The yellow-bellied or red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta) is a species belonging to the family of freshwater American turtles. This freshwater reptile is deservedly one of the most common and very popular species among lovers of such exotic pets as turtles.

Characteristics of the red-eared turtle

Experts recommend purchasing a reptile in early spring, which will allow the baby to adapt as easily as possible to new conditions during the summer. A seasonal feature of reptiles purchased in the fall is slow adaptation and slower growth processes, as well as the risk of developing rickets, vitamin deficiency or pneumonia.

When purchasing a red-eared turtle, you should pay attention to the condition of the reptile's shell. It must be undeformed and not soft, of correct shape, without scratches or any other damage. There should be no cracks or spots on the reptile's skin. Sick and dehydrated animals have sunken eyes surrounded by a small “indentation.” The red-eared slider's eyes should not have any discharge or swelling. The turtle's mouth should not have a whitish coating, abrasions or wounds.

This is interesting! A strange-looking formation located on the plastron is most often a residual part of the yolk sac - a source of food for the little turtle. This formation resolves on its own, after which the reptile begins to actively feed.

It is important to be able to independently determine the sex of a red-eared turtle, and also to remember that very small turtles, regardless of gender, look exactly the same. Only as they grow older do the differences between females and males become obvious. The latter become sexually mature more quickly, having a shell measuring about 10-12 cm by this age, but the females of this species are noticeably larger. Among other things, males have longer claws, which are located on the front pair of legs, as well as concave plastrons and a longer, thick tail. The male's cloaca is located closer to the middle part of the tail.

Aquarium setup, filling

Proper diet for turtles

In captivity, the red-eared turtle should be fed with low-fat, preferably river fish, and once every two weeks the freshwater reptile is given raw beef liver. The diet of an exotic pet must be supplemented with snails, as well as crickets, food cockroaches, earthworms and small aquarium fish. The plant part of the diet can be represented by various aquarium plants, lettuce, dandelion and plantain leaves.

This is interesting! When placing food in an aqua terrarium, you need to remember that red-eared turtles do not chew food until they completely immerse their heads under water, which is due to the lack of saliva secretion.

Aquarium water should contain calcium in the form of Vitakraft Series mineral stone. Many owners of red-eared turtles feed their pets with special ready-made diets: Tetra ReptoMin, Sera and JBL. Among vegetable crops, preference should be given to carrots, which in crushed form are given to freshwater reptiles no more than once a month. A tortoise under one year of age should be fed daily, while older turtles should receive food once every two or three days.

Caring for a red-eared slider

Friendly and fairly unpretentious red-eared turtles require simple but specific care. Clean water is the key to the active growth of young animals and the preservation of the health of adult animals. To fill the aqua terrarium, you should use water that has settled for five days. By installing a powerful filter system, you can reduce the frequency of water changes. To maintain optimal temperature values, you can use a traditional incandescent lamp, the light from which should be directed directly at the island of land. In this case, the aquarium water will not require too active additional heating.

Important! It is a misconception that red-eared turtles living in close quarters do not grow and remain attractively small in size. In such conditions, the reptile can die very quickly.

After some time, the adapted animal learns to take all its food exclusively on land, which makes the feeding process very convenient and also prevents the risk of water contamination too quickly. It is desirable that the island for resting and feeding the reptile has a textured surface. Experts consider it inappropriate to keep turtles that have noticeable differences in size inside the same aqua-terrarium.

It should be noted that the clumsiness and slowness of the red-eared turtle is often very deceptive, so sometimes such domestic exotics are able to show noticeable activity not only in water, but also on an island of land. It is for this reason that it is very important to choose the right home for the reptile. The minimum height of the walls should be approximately 35-45 cm. Too low walls of the aqua terrarium can cause the turtle to jump out and quickly die from severe injury, dehydration or starvation.

Health, disease and prevention

Almost 90% of all diseases of the red-eared turtle occur as a result of improper maintenance or failure to comply with care requirements. The presence of dirty water in an aquarium quickly causes a sharp deterioration in the turtle's health.

