Have you decided to have a turtle? Congratulations! An important step is ahead - to decide on the type of pet. Which turtles are there and which are best fit for home? It depends not only on the wishes of the future owner but also on his ability to provide the conditions necessary for such a pet.
All turtles are divided into aquatic and land turtles, and each species has its own pros and cons. Land ones, for example, are easier to care for, easy to transport, and also docile. In contrast, aquatic turtles are very common. They are funny, bright and active. It is a pleasure especially for kids to have such a pet at home. And ThePets adds that it is more difficult to care for the aqua terrarium. Besides, you will not be able to take a water friend on a trip, and in general, it is better to admire such a turtle from the side: this is not a contact pet. And it's not just the way of life: water turtles are often obstinate and even bite their owners. You need to be careful with them!
Before purchasing a turtle, study as much information as possible about the species you have chosen. How fast does a turtle grow, how big will it grow? The lifespan of a pet is also important: in some species, it exceeds 50 years. For keeping at home, it is best to get a small turtle (up to 50 cm in length), relatively unpretentious, with a friendly disposition and common so that there are no side difficulties.
And the last thing to pay attention to is the age of the turtle and the most favourable period to buy. Though dogs and cats are better to be taken at an early age, then turtles are better in adolescence, when the animal's body is already strong. Babies are much more susceptible to various diseases, and it can be difficult for even experienced owners to care for them. If possible, purchase a turtle between May and September. At low temperatures, there is a risk of chilling the turtle during transportation or acquiring a pet already cold.
Which turtle is better to have? Water or land?
Land
+ If you go somewhere, you can easily take a land turtle (on a train, by car) with you in a box or a carrier, or give it to your friends for a while.
+ The land is easier to feed in terms of prices for vegetables and fruits, as well as the purity of eating.
+ It is believed that land ones are less aggressive than aquatic. Usually, it is really so, but not always.
+ Terrarium cleaning is much easier than changing water and cleaning filters.
- Most land turtles are protected by law because of their rareness, it is illegal to sell and buy them without documents, and they are rarely sold in pet stores
- When moving to another country, it will be almost impossible to make documents on the turtle.
Aquatic
+ Water turtles are always brighter, more beautiful and active than land turtles.
+ Most of the species sold are captive bred, making them easy to buy legally and cheaply. It does not harm nature.
+ There are many more aquatic species than terrestrial ones, so it is easier and cheaper to buy a turtle that is not like everyone else's.
What is the size of the turtle?
It makes no sense to have in a city apartment those turtles that grow huge (more than 50 cm in length), they need a lot of space, caring for them is usually more difficult, and they live longer than their smaller relatives. It is best to start with popular non-aggressive aquatic turtles: red-eared, for example. Of the land, the Central Asian is best suited, as the best studied.
In order not to be mistaken with the size - check to what size your turtle will grow on the list of terrarium turtle species and consider whether you can provide it with a suitable terrarium or aquarium.
Where do turtles live?
For any turtle - it does not matter whether it is land or water - you will need a terrarium with special equipment and high-quality food designed for a specific species of turtles. In the terrarium, the future owner will have to maintain cleanliness regularly. Of course, renewing the filler of a land turtle is easier than changing the water in the aqua terrarium, but over time you will adapt, and you will easily cope with the task. However, cleanliness is not the most important thing.
For a healthy and happy life for your turtle, the terrarium must always be maintained with the necessary conditions. The parameters of air and water are individual for each specific type, and before making your choice, you should definitely familiarize yourself with them. Be honest with yourself to the question: can you provide the pet with the necessary care?
How old my turtle should be?
Little turtles are more susceptible to disease than adults and are more likely to die or grow crooked if not properly cared for. Also, with small turtles, it is more difficult to carry out medical procedures, both for the veterinarian and you. So if you do not want your child to be upset and cry over a deceased pet, it is better to get a teenage or adult turtle.
Feeding rules for land and aquatic turtles
Answers to the main questions that arise when feeding turtles: food size, amount, temperature, what food to give, where to feed etc.
Feed size
Depending on the size of the reptile, the food should be fine, medium or coarsely chopped. One-piece should be less than half the turtle's head. Aquatic turtles tear large pieces with sharp claws so that they can be fed larger food.
Amount of food for the turtle
Give your predatory turtle as much food as it can eat in half an hour. Memorize this amount and give her that much each time. Roughly, the amount of food per feeding should be no more than half of the tortoiseshell.
Feed temperature and condition
Room temperature (do not feed directly from the refrigerator or not fully thawed), feed only raw (no heat treatment is allowed).
Turtle feeding frequency
Young turtles up to 2 years old (or up to 7 cm in length) are fed every day with a large amount of calcium in their food, and adult turtles - 2-3 times a week. Perishable food can be left in the cage for no more than 2-3 hours.
What to feed your turtle
Don't feed your turtles just one type of food! Only mixes! Do not pamper turtles - do not give them the tastiest and what they love the most. If the turtle eats only one type of food and refuses another, offer it a mixture with "favourite" and "unloved" foods, or let it starve for a while (usually a few days is enough).
How to give vitamins and calcium
Aquatic turtles should receive vitamins and calcium from a complete diet; land turtles should be given vitamins and calcium in powder. Vitamins and calcium should not be given in the form of liquid or tablets.
Food colours and palatability
Food colour may also play a role: turtles are very colour-sensitive and prefer yellow, orange and red. If pumpkin, mango, oranges, melon, tomatoes, red pepper are added to the feed mixture (provided that the turtles are satisfied with the smell), the mixture will look more appetizing for them.
Where to feed your turtle
For land turtles, food is put in a feeder, for aquatic turtles - it is given from tweezers, thrown into the water or placed on the shore near the water. Freshwater turtles should be trained to take their food from the shore. Then it will pollute the water less, and it will be possible to add vitamins and calcium to it. You can also feed the turtles in a separate jar, basin or the bathroom, planting them out of the aquarium for 1–2 hours. Then the water stays clean longer.
If the turtle refuses to eat
The turtle may not eat because it is cold, stressed, or ill. If you only have her for a couple of hours or days, then she needs time to get used to the new place. If she does not eat for more than 3 days, but is active and looks normal, check if you are properly observing the conditions of her keeping at home. If your turtle is inactive, has a runny nose, swollen eyes, sneezes or blisters through the nose, take it to your veterinarian.
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