Land snails are unpretentious and cute pets. Many breeders believe that these gastropods have a very high intelligence, while watching them is a real pleasure.
It should be noted that the land snail at home is not such a rarity. The popularity of these gastropods is determined different factors. So, snails are not at all boring, as it may initially seem. In addition, they are incredibly easy to maintain, since they do not require large financial costs and special care.
- does not make noise;
- does not require walking;
- does not smell;
- almost everything eats;
- does not stain clothes and furniture with wool;
- does not require expensive, complex or frequent care;
- does not scratch or bite;
- does not take up much space;
- you can take a snail with you on vacation, and also leave it alone at home;
- practically does not get sick and lives long;
- does not cause allergies.
Types of land snails
These creatures are perfect for home maintenance. For example, the land snail Achatina is considered the most popular inhabitant of terrariums.
It is a large snail, in which the shell reaches 20 cm in length. In nutrition, she is not picky, while being very inert. Most of the time the snail is resting.
Achatina immaculata is distinguished by a strip along the entire head, as well as a pinkish rim running along its shell.
Achatina reticulata is a curious and mobile member of the family.
The common land snail Achatina has a brindle color and giant size, its shell reaches 20 cm in length. At home, it has more modest parameters.
In addition to Achatina, domestic breeders are also popular who are distinguished by a huge variety of colors, while being much smaller than Achatina. Their shells are 5 cm long and 4.5 cm high.
Advantages
The main advantages of these pets is their undemanding content. The land snail at home lives perfectly in terrariums or small aquariums. It is clear that such a pet does not need to be walked. With financial costs also negligible, they can be fed fruits and vegetables in small quantities. For land snails can be done only once a month, while its cost is low.
It is worth noting that the maintenance of land snails is very simple. This will require a glass terrarium of 10 liters. Top part the terrarium should have small holes for normal ventilation so that pets cannot crawl through them. In the terrarium, the temperature should be constant and not exceed 27 °C.
It is advisable to place heating sources on the outside of the aquarium - they can be thermal cords or thermal mats. Wherein internal sources heat for land snails is dangerous because they can get serious burns.
It is better to use the soil as the soil. The thickness of the flooring should correspond to the total size of the snails, which will enable the gastropods to completely dig into it during the period daytime sleep. It is necessary to maintain a constant soil moisture, for which it will be enough to lightly spray it with water once a day. You shouldn't over-moisturize it.
The soil needs to be loosened periodically. But in the terrarium, it is necessary to plant green non-toxic plants, for example, leaf lettuce or cat grass.
Continuing to figure out how to care for land snails, it is worth noting that their aquarium needs a weekly cleaning. Every day, it is recommended to wipe its walls with a damp cloth, while not using household chemicals.
Land snails are very fond of water procedures. To do this, they can be bathed under a thin stream a little warm water or in a shallow separate bowl. The pet sink also requires special care; it must be cleaned while bathing with a soft brush from dirt.
If something irreparable happened - for example, the sink broke, or a hole appeared in it, try to glue it with BF glue. Such a snail's chances of survival are very small, but they still exist. At the same time, in young animals, any damage to the shell is delayed without problems, while adults suffer much more (although their shell is more durable). But a snail with a shell split to smithereens can no longer be saved.
Nutrition
In land snails, the basis of nutrition is plant foods. Pets are happy to eat all kinds of greens, as well as fruits and vegetables, which are served cut into small slices. Solid foods should initially be passed through a grater.
Domestic land snails as a supplement to your vegetable diet they are happy to use various protein foods - fish food, seafood and meat puree, gammarus, daphnia. Such top dressing should be offered to pets several times a week.
Domestic snails should not be offered various salty foods, since salt is a poison to any gastropods!
