How to choose a turtle for your home? Which is the best turtle to choose? Practical recommendations

Rules for the care and maintenance of pet turtles

Since there are aquatic and land turtles, caring for them is somewhat different. It is easier to care for a land turtle than an aquatic one, but the principle is the same. To make a land turtle feel comfortable, you need to have:

• Terrarium or spacious clean box.
• Availability of varied food.
• Take a warm bath once a week.
• Constant trimming of claws and beak.

As for the aquatic turtle, for its normal maintenance it needs to constantly have water, and therefore it has to be kept in an aquarium. Moreover, in the aquarium you need to arrange a place where the turtle can eat and rest.

Types of aquatic pet turtles

There are several varieties of small reptiles that can be kept in an aquarium at home. The most common small aquatic pet turtles are:

1. Red-eared. The most common type of armored reptile for aquarium keeping. The miniature size of the animal is deceptive, since after 5-6 years it can reach 30-35 cm, depending on the sex. This breed of turtle is distinguished by the presence of a red stripe on its cheek and a calm character.
2. Spotted. It belongs to the semi-aquatic species and has color features in the form of yellow spots randomly covering the neck, head and shell. The remaining parts of the animal's body are black. The average size of a spotted turtle is 10 cm. The ideal living conditions for this breed are an even distribution of water and land in the aquarium.
3. Musky. It is considered the best reptile option for keeping at home. It is characterized by low susceptibility to infectious diseases and reaches 10-11 cm in length. This breed of aquatic turtle does not reach a larger size.
4. Bolotnaya. A small turtle about 10 cm long can live up to half a century in captivity. This breed is not exotic, as it is found in ponds, lakes and river backwaters. When purchasing such a wild turtle, it is important to initially pick it up by the base of its shell in order to avoid manifestations of aggression.
5. Locking turtles , the average length of which is from 11 to 13 cm, depending on the subspecies.
6. Reeves' reptile. This pond turtle has rectangular plates on its shell. They grow up to 12 cm, but are not particularly popular among breeders due to frequent diseases caused by poor adaptation to the new environment.
7. Flat. A small turtle up to 9 cm in length, unpretentious in nutrition; simple succulent plants are considered a favorite delicacy of this species.

Red-eared turtles
When purchasing a reptile, you should make sure that you are getting exactly the species that you wanted.
Otherwise, there is a risk of buying a representative of a different species instead of a dwarf turtle, which will later grow to large sizes.

Costs per turtle

If you decide to have a turtle at home, then you need to know and be prepared for the fact that you will have to shell out certain funds:

• Terrarium with additional equipment – ​​3000 rubles.
• Heating lamp – from 1000 rubles per six months.
• Feed costs – from 500 rubles per month.
• Examination by a veterinarian – from 1000 rubles.

As you can see from the list, the funds are not small, as for maintaining such a small animal. But that's not all: in addition to funds, she needs constant care and attention.

What do you need to know before purchasing?

Turtles are an interesting and unique species of our smaller brothers. In the meantime, my two representatives are sleeping peacefully nearby, I want to tell you a little about how to choose a turtle for your home and which turtle is better to choose. Because there are also many types of turtles.

We will also tell you how to choose a healthy turtle. How to transport them and care for them. In general, I have prepared for you a voluminous, interesting, and most importantly useful article. Happy reading.

Many turtle species are inexpensive, so some people may be able to go out and buy a turtle right away. And it will be your mistake. At one time I fell for this mistake myself.

Before you choose and buy a turtle, first find out in advance about how to feed it, how to care for it, how and where it lives. It is also necessary to understand how much money you are willing to spend on a terrarium, enclosure, equipment and food.

I can tell you that you will spend approximately 3000-5000 rubles on the entire household, the main thing is to plan these expenses. You don't have to buy everything at once.

Be sure to take into account that over time the turtle will grow and take up more space, so take care in advance of the place in which you will place a large terrarium or aquarium. You should have free time to set up an enclosure for your turtle, improve it, care for the animal, feed it and watch it.

