You can often find sellers on the street with baby turtles, not much larger than a five-ruble coin, swimming in a small round aquarium. Typically, such people claim that these are mini turtles that will not grow anymore, and caring for them will not be difficult. Buyers often don't think about what are aquatic turtles and how long do they live?, but this often leads to disastrous (especially for the animal) consequences.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of entrenched myths regarding keeping these reptiles at home. But in reality, everything turns out far from so rosy: for some reason, the little green turtles in the aquarium do not want to eat and soon die. If they manage to survive, very soon they will turn into a rather large, voracious, agile and biting animal. Why is this happening?
Main types
Most often found on sale red eared turtles, having characteristic red spots behind the eyes and a green (in young individuals) carapace. Reptiles are bred on turtle farms and are perhaps the most common.
In addition to them, you can find 2 more species of aquatic turtles:
- European marsh. It has a black smooth shell with yellow stripes or dots.
- Chinese Far Eastern Trionix. Its shell is covered with skin, its neck is flexible and long, its nose has the shape of a proboscis.
These animals are in most cases taken from the wild.
How to keep
Creating the necessary conditions for a turtle is not so difficult. For this 
needed large aquarium(at least 100-120 l) with a land area (about 25% of the terrarium area, optional for Trionix), equipped incandescent lamp and UV lamp (5-10%), filter and water heater(if the temperature drops below 22-24 degrees). The ascent to land should be gentle and comfortable, the lamps are located above the island, at a distance of about 25 cm, and are turned on for the whole day (12 hours ). Trionics needs a thick layer of soil at the bottom, as well as an aerator(it is better to protect all equipment from animal access).
How long aquatic turtles live in captivity depends, first of all, on the conditions of detention and proper feeding. Red-eared animals live on average up to 30-35 years, swamp ones are somewhat longer; in the first year and a half they can grow up to 7.5 cm, then reduce the rate to 1-1.25 cm per year. Puberty occurs in nature by 6-8 years, in captivity somewhat earlier.
It is important to remember that the “character” of animals is far from angelic: although young individuals quickly become accustomed to being handled, they still may bite. Trionics often remain aggressive throughout their lives.
After purchasing an aquatic turtle, it is recommended, especially if during the first days it shows lethargy, refuses food, sneezes, or lists to one side when swimming. You should not delay contacting, because its timeliness determines how long aquatic turtles will live in captivity.
Transportation is carried out in a fabric bag, in the cold season in the bosom or in a closed container with a heating pad. Drying is contraindicated for Trionics, so it is better to place them in a container with water or wrap them in a damp cloth. Woolen items are not able to warm reptiles - they are cold-blooded, that is, they cannot generate their own heat!
Before purchasing a turtle from your own hands, it is better to find out everything about aquatic turtles in advance, and also make a suitable home for them. Unfortunately, many people do not think about this and release grown turtles into water bodies or throw them into veterinary clinics, zoos or animal corners. Often, the animal's hardy body adapts to unacceptable conditions, and the reptile lives for years in a basin in the bathroom, suffering from rickets and other chronic diseases. Before purchasing, consider how long aquatic turtles can live and what sizes they reach, and whether you can provide proper care for your pet during these years.
The red-eared turtle, sometimes called the yellow-bellied turtle, - the most common among pet turtle lovers. Today they can be found in almost every pet store, and sometimes just at the market. Cute and small creatures at the time of purchase evoke a sea of positive emotions in both children and adults. However, such popularity also has a downside: a huge number of domestic red-eared turtles are initially doomed to death or to life in conditions that are not suitable for them.
Is everything as simple as it seems at first? Maybe you have already acquired these beautiful creatures or are just about to - the decision is always yours. We will try to help with advice on how to keep, feed and care for them.
Types of red-eared turtles, sizes and features
The red-eared turtle includes three subspecies, which have their own morphological (appearance) characteristics.
