Additional articles
Additional articles about the different aspects of turtle care will be posted here in the upcoming weeks for you. If you have an article that you want to suggest to us, feel free to contact us anytime and submit those articles for us to review.
Turtle’s Diet
Feeding your turtle friend the right kind of food is essential if you want your pet to be happy and strong. Many people presume that all pet turtles are the same and that you can therefore feed them all the same turtle food. The truth is that there are many kinds and breeds of turtle and terrapins, and they sometimes have quite varied dietary needs. For example, certain kinds of terrapin love gobbling down worms. This is not your average, run-of-the-mill terrapin food!
However, all turtles and terrapins do require an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. As a rule of thumb, if you feed your turtles a variety of fresh, leafy greens and other vegetables, these should provide most of the nutrition they need, as these foods are naturally rich with the required nutrients. However, if their regular diet is deficient in certain minerals and vitamins, you will need to give them supplementary nutrition. You can normally purchase supplements at your local pet store. The packaging should indicate how often to provide these vitamin and mineral supplements, but as a rule, adding them to your turtle’s food once or twice a week should be sufficient.
In addition, you might want to set a calcium block in your pet’s habitat for it to nibble on, as calcium is not normally present in large doses in regular turtle food. One need is constant no matter what breed of turtle you own: they need a constant source of fresh drinking water—changed frequently. Make sure that it’s in a shallow bowl or other container that they can easily dip their mouths into and drink.
Different breeds have different needs, so it’s always good to ask at local pet store for any additional guidelines regarding nutritional needs that your pet turtle has. If they’re not certain, read Internet articles on the subject or chat online with others who own the same type of turtle. In fact, why wait till you own one to find out what special terrapin food it needs? It’s best to do all your research before you actually go out and buy a pet. That way you can check ahead of time whether your local shops or pet stores actually stock the supplies and food that your pet will need.
No matter what breed of pet turtle or terrapin you settle on, bear in mind that they will probably live thirty, fifty, even a hundred years! So before you actually bring a pet terrapin home, you need to make sure that you’re in this for the long haul. As the Beatles song says, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?”
Buying a Turtle Pet Tips
Before you step anytime soon into any store to buy a turtle pet where the sign “Baby Turtles for Sale” is posted in bright flashing neon lights, I want you to stop and read this article closely in order to make the right buying decision for yourself or your love ones. It’s important to do some thinking and planning before purchasing turtles as pets—no different than when buying any other kind of pet. There are a few crucial matters to consider when buying turtles, such as: what breed of turtle do you want, what are its basic needs; will you be able to fulfill those needs and care for it properly? Unfortunately, many people think that making turtles pets involves almost no work at all. The truth is that having a turtle takes a lot of commitment and considerable care.
The average turtle will live around fifty years and that’s one of the main things to bear in mind when considering buying one—particularly if you’re going to buy a turtle as a pet for your child. Certainly a turtle is easier to care for than, say, a hamster or a dog, but they still need attention, a well-maintained living space and the correct diet if they are to enjoy a long and healthy life.
Since different breeds of turtles will have different needs, you will need to do a certain amount of research about the type of turtle you wish to buy so you’ll know what kind of habitat it needs and what kind of foods it eats. The majority of pet turtles have a similar diet, enjoying a variety of fresh vegetables. Lettuce is an all-time favorite—though it’s best to avoid iceberg lettuce, as this can cause your pet to have diarrhea.
There are many breeds to consider when you’re out shopping for a pet turtle, and choices include water turtles, semi-aquatic turtles and land-loving varieties. True, all breeds have points in common, but each particular kind has specialized dietary and habitat requirements, and it’s best to seek the advice of an expert at your pet store. It’s important to choose a turtle that’s suited to individual home and lifestyle, as these things directly affect your ability to provide it with a good life. Some pet turtles require more special lighting and heating conditions than others, so make sure you’re familiar with the different kinds of turtles before you buy one and take it home.
If you take the time to learn all there is to know about your turtle—and these days, you can even research specific breeds online—you will then be able to create a fulfilling and rewarding bond with your pet. We hope this information has helped you start down the right path!
Information On Turtles
What is the diffrence between pet turtles and sea turtles? Are you fascinated by the thought of owning a pet turtle? Or have you sometimes wondered what the difference is between pet turtles and sea turtles—apart from the obvious difference, size? Not many people know about this vital information on turtles, so read on.
Sea turtles are found in all the oceans of the world, except for the Arctic, and are specially designed for life in the open waters. They belong to the superfamily Chelonioidea and there are seven varieties of them. These are the Flatback, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, and Olive Ridley.
Sea turtles have a life expectancy of up to a hundred years, significantly longer than the lifespan of almost all other species of turtle. Unfortunately, however, many of them have been hunted almost to the point of extinction, and most of the seven sub-groups are now on the “endangered species” list. This special protected status has given them some breathing space, although the poaching continues.