A sick aquatic animal must be kept at a temperature increased by about 2-3 o C, which helps to improve the functioning of the immune system. It is also necessary to monitor the turtle's drinking regime, since dehydration can cause the death of a freshwater turtle due to the rapid development of kidney failure.

The animal's ill health is evidenced by the characteristics of the movements of a swimming red-eared turtle.. A sick pet most often moves in a position “on its side” or simply sinks to the bottom. If an infectious nature of the disease is suspected, all animal care items should be thoroughly treated with an antiseptic that is safe for pets. As a rule, the first symptoms of a bacterial infection are represented by the appearance of edema and necrotic changes. In this case, a treatment regimen with antibiotics is prescribed, and the water in the aquarium is completely replaced.

When injured, the red-eared turtle, under the influence of an infection that has entered the body, develops blood poisoning, accompanied by redness of the paws and very pronounced lethargy. This pathology is classified as difficult to treat and therefore requires urgent and qualified assistance from specialists. Untimely treatment often causes the death of a pet as a result of dysfunction of internal organs.

Preventive measures are presented:

• daily inspection of the turtle;
• regular cleaning of the aqua terrarium;
• regular change of water in the aqua terrarium;
• proper organization of nutrition;
• preventing hypothermia;
• regularly checking the performance of illuminators, as well as heating and filtering devices;
• observing the rules of personal hygiene when caring for a pet;
• systematically cleaning the turtle shell from algae;
• mandatory quarantine for sick or newly acquired turtles;
• limiting contact of a sick turtle with any other pets and family members;
• control of the animal’s movement outside the aqua-terrarium;
• periodic ultraviolet irradiation and sunbathing;
• regular examination by a veterinarian.

If the diet is incorrectly prepared, the freshwater animal develops calcium deficiency, which manifests itself in the form of curvature or severe softening of the shell. Too much calcium deficiency greatly increases your red-eared turtle's risk of death. In order to quickly normalize the general condition of the reptile, the veterinarian prescribes calcium supplements in injections.

Medium sized turtle. The length of the shell is from 18 to 30 cm, depending on the sex of the turtle and the subspecies. Males are noticeably smaller than females. In young animals the carapace is bright green; with age it becomes olive or yellow-brown, decorated with patterns of yellow stripes. On the head, neck and limbs the turtle is decorated with a pattern of white and green wavy stripes and spots. The turtle got its name because of two elongated bright red spots next to its eyes. This spot can be orange, bright yellow in the subspecies of the Cumberland turtle, or Trust's turtle, or yellow in the subspecies of the yellow-bellied turtle. The bottom of the shell is oval, usually dark in color with yellow lines and a yellow edging along the edge.

Pond slider can be considered a long-liver. Under favorable conditions, it may well live 30 - 40 years. At the same time, the turtle has a fairly high level of intelligence, which is several times greater than the intelligence of many reptiles. It is able to perceive sounds at very low frequencies. For example, the red-eared turtle senses soil vibrations and the approach of a person or animal at a level of 1000-3000 hertz. At the same time, representatives of this species are endowed with very acute vision. So, when looking for food, they first pay attention to the color of the object, and only then to the smell and taste. In addition, the females are very fertile, and the small turtles that are born are very hardy and grow quickly. The size of a newborn baby is about 3 cm; in adults it is 10 times larger. Moreover, females are much larger than males. Over the course of a year, the shell grows by 1 cm; this rapid process is facilitated by food high in protein. But turtles kept at home are 15-20 cm smaller than their free-living relatives and do not experience discomfort due to cramped housing.

The red-eared turtle is widespread in nature. Its range covers the United States from southern Virginia to northern Florida and Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in the west, Mexico, all of Central America, northwestern South America (northern Colombia and Venezuela). The species was introduced to the south of Florida, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel, South Africa and some European countries. In particular, to Spain and Great Britain. The red-eared slider has entered Australia, where it is officially recognized as a pest, displacing local endemic fauna.