For proper development and the strength of the shell in the diet of your pets, you can introduce calcium in the form of sepia or crushed eggshells.
reproduction
Snails are hermaphrodites, which means that keeping two or more individuals in one terrarium can lead to their fertilization. Most of these mollusks lay eggs, although there are also viviparous species. Basically, the snail digs its masonry into the ground, while this moment it is advisable not to miss it, since the masonry is removed from the terrarium and placed neatly in a separate container.
In this case, it is necessary to observe the same soil consistency and humidity where adults live. Soon, small snails hatch, after which they crawl out to the surface. The babies are completely ready for life and feed on the food that their parents eat, but until the shell gets stronger, it is better to big snails don't plant.
walks
Land snails do not need walks, like other domestic animals, while fresh air affects them very well - gastropods improve their appetite, increase activity. They are taken outside on a non-hot day in a container. A very short walk is enough for them - only about half an hour. At this time, it is necessary to carefully monitor that the skin of the snail does not dry out, for this it is recommended to spray it with water from time to time. Protect the container also from direct sunlight.
Turtles are such cute and interesting pets that have long won the hearts of people. Many people dream of having this unhurried animal, but do not know how to properly care for it. land turtle at home.
reptile house
The Central Asian land tortoise needs its own housing. Constantly moving around the house, not having her own corner, is simply dangerous for her:
- the reptile can catch a cold - the shell is not a protection against diseases and external influences;
- you can accidentally step on a pet;
- the animal is able to get stuck - if not noticed in time, the reptile is in danger of death.
It is possible to avoid unpleasant consequences if you buy your own house for the turtle.
A great option is to buy a terrarium. Optimal dimensions: 60 cm - length and 40 cm - width. This area will allow the turtle to move freely.
A special bedding should be placed at the bottom of the terrarium. It could be:
- a mixture of sand and clay;
- gravel of large sizes;
- hay;
- sawdust.
You can mix several fillers at once. The thickness of the coating is not less than five centimeters. The bedding needs to be changed every two weeks.
If there is no possibility for such a large layer of soil, then the turtle must be provided with shelter. A pot or box is suitable in which the pet can hide. Mandatory conditions - the absence of sharp edges and the ability to turn around.
The reptile needs warmth. Optimal temperature will help create an incandescent lamp of 60-100 watts. Placement height - 35 cm from the surface.
Turtles need ultraviolet light, so a special lamp should be installed in the terrarium. It will provide your pet with vitamin D and promote calcium absorption. It should be placed directly above the animal at a height of 40 cm.
ATTENTION! temperature and ultraviolet important conditions for turtle health. Do not neglect the purchase of lamps.
Nutrition Features
The beautiful life of a turtle at home should be complemented proper nutrition. In nature, the reptile eats plant food therefore, in captivity, preference should be given to various grasses.
A young animal (up to two years old) needs to be fed every day, while an adult should be fed once every two to three days. At the same time, the offered food should be served in finely chopped form - so it will be more convenient for the turtle to chew. Thermally processed food is prohibited, as it can provoke a violation in the digestive tract.
The daily diet of a reptile should be 90% herbal plants. The rest is occupied by fruits, vegetables and berries. Central Asian tortoise will be delighted with:
- clover, barley, plantain and sorrel;
- carrots, pumpkins, radishes, peppers, cucumbers and beets;
- apples, bananas, peaches, oranges and plums;
- raspberries, strawberries, watermelon and blueberries.
Many animals have a positive attitude towards mushrooms. With a special appetite, they gobble up champignons, boletus and russula.
Apart from home food, the turtle can be pampered with ready-made food for land. They contain an additive in the form of various vitamins and calcium. Such varied feeding will only benefit the fragile health of the home resident.
Water
An adult turtle can live without food for a couple of days, but the drinker or saucer should always be in open access. Reptiles prefer warm water, so it's best to place it under a lamp. But it is worth monitoring the container - the animal often turns over and pours out the liquid.
The Central Asian pet is prone to defecating into water, so the cleanliness of the saucer must be constantly monitored. If the turtle accidentally drinks it, it can result in serious illness.