The first representative of this species - Trachemys scripta scripta. Its peculiarity lies in the yellow color of the stripes on the muzzle (transitioning into a large yellow postorbital spot), which connect on the neck. There are yellow stripes on the lateral (costal) scutes of the dorsal carapace (carapace), and on the anterior scutes of the ventral carapace (plastron) - yellow spots. In size it reaches up to 27 cm.
The second representative, more familiar to all of us, - Trachemys scripta elegans. Her postorbital spots (resemble a bandage) - red and they are wide enough. There are transverse yellow stripes on the costal scutes of the carapace, and on the plastron - a large spot on each scute. Reaches up to 28 cm in size.
And the third representative, very similar in appearance to Trachemys scripta elegans, - Trachemys scripta troostii. The differences are that in this subspecies the postorbital spot is narrower and has a yellow color (sometimes in combination with red). There are yellow transverse stripes on the costal scutes of the carapace, and on the plastron - a pattern of black spots similar to “eyes”, or simply small black spots. Reaches up to 21 cm in size.
As we can see, these turtles are far from “dwarf”, as sellers in pet stores may claim.
It is also a mistaken belief that red-eared turtles - inhabitants of our regions and Russia as a whole. The homeland of red-eared turtles is North America, Central America and northern South America; they also live in Europe and Southeast Asia. The main habitat is small reservoirs, ponds and rivers with gentle currents or coastal areas.
Common questions asked by red-eared turtle owners
How many years do red-eared turtles live?
The life expectancy of red-eared turtles at home with high-quality care and maintenance is 30-40 years. Therefore, you need to understand that you are making a friend almost for life.
How to distinguish a female from a male red-eared slider?
Determining the sex of a turtle is quite difficult. It is better to entrust this matter to a specialist. And for 100% determination, even research methods such as radiography with contrast and probing may be needed - it will show the presence of hemipenis sacs. However, you can try to do this yourself. For example, the length of the claws on the forelimbs: in the male they are much longer and look like elongated bayonets. Or by the length of the tail: the male has a longer tail. The male also has a notch on the abdominal shell.
Do red-eared turtles hibernate?
Some scientists claim that red-eared turtles hibernate and that they need it. However, this process can only occur under certain conditions of detention, which initially prepare the turtle’s body for a state of suspended animation (hibernation): a gradual decrease in temperature, a decrease in the length of daylight hours and the amount of food.
The process of removing the animal from the state of suspended animation will also be difficult. It is quite difficult to imagine these processes at home. Therefore, it would be more logical not to create difficulties for yourself and not to cause unnecessary harm to the health of the turtle.
All three subspecies of turtles - representatives of a semi-aquatic lifestyle. In addition, they are all carnivores and begin to eat plant foods only in adulthood.
They also require certain temperature conditions, lighting conditions and ultraviolet irradiation.
Aquaterrarium for the red-eared turtle
What is a terrarium? This is a specially equipped place created for keeping reptiles. In this case, we are dealing with an aquaterrarium, since the red-eared turtle needs both land and water. Keeping them in boxes, basins, and buckets is absolutely not suitable for them!
In addition, we must remember that our turtles should live only in their “house” and under no circumstances “walk” around the apartment. They can only be handled for a very short amount of time: during transplantation for feeding or cleaning.
The future size of our turtles indicates that they need enough space to fully grow and develop. But this does not mean at all that you can immediately release small turtles into a large aquaterrarium. Every age - your own “house”, according to size.
The terrarium for the red-eared turtle should be horizontal (rectangular in length). Adult pets require “houses” with a volume of at least 150 liters, and children - about 50 l. Ordinary small turtles, which are sold in pet stores, can also be suitable for very small children.
As for the location of the aquaterrarium in the apartment, a more suitable place is in the back of the room. During the autumn-winter period, it is better not to open the windows in the room where your turtle is kept to avoid a cold draft. Yes, it is deadly for your cold-blooded pets, since a “cold” can cause a disease such as pneumonia, which becomes clearly visible when the turtle is already fully ill.