In nature, it lives in small lakes, ponds and other bodies of water with low, swampy shores. Leads a relatively sedentary lifestyle. Extremely curious. If the turtle is full, it crawls ashore and basks in the sun. If hungry, it swims slowly in search of food. When the water temperature is below +18 °C, the turtle becomes lethargic and loses its appetite. The turtle is able to notice danger at a distance of 30-40 m, after which it slides into the water with lightning speed, which is why it received the name “Slider”.

The turtle's vocal cords are not developed. All he can do is hiss and snort with excitement. The red-eared turtle has well-developed vision and sense of smell. In contrast to vision, hearing is poorly developed. However, red-eared turtles are very good at navigating by hearing and hide in the water at any rustle. It not only hisses, but also makes a sound similar to a short squeak.

The red-eared turtle, contrary to popular belief among ordinary people, is very agile and fast. With these qualities, she could well compete with some types of fish, and it is not a fact that she would come to the finish line second. This representative does not lose its agility even on land. Here, as quickly as in water, she is able to avoid obstacles in her path and hide from her pursuers.

The red-eared turtle has no teeth, but thanks to the remarkable strength of its jaw muscles, it can crush a fairly strong object. When threatened by other inhabitants of flora and fauna, the individual throws its head forward with lightning speed and bites its offender. Adults of this species can inflict serious wounds while defending their lives. At the same time, the red-eared beauty can scratch, her nails are strong and very sharp, which she also often uses for self-defense. People should beware of the hind legs of this creature, because the turtle will try to push off their hands with them. Therefore, experts do not recommend pulling the red-eared turtle out of the water for children. This should be done by adults: very carefully and without squeezing the shell, while keeping it at a decent distance from the face and areas with open skin.

An adult turtle needs an aquaterrarium with a volume of 100-150 liters, preferably that land occupies about 25% of its area. If possible, soil or crushed stone is poured on the shore. A gentle ascent with a rough but non-scratching surface is arranged to land. The water level must be greater than the width of the shell, so that if the turtle finds itself on its back, for any reason, it can turn over and not drown.

The water temperature in the aquarium should not be lowered below 20°C, the normal temperature is 24-30°C (it is advisable to install a heater to maintain the temperature). The water in the aquarium is replaced as needed, 1 - 2 times a week. A water filter allows you to do this much less often. However, a complete water change should be done at least once a month. It is advisable to install an incandescent lamp above the island in the aquarium. Turtles love to bask on dry land. Also, for the normal maintenance of a red-eared turtle, a source of dosed ultraviolet radiation is necessary.

In captivity, the diet of red-eared turtles includes small crustaceans such as gammarus or shrimp. Small aquarium or river snails, small or cut into pieces fish, meat cut into small strips, liver, small frogs, tadpoles, various insects and their larvae, earthworms, bloodworms, and tubifex are also suitable.

Do not forget that the diet of red-eared turtles should include foods rich in calcium: fish heads, bone meal, chalk, eggshells, etc. The diet of adult turtles also includes plant foods. Pets eat well dandelion leaves, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and plantain. Among algae, duckweed, elodea, spirogyra, seaweed, anacharis, water beetle, edogonium, etc. are well eaten. Young red-eared turtles are fed 2 times a day. Later they are transferred to single meals. Turtles over 2 years old should be fed no more than 2-3 times a week.

You should not feed your turtle the same thing; the diet should be varied. The amount of food is selected so that the turtles eat everything without leaving anything in the water. Turtles should be fed at the same time every day. It’s good if the turtle has warmed up well before this. At a temperature of 28-30°, turtle digestion is much more intense. You can also feed turtles outside the aquarium, for example in a basin with water. This will help keep the aquarium clean. If the turtle's food is not particularly varied, it should be given vitamins or vitamin complexes. You can find them in pet stores; choose ones marked “for reptiles.” Vitamins are fed to hungry turtles in their food. The dosage must be looked at in the instructions for the drug.

