Subspecies (most popular described): Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-Ear Slider); Trachemys scripta scripta (Yellow-bellied slider); Trachemys scripta troostii (Cumberland Slider).
Synonyms: Chrysemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792); Testudo scripta (Schoepff, 1792); Yellow-Belly slider turtle.
Red-eared turtles peaked in popularity in the international pet trade between 1989 and 1997, with sales of more than 52 million individuals. They are omnivores and are able to adapt to different conditions habitat, and this in turn allowed them to settle far beyond their borders native area a habitat.
Habitat of Trachemys scripta- This is primarily southeastern America and the adjacent region of Mexico: from southwestern Virginia through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to Mexico. To the north, the habitat extends to the ends of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and to the west to Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Trachemys scripta elegans predominate mainly in Western and central parts this range. Occupying the Mississippi Valley from Illinois through eastern part New Mexico west to the Gulf of Mexico.
Trachemys scripta scripta predominate predominantly in the eastern part of the previously described range, ranging from southeastern Virginia to northern Florida. It should be noted here that an intergradation zone of T.s. is formed in Alabama. elegans and T.s. scripta.
Trachemys scripta troostii have the smallest area of settlement and are located on the upper part of the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. From southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia through Tennessee to northeastern Alabama.
Trachemys scripta settles in wide range freshwater habitats including rivers, ditches, swamps, lakes and ponds. Quiet reservoirs with a soft bottom and an abundance of aquatic vegetation.
Description of red-eared turtles
Red-eared turtles are born with a shell length of only 30 mm and have a very attractive bright color. In the first 1.5 years, the turtle reaches a size of 75 mm. After which the growth rate decreases and the average increase is 10 - 15 mm per year. Individuals are characterized by the presence of distinct red or yellow-red spots on both sides of the head. The shell and skin are olive, olive-brown or green with yellow stripes. The shape of the shell is oval. Legs with large claws and membranes between the toes.
This type cannot be classified as decorative, since the average size freshwater red-eared turtle from 125 to 289 mm, but there are records of individuals reaching a size of 350 mm. IN wildlife The red-eared turtle lives for about 20 years; in captivity, it can even live up to 40 years.
With time big sizes turtles and lifespans are an embarrassment for buyers who are unable to keep turtles in captivity for long periods of time and release them into the wild.
Trachemys scripta elegans.
The length of the carapace of Trachemys scripta elegans reaches 280 mm. There is a wide red stripe on the head and narrow stripes on the chin. On each costal carapace there is a transverse yellow stripe. Plastron with big spot on each shield.
Trachemys scripta scripta.
The length of the carapace of Trachemys scripta scripta reaches 270 mm. There is a yellow postorbital spot on the head, connected to a stripe on the neck. Each costal carapace has a yellow stripe. The plastron is yellow with spots on most of the front scutes.
Trachemys scripta troostii.
The length of the carapace of Trachemys scripta troostii reaches 210 mm. The head has a narrow yellow postorbital stripe and wide chin stripes. Each costal carapace has a yellow transverse stripe. Plastron with a pattern of “eyes” or small black spots.
Red-eared turtles are unpretentious creatures, however, like all living things, they need good content and care. Even though the turtles most They spend their lives in water; their aquarium house cannot exist without land. Therefore, you need to select an aquaterrarium divided into two zones: land above and water below.
For an adult red-eared turtle, an aquarium of 100 - 150 liters will be sufficient, for a young one 50 liters will be enough. Land must make up at least 25% of total area. On land, you can pour earth or gravel, provided that the soil does not come into contact with the aquatic environment. The exit to land should be a shore with a gentle, non-slip slope. The erected artificial island must be 20 - 30 cm below the top edge of the aquarium, otherwise the animal can get out and run away. The water level should be more width turtle shell - so that the turtle can easily roll over if for any reason it ends up on its back. Due to the fact that turtles feed exclusively in water, good filtration and regular mandatory water changes 1-2 times a week are necessary. Tap water is not dangerous, but it is better to defend it. It is unacceptable to keep reptiles in dirty water, this can lead to various diseases.
The water temperature is maintained within 20 - 25 0 C, the air temperature on the shore is about 31 - 33 0 C. An incandescent lamp of 40 - 50 W must be installed above the island, since turtles like to bask on land, and ultraviolet lamp for reptiles -10% UVB for babies and 5% for adult healthy turtles; regular dosed ultraviolet irradiation is especially necessary for small turtles. Turtles love to bask on land, receiving enough ultraviolet radiation necessary for activity, good metabolism (digestion of food and stomach function) and prevention of rickets.
Lamps are hung at a height of at least 20 - 25 cm to prevent burns to the turtles' eyes. Both lamps should burn for 10 - 12 hours a day; they are turned off at night.
Compatibility of red-eared turtles. Newborn red-eared turtles can be kept with small fish. However, as turtles grow older, they are able to eat fish, so we select neighbors with character, for example, cichlids.
Still, it is better to keep them with non-aggressive species of turtles of similar size, The main thing is not to be alone!
What to feed red-eared turtles?
Red-eared turtles are omnivorous creatures and love to feast on the most various plants and animals: filamentous algae, snails, terrestrial insects, crustaceans, small vertebrates, etc.