Aquaterrarium equipment
What should be required in every aquaterrarium: a thermometer to control the water temperature, a shore, a water heater and a water filter.
The presence of algae and stones is not necessary and is sometimes contraindicated. Some types of algae are toxic, and stones can be swallowed and cause a blockage in the esophagus or intestines; In addition, they make cleaning more difficult. But if you still decide to decorate your terrarium in this way, then remember that the size of the stones should not be smaller than the turtle’s head, the stones themselves should not crumble and be multi-colored (they can release toxic substances when heated). It is better to select algae after preliminary consultation with a specialist.
Coastal part of the aquaterrarium
Why does an aquaterrarium need a shore? Turtles - cold-blooded animals that are not capable of creating heat with their own bodies, as we mammals do. In nature, turtles crawl ashore to warm up and take a break from swimming; the same should be done for them at home.
Land should not occupy more than 1/3 of the aquaterrarium. The angle of rise out of the water should not be too obtuse or straight. It must be sharp and motionless so that the exit from the water does not “run away” from the turtle.
The shore itself must be made of a sufficiently durable material, without easily peeling paint and odorless.
Lighting
Lighting will be required of two types: one for heating, the other - ultraviolet.
These two types of irradiation have only the following in common:
- Both lamps must be installed above the shore.
- The distance to the shore should not be less than 30 cm.
- Both lamps should burn for about 12 hours.
Now let's talk about each type separately.
Ultraviolet lamp for red-eared turtles
In the case of reptiles, only special lamps are used that are suitable only for them. Each such lamp has its own percentage of ultraviolet light (UVB) emitted: 2% (2.0), 5% (5.0) and 10% (10.0). 5% (5.0) lamps are suitable for turtles.
What is it for, you ask? If you do not go into the specific physiology of reptile metabolism, then without ultraviolet light calcium will not be fully absorbed and the gastrointestinal tract will not function, which will lead to quite dangerous and serious diseases in both adults and small turtles.
Thermal lighting
Conventional 60 W incandescent lamps are suitable for this type of lighting. This type is required so that your turtles do not freeze while out of water and can warm up normally for the full functioning of their body.
Water in the aquaterrarium
This is one of those points that should not be ignored under any circumstances, since it is in this environment that healthy turtles spend most of their time.
For our pets, filtered water or water that has been standing for at least a day is suitable. If the water was first filtered and then settled - you are a very good host. In this case, we are engaged in the prevention of many diseases of the shell and skin.
Water temperature in an aquarium for red-eared turtles
To create comfortable living conditions for our reptiles, we will need to maintain certain temperature conditions!
The water temperature should be in the range of 22-25 0 C. It can be maintained either with the help of special heating mats (provided that the size of the aquaterrarium is small enough), or with water heaters, which can be used to set the appropriate temperature. To constantly monitor the temperature, you will need a special thermometer, which must be installed in the water. In addition, it needs to be protected from the curiosity of our pets, as they can damage it, which will lead to hazardous substances getting into the water and poisoning the body.
We maintain the shore temperature using a heating lamp. You can control it by adjusting the height of the lamp.
Normally, the shore temperature should be in the range of 30-32 0 C.
What do red-eared turtles eat?
Feeding - a very important part of our pets’ lives. It is with food that they receive all the necessary nutrients.
Remember: feed the turtles the same things we eat. - it is forbidden!
Reminder: red-eared turtles - predators and plant foods should appear in their diet only in adulthood.
The following is not suitable as food: meat, semi-finished meat products (minced meat, sausages, sausages), chicken, fatty fish, salted fish, fried, sweet and salty, ready-made dry food.
What to feed red-eared turtles at home, you ask? Let's discuss this now.
To simplify feeding turtles, they can be kept with fish, which they will catch and eat, receiving all the necessary nutrients.