Reproduction of red-eared turtles

Juvenile red-eared sliders are essentially the same regardless of gender. Determining the sex of animals becomes possible when they become adults. Already at the age of more than one year, sex differences begin to be observed in turtles. The sex of the red-eared slider is easier to determine in comparison with other individuals. Females, as a rule, grow much larger than males. Although, given the age difference between animals, this sign cannot be used. Males have longer claws on their front paws than females. They serve for the courtship dance and help to stay on the female during mating. The male's tail is thicker and longer than that of the female. The lower part of the body in females is flat, while in males it is concave. The spots on the turtle's head are larger and brighter in color in males. In nature, turtles reach sexual maturity at 5-6 years; in captivity, this occurs somewhat earlier.

The courtship period for red-eared turtles occurs between March and July, and in captivity it can occur at any time of the year. The male swims in front of the female, tail first, and gently touches her muzzle with his claws, as if trying to stroke her. If the female is ready to reproduce, then she accepts courtship, otherwise the female drives the male away. In some cases it comes to a brawl. Young turtles can also perform a mating dance, but before they reach reproductive age they are unable to reproduce.

After successful mating, the female spends more time in the sun. Her eating habits may change, the amount of food she eats will change, and she may refuse some types of usual food. This is a normal reaction, you should try feeding her other foods and adjusting the amount of food.

Pregnancy lasts on average about two months; if the female cannot find a suitable place for laying, this period can be extended. During the last two weeks, the female spends a lot of time on land, sniffing and digging. Having chosen a place, the turtle generously moistens the soil from the anal bladders and digs a nest with its hind legs. A female red-eared slider can lay from 1 to 22 eggs, with an average of 5-10. She has no instinct to care for her offspring. Having laid eggs, the female leaves the nest.

The incubation period lasts 100-150 days. Incubation time and sex of young turtles depend on the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. At temperatures above 29°C, females are born; below 27°C, only males are born. To pierce the egg shell, turtles use an egg tooth, which falls off an hour after birth. After the egg hatches, a small pouch is present on the newborn’s stomach; it contains the remains of food from the incubation period. Soon it will disappear, and the small wound remaining in its place will heal happily.

Diseases and treatment of red-eared turtles

The most common disease in red-eared turtles is pneumonia. Experts do not recommend keeping these exotic pets outside of an aquarium. The owners of a turtle sometimes let it walk around the apartment, thinking that it will be useful for their pet. In fact, this can be very dangerous, because the reptile can get caught in a draft and catch a cold. This also applies to the location of the terrarium; try to place it only in a place protected from wind and drafts.

If you notice that your animal is lethargic, is not eating well, or has refused to eat at all, it is most likely suffering from pneumonia. In an aquarium, the reptile swims only on the surface; it simply cannot dive. Your pet is probably hypothermic. It can be treated in two ways.

The traditional medicinal method involves a course of intramuscular injections. Keep in mind that red-eared turtles should only be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian. Self-medication can cost your pet's life. And don’t forget about an important point: when you calculate the amount of medicine by the weight of the turtle, you need to subtract the weight of the shell. To do this, just divide the total weight in half.

Some turtle owners are afraid to use medications and resort to traditional medicine. One of the methods is based on steam baths. You need to prepare a chamomile decoction. Next, you should slightly heat the broth and hold the turtle over the steam for a while. Monitor the steam temperature. it shouldn't burn your hand. Now we are preparing a warm bath. In a ratio of 1:3, dilute chamomile decoction in water, the temperature should be about 30°C. A turtle should take medicinal baths for about an hour.

Eye diseases of red-eared turtles. Monitor the animal constantly. Examine your eyes. If you notice swelling of the eyelids, excessive discharge from the eyes, or a purple color of the mucous membranes, be sure to go to a specialist. To treat eye diseases in red-eared turtles, they must be kept on land. It is necessary to treat the affected mucous membrane with a veterinary agent. These may be antibiotics or sulfonamides. You should take a clean bath at a temperature of 28°C once a day for several hours. The water must be absolutely clean. Treatment is carried out until the veterinarian confirms recovery.

Shell diseases of red-eared turtles. Symptoms of pet turtle disease include a soft-touch shell, lethargic behavior, and poor appetite. Most often, symptoms appear from a lack of ultraviolet radiation, poor absorption of calcium and vitamin D3. To eliminate such problems, expose your pets to a UV lamp every day. This lamp can be purchased at a pet store.