And most importantly, there must be an interest in the animals themselves! If you buy a turtle as a gift for children or as a toy, it will soon become boring. There is no need to keep the animal somehow, because a turtle will look much more impressive for both you and your guests in a beautiful terrarium than in a box under the sofa.

Let's look at questions that often arise when buying and choosing a turtle:

1. How many turtles can you buy at once? First, it’s better to take one, and only then buy more for it, but not 3–5 pieces at once, otherwise you may not be able to handle it.
2. When is the best time to buy turtles? The best period to purchase a turtle is late spring - early autumn. In winter, you can buy a sick turtle, or catch a cold while transporting it home. These recommendations do not apply if you purchase a turtle from a trusted place, then you can buy a turtle in any season.
3. Should you plan to purchase an aquarium/terrarium before the turtle arrives or after? It is clear that the aquarium/terrarium must be purchased and fully equipped for habitation before the turtle appears.
4. Where is the best place to buy turtles? The best option is to pick up the turtle for free if the owner has abandoned it. And under no circumstances should you buy a turtle at the Bird Market - you may run into a sick animal or one listed in the Red Book.
5. How to determine whether a turtle is healthy or not? If the turtle is healthy, then it moves actively, it does not have any discharge from the eyes or nose, it does not breathe through its mouth, its eyes are open and there is a reaction to people.
6. How much can a turtle cost? Prices vary from 150 rub. up to 30,000 rub. and more depending on the exoticism. You can also take a turtle for free if the owner gives it up.
7. How much will it cost to purchase a terrarium along with equipment? All together will result in an amount of at least 3,000 rubles, but if you search on the Internet, you can find advertisements in which these things are given away for free.
8. What documents should be required for turtles in the store? Be sure to ask for a sales receipt or a copy of it. Where the number of animals, their type, the name of the seller, his signature, date of sale and price are clearly indicated. It is advisable to have a veterinary certificate or a copy thereof stating that the animal is healthy.

Feeding the turtle

For the normal development of a turtle, a varied diet is needed, including fresh vegetables (lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin), greens (dandelion, plantain, coltsfoot). At the same time, we must not forget that the turtle loves most - fruits (watermelon, melon, apple) and berries (strawberries, raspberries, cherries).

She is not averse to dining on cooled semolina or buckwheat porridge, and will also not refuse oatmeal prepared in the traditional way.

To prevent her from getting sick from a lack of nutrients, cottage cheese, boiled eggs, and raw minced meat should be added to the main diet. At the same time, there is no need to give her something to drink, since she gets most of her liquid from vegetables and fruits, and besides, she can drink while taking a bath.

The diet of an aquatic turtle is mainly meat and fish, but it will not refuse snails, worms, mice, etc. But this does not mean that she should not be given food of plant origin. It should be at least 30% in the diet of an aquatic turtle.

Preparing your home before buying a turtle

Before you buy a reptile, you need to purchase a suitable aquarium. When arranging a house for a new tenant, you should adhere to certain rules:

• since aquatic reptiles love to swim, the larger the aquarium, the better;
• The aquarium should only be filled halfway with water, and stones and branches should be placed at the bottom. Additionally, you need to organize a small island onto which the turtle will crawl out from time to time;
• a UV lamp and an incandescent lamp must be placed above the island so that the “land” warms up to 30-33 degrees;
• to avoid hypothermia or overheating of the turtle, you need to place a thermometer in the aquarium and control the temperature;
• reptiles must have at least 12 hours of daylight, so the lamp must be turned on, especially in winter and autumn.

Water should be filled into the aquarium in advance - at least 24 hours in advance - so that it has time to settle. It is best to buy a reptile in summer or spring, so as not to freeze the animal during transportation. For transportation, use a plastic container or thick cardboard box. Place crumpled paper, sawdust or a piece of thick fabric inside the temporary shelter. To avoid injuring the turtle on the way, you can cover it with crumpled sheets of paper.

If you buy two or more individuals, then each reptile will need its own “carrying”. Despite the fact that the reptile is aquatic, it can easily do without its usual habitat for some time.

Setting up a terrarium for a land turtle

Firstly, the terrarium must be spacious so that the turtle can move more, and secondly, it must be clean.

Unsanitary conditions are absolutely unacceptable here.