If this option does not suit you, then we stick to the following diet, which needs to be combined: beef liver (heart and liver), fish, insects (worms, crickets without legs, cockroaches without legs), daphnia, not dry gammarus.
What fish should you feed your red-eared slider?
Suitable plant food for adult turtles is: algae (water hyacinth, hornwort, duckweed, etc.) and plants (dandelion, carrots, lettuce).
The serving size should be approximately equal to half the carapace (back shell) of the turtle. But know that if she refuses to eat, then the portion size needs to be reduced, and feeding should be stopped at that particular time. The size of one piece should be half the size of the head and should be 1/3 of the thickness of the head.
As for the frequency of feeding, small turtles up to 7-9 cm in carapace are fed once a day. Larger ones should be fed less frequently. - once every other day.
Along with the food, you can give special vitamin supplements suitable only for reptiles, this will provide them with a complete diet.
But remember that for each age and sex group the frequency and amount of feeding is different, so before giving it it is better to consult a specialist.
To pollute the aquaterrarium less, the turtle can be fed in a specially equipped fish tank (if you are not feeding it with live aquarium fish). In this case, the cage must be of a suitable size so that the pet can turn around and move freely in it.
Cleaning
The most unpleasant and difficult thing. During harvesting, the turtle must be transplanted into a specially equipped fish tank (there can be only one tank for feeding and temporary housing at the time of harvesting).
Cleaning is done once a week. In our case, a full treatment of algae and bacteria using antiseptics is required, followed by rinsing under running water. Chlorhexidine, sold at any pharmacy, is suitable as an antiseptic, or you can use a weak soap solution. During cleaning, do not forget to thoroughly treat each wall and all corners of the aquaterrarium.
Remember: provided that the aquaterrarium is thoroughly cleaned weekly, the likelihood of your turtle developing skin problems will be extremely, extremely low.
Epilogue
This article discusses the general rules for keeping red-eared turtles, which are suitable for all three subspecies.
Before getting a turtle, carefully weigh the pros and cons and think about whether you can provide the necessary conditions for keeping your pet healthy and not in need of veterinary care.
Remember: it is always cheaper and easier to properly maintain an exotic pet than to treat diseases that can be extremely dangerous in reptiles, particularly turtles.
The lifespan of turtles depends on the content and characteristics of the species. In their natural environment, reptiles live longer. In captivity, people often make mistakes that greatly reduce their lifespan. However, in nature, reptiles face other problems: predators and hunters. People also pollute nature and cut down forests, which affects the quality and life expectancy of turtles. Thus, reptiles rarely survive to natural death.
The larger the reptiles, the longer. This is explained by long-term processes taking place in the body. Reptiles can stop the heartbeat.
Land
Land animals live 30–120 years. There are species of different sizes: from 10 cm to a meter. They are distinguished by fused toes and a rounded shell. In small species, the lifespan is 30 years in an aquarium and 80 years in nature. Large turtles are 30–50 years old in captivity and up to 150 years old in natural conditions. How many years do popular land turtles live in home terrariums:
- Mediterranean – 35–40;
- musky – 23–28;
- Central Asian – up to 30;
- Balkan up to 50;
- Indian (stellate) – up to 30.
- Egyptian - 30.
Life expectancy depends on.
Water
Like land animals, aquatic species at home will live half as long as in nature. How many years do turtles live on average?
- – 25;
- – 25–30;
- red-eared – 30–35;
- Caspian – 25;
- silt bighead – 23.
Little turtles
Size up to 13 cm.
- three-keel - 20–25;
- spotted – 30–40;
- musky – up to 23;
- Reeves pond - up to 58;
- silt – 50–60;
- common musk – 23.
How to determine age
Find out how many years a turtle lives by looking at its shell. The length increases by 2 cm with each passing year. A turtle is born with a 3-centimeter shell. Measure the length of the shell, subtract 3, divide the resulting number by 2. So, the age of a reptile with a shell 5 cm long is 1 year, 15 cm - 6 years.