However, the feeding frequency of turtles varies depending on age. So young turtles are fed daily, but adults only 2-3 times a week.
All young Red-eared turtles are primarily predators, therefore they need live food for active growth, which they are fed once a day (neither 2 nor 3). In addition, the aquarium must contain live plants (algae, lettuce leaves) as plant food. Adult Red-eared turtles (over 7 cm) are fed 3 - 4 times a week, and the amount of plant food approaches 50%.
Proper and nutritious nutrition for red-eared turtles will keep them healthy and playful throughout for long years. The diet of pet turtles must include plant food(such as basil, aloe, oregano, peas, balsam, figs, clover, coleus, calendula, nettles, onions, dandelions, petunias, rose petals, barley, rose hips, cyperus, kalanchoe, fern, hibiscus, lawn grass, coffee, plantain ), vitamin- mineral supplements, fish (such as cod, hake, thalassa) and meat.
But not all plants are useful for turtles, there are also poisonous ones (monstera, epipremnum, philodendron, anthurium, silent, acalyph, croton, jatrophe, azalea, delphinium, crocus, morning glory, lily of the valley, lupine, periwinkle, oleander, juniper, nightshade, ficus, philodendron, shefflera), some of which cause great harm health even after touching. In some cases, eating the listed plants leads to malfunction nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
You should not include in the red-eared turtles’ diet such foods as are so familiar to us, such as: meat (minced meat, sausages, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc.), fatty fish, fruits, bread and cheese.
Please note that feeding aquarium fish and aquarium turtles must be correct: balanced and varied. This fundamental rule is the key to their successful maintenance.
IN given time Popular and popular food for fish and turtles, of course, is dry food. For example, you can constantly and everywhere find food from Tetra, the leader of the Russian market, on aquarium shelves, which has a range of food “for every taste.” Tetra’s “gastronomic arsenal” includes individual food for a specific type of fish: guppies, goldfish, cichlids, loricariids, labyrinths, arowanas, discus fish, etc. Tetra has also developed specialized foods, for example, to enhance color, fortified, or for feeding fry. Detailed information You can find out about all Tetra feeds on the company’s official website -.
It would not be amiss to note that when purchasing any dry food, you should first of all pay attention to the date of its manufacture and shelf life, try not to buy food in bulk, and also store the food in a closed state - this will help to avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it .
Reproduction and sexual differences of red-eared turtles
Red-eared turtles reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 - 5 years in captivity and 6 - 7 years in the wild. Turtles living in terrariums mate without paying much attention to the season, while in nature the mating season takes place from March to July.
Males are generally smaller than females and have a long, thick tail. However, if red-eared turtles are of different ages, it is not always possible to determine the sex only by size, in this case it is necessary to take into account the following factors: the male's eye spot is more pronounced, the claws on the front legs are longer, the lower part of the shell is concave (in the female it is flat).
The mating process is accompanied by a mating dance. The male approaches the female's head. The female swims forward, and the male swims backward, stroking long claws female chin. If the female is not against mating, she accepts these advances, otherwise the male is driven away, even to the point of using physical force.
Pregnancy of a red-eared turtle lasts for 2 months, but the period can be extended if the female cannot find a good place for laying.
To lay a clutch, the female needs to dig a nest on the shore of a reservoir. Interestingly, she can move long distances, up to 1.5 km, for the sake of best place for the nest. The nest has the shape of a jug up to 12 cm deep. Depending on age, red-eared turtles can make up to 6 clutches per year with a total number of 30 eggs (which is from 6 to 11 per clutch). The size of the red-eared turtle egg is about 4 cm. The incubation period lasts for 59 - 150 days, because Hatching time directly depends on temperature. So at temperatures from 22 to 30 ° C, the incubation period ranges from 55 to 80 days. The temperature in the nest directly affects the sex of turtles; females are born at temperatures of 29 °C and above, and males are born at 27 °C and below.
To get out of the egg, newborns red eared turtles They pierce the shell with an egg tooth, which falls off after an hour. All babies have a small pouch on their abdomen with the remains of incubation provisions: when it falls off, it leaves a quickly healing wound.
Interesting to know about red-eared turtles
Today, the red-eared turtle is one of the most popular inhabitants home aquarium. IN European countries Promotions are regularly held that encourage fans not to purchase these turtles, because their population is rapidly declining. It was even created in Switzerland special center, where you can bring a grown turtle.
Turtles have lived on earth for almost 200 million years, they appeared long before birds, crocodiles, mammals and even lizards.
In Russia, freshwater turtles with a characteristic red spot on the head are called red-eared, and in Germany - red-cheeked.
Red-eared turtles have a well-developed sense of smell, vision and touch, and their shell contains a large number of nerve endings.
The lifespan of red-eared turtles is 30 (40-45) years, European marsh turtles are the same, sometimes even 80 years.
Fishermen look for clutches and use turtle eggs as excellent bait for fish.
Young turtles are captured in untold quantities (especially in the Mississippi Valley) and transported to pet stores throughout the United States.
Turtles are often aggressive and can bite both people and other turtles. Red-eared turtles, accustomed to being handled, often do not bite.