To treat this disease, red-eared turtles should have raw fish in their diet daily, preferably with small bones. Include calcium and vitamin supplements in your diet. Turtle shell diseases are dangerous and their treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. You should react especially quickly if the animal experiences detachment of the horny plates from the shell. With active growth, this phenomenon is acceptable, but with age it can only occur if the reptile is not kept properly. Preventing and treating disease for red-eared sliders means careful care. This also applies to diet. Perhaps this violation is a consequence of drying out. Detachment can be caused by fungus or blue-green algae.

And in the end, in a concise form, we will present all the rules that must be followed when keeping red-eared turtles.

When keeping red-eared turtles, you must not:
keep in close quarters;
keep the turtle in an aquarium without land; a turtle is capable of drowning, despite the fact that it is aquatic;
keep the turtle without heating;
feed turtles only raw meat;
feed turtles only plant food;
if the turtle does not receive food rich in calcium, it is necessary to give mineral supplements;
add oil vitamins to the food “by eye”;
keep turtles in dirty water, especially if a film forms on the surface;
clean the turtle with rough brushes and even more so remove the horny scutes if it is overgrown with algae;
keep several males in one aquarium and introduce new animals without prior quarantine;
use only smooth materials (glass, plastic) for the construction of the ladder and island;
wash the aquarium in the kitchen and use dishes for turtles in which food for people is prepared.
Clean the aquaterrarium irregularly;
hibernation is not necessary for turtles;

The oldest inhabitants of our planet - turtles - are recognized long-livers. So, on the island of St. Helena lives an elephant turtle, which is about 180 years old. This reptile is considered the oldest animal on Earth.

No other animal lives as long as turtles live. Of course, red-eared turtles are somewhat inferior in life expectancy to such giants as, for example, the giant turtle. But she, of course, can be called a long-liver. How long can red-eared turtles live in the wild and at home? Let's figure it out.

How long do red-eared turtles live in the wild?

In natural conditions, the red-eared can live up to 100 years, but this is the exception rather than the rule. The average lifespan of these creatures in the wild is usually 40-50 years. In their natural habitat, reptiles are quite healthy, but we must not forget that they have enemies on land (birds of prey, foxes, jaguars).

How long do red-eared turtles live at home?

If you are planning to get this exotic pet, you must understand that you will have to live next to him and take care of him almost all his life. After all, with proper care and adequate living conditions, these reptiles can live in your home for up to 30-40, and sometimes more, years. An inexperienced or irresponsible owner may not live to see a red ear.

A red-eared turtle that comes to a responsible and caring owner, lives in a spacious home with all the necessary accessories, and receives all the nutrients it needs, can live not only 30, but also 50 years. So, whether your red-eared pet will become a long-liver depends only on you.

• Sense organs of the red-eared slider: vision, touch,…
• What you need to know before you buy...

Today, quite a large number of people decide to become pet owners. Many people decide to acquire exotic representatives, such as snakes, parrots, rodents, and turtles. If your choice fell on the latter type of pet, then you will certainly have the question of how long land turtles live and how to find out their age.

How long do land turtles live?

To answer the question, it is necessary to focus on what type of turtle we are talking about, as well as on the living conditions of the animal. In their natural environment, land representatives of the turtle world can live for quite a long period of time. For example, there are some individuals that live more than a hundred years.

To find out how long a turtle has already lived, you need to take into account several nuances. Most of all, the age figure is influenced by living conditions, as well as compliance with the reptile’s diet. If you provide your pet with everything she needs, she will live to a respectable age. You should provide your pet with proper care, provide clean water, and feed it with foods that closely approximate the diet in its natural environment. It is also necessary to give the turtle a vitamin complex for its better development and health. The average lifespan of a land turtle is thirty, although long-livers can also occur.

How to find out the number of years of a land turtle?