Optional equipment:

• Lamp for lighting and heating the recreation area.
• Ultraviolet lamp for irradiation.
• Flooring.
• A place to hide.
• Thermometer for temperature control.

For an aquatic turtle you will have to make an aquarium with partial dry land. Typically the ratio is: 3 parts water and 1 part land.

Red-eared slider: the most popular species

Residents of megacities prefer to keep this sea turtle most often . With proper care, it can please its owners for at least 30 years!

It is believed that 15 subspecies of this breed. A characteristic external feature of all of them is red or yellow spotslocalized in the ear area. The paws have stripes of a rich green hue. The height of such individuals is within the range of 18-30 cm.

The red-eared turtle stands out with its markings

IMPORTANT: To determine age, it is recommended to pay attention to the shell. The younger the turtle, the lighter its shell.

These beauties are accustomed to living in swampy reservoirs and ponds in the USA, Mexico, England, Israel, Spain and Australia. Therefore, of course, a pond for your pet. But not in the form of a basin with water and a pebble.

We need a larger aquaterrarium with lamps, filters, and a thermometer . water should be approximately 28 degrees, and the air should be 32. The ideal solution would be to build an island in the middle of the turtle's residence.

feed your pet small crustaceans, fish fry, and small boneless fish. He also loves the larvae of small frogs and insects. A small number of plants will successfully season a dish.

IMPORTANT: It is worth getting several red-eared turtles at once. Their fun games will amuse both children and adults.

Red-eared turtles are fun to keep in groups

Trimming claws and beak

A turtle's claws and beak can grow to such a size that it has difficulty moving and eating. In this case, you need to get sharp nippers and trim off the excess. To shorten a turtle's claw, it needs to be placed in the light, where the blood vessel will be visible. Having retreated 2-3mm from the vessel, you can bite off the claw. The beak is bitten off in small pieces until the turtle's jaws close.

As for aquatic turtles, in this regard it is somewhat easier with them, since they do not need such procedures.

How to choose the right healthy turtle

First of all, you need to examine the turtle's skin for the presence of ectoparasites (mites). Dental needles should be the same length, the front part of the head should not contain horny outgrowths (in the form of a beak), because it prevents the animal from eating.

Next, you can examine the shell for strength. Often, due to improper nutrition of a turtle, its shell is deformed and/or its strength is insufficient.

In adult animals, the carapace (abdominal - plastron, dorsal carapace) is hard and immobile. The cornea of ​​turtles is firmly attached to the skeleton and should not have scratches or other damage (the cornea in turtles is not always identical to the shell). Leatherback turtles do not have a cornea. Instead, these animals have smooth skin.

Eye examination. The eyes should not be glued together; There should be no clear or cloudy discharge. The eyelid should not be swollen. The turtle's nasal openings and oral mucosa should be free of deposits and secretions. Foam bubbles in the nasal passages or mouth may indicate pneumonia.

Often, when sick, a turtle is unable to reflexively hide its head. When sick, aquatic and sea turtles may behave strangely in the water or stay on its surface (for example, with pneumonia). Abnormal positioning in turtles is also observed after swallowing a foreign body (for example, a large stone).

It is necessary to observe the noises made by the animal. But in unusual situations, turtles can snort; the breathing of healthy turtles cannot be heard. Breathing noises and extraneous sounds may indicate, for example, that the animal has pneumonia.

Remember: a turtle's treatment often exceeds the cost of the animal itself, so don't buy a turtle unless you're sure you can take care of its needs.

Buying a turtle

It is better to carry a turtle from a pet store in warm weather - in a closed box with paper and holes for ventilation, in cold weather - in a box with a heating pad, or pressed against the body, since the turtle does not have its own warmth. Trionics must be transported in water so that the skin on the shell does not dry out.

It is necessary to prepare in advance all suitable conditions for the turtle (temperature, light, ventilation).

If a new turtle is purchased in addition to the existing ones, then first place the newcomer and observe him for 1-2 months. If everything is fine with the turtle, then you can add it to the other turtles. If the newcomer and the old-timers are in conflict, then it is necessary to seat them again. Some aggressive species are best kept separately.