And in some Asian countries, it is customary to release turtles into the wild environment as part of the tradition of the Buddhist ceremony of mercy to increase positive karma, respect for the Buddha and repentance for sins.
Red-eared turtles photo selection
Red-eared turtles video compilation
In the first place in the video series, we decided to put a paludarium with turtles from Evgenia Moiseeva, who is the headliner of the first online aquarium school "The World Behind Glass" - amazing project, allowing people to become expert aquarists in a short period of time!
A wonderful step-by-step example of setting up a turtle house!
Name (Russian):
Red-eared turtle, Yellow-bellied turtle
Name (latin):
Title (English):
Yellow Belly slider
Suborder: (Cryptodira) Secretive-necked turtles
Family: Family: (Emydidae) Freshwater turtles
Subfamily:
(Emydinae) Semi-box-shaped
Genus: (Trachemys) Decorated/Gliding
Subspecies:
Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-Ear Slider)
Trachemys scripta scripta (Yellow-bellied slider)
Trachemys scripta troostii (Cumberland Slider)
Description of the red-eared slider: The wrinkled shell of an adult red-eared turtle can reach a length of 28 cm, depending on the subspecies. The spot behind their eyes is not only bright red, but also bright yellow. In general, the colors of these turtles are extremely diverse, and in addition, they change greatly with age. Young animals are usually bright green, but older ones can turn completely black. The plastron of turtles is bright yellow with dark round spots. During the first 1.5 years of life, they are able to grow up to 7.5 cm, then growth slows down and the turtle grows 1-1.25 cm per year. In the first 2 years, the turtle is quite capable of growing to 20cm or more, That. the turtle is not dwarf or decorative, as sellers often convince naive buyers of.
Trachemys scripta scripta - Length up to 27 cm. Has a very noticeable yellow postorbital patch connected to a stripe on the neck. Each costal carapace has a yellow stripe. The plastron is yellow with spots on most of the front scutes.
Trachemys scripta elegans - Length up to 28 cm. The head has a wide red postorbital stripe and narrow stripes on the chin. On each costal carapace there is a transverse yellow stripe. Plastron with a large spot on each scute.
Trachemys scripta troostii - Length up to 21 cm. The head has a narrow yellow postorbital stripe and wide chin stripes. Each costal carapace has a yellow transverse stripe. Plastron with a pattern of “eyes” or small black spots.
Habitat: From southern Virginia to northern Florida and Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in the west (USA), Mexico, all of Central America, northwest South America(northern Colombia and Venezuela). The species is introduced to southern Florida, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel and South Africa. They live in small lakes and ponds with low, swampy shores.
Nutritionred-eared turtle:
Young red-eared or yellow-eared turtles require more animal food for active growth, so they are fed animal food daily, but once a day (never 2 or 3). Adult turtles (larger than 7 cm or older than 1-1.5 years) are fed every other day and or two, and half of their diet consists of plant foods.
You must choose the amount of food yourself, depending on how much the turtle eats. Usually for babies the volume of food is 2-3 pieces of 1 cm 3, for older adults - 2-3 pieces of 2-3 cm 3. The food must be raw and room temperature. You cannot feed turtles only gammarus or dry food, this is not food for a predator!
Types of food in equal parts: FISH (lean whole river with bones and entrails), LIVER ( beef liver, chicken heart, beef heart), INSECTS and CRUSTACEANS (daphnia crustaceans, gammarus (not dry), bloodworms, earthworms, crickets without legs, woodlice, locusts without legs, zoobass, beetles), OTHER (small freshwater snails, green shrimp, tadpoles, mollusks, frogs, small mice, occasionally seafood can be given). Can serve as plant food aquatic plants(duckweed, water hyacinth, pistia, hornwort, etc.), as well as dandelion, clover, mallow, daisies and other non-poisonous meadow plants. The only vegetables you can feed turtles with are carrots (vitamin A) and lettuce. Give dry food in limited quantities. In an aquarium you can keep food fish (guppies, neons...), snails, and aquatic plants with turtles.
You cannot feed: meat (any minced meat, sausages, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc.), oily fish, fruits, bread, cheese.
In the presence of ultraviolet light, necessary conditions(including temperature) in an aquaterrarium with proper balanced food, the turtle does not necessarily need vitamin and calcium supplements. However, if the diet is not fully thought out and the conditions are not ideal, the turtle must receive vitamins and calcium. To do this, the food is sprinkled with calcium and vitamins and fed from tweezers. So that the turtle can sharpen its beak and get additional calcium, it is also better to put a cuttlefish bone (sepia) in the aquarium for birds.
Reproduction: Red-eared turtles become sexually mature in nature at 6–8 years of age, and in captivity at 4 (males) and 5–6 years for females. In March or April, the mating season begins: each male, having met a female, manages to end up right in front of her face, and very close. The female swims forward, and the male swims backward, tickling the female’s chin with his long claws. The eggs of red-eared turtles are no larger than 4 centimeters. To lay them, the female leaves the reservoir and comes to land. Having found a suitable place, she heavily wets the ground with water from the anal bladders. After this, it begins to dig a hole with its hind legs - a nest. The nests of red-eared turtles look like a ball with a diameter of 7 to 25 centimeters, in which females lay 5–22 (6–10) eggs, which they then bury. Incubation temperature is from 21 o C to 30 o C and duration is 103–150 days. At an incubation temperature below 27 o C, males hatch, and at temperatures above 30 o C, only females hatch.