Basic hygiene is important for everyone, including reptiles. Land turtles are very fond of digging in the bedding at the bottom of the terrarium, and the corners of the mouth get dirty with food particles, so turtles should be looked after and washed regularly.
The bathing process is quite simple:
- In one liter of warm water, you need to add a teaspoon of soda.
- Pour water into a convenient container (preferably in a special bath for turtles).
- Gently lower the pet, leaving the head on the surface.
- Leave in water for 20 minutes.
- After the time is up, take the turtle out and let it dry.
After water procedures it is necessary to lubricate the head and legs of the reptile with olive oil.
In small turtles and hatchlings, the drying process is much faster than in adults. Therefore, babies should be bathed a little more often - 2-3 times a week.
ATTENTION! While bathing the turtle, the air temperature in the room should not be less than 23°C. Otherwise, the pet may catch a cold.
The well-being of a Central Asian reptile living in an apartment depends on the quality of nutrition and care.
- A varied diet and timely bathing give great guarantees for a long and happy life of a pet without health problems. From an unbalanced diet, the corners of the turtle's mouth can become covered with horny formations. You can only get rid of them at the veterinarian.
- Various preparations or vitamin and mineral supplements help to support the turtle's immunity. They enrich the nutrition of reptiles with microelements, which are necessary for a good condition of the skin, a strong shell and maintaining reproductive function. Thanks to the positive effect of vitamins, the life of the turtle will increase significantly.
- Walking is an essential part happy life reptiles. They have a beneficial effect on the health of the pet. Sometimes, after walking fresh air ticks can be seen on the paws and head of the turtle - they must be removed.
- The long claws of the pet need to be trimmed. To do this, you need to use special scissors.
A useful article for those who have a land tortoise. I have been dealing with these animals for many years and I want all turtles to live in the right home conditions.
Many are mistaken, considering turtles to be unpretentious and the simplest animals to keep, but this is not at all the case! If you are considering getting a turtle, then you need to read this article urgently!
First of all, you need to take care of where land turtle will live: a terrarium, an aquarium (without water, of course), for the first time an eraser container or a spacious box will do. In no case should turtles live on the floor, because they can catch a cold, swallow garbage, hide under the radiator and "dry out".
The second thing to take care of when caring for a turtle at home is the soil for the house where the turtle will live:
1. Sawdust, if the sawdust is not flavored, then it is quite suitable as a soil, but this soil is dusty and sometimes creates an unpleasant odor.
2. Hay, hay is good for soil, even if the turtle eats it, nothing will happen to it. Some turtles like to burrow into the ground.
3. Rocks or pebbles work well with hay or sawdust. The stones should be flat and smooth, and the pebbles should be larger than the head of a land tortoise. On stones and pebbles, the turtle grinds its claws.
4. Earth or sand, not suitable as ground, as the turtle can swallow it.
5. Cat litter is also not suitable, because the turtle can swallow it and get poisoned, and treating turtles is very difficult.
with a home for land turtle we figured it out, but there must be lamps in the house. You say "why", the first lamp is for heating (a regular 40 or 60 watt bulb), the second is an ultraviolet lamp (Reti Glo 8.0, or 10.0 or another brand). 8.0 and 10.0 are the ultraviolet spectrum. You can take a compact ultraviolet lamp looks like a normal lamp. In summer, instead of ultraviolet, you can use walks under the sun.
The terrarium should have a house where she will hide from the sun or from human eyes. I have a regular plastic one. flower pot. The house should fit the size of the land tortoise so that it can easily get in and out.
Feeding. For the feeder, you can use the lid from the jar. Land turtles eat greens, fruits and vegetables. Turtles especially like: dandelion leaves (they can be dried for the winter), carrots (grated on a grater), zucchini (raw, shabby), apples, lettuce and so on.