Clean the aquarium or terrarium regularly (1-2 times a week or as it becomes dirty), but without harsh chemicals.

Give animals a variety of food - not only animal, but also plant origin. Don't forget about calcium and vitamins to improve health and shell.

Documentation

When buying an exotic animal from a dealer who does not have documents permitting the import and sale of such animals, namely:

• veterinary certificate from the sending country for the export of the animal.
• veterinary permit of the recipient country to import the animal.
• International Convention on Trade in Wild Species (CITES) certificate from the sending country (if the animal is listed in the CITES Appendices).
• license to sell animals, you are not only committing a not entirely legal action, but also risking your health. A purchased turtle can be a carrier of the dangerous disease salmonellosis, which is contagious to humans.

You have the right to request a copy of the CITES permit and veterinary certificate from the pet store.

If you were sold a sick animal, you have the right to demand a refund. Treatment costs can be recovered from the seller.

Content in groups

Most turtles are best kept in groups containing only individuals of their own species. You should not keep other turtles near snapping, vulture and trionics turtles due to their aggressiveness. You should not mix species from different geographical zones in order to avoid diseases that are unusual for them in nature. It is also better not to keep turtles that vary greatly in size, since large animals can injure small ones.

As you can see, before buying a turtle you need to consider several important and necessary points. Now you know a lot more about us and will make the right choice when purchasing!

Kawabanga, friends!

Mud turtle: an undemanding pet

The second name for the reptile is “big-headed”. Her head is indeed so disproportionately large in relation to her shell that it looks unusual. The paws are also large. In general, this turtle is ideal for those people who intend to have a small pet. The length of such turtles does not exceed 18 cm.

By the way, small sizes imply undemandingness in choosing a home. If for some breeds you need to buy large terrariums, then that reptile will cost you a capacity of 60-100 liters. They also have no need to create islands - mud turtles prefer to live in water. The only thing is that females may want to crawl onto land during the period of laying eggs.

They prefer to eat food of animal origin. Fish, shellfish, and lean meats are excellent. Worms and tadpoles will also brighten up the diet. As for snails, this is a topic for a separate conversation, since the loggerhead turtle simply adores them!

IMPORTANT: Despite its small parameters, a mud turtle can bite quite noticeably. Therefore, handling it requires care.

Mud Turtle
The turtle is considered one of the most ancient creatures on Earth. And so many of its species have appeared today that one article is not enough to describe it - more than 300 . Of course, not all of them are suitable for home keeping. And we hope that this rating will help those who dream of becoming turtle owners decide.

What to look for when choosing a turtle

Although land reptiles are much easier to keep than aquatic or semi-aquatic ones, the brighter, cheaper and more popular aquarium turtles are more likely to attract attention. What nuances should be taken into account when choosing a four-legged inhabitant?

1. If you don’t have experience keeping such animals, it’s better to buy teenage turtles - they get sick less often than kids.
2. It is advisable to make the purchase in the warm season - then during transportation there is a higher chance of not catching a cold on the reptile.
3. It is better to start getting acquainted with these pets with the simplest species - red-eared turtles, swamp turtles, trionics, postponing until the right time the idea of ​​​​breeding more complex reptiles, for example, large fringed turtles - the more exotic the species, the more effort must be made to maintain it.
4. In individuals whose size does not exceed 10 cm, it is impossible to determine the sex, so you can safely take the one that you like more than the rest.

Choosing the right pet is important, but even more important is preparing everything necessary for its comfortable living in captivity.

Turtle in the house: how to provide comfortable conditions for your pet

If we consider wild turtles living in natural aquatic or mixed environments, we can come to the conclusion that they are quite unpretentious. Actually, this is not far from the truth, but they still need certain conditions, and the closer they are to natural ones, the better. You need to prepare the following:

• an aquarium with a volume of at least one hundred liters;
• equip the tank with an ultraviolet lamp - all turtles love warmth, love to bask under ultraviolet rays, and in the case of some species this condition is vital, and in addition, the lamp gives the reptile the opportunity to grow;
• the maximum suitable balance of water and land is 70% to 30%;
• it is necessary to install a water filtering unit;
• You should immediately select the appropriate food.