If you do get a land turtle, your first task will be to determine its age. This can be done in two ways, but the result will be approximate:

• It is necessary to count the rings on the reptile's shell. They are called concentric rings and can be seen already during the first year of an animal’s life. These rings are located on the shield; in most cases, six of them appear in the first two years of the turtle’s life, and then every year from one to two more rings are formed on the shell. Over the years, they become less pronounced, so if you have purchased a fairly mature turtle, this will be visible by the number and type of rings located on its shell.

• You need to measure the length of the shell. At the time of birth, young individuals have a length of 3 cm, and every year it increases by another 2 cm. Therefore, by measuring the length of a land turtle and subtracting 3 cm from the obtained value at the time of birth, you should divide the number by two. In this way, the approximate age of the turtle will be known. For example, you measured your pet and its length was 20 cm, subtract three cm and divide by two, it turns out that your pet is eight to nine years old.

Using these methods, you can only find out the approximate age of the turtle, and there is no way to calculate the result more accurately at home. After trying both options, it will not be difficult for you to find out the amount of time the turtle has lived. This knowledge will be useful to you in order to properly organize the care and maintenance of your pet, since caring for young animals involves some special features. Having provided all the necessary conditions for keeping your pet, the turtle will be able to live with you for a fairly long period of time, while you should remember all the subtleties of care, as well as the correct diet of the reptile.

TO They gave me this land turtle at my request when I was 5 years old for 25 rubles. We came to a woman’s apartment; she had two turtles, a female and a male, sitting in a small plastic box. The female was greenish and I didn’t like it, so I decided to get a male

In terms of size, it was basically the same as it is now, or maybe I just didn’t notice the difference in size over these 20 years. As a matter of principle, I do not feed him unnatural food, which is recommended to be fed in books - for example, meat, boiled eggs, etc.

He eats dandelions, apples, cucumbers, loves tomatoes and yellow dandelion flowers. In the summer, I go for walks with him to the quarry and to the river, so that the turtles can take a break from the apartment routine and remember their homeland - nature

The shell of the Central Asian tortoise is low, round, yellowish-brown in color, with vague dark spots; The carapace has 13 horny scutes, the plastron has 16, there are 25 scutes on the sides of the carapace, each of the 13 scutes of the carapace has grooves, usually the number of grooves corresponds to the number of years the turtle has lived (similar to circles on a cut of a tree). The size of the turtle usually does not exceed 20 cm (the record specimen is 28 cm). Females of Central Asian turtles are noticeably larger than males. There are 4 toes on the front legs of the Central Asian tortoise, and several small horny tubercles on the back of the hips.

The Central Asian tortoise is distributed in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, throughout the plains of Central Asia, in North-Eastern Iran, Afghanistan, in the north-western regions of India and Pakistan. It lives in clayey and sandy deserts with thickets of wormwood, tamarisk or saxaul, in the foothills up to altitudes of 1200 m above sea level, in river valleys, and on agricultural lands. Its numbers in many places are very high. Despite this, the Central Asian turtle is listed in the international Red Book

In June 2010, I decided to do a souvenir photo shoot for my beloved turtle, this is what happened

Some people keep the turtle “free-range”, but this is absolutely wrong, since heat-loving animals suffer greatly from drafts, as well as from various dust and dirt on the floor. It is possible to keep them in a pen, for example, in a kitchen or bathroom, equipped with a warm floor and heating from above - but still, the best for turtles, of course, is a terrarium;

For one turtle you will need a horizontal type terrarium, with a minimum size of 50(length)*40(width)*30(height including space for a lamp);
It is best to use small pebbles as soil; If a turtle has a tendency to swallow pebbles, they should be immediately replaced with very large ones. Central Asian turtles are big fans of bathing, be sure to bathe them 2 times a week with clean water +30 +32 C.

You will need a heating lamp, usually an incandescent lamp is enough to illuminate 1/2, 1/3 of the area of ​​the terrarium; The power of the lamp depends on the volume of the terrarium - approximately 4 watts of power will be required per liter of volume. An ultraviolet lamp must also be present, since due to a lack of sunlight, rickets can begin, which, unlike in humans, can begin at any age of the turtle.