Land
Each plate dividing the carapace contains annual rings. During the first 2 years of life, 6 annual rings are formed in land species. After this, 1-2 rings are added every year. Count the rings on one plate of the shell, subtract 6, divide by 1.5 and add 2. After counting 20 rings, you can find out that the animal is 11 years old.
One
In the inhabitants of the waters, 1 annual ring is added annually. Count the number of rings on the plate and subtract the first 2 years of life. In older individuals, the pattern is unclear and blurry.
How to extend the life of a turtle
- When purchasing an ornamental reptile, learn about the natural environment in which its relatives live and its preferences.
- Make a varied diet, taking into account all the necessary minerals and vitamins.
- Make sure that the turtle does not live too crowded in the tank. For a medium-sized adult, select a vessel with a volume of 100 liters or more.
- The reptile should live only in a fully equipped aquarium. Pets live shorter lives in containers and boxes.
- Equip the aquarium with the necessary equipment: a water filter, an ultraviolet lamp and a heater.
- Bathe your pet at least once a week. The duration of water procedures is no more than half an hour. Aquatic species live in aquariums with a small pond and an island.
- Maintain the air temperature at 31–33 degrees, water temperature at 20–24 degrees.
- Be careful when handling the reptile, do not drop the animal or frighten it with sharp sounds. If children play with the pet, adults should supervise the process.
- If you notice anything strange in your reptile's behavior or appearance, do not delay checking with a veterinarian. Refusal to eat, changes in the shape of the shell, lethargy, the appearance of tumors and ulcers are signals of illness.
- When purchasing new armored reptiles, quarantine them for a month. At this time, the future neighbor must live separately.
How long do turtles live without water?
Adult and healthy reptiles can go without water and food for 2-3 days. Staying too long without water leads to dehydration. Herbivorous turtles live without drinking if the diet contains a lot of lush greens and the animal regularly takes baths.
- Do not keep reptiles of different species in the same terrarium.
- If the reptile escaped from the aquarium and cannot be found, place a bowl of water and your pet's favorite food indoors. Turtles have good eyesight and will respond quickly to treats and water.
- Remember that the depth of the reservoir should allow the animal to easily stick its head out and keep it on the surface.
- Install two thermometers in the aquarium: one for water, the other for air.
- When taking baths, clean the shell with a soft sponge. Brushes injure the animal.
The longest-living turtles are the elephant turtle named Harietta, who lived 175 years, and the Madagascan radiant turtle, Tui Malila, who lived 192 years. Domestic species do not live that long, but they delight their owners for a long time.
Having decided to buy a pet for the family, many focus not only on how many times a day they need to be walked with and how difficult it is to maintain it, but also on its life expectancy at home. That is why various species of turtles are increasingly coming to the fore. They are not picky and their maintenance is inexpensive. But before you get a pet, you need to understand the rules of care and how long turtles live at home.
Small turtles live about 20 years
Lifespan of turtles
Many people consider turtles to be the record holders for life expectancy. But this opinion is based on rare cases of old-timers belonging to large species. But in fact, the survival rate of the young is very low, and the population is maintained by the large number of eggs in the clutch. In the best case, no more than 60% of them hatch, and in the worst case, no more than 5%. The remaining eggs are eaten by predators. Young animals are also a tasty morsel for most animals, as well as for people.
Very few individuals live to be 30 years old. On average, it is believed that a turtle lives no more than 20 years. And the age of old-timers largely depends on the factor of luck. The reptile cannot get out of its shell- it is fused with it.
The larger the individual, the longer its lifespan:
- small ones live no more than half a century;
- large ones - up to 80 years and longer.
If you raise a turtle at home, its life can be either shortened or significantly increased. The latter becomes possible thanks to comfortable living conditions and the absence of dangers.