The turtle drinks through the skin. Land tortoises need to be bathed once a week. We take a basin, pour warm water there (32-34 degrees, you can add chamomile decoction to the water) until the middle of the shell (about 4-5 centimeters), the turtle needs to be bathed for 20-50 minutes. Don't be alarmed if a turtle defecates while bathing, all turtles do this.
In pet stores or markets, most land turtles are dehydrated, so when you buy a turtle, you need to bathe it every day for a week, and only then, when it gets drunk, once a week.
I wish you and your pets good luck!
Exotic pets are a popular trend. The land tortoise, when kept at home, will not bring any special worries to the owners if they initially create the proper conditions, and then follow the diet and carry out animal care procedures. There is practically no noise and smell from these reptiles, and with proper care they live for several decades.
Who is a land tortoise
The animal got its name for its strong shell, it comes from the Latin Testudinidae - brick, tile. A hard shell covers the back (carapace) and belly (plastron). It serves as a shell for protection, withstands a load that is 200 times the weight of a turtle. The size of an individual depends on the species. There are both very small representatives up to 10 cm long, and giants up to 900 kg. The limbs are shaped to hide compactly inside the shell. Almost all species have a tail, and at its end there is a spur. Reptiles have well-developed hearing and color vision, which helps them to get food.
The main types of land turtles:
- Leopard - reaches 50 kg in weight, high shell has a spotted color.
- The Central Asian tortoise is a small reptile, reaching a length of up to 20 cm. Its shell has a rounded shape of yellow-brown tones. The most common option for home maintenance due to the unpretentiousness of care. It is also called the steppe tortoise.
- Asian - has two subspecies: depressed and brown turtle.
- Mediterranean - common in Europe, up to 35 cm long.
- Radiant - got its name for the characteristic geometrically regular yellow lines on the coal shell, rare view from the Madagascar Islands.
Where does he live
Land species prefer steppe, desert and semi-desert terrain. They can be found in geographical areas:
- savannah and desert Africa;
- in the North and South America;
- Asian and European countries: India, Greece, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and others;
- in Australia and nearby islands.
How many lives
The lifespan of a reptile depends on the living conditions and species. When answering the question of how long land turtles live, it is worth mentioning that in natural conditions some individuals reached the age of over 100 years. At home, everything depends on the conditions of detention. The more varied the diet and the more competent care, the longer the pet will live. Age can reach more than 30 years.
Photo of a land turtle
Land turtle at home
For apartment keeping of a reptile, it is important to create a comfortable environment by organizing a terrarium. It is worth considering the features of the life of turtles:
- animals molt, exfoliation of the old cover occurs in small quantities on skin;
- may go into hibernation. Under natural conditions, this is due to a change in temperature and a lack of food;
- they do not like drafts, they can easily catch a cold.
What to feed
V wild environment the steppe tortoise feeds on plant foods, supplementing the diet with protein elements: snails, worms, slugs. Feeding in an unnatural environment should be as close as possible to the usual menu. Considering how to feed a land tortoise at home, make up a diet so that it includes not only grass, vegetables and fruits, but also feeding protein food - small insects and meat.
Summer menu may include fresh seasonal produce: clover, mushrooms, zucchini, dandelions, cucumbers, radishes, berries, sorrel, pumpkin. For the winter period, the basis of nutrition is steamed straw, available vegetables: cabbage, carrots, beets. Pets also need to be given fruits so that the body receives a sufficient amount of vitamins. The menu should contain special foods with calcium. It can be bone meal or ground eggshells. Land pets satisfy the need for water from juicy food. Feeding is carried out 1 time per day.
How to care
It won't take much effort. Caring for a tortoise at home is simple. For a comfortable habitat, it is necessary to equip the terrarium, where it will be most of the time. Periodically release the pet for a walk around the apartment. Turtles are famous for their slow terrestrial movement, so it will be easy for you to follow her movements.
When considering how to care for a land tortoise, keep in mind that the reptile sheds. For the period of changing the cover, it is necessary to bathe the animal with a weak soda solution. It is necessary to cut the claws using a special nail cutter for this. In winter, turtles may not have enough ultraviolet light, for this they are irradiated with quartz lamps, avoiding the rays from getting into their eyes.