Aquaterrarium forred-eared turtle:
50 liters for young turtles and 120-150 liters for one or two adults.
Equipment: ,
Lighting: 40-60 W and for reptiles UVB 5-7% for adult turtles and 10% for juveniles
An aquaterrarium for a red-eared turtle can be low, not very wide, but it must be long, with a volume of about 120–150 liters for one adult turtle (minimum 120 liters). The water level should be at least the width of the turtle's shell (i.e. at least 10 cm), which will allow it to roll over if for any reason it ends up on its back. The aquarium must have a shore or land with a gentle, non-slippery ladder leading to it.
The water temperature in the aquarium is from 20 to 24 ° C, the air on the shore is about 31–33 ° C. To maintain the water temperature, you need an aquarium water heater, however, if the water temperature is normal without a heater, then there is no need for it. The water in the pool must be changed as it becomes dirty or a powerful filter must be used (for young turtles - internal, for adult turtles - external).
Above the island, you need to install a 40–60 W incandescent lamp and an ultraviolet lamp for reptiles (10% UVB for babies and 5% for healthy adult turtles) at a height of at least 20–25 cm to prevent eye burns. Both lamps should be on for 10-12 hours a day, and should be turned off at night. Turtles usually bask on land, where they receive ultraviolet radiation necessary for activity, good metabolism (digestion of food and stomach function) and prevention of rickets.
In the warm season, it is advisable to take turtles outside in the sun as often as possible (at an outside temperature of more than 20 o C). The first exposure to the sun is limited to five minutes, gradually the duration of sunbathing is increased to two hours or more. Since turtles overheat quickly, it is necessary to create a shaded area where the animals can escape if necessary. You cannot use plastic basins and boxes - the turtle must have the opportunity to go into the shade, because in the open sun there is a high risk of overheating.
German herpetologists recommend using the following temperatures to keep turtles throughout the year. The heater is only used if the desired temperature is not achieved by the season alone. It is not necessary to adhere to these recommendations, but it is advisable, especially for adults.
For Trachemys scripta scripta and Trachemys scripta elegans:
for Trachemys scripta troostii:
Hibernation: According to some sources, some subspecies of Trachemys scripta require hibernation. However, it is not always possible to carry out full hibernation at home without harm to the turtle’s health. So it is recommended not to arrange it, especially since turtles live and reproduce well without it.
Additionally: The lifespan of red-eared turtles is 30 (40–45) years, European marsh turtles are the same, sometimes even 80 years.
Fishermen search for clutches and use turtle eggs as excellent bait for fish. Young turtles are captured in untold quantities (especially in the Mississippi Valley) and transported to pet stores throughout the United States.
Turtles are often aggressive and can bite both people and other turtles. Red-eared turtles, accustomed to being handled, often do not bite.
In nature, turtles grow on average 1.5 cm per year. They must also grow in captivity, which is achieved by proper nutrition.
View opened by THUNBERG in SCHOEPFF, 1792.
Conservation status:
Photos of red-eared turtles: 
The world of turtles is diverse: more than 300 species, united in 14 families. There are two main species based on their habitat: marine and terrestrial. Terrestrials are divided into land and freshwater.
At home, there are land Central Asian and freshwater turtles - red-eared (yellow-bellied), marsh, trionics (). More details in a separate article.
Let's look at the external features and care of these species using the example of the red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta) and the Central Asian turtle (Agrionemys horsfieldii).
A turtle at home is exotic, and its appearance is also unusual.
Animal body:
- head and eyes;
- beak and tongue;
- shell;
- color;
- limbs;
- tail;
- dimensions.
The head of these reptiles is streamlined and designed in such a way that the animal can quickly pull it under its shell. In some species, the length of the neck is equal to the length of the shell.
These animals have a strong and hard beak with bulges inside, with sharp or jagged edges that act as teeth.
The function of the shell is protection. The dorsal (upper) part is called the carapace, the ventral (lower) part is called the plastron.
The size of a turtle is measured by the length of its shell. Determine the length using a ruler despite the fact that the surface of the dorsal part is uneven.
They grow slowly throughout life. In adult individuals, the length of the carapace is 20–30 cm.
The tail is hidden inside the shell. The tip of the tail in some species is pointed, similar to a spike.
