This turtle is the most popular and the most "aquarium turtle" in our country and in many others.

The turtle lives in the USA, it is brought to Russia from turtle farms. It is strictly forbidden to release it into the reservoirs of Russia - this harms the ecosystem, and besides, the turtles themselves rarely survive the winter.

The turtle is freshwater and predatory (snails, fodder insects, raw freshwater lean fish with bones and entrails, occasionally dry food), but it also needs land and plant foods (algae or lettuce, dandelions).

More information about feeding turtles, an aquarium and a terrarium, and caring for turtles can be found in the relevant sections.

It is important to know:

You can not plant new turtles to the existing ones without prior quarantine.
If you experience symptoms of illness or a long-term refusal to feed, you should contact your veterinarian-herpetologist.
If the turtles in the same aquarium/terrarium are fighting or too aggressive, they need to be seated.
Turtles should not be allowed to come into contact with other pets.
Land turtles (and sometimes water turtles) are kept on the floor like cats and dogs, as a result, the turtles are stepped on, injured by other pets, they catch colds, quickly develop rickets, beriberi, arthritis and kidney failure.
A turtle is bought a pair so that it does not get bored, and as a result of a fight, bitten off paws and tails. Turtles are lonely! And they need a pair only for reproduction.
Feeding turtles the wrong food leads to big problems with internal organs and even to death. The fact that a turtle eats something does not mean that it can.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE TAMED!

IN modern world people began to give preference to exotic animals. Turtles are no exception. Before you start a reptile, you need to gather an idea of \u200b\u200bhow to keep it. It is worth taking responsibility for arranging a home for a new pet. Most often, at home, they give birth to a red-eared turtle. This type will be discussed.

Types of turtles suitable for home keeping

Central Asian tortoise

This type of reptile is considered quite large, the weight of some individuals can reach 2 kg. Central Asian turtles are terrestrial, their habitat is mainly burrows.
Reptiles lead an inactive lifestyle. To keep this turtle, you need to equip a fairly large terrarium. At what it is worth observing all the conditions similar to the wild ones.
Also, the reptile must be systematically bathed, and then the shell should be treated with oil. You need to feed the turtle with solid vegetables (carrots, tough grass, cabbage, beets).

swamp turtle

Reptiles of the given species live mainly in middle lane our homeland.
The shell has a dull color - from dark marsh to black. Individuals are predatory reptiles.

Pond slider

Reptiles are the most popular for home keeping.
Such turtles differ from the rest in their beautiful appearance and relatively small size.

Making a home for a turtle

Choosing an aquarium

For a medium-sized red-eared turtle (up to 20 cm), a regular aquarium of 55-60 liters is suitable. If you want the reptile to feel comfortable and grow faster, you should look at the container. bigger size with a margin.
It is also worth considering that the water in a small aquarium should be changed more often than in a large one. It is recommended to purchase a lid for the container, this addition will protect the turtle from random things that may fall to it.
To pour enough water into the aquarium, you need to focus on appearance reptile shell. The amount of liquid should be equal to the length of the body. You can also put a cleaning filter in the water tank.
Thus, you do not have to often change the water in the aquarium. The only condition will be monthly maintenance of the filter elements. It is also worth diversifying the bottom of the turtle house.
To do this, pour coarse gravel, put a few wood snags or larger stones. Such a move will help the reptile itself be able to regulate the depth of the aquarium. It is not recommended to grow live algae, replace them with artificial ones.
Keep in mind that all decorative items should not have sharp corners, otherwise the reptile may damage itself. Position one snag in such a way that part of it is constantly on land, and the other end gradually enters the water.
Do not forget to systematically clean the aquarium, the filter elements are not able to completely cope with all the dirt and feces. Therefore, the procedure should be carried out 1 time in 2 months with a tank volume of 80 liters or more.
Also periodically need to pour clean water. Take into account the evaporation of the liquid, its pollution and the number of inhabited turtles in the aquarium. To keep the reptile's home as clean as possible, the animal should be fed outside.

Lighting setup

fluorescent UV lamp is required without fail. With the help of such lighting, the reptile receives the proper portion of UV rays, thanks to which the turtles absorb calcium.
Without such lamps, you risk losing a new pet, due to a lack of calcium, the turtle dies. Install the accessory at a height of about 30 cm above the place where the animal is heated. The lamp needs to be changed every six months, despite the fact that it works.
Ordinary lamps should also be installed in the aquarium. The height of their landing directly depends on the power. In this case, room temperature should be taken into account. Before purchasing a product, consult a specialist in a pet store.

What to feed a turtle

It is worth approaching the feeding of the turtle responsibly, the health of the reptile depends on this factor. Also, you should not give the turtle only granulated food. If you still have a small individual, include more live food in the diet.
Turtles should be fed guppy fish fry, small crickets, frozen krill, or earthworms. also in daily menu should include leaves of aquatic plants, dandelion, turnip, lettuce, cabbage. Twice a week, carrots, chopped on a coarse grater, should be fed.
Young reptiles may be reluctant to plant food. Despite this, turtles need to offer it. Also, a new pet must be given various mineral supplements. To do this, roll the worm in a loose composition, stretch the delicacy to the turtle with tweezers.
Thus, the earthworm will not get into the water and the vitamin supplement will not be washed off. Keep in mind that the main mineral mixtures should include calcium and vitamin D3. Very small individuals should be given 8-10 half pellets of dry food twice a day.
Also dry rations can be replaced with a leaf of chopped green lettuce. aquatic turtles food should be immediately thrown into the water. It is also recommended that after a while the remains be caught with a sap with small chintz. Small reptiles should still be fed more live food.

The turtle may hibernate. If you have no idea how to care for a reptile during this period, it is worth protecting the turtle from this phenomenon. Maintain a constant temperature in the terrarium, it should not fall below 24-26 degrees. Otherwise, you risk losing your pet. turtles in wild nature during hibernation, they hide in the thick of algae or silt.