Turtle terrarium
It is not allowed to permanently keep the reptile on the usual floor covering. You can organize an aviary for walking by fencing the area. A turtle terrarium is an aquarium with a special substrate. The ratio of the length and width of the base must be chosen based on the dimensions of the large individual. Dimensions should be 2-3 times larger than the reptile. The minimum length of an adult steppe tortoise is 20 cm, so the dimensions start from 100x50x30 cm.
The pallet is filled with gravel, sawdust or sand, which will have to be changed as it gets dirty. On the territory of the terrarium, it is important to arrange a bathing area so that the pet can take a bath. Respect acceptable temperature regime 25-35 degrees and sufficient lighting with a fluorescent lamp. With a lack of heat, the reptile can go into hibernation. The humidity in the aquarium should be low, and the turtles themselves should be sprayed once a day with a spray bottle.
turtle house
It is worth organizing a shelter for a pet in a terrarium. It is intended for overnight stays. For this you can:
- cut a hole in a plastic non-toxic box;
- build a house from boards;
- use half of the flower pot.
Diseases of land turtles
Mostly pets get sick due to improper care or maintenance errors. The most common diseases, manifestations and how to treat them:
4. Conjunctivitis is manifested by tearfulness and redness of the eyes. Avoid drafts, and use drops in case of illness.
reproduction
The continuation of the genus in turtles requires special conditions. Mating is carried out in the spring, when the reptile has completed wintering. Successful breeding involves the maintenance of one male and several females. They are kept separately, for reproduction it is necessary to move individuals of two sexes to each other so that they get used to a companion. Reptiles lay eggs from which offspring are produced. Incubation period– from 2 to 6 months, depending on the species.
Price
You can find out how much a land tortoise costs by deciding on the species. The cheapest way to buy a Central Asian reptile. exotic species turtles will cost more. The price of such pet ranges from 500 to 2000 rubles. The sale is offered by both specialized stores and private individuals who are engaged in breeding.
Many people keep tortoises as pets. And this is not surprising, since they do not make noise, tolerate trips well, do not need long walks, do not cause allergic reactions but very funny at the same time. Their behavior is interesting to watch for both children and adults.
But in order for such a pet to live with you as long as possible, it is important to provide him with the right care.
Turtle house
First of all, take care of the home for the land tortoise. A terrarium is perfect for this. It must be of considerable size so that the turtle can move freely along it. At the bottom you need to lay a layer of sawdust and sprinkle with smooth pebbles and hay. Also in the terrarium, it is necessary to provide a house for a small turtle so that it can hide in it. It is also important to observe the temperature regime. To do this, in the cold season, you should install a lamp for heating.
It is important to take into account that keeping a land tortoise without a terrarium is impossible, since the owners themselves can step on it at night by negligence. In addition, if she moves freely around the house, she can eat food that is dangerous for her or hide in a hole, from which it will then be difficult to pull her out.
Turtle food
Caring for tortoises is not a hassle because they are herbivores and only need to be fed once a day. To do this, you need to install a feeder in the terrarium. Turtles eat berries, greens, various fruits and vegetables well. At the same time, their most favorite treat are dandelions. Therefore, if the season of their flowering has come, then you should, if possible, collect such plants and introduce them into your pet's diet. You can also give turtles milk. Pour it in a saucer and leave it in the terrarium. At the same time, they do not drink water, because they receive a sufficient amount of moisture while bathing.
Turtle hygiene
In freedom, turtles independently monitor their hygiene. However, in captivity, such a process is difficult for them, which is why it is so important to bathe your pet regularly. This must be done once a week. Bathing water must be warm - about +27 degrees. In the event that severe contamination is present on the skin of the turtle, they can be removed with a toothbrush. But do it carefully, you can not press hard.
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