Differences between Central Asian and red-eared cats in appearance
| Appearance | Central Asian | red-eared |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Yellow-beige color, shapeless dark spots on the shell. | The carapace has characteristic stripes of olive, black, and yellow colors. |
| Plastron | Dark color. | Smooth, variegated color: dark spots on a yellow background. |
| Head | The upper jaw is hooked. | From the eyes to the neck, on both sides there are yellow-red lines resembling ears. |
| Eyes | Located on the sides of the head in such a way that they look down; small, black. | Directed forward and upward, located near the crown. |
| Limbs | The front paws are flat, designed to dig soil, and hind legs powerful, strong. They have four toes on their front paws with blunt claws. | The feet have leathery membranes for swimming. |
| Dimensions | Cubs are born 3–3.4 cm long and weigh 10–12 grams. By the second year of life the size will increase to 5 cm, by the fourth to 9 cm. The weight of an adult turtle grows up to 2 kg. | A newborn cub is 2.4 cm long, and during the first year of life it gains 2.5–4.5 cm. At two years, its size will be 8 cm, at six years - 18 cm. |
Sense organs
Turtles have good low-frequency hearing and excellent color vision.
Red-eared turtles have an excellent sense of smell and smell. They see both in water and above water. Hearing is like that of cats: they can distinguish dull sounds and vibrations. Nerve endings pass through the shell. Animals with a sense of touch distinguish the taste of food.
Aquatic turtles are not adapted to breathe underwater; they swim up for oxygen.
Lifespan
The average life expectancy of these animals is natural environment 20–30 years. If kept at home, if the rules of care are followed, pets will live up to 40-50 years.
In captivity, these reptiles grow faster as they receive high-quality nutrition and a comfortable life.
When determining age, they are guided by size and also count the number of rings on the shell. In one year, 2–3 rings are formed. But this growth is not uniform; it is influenced by conditions of detention, illness, and hibernation.
In older individuals, the carapace is smooth, the growth rings are pale. The younger the turtle, the brighter its color.
Inappropriate maintenance and disease are the main causes of death.
In another article we looked in more detail.
Caring for a turtle at home
Arrangement of living space
Pet turtles should not wander around the apartment randomly. Keeping turtles requires organizing a separate closed space: terrarium or aquarium with special equipment.
Scroll necessary equipment(for all types):
- room/container for keeping (terrarium/aquarium);
- ultraviolet lamp (for water UVB 5–10%, for land 10–12%);
- heater/heating lamp;
- lamp;
- thermometer for temperature control$
- stable feeder.
For land turtles, this list includes a house for sleeping and resting.
Additional equipment for aquatic species:
- 100 Watt water heater;
- filter (internal or external);
- land/shore/island.
Although red-eared aquarium turtles spend most of their time in the water, provide them with a warm, dry place on land to rest and get UV exposure. The turtle will not turn it over if one side is submerged in water. Requirements for material for sushi: non-toxic, not smooth, but rough, without sharp corners. Observe the following proportion: water - 3 parts of volume, land - 1 part.
In their natural environment, turtles climb onto snags, stones, and stable objects protruding from the water. It should also be convenient for them to climb onto the artificial shore in the aquarium.
The required aquarium volume for a red-eared turtle is from 200 liters. The more spacious the home, the healthier the animal.
For land use, you need a terrarium with a capacity of 100 liters or more. Entirely glass or made of wood, but with one wall made of transparent material.
House
So that the pet can sleep peacefully, relax, and take shelter, it needs a home inside the terrarium.
Ceramic is suitable for the house flower pot, divided in half, with processed edges. Use a plastic rodent house for this purpose or make one out of wood.
Priming
In terrariums, use hay as soil - it is easy to change. Do not put sand on the bottom as animals will swallow it. Lay a two-layer coating: sand at the bottom, large pebbles at the top. The turtle sharpens its claws on it.
Do not put newspapers, expanded clay, sharp stones, or cat litter in the terrarium.
Aquatic turtles do not need soil. For aesthetics, place rocks at the bottom of the aquarium big size. Gravel or other covering will not work; the animal will swallow it.
Water
Clean water and a maintained temperature level are the most important things in keeping aquatic species.
In the water, the red-eared turtle swims, sleeps, eats, and goes to the toilet. To prevent the accumulation of ammonia, nitrates and bad smell, change the water a couple of times a week. At the same time, carry out filtering.
- 70% - plant foods (lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, nettle, algae, duckweed);
- 30% - animal (meat, fish, seafood, worms, insects, bloodworms, guppies).
Aquatic turtles are omnivores. Feed regular food and artificial food, fish food, aquarium plants and insects.
Feed turtles up to two years old once a day. During this period, animal protein predominates in their diet. As the animals grow, the proportion of plant feed increases.
Vegetables are included in the diet, even if the animal does not show an appetite for them. The older it is, the more fiber it needs.
Feeding regimen for adults: once every two to three days. Do not overfeed your pet. To maintain a balance in nutrition, special feeds have been developed.
Aquatic turtles use water for swallowing as they do not produce saliva. They eat in the aquarium. It is better to feed them in a specially designated place, this will keep the home clean longer.
Hygiene
Cleaning the premises
Clean the bottom and walls of the terrarium from animal waste products every day. Wash feeding and drinking utensils whenever they become dirty.
Aquarium aquatic turtle also needs general cleaning twice a month.
Bathing
Caring for land turtles includes weekly water treatments. Place the animal in a small container with warm water at a temperature of 30–35 degrees for half an hour. The head should be above the water. Dry your turtle after bathing.
Trimming claws
During their lives, these animals grow a shell, beak and claws. Care for your pet turtle's claws.