The smaller turtles, on the other hand, are very common and given their popularity with pet-owners, are in no danger of extinction. These include various kinds of semi-aquatic or even freshwater turtles; aquatic turtles (commonly known as water turtles) thrive in a large tank, however, so most commonly, turtles kept as pets are those that live in mixed dry and wet environments.
Some of the most common breeds of pet turtles are the Eastern box turtle, the painted turtle, the Russian tortoise, the yellow-bellied slider, and the red-eared slider. Each breed is unique and requires different kinds of habitats and care, and each requires their own specific diet and environments. When deciding what kind of turtle would be best for your household, it pays to research the various kinds, determine the kind of care and setup that you are able to provide then choose the breed that matches those criteria closest.
Most pet turtles eat fresh fruit and vegetables—or fresh vegetables alone. Whichever breed you settle on, know that your pet turtle will have a long life expectancy and will require care from you for many years. (No, they won’t live 100 years like sea turtles, but they will certainly outlive your hamster.) Pet turtles need a proper habitat, which includes a steady supply of fresh water. And you can’t ignore them for long periods of time simply because they don’t interact with you as much as a dog or a cat. Turtles can get sick too, and you need to be attentive to their physical appearance and changes in their daily behavior to detect illness.
Pet Turtle Care
An important element of giving quality turtle care is being aware of whether your pet prefers a solitary lifestyle or is happier living in groups. Some breeds prefer to live together with other turtles. A word of caution: try to make sure that all the turtles in a group are the same size; it’s usually not good to put small turtles with large ones since it could create undue stress to both kinds.
It’s also helpful to know whether your turtle friend is a male or a female. One of the simplest ways to know your pet’s gender—while it’s still young, and before he or she reaches sexual maturity—is by the length of the claws. Female ones generally have significantly shorter claws than males, and you should be able to see the difference upon close inspection. You may have only one turtle, however, and nothing to compare him or her with, which is why it’s always best to ask the pet store clerk about your turtle’s sex when you’re buying it.
Diet is also a basic component of keeping your pet happy. Most turtles do best when feeding on a range of fresh foods, particularly dark, leafy greens. Yes, certain breeds of pet turtles do prefer to lunch on snails, worms, and other greens plants. All turtles, however, regardless of their dietary preferences, require a basic amount of vitamins and minerals to maintain good health. You can purchase these turtle food supplements and add them to your turtle’s diet once or twice a week. It might also be a good idea to place a calcium block in your turtle’s habitat for it to nibble on, to ensure that your pet receives enough calcium in its diet.
Last, but certainly not least, it’s important when keeping turtles to have the proper kind of living conditions, and if you have a semi-aquatic turtle this can mean setting up both a dry and a wet habitat. You must also be careful to maintain the correct temperature and lighting. This will contribute greatly to the health and well-being of your turtle. It’s vital also to keep your pet terrapin’s habitat very clean. Finally, and this goes almost without saying for turtle-lovers, make sure that you give your pet enough attention.
Turtle Care Red Eared Slider Tip
Raising a healthy turtle is crucial. Among all the exotic pets you could choose to own, the turtle care red eared slider is one of the most popular. When you purchase them as a little turtle, you may not know that they can grow to be a foot long and live for a very long time. Clearly, owning this kind of turtle takes long-term commitment. If you want your pet to live to its full potential of 30 years, you need to know what proper red eared slider turtle care is. Your pet can stay healthy and truly thrive if you know what to do.
You can have a great experience as a pet owner, helped by a few important red eared slider turtle care tips. The first aspect to consider is space. Sliders require a lot of room to be active. The general rule is that, whether your turtle lives in an aquarium inside the house or in a pond outside, there should be six gallons of water for every inch your turtle is long. Also, there should be ample space for your slider to spend time on dry land for basking and eating. That means if your turtle grows to his potential twelve inches, he needs 72 gallons of water and still enough space to spend time outside the water! Make sure you plan for this kind of space before you buy your slider.
Turtles are cold-blooded animals, so they need outside sources of heat to keep them warm. Keep water between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Outside of the water, air should be kept between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. These are exotic animals and are accustomed to warm climates. Natural sunlight is essential in proper red eared slider turtle care as well, so allow your turtle exposure to the sun every day.
The final and possibly most important part of red eared slider turtle care is the cleanliness of the water. Regular water replacement is needed because, even if the water appears to be clear, build up of harmful ammonia and nitrite can occur over time. If they reach levels that are too high, it can be unhealthy for your turtle. When you replace water, de-chlorinate it prior to filling the tank as chlorine can have adverse affects on the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium. Now that you know the basics of red eared slider turtle care, you can expect to raise a strong, healthy turtle from your own home.
Scientific Name Of Red Eared Turtle:
1.Kingdom – Animalia
2.Phylum – Chordata
3.Subphylum – Vertebrata
4.Class – Reptilia
5.Subclass – Anapsida
6.Order – Testudines
7.Family – Emydidae
8.Genus – Trachemys
9. Species – T. scripta
10.Subspecies – elegans
11.Trinomial name – Trachemys scripta elegans