In addition, the owner should take into account a number of nuances - after all, the turtle is a specific pet, different from the more familiar cats and dogs:

• if the acquired turtle is not the first inhabitant, it is not recommended to place it with fellow turtles without prior quarantine isolation;
• in nature, fish, shellfish, turtles and other living creatures live in the same territory, and, as it seems, quite peacefully... In fact, some of them are food for others, so it is not recommended to house fish and turtles in the same tank - there are positive experiences, but most often the fish end up eaten;
• when your pet shows signs of illness, she becomes lethargic and refuses to eat, you should consult a veterinarian, preferably a herpetologist;
• if the world does not accept turtles living in the same territory, experienced breeders recommend not waiting for serious injuries, but separating the warring individuals in different tanks;
• reptiles should be protected from contact with other pets - most often cats show increased interest in them, so the container must be equipped with a lid that is not so easy to open;
• You don’t have to worry that the turtle will be bored alone - on the contrary, these animals only need a mate for procreation, and in ordinary life, conflicts between individuals are not uncommon;
• special attention must be paid to feeding pets - if the diet is incorrect, the animal will get sick, even death. It is important to consider that turtles can adore food that should never be given to them.

If the difficulties did not scare away, but, on the contrary, sparked interest in these representatives of the most ancient species, you can consider the most suitable “candidates”.

Pros and cons

If we consider the most common types of domesticated turtles, we can say that they are unpretentious, easy to care for and not demanding. For example, if a hamster or guinea pig does not receive enough ascorbic acid, then it gets scurvy... When a land turtle is forgotten to add water to its drinking bowl for several weeks, it will only start drinking more greedily.

Of course, even among these reptiles there are more capricious individuals; nevertheless, less problematic representatives are often kept as pets. Naturally, it is not recommended to test the strength of your pets. Most animals of this species have the following advantages:

• they need little food, the diet is simple and unpretentious;
• turtles are silent pets that do not make unpleasant sounds;
• there are several types of these reptiles: some live on land, others in the water element, others are semi-aquatic - which means you can choose the most suitable pet;
• do not smell and do not cause allergies;
• most reptiles feel good at low temperatures - falling into suspended animation, they are able to live at 0°C for several months;
• reptiles are most often long-lived - in captivity their life expectancy is 15-50 years;
• and another plus - you won’t have to run after the running animal.

With all the positive qualities, turtles also have disadvantages, which it is advisable for the owner to know about before the original pet appears in the house. The disadvantages include the following:

• The enemy of turtles is drafts, they often catch colds, and treating fossil reptiles is quite difficult;
• often owners lose sight of the fact that these pets can also become infected with worms and other parasites, in which case deworming is required;
• if kept freely, the turtle can get underfoot and relieve itself in the wrong place;
• communication with a reptile is not so “warm” - it will not joyfully wag its tail, fawn, purr or jump into your arms. However, they can be very sociable - it is only important to catch the changes in the pet’s behavior when the owner appears.

Mediterranean tortoise: a heat-loving pet

The second name for this turtle is “Greek”. And it has about 20 subspecies . The largest representatives can boast a shell 35 cm . On the hind legs there are peculiar spurs and small horny tubercles. The front paws are marked with claws, 5 pieces on each.

In the wild, turtles live in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Since the range extends throughout the European south. Shrubs in the mountains, open forests, steppes, semi-deserts - this beauty will be comfortable everywhere. the Greek tortoise has no equal in terms of thermophilia

Accordingly, a lot of light and warmth are needed in captivity. is preferable to choose a lamp with a power of at least 40 W. And best of all - 60. This reptile is smart enough, so it will choose the mode it needs on its own - it will either move away from the lamp, or move closer to it.

IMPORTANT: But, of course, nothing can replace real warmth from the sun. Therefore, if the weather is good, you definitely need to take your pet for a walk.

Greek turtles prefer to eat plant foods. Foliage, grass, berries, fruits are the most delicious food for them. However, snails, slugs and insects can also keep them happy.

The Mediterranean tortoise is a big fan of soaking up the sun.