When the beak and claws grow to such a size that it becomes difficult for the animal to move and eat, remove them. For this procedure, special nippers are used.
Such actions are not done with aquatic species of turtles.
Shedding
Turtles are susceptible to molting.
In aquatic species, the separation of large scales on the shell and the change of skin occur regularly throughout life.
Land turtles only change the skin on their paws, this happens unnoticed.
Reproduction
In nature, animals begin mating in March and June, but at home they mate all year round. IN good conditions the female will lay 3–4 clutches of two dozen eggs per season.
Prepare a suitable nest for a pregnant female.
During pregnancy, the female spends more time on land, her need for calcium and UV rays increases.
Determination of gender
In most species, females are larger than individuals of the opposite sex. The cloaca is closer to the tail and has a star-shaped shape.
In males, the tail is longer, and the genital organ is located in it. Their claws are stronger, thicker, more curved; The plastron is curved, this helps with mating.
Red-eared sliders reach maturity within a year because they grow faster than other species. Sex can be accurately determined in males at the age of 2–4 years, in females - at 3–5 years. Then the size exceeds 10 cm. More details in a separate article.
In Central Asians, sex becomes obvious when the reptile reaches 6–10 years of age. You can distinguish a female from a male by the number of horny tubercles on inside hips. The female has 3–5 of them, the male has one.
Handling babies
The immunity of small turtles is not strong, they are susceptible to disease, sensitive to living conditions, and have a high mortality rate. Observe the feeding of newborns, adapt their living environment.
For some time after birth, babies do not eat the food that is offered. They receive nutrition from the yolk sac on the plastron. Do not touch or remove it! When this sac resolves, the little turtle begins to feed as usual. The diet must contain food with a high calcium content.
Babies are very gentle, shy, and easily fall into a state of stress. Protect them from unnecessary worries, surround them with care. Do not pick him up unless necessary, do not stand over the aquarium, do not knock, do not make loud noise.
It is important to ensure a constant temperature for the cubs: for water 26–27 degrees and for air (land) 32 degrees. Keep the water clean, pass it through a filter, change it every two days.
Children of the red-eared turtle cannot tolerate drafts, direct sun rays. Provide them with access to a place on land heated by a special lamp. Baby turtles are kept at more than warm temperature than adults.
Babies are bathed two or three times a week. The washing procedure for children is the same as for adults.
Fights and aggression
Red-eared turtles are active, strong and prone to aggression. They try to dominate the living space and attack turtles of other species and relatives, taking food from each other. They inflict wounds and bite.
If a new resident appears in the aquarium, this provokes fights among mature individuals. Males attack females, causing serious injury or even death. This behavior is normal for this species of turtle.
Thoughtful care and maintenance helps reduce aggression in turtles. Try to enlarge the room where they live, set restrictions, barriers inside the aquarium so that they do not see each other.
Feed the animals one at a time behind the walls of the aquarium in a special dining area. Or keep each animal in a separate space. Red-eared turtles love solitude and live quietly without a mate.
Health and illness
Animal health is 90% determined by compliance with the rules for the care, nutrition and maintenance of turtles in a home aquarium.
Tips for keeping your animal healthy:
- for sick turtles, the temperature is raised to 27–30 degrees (for immunity);
- maintain fluid balance, avoid dehydration (the turtle should be in water, drinking);
- for a sick animal, reduce the water level in the aquarium so that it does not drown (if the turtle is a poor swimmer, it should be able to freely go ashore);
- If you suspect an infection, isolate the animal and wash your hands after contact;
- do not self-medicate, seek help from a veterinarian-herpetologist.
Hibernation
In nature, hibernation is a reaction to unfavourable conditions environment, cold and heat. Such sleep for animals helps to survive these periods.
At home, where they are comfortable, there is no need to hibernate. Don't stimulate hibernation!
Walks
Bring turtles to Fresh air so that they receive natural sunlight. Take it out into the courtyard of a house in the city, take it with you to your summer cottage.
For a walk, try to choose a dry, sunny, windless, warm weather. At temperatures below 25 degrees and at other weather conditions, it is better to keep the animal at home.
Take your pet to a clean, quiet area with some shade and vegetation. She will happily eat fresh clover, plantain, and dandelion.
At the dacha for land turtle build a special paddock for walking, and for water - your own pool.
When walking, provide constant supervision to the animal so that it does not eat anything harmful, does not get hurt, or runs away. Protect it from insects, animals, birds, children, from overheating and cooling.
When you get home, check your pet for any wounds or contamination. If they are very dirty, wash them.
Precautionary measures
- Aquarists advise handling the turtle carefully, holding it firmly with both hands. Carefully: the animal hisses, bites, pours out the contents of the intestines.
- The bacterial environment of a turtle is different from ours. They are carriers of salmonella. If you touch an animal, be sure to wash your hands with soap.
- Do not wash your pet, aquarium or accessories in the kitchen sink.
- Keep the aquarium or terrarium clean and do not allow food to stagnate.
Purchase
Before getting a turtle, read the description of care features and purchase everything you need to ensure a comfortable life. Get ready for additional expenses related to keeping turtles in your home.
After purchasing, take your turtle to the vet. He will determine the age and sex of the animal, and examine it for wounds, injuries, infections, and diseases.