The ideal temperature for land turtles is +26 – +30C.

Do not place the food container under a lamp.

A turtle definitely needs shelter. Ideally, one shelter for each individual; An ordinary ceramic flower pot, sawn into two halves so that the turtle can turn around, works well as a shelter. It is recommended to sand the edges so that the turtle does not get cut; or a wooden house, but so that the nails do not stick out!!!

It is also not necessary, but it is advisable, if the size of the terrarium allows, you can place a bowl filled with water there, where the turtle could swim at any time. To do this, you also need a thermal wire (it should be protected with a layer of polystyrene foam, since the scoop can dig out and get burned on hot lead) so that the water is warm. Turtles have a habit of defecating in this bathing vessel, so be prepared to change the water.

What to feed turtles

Turtles are fed every day, preferably at the same time;

The main food for turtles is vegetable,

• Poisonous plants: nightshade, buttercup, medicinal plants containing alkaloids, dieffenbachia (Diffenbachia spp.), euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.), azalea (Azalia spp.), elodea, lagenandra, ambulia (limnophila), oleander, narcissus, spurge, crocus , cyclamen, delphinium, foxglove, hydrangea, jasmine, lilies, lobelia, lupine, mistletoe, potato leaves, rhododendron...
• Citrus peels, fruit and berry seeds.
• Eggshells, ground egg shells (may cause salmonellosis).
• Canned and dry food for domestic warm-blooded animals and fish.
• Human food: porridge, cheese, any bread, rolls, dumplings, milk, cottage cheese, boiled or fried food, raw and boiled eggs.
• Animal food for Central Asian land turtles and most land species: meat, fish, insects. If land turtles, whose digestive tract is configured for slowly digesting food, are fed protein foods for a long time, then uric acid, formed during the breakdown of proteins, cannot be released in sufficient quantities, as a result, the kidneys do not work well. Meat contains more than just protein, and turtles do not have the ability to break down and remove such substances from the body.

  Food that is harmful to turtles in large quantities

• Plants containing high amounts of oxalates (which interfere with the absorption of calcium in the intestines and can lead to the development of false gout): spinach, bean sprouts, rhubarb.
• Growogenic plants (cause iodine deficiency and goiter): various varieties of cabbage, radishes, turnips, radishes, mustard and wild cruciferous vegetables.
• Tomatoes and other foods rich in phosphorus interfere with the absorption of calcium.
• Foods rich in purines or potentially alkaline (may contribute to the development of true gout): asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, cereal grains, mustard, mushrooms, pineapples, as well as raw liver, kidneys and fatty fish.
• The following fruits, herbs and vegetables: potatoes, celery, lettuce, onions, garlic, cruciferous vegetables, rhubarb, herbs (thyme, basil), pear, many sweet fruits, cherries.
• Dry food for reptiles and turtles. Turtles do not need them and have a bad effect on the body.
• a lot of sorrel (due to the acid it contains);
• a lot of cucumbers (very swelling);
• herbs (thyme, basil)

Add vegetable protein to the food - these are soaked and sprouted beans, alfalfa is a good source of protein, but do not overuse it.

Buying food from pet stores is harmful to turtles. You can buy vitamin supplements at a pet store,
but with special attention.

Central Asian turtles must be given calcium supplements at the rate of 100 mg of “pure” calcium per 1 kg of turtle weight. Give no more than once a week. Glycerophosphate, carbonate, borogluconate, and calcium palmitate are not suitable because they are poorly absorbed by the body and are eliminated from it almost completely. It is best to give “natural” food - freshly picked plants.

During the fall and winter season, you can feed turtles hay, but you must also give them plenty of water. All turtles love sweet fruits, but it is strictly forbidden to give them in large quantities - this leads to obesity.

Reproduction of turtles

For reproduction you will need at least a pair of turtles, it is better to take three turtles of approximately the same age and weight;

Distinguishing a female from a male is not very easy for an amateur. When buying a turtle, look at the shape of the tail - if the turtle’s tail is longer and wider at the base, then most likely the person in front of you is a male; male Central Asian turtles often have a dent on the plastron closer to the tail. In males, the cloaca is located further along the tail than in females. In females, the plastron is flat, the tail is short due to the placement of the oviduct in their cloaca, without thickening. The cloaca is located near the end of the carapace, i.e. almost at the base of the tail. Males are often smaller than females.