There are 5 popular types
Species of reptiles
There are many species of turtles found in nature, each of which has its own characteristics and lifespan. But not all of them can be grown at home. The most popular are:
- - this variety includes more than ten genera. Its habitat is the warm latitudes of many continents. Most often, representatives of this species can be found in the desert or steppe, but you can also see them in the forest. They are represented by large-sized individuals with thick legs and a large shell. A distinctive feature is the fused fingers. They can live in natural conditions for up to 100 years. Most people do not live in households longer than 40 years.
- - refers to a variety of land animals. A distinctive feature is the shell, which is divided into several sectors and has a yellow or spotted tint. This species can be found in the desert, foothills and near bodies of water. These are small individuals that live no more than 30 years in captivity. Their lifespan in nature is not precisely determined, but on average it is accepted to take 50 years.
- Marine - most often found in warm waters of seas and oceans. They differ from land animals not only in their legs, which look like flippers, but also in their elongated shell. The animal cannot pull its head and legs inside its shell. Most often, sea turtles can be found in large aquariums and zoos. In nature, they can live up to 80 years. But it is impossible to determine how long sea turtles live at home. They are not grown in houses and apartments, because such large individuals will not fit in any aquarium and their maintenance is associated with certain difficulties.
Depending on habitat conditions, a turtle can live longer - Aquatic turtle - refers to small individuals that do not grow more than 30 cm. Most often found in the fresh waters of South Africa, Asia and Japan. At home he feels great. This turtle lives up to 50 years both in captivity and in the natural environment.
- or yellow-bellied variety is a freshwater species. Its size rarely reaches 30 cm, males are slightly smaller than females. It got its name because of the red spots on the head in the eye area. Makes sounds similar to hissing or squealing. Found in fresh water lakes and ponds. Able to live up to 50 years.
Not all representatives of these species of reptiles can be kept at home. But still, most of them are found in captivity.
Life at home
At home, a turtle can live a very long time compared to its natural habitat, which is achieved by balancing risk factors.
Several conditions can affect the lifespan of a reptile:
- correctness of the selected diet;
- conditions of detention;
- detection of diseases and their timely treatment;
- possible injuries to the pet.
In this video you will find out how long turtles live:
Small individuals can live in captivity up to 30 years, larger ones - up to 50. But in a zoo, this period increases significantly. This is due to better conditions in old age.
Rules for determining age
Many factors influence how long red-eared turtles or other species live. But many of the reptiles can become real long-livers. The exact age of an individual can be determined using carbon analysis of the shell. This is how the oldest turtles were identified. But this cannot be done on a living fauna. Therefore, scientists use more gentle methods for this purpose:
- Shell length. It changes by about two centimeters per year. At birth, it is only three centimeters, and therefore it is enough to measure the shell of an adult and carry out simple calculations to get its approximate age.
- Counting tree rings. This method is less accurate, but nevertheless quite informative. The scales that gradually grow on the surface of the house are counted. This is much easier to do in young individuals than in old ones. In the latter, the shell is greatly smoothed out.
But no known method can give an accurate result, because the formation of the shell is also influenced by the animal’s diet, living conditions and health.
The oldest turtle lived 177 years The oldest turtle
You can determine how long aquatic turtles live by looking at the annual rings on their shells, but according to sources, there are individuals in the world that have survived several eras. And this was witnessed by their owners, to whom the pets were inherited for more than one generation.
The oldest turtle is considered to be the one raised by Charles Darwin. He brought it from the Galapagos Islands, about the size of a saucer. But by the time of his death, the turtle had grown to incredible sizes. Its weight is more than half a centner. She outlived her owner by 105 years and died at the age of 177.
Another famous long-liver is the Giant Tortoise, originally from the Seychelles. According to various sources, she lived from 150 to 200 years. There is no more precise information.
The radiant turtle Tui Malila, given by Captain Cook himself to the leader of the Tongan natives, lived to be 200 years old. This fact has not been documented, but an analysis of the shell showed exactly this period.