In a new place, the turtle will need an adaptation period to get comfortable. Do not disturb her again, provide proper care and nutrition.
If you acquire a new animal for company living, organize a quarantine zone for the newcomer for three months. Do not place cubs with adults, they will be injured. Only animals that are similar in size and living conditions can be combined in one space.
Expenses
In addition to a terrarium or aquarium with additional equipment, heating lamp, include in food costs good quality, for examination or treatment by a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Approach issues related to their life support responsibly; this requires competent care and attention.
The undemanding and omnivorous red-eared turtle has always been popular at home. These creatures boast fantastic stamina and life expectancy, but sellers rarely educate beginners about the details of caring for reptiles, which leads to annoying mistakes and even the death of pets.
Red-eared turtles at home - maintenance
When thinking about the nuances of the question of how to keep a red-eared turtle at home, you first need to think about. Unscrupulous animal resellers do not always mention that turtles can grow up to an impressive 30 cm in diameter, so you cannot do without a solid aquarium. Reptiles quickly pollute their habitat with their waste; a spacious container with high-quality and properly selected equipment will greatly facilitate the task of a novice amateur in caring for exotic pets.
Life expectancy of red-eared turtles at home
IN wild environment turtles have plenty of enemies, here they are in wait for diseases, various natural phenomena, therefore, no more than 1% of the total number of reptiles survive to their thirtieth birthday. In the matter of home care, everything depends on the qualifications of the person and his responsible attitude towards pets. Due to the poor level of care in the home terrarium, these pets do not often live longer than 15 years on average, but there is plenty of evidence of them celebrating their 40th birthday with their owners under ideal conditions.
Turtles are born up to 3 cm in size, but by the age of 3 they are proper nutrition They can grow up to 15 cm, so even at the stage of purchasing a terrarium you should immediately think about purchasing a spacious tank. When thinking about which aquarium for a red-eared slider will be the most successful, give preference to glass tanks with a volume of 100 liters or more (even better, 200 liters or more) per mature individual. It is advisable to choose low and wide containers with large area bottom, up to 25% of the space you will have to devote to arranging an artificial coastline.
Reptiles need land for rest and sunbathing; here they dry their bodies under and warm up afterwards. water procedures. To prevent your pets from running away, do not place artificial islands closer than 30 cm from the edge of the aquarium and take care of a durable terrarium lid with ventilation holes. A red-eared turtle at home requires a pool with a water layer depth of 40 cm. The islands are made durable, with rough soil and a slope from the bottom; you can use ready-made store-bought structures.
To solve the problem of how to equip an aquarium for a red-eared turtle, you need to purchase full list the most necessary devices. With suitable devices, it is easier to maintain an optimal microclimate and a stable temperature of the aquatic environment inside the terrarium. The design of the interior space has aesthetic value; without artificial plants, snags and grottoes, the home of a red-eared turtle at home looks poor and unpresentable.
Basic equipment for a home terrarium:
Water temperature for a red-eared slider in an aquarium
The red-eared turtle at home spends most of its time in aquatic environment, so its standing directly affects the health of the reptile. We make sure that the water temperature stays between 22-28°C. When it decreases, animals become lethargic, their appetite decreases, and their immunity deteriorates. If the temperature is high, then the pets do not swim, they sit more on the island, which negatively affects their health. Water for red-eared turtles at home is used purified and settled, without ammonia and chlorine impurities.
Caring for the red-eared turtle
Ultraviolet and regular lamps illuminate the terrarium for up to 12 hours a day; we place them at a height of 25 cm. We place the reptiles in the rays of the real sun. summer period at a temperature of 20°C, gradually accustoming them to natural light. Even with a filter, we change the water in terrariums up to 2 times a week. When caring for a decorative red-eared turtle at home, it is not recommended to walk it on the floor; here it can easily catch a cold in a draft or swallow a small object.
What to feed a red-eared turtle at home?
Young animals require increased nutrition with animal proteins; we offer the main food to adolescents once a day; in addition, they can eat salad or algae, which we constantly keep in the terrarium. We feed adult individuals from 7 cm in size once every 2-3 days, half of the diet consists of food of plant origin. It is better to use raw food at room temperature. For this purpose, ready-made frozen specialized food or home-made products are used.
What do red-eared turtles eat at home:
- low-fat varieties of fish;
- pieces of liver;
- insects;
- crustaceans;
- freshwater snails;
- squid fillet;
- carrot;
- lettuce leaves;
- duckweed;
- hornwort;
- clover;
- non-poisonous meadow grasses;
- pieces of zucchini and cucumber.
At the age of 5-6 years, red-eared turtles can be reproduced at home; mating best occurs from April to May. It is optimal to keep one male for several partners; in case of rivalry, aggressive individuals are capable of injuring their opponents. On the eve of mating, we increase the dose of vitamins and basic feed. We plant the turtles in pairs so that neighbors do not interfere with the breeding process through fights.