Turtles reach sexual maturity: females from 10-12 years, males from 5-6 years;

Turtles mate from February to August. The duration of pregnancy is 2 months, after which the female lays from 2 to 6 eggs. Incubation at a temperature of 28-30°C lasts 60-65 days. Young turtles should be fed with mixtures of finely chopped vegetables and vitamin and mineral supplements.

About caring for land turtles

Do not be surprised if your pet turtle asks to hibernate: it begins to refuse food, behave sluggishly and apathetically. Keep in mind that this process, due to the discrepancy between natural temperature conditions, can be dangerous. Turtles living in captivity should not hibernate. This is harmful to their health.

It is necessary to walk with turtles in the summer. Sunbathing in the fresh air in warm weather (+28 or more) will allow you to avoid many problems in the future, the main thing is not to leave the turtle unattended while walking (oddly enough, turtles can move quickly and unpredictably whenever they want). If you are making a pen for a turtle, dig it 5-10 centimeters into the ground - turtles are good at digging under fences. Remember that it is almost impossible to find a lost turtle.

The turtle's enclosure must have shelter from direct sunlight - let the turtle choose where to sit.

After bathing, the turtle is wiped with a napkin. It is not necessary to place her under a lamp - give her a choice, she knows best what she needs.

If the shell does not look as beautiful as you want, then it is not the oil that will help you, but the veterinarian - we are most likely talking about improper care of the turtle. If it has uneven, highly lumpy scales, it is most likely the onset of rickets. Those. Either you do not irradiate the turtle with ultraviolet light (UV does not pass through glass), or you do not add mineral supplements to the food.

If you notice changes in the animal's behavior or appearance, for example, it has become more lethargic or its eyes have become swollen, do not hesitate - take it to the veterinarian

How long do turtles live?

On the Internet you will find information regarding the life expectancy of Central Asian turtles in the range from 5 to 40 years, on average 15 and this is the limit. And now directly what I want to say about how long turtles can live at home in captivity

When they bought me a turtle, she was 5-7 years old, now 20 years have passed since the purchase, i.e. my turtle has been living in captivity only with me for 20 years and it is unknown in what conditions and how long she lived with her previous owners. My turtle goes into hibernation for the winter in a corner near the balcony, but I do not advise letting unprepared turtles sleep, because... hibernation for a turtle is always a risk of weakening too much and dying. In winter, sometimes I forcibly wake up the turtle, turn on the lamp and see what physical condition the turtle is in. I carefully give plant food in small doses, bathe it to cleanse the intestines, and after briefly warming up under a lamp, the turtle goes into hibernation until spring.

When you buy a turtle, you should be aware that you will have to carefully care for the turtle throughout its life and monitor its health and take measures for treatment if necessary. A turtle is not a toy for a child, it is a living, wise, unique creature, it is the only descendant of dinosaurs that previously lived on Earth. Please do everything possible so that your turtle lives a long, happy life, enjoys itself and makes you happy. The turtle does not need much, they eat little, food grows freely in nature.

Do not confine your turtle to a small enclosed terrarium as many sources recommend. My turtle has never lived in a terrarium or cage for the entire 20 years that he has been living with me. My turtle lives in the area near the windows, where there is a battery and its corners, and most importantly, access to a huge loggia, where she runs all summer from morning to morning. evenings. My turtle doesn’t walk around and shit around the apartment, he doesn’t cross the invisible line and he himself understands perfectly well where he can be and where he can’t. He is so smart and wise that when he needs something, he comes across the entire apartment to the owner and sits still.

Do not feed your turtle eggs, meat, vitamins, or dry food from pet stores if you want your turtle to have a long and fulfilling life. Follow the principle of creating a natural environment in which turtles live freely and your turtle will delight you for many years!