It is impossible to determine exactly how many years turtles of one species or another live. Their ages can only be given approximately. Therefore, it is quite possible that the grandchildren will inherit a small walking table weighing up to 50-100 kg. But, in any case, the health and longevity of the turtle will depend entirely on how well its owners take care of it.
The red-eared turtle lives shorter than many of its fellow turtles.
In nature, only a few live to a ripe old age, which is due to objective reasons.
But even in captivity, turtles only reach the middle age, as if there were no external dangers around. How long can red-eared turtles live in a terrarium? How to extend their life?
HOW TO DETERMINE AGE?
Red-eared turtles are sold at an early age, when the shell reaches a length of no more than 7 cm. When purchasing, it is better to give preference to young individuals, because they take root easier and will live longer.
Over the years, a turtle can grow up to 30 cm, which will require a larger terrarium and the dispersal of several turtles from each other. Therefore, it is better to know in advance what potential growth a particular individual has and which “house” is better to buy.
There are two ways to determine age:
- Measuring the length of the shell, taking into account the annual growth of the turtle by 2-3 cm;
- Count the number of scaly rings on the shell and divide by 2.
The first method may not be very accurate, because these reptiles adapt to their environment, and therefore they will grow slower in cramped terrariums than in the wild. In addition, in the first 12-18 months, a turtle can immediately grow up to 7 cm, and then growth in cramped conditions may not exceed 1 cm per year. So the second method will be more reliable.
HOW LONG DO REPTILES LIVE IN THE WILD?
At liberty o Only 10% of turtles survive to adulthood, and less than 1% survive to old age.. In a home terrarium, many of the causes of such high mortality can be avoided.
Video: what is the growth period?
How many live at home?
Red-eared turtle in captivity lives up to 40 years. In zoos this value is slightly lower than in an apartment: 30-35 years. Moreover, the larger the individual, the longer its life span will be. But on average, in home terrariums, red-eared turtles barely live to be 15 years old, which is determined by many factors, mainly related to care. People often underestimate turtles and equate them with fish, but they require much more attention.
WHAT DO REPTILES DIE IN CAPTIVITY?
The first common reason is poor content. If young individuals can live quite well in a shallow “paddling pool,” then with age they need more and more space. An adult requires an aquarium up to 150 liters in size. In this case, it is necessary to frequently change the water, plant plants and do not forget to regularly examine the turtle.
The second reason is infections.. A turtle can get sick by picking up an infection from another individual, or from the “decorations” of the terrarium - ampularia and store-bought algae. In addition, unfavorable conditions can also have an effect - lack of light, stagnant unfiltered water, too high or too low a temperature. In addition, turtles, like people, are susceptible to the environment and can get sick almost out of the blue.
The third reason is lack of vitamins due to unbalanced nutrition. In nature, the body tells the turtle if it lacks a certain vitamin, and it itself changes its diet. But in the confined space of the apartment she has no such choice. The diet of both adults and young individuals should consist of: from animal products(food for fish and the fish themselves are suitable), so and vegetable(seaweed, lettuce and dandelion leaves).
If there are any changes in the turtle's behavior or appearance, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
But here lies fourth reason frequent deaths of these animals are far not every city has a specialist who understands reptiles and is able to correctly identify the disease and prescribe treatment.
Video: Let's find out how long they live?
How to extend the life of your pet?
To prolong the life of a red-eared turtle, it is enough to protect it from diseases and unfavorable conditions. A properly sized terrarium, balanced food, a heating lamp, quarantine for new individuals and timely inspections at least once a month - all this does not require much time, but can serve well.
A pet whose care is given enough attention may well become a long-liver and become familiar to several generations of the same family. To do this, you should get a young individual, for the purchase of which you need to equip a spacious terrarium.
The red-eared turtle does not require very careful care, but it still needs to be regular. It is important to be able to recognize changes in a turtle's behavior in order to proactively avoid possible negative consequences of infection or disease.
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