We maintain the water temperature in the terrarium at 25°C. Often an aggressive male does not want to let the female out of the pool, and she will choke, so we pour liquid no higher than 10 cm. Mating games can drag on for several days, during which time we do not disturb the turtles at home. Females lay up to 10 eggs; they are best placed in an incubator at a temperature of 26-30°C. The embryos develop in approximately 2-5 months; it is advisable to keep the newly born young in a separate aquarium for up to a year.
In the terrariums of lovers of exotic animals one can often find freshwater turtles. This is the largest group of turtles, including more than 80 species.
Freshwater turtles can be found wherever the climate is warm and there are bodies of water with standing water or slow currents. Many species live in Southeast Asia and the Americas. Some freshwater turtles go quite far from the water, while others practically do not go onto land, so the conditions of captivity must be selected individually, depending on the species.
Terrarium for freshwater turtles
Freshwater turtles are kept in terrariums where there is water and land. The terrarium is arranged in such a way that the turtle can swim freely in the water and go outside to warm up. Two-thirds water and one-third land are the recommended proportions for most freshwater turtles. The size of the terrarium is selected with reserve, because turtles grow quite large. For one turtle you will need a terrarium of at least 150 liters in size, and for aquatic species (for example, trionics) at least 200 liters.
A so-called “island” is placed in the terrarium, or the soil is laid in such a way that the turtle can leave the water to warm up. Smooth stones, rough tiles, and plexiglass structures are suitable for constructing an island. A ladder with a rough surface should be attached to the island, along which the turtle can climb to land. The size of the island is selected according to the size and number of turtles in the terrarium. They should all fit comfortably on the island. The island is placed in a warm corner of the terrarium (about 30°C).
A lamp is placed above the island to illuminate and warm the turtle. You will also need to purchase an external filter, a reptile UV lamp, and a heater. Enough water is poured into the terrarium so that the turtle can swim, but cannot get out of the terrarium. Do not make too large a difference between the water and land levels.
Many turtle keepers decorate their terrariums with driftwood, ceramics, and arrange a beautiful the background and create unusual compositions from smooth stones, gluing them together with non-toxic glue. The main thing is that the terrarium is safe. There should not be anything in it that could cause poisoning or injury. Even artificial plants can be dangerous because turtles tend to taste everything.
For the terrarium, tap and settled water is suitable, as for a regular aquarium. Fresh tap water Do not pour it into the terrarium, it is too cold and saturated with chlorine. Therefore, the water is preliminarily settled and brought to the required temperature (24-26 ° C is usually sufficient).
Most of the water needs to be changed at least once a week, because... turtles pollute it heavily. A complete cleaning of the terrarium is carried out monthly. Along with heating and filtration, care must be taken to ensure that sufficient humidity is maintained in the terrarium.
Freshwater turtles, like land turtles, do not need to hibernate if kept correctly. Heat, UV lamp and light will keep the turtle from falling asleep.
Feeding freshwater turtles
The basis of the diet should be low-fat fish, which is fed along with bones, cut into pieces. Small fish are given whole. By the way, many breeders keep an aquarium with fish specifically for feeding turtles. If you feel sorry for feeding your turtle aquarium fish, then any low-fat fish (cod, perch, trout, blue whiting, pike, crucian carp, hake, pike perch) will do.
A couple of times a week they give out shellfish (snails, mussels) and seafood (shrimp, squid, etc.). In nature, turtles eat quite a lot of insects and their larvae. These are grasshoppers, flies, bloodworms and gammarus, as well as worms and even frogs.
Meat is given little by little and no more than once a week. It could be beef, poultry or some liver. Many species of freshwater turtles do not disdain plant foods. From time to time they are given vegetables, fruits and greens recommended for land turtles. Lettuce, dandelions, carrots or apples - the turtle will choose a delicacy to suit its taste.
Don't forget about vitamin and mineral supplements, which are fed once a week. It is recommended to give dry food to turtles as a supplement, and not too often.
Types of freshwater turtles
The family of freshwater turtles is quite large, but most species are rare and endangered, listed in the Red Book. Therefore, amateurs are content with keeping the most common species presented below.
The most frequent guest of terrariums. Belongs to the genus Decorated turtles. Includes about 15 subspecies. The shell reaches 18-30 cm. They live in Central America, but in Lately quite successfully acclimatized in Europe, Asia and Africa. They love bodies of water with standing water and marshy shores. During the day they go out to bask in the sun.
These are small, cute turtles, bright green in color when young, but over time the shell darkens. Head and limbs with white and green stripes. Behind each eye is an elongated red spot, which is how turtles get their name. In some species, the spots behind the eyes are yellow rather than red. Males are smaller than females, have a more massive tail and developed claws. In the terrarium the water temperature is 22-28°C, under the lamp - 30-32°C.
 Chinese Trionix |
European marsh turtle
The turtle belongs to the genus of marsh turtles. The dimensions of the shell are up to 35 cm. The shell is dark, greenish-brown, the whole turtle is strewn with small yellow specks. These turtles live in steppe and forest areas Central Europe, in a mild climate. They live in bodies of water without a current, swamps, and ponds. Swamp turtles lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle, and sometimes go quite far from the water. This species does not require a lot of water; a 20-centimeter depth is sufficient. The water temperature is 22-25°C, the air under the lamp should warm up to 30°C.
Loading...
