How to determine the age of a land turtle

Life of the European marsh turtle

There is no consensus on the life expectancy of this species.
But there is no doubt that she is a long-liver. The numbers range from 30-50 to 100 years. If properly maintained, she can live in captivity for at least 25 years. For favorable conditions for keeping a marsh turtle in captivity, an aquaterrarium (150-200 liters) is required. You definitely need to make an “island” that will act as a shore. You should not use sand as soil; it is better to take medium and large stones so that the turtle cannot swallow them. A powerful filter is needed to purify water, since the main life processes of a turtle occur in the water, thereby polluting it.

Clean water in the aquarium is the key to its health and life expectancy; it is necessary to change the water regularly. Fresh water should be the same temperature as the drained water, otherwise there is a possibility of the animal catching a cold. During the day, the air temperature should be 28-32 degrees, and the water temperature 25-28 degrees. They need ultraviolet light. It should be located above land. The water height for small individuals should be approximately 10 cm, for larger ones - 15-20 cm.

This is interesting: How long do red-eared turtles live: study with us

How to extend the life of a turtle

My turtle, as it turns out, is only about 5 years old. Just a baby. Considering that red-eared turtles can live up to 30 years, which is what I would like. Favorable living conditions are the key to a long life. The home for the turtle should be a terrarium with artificial land that holds up to 200 liters of water. A lamp must be placed above the dry island to warm the animal. You also need a UV lamp for additional lighting.

As for nutrition, it is, of course, better to feed a turtle with balanced food from a pet store. Regularly add plant and “live” food (worms, insects, snails) to them. In general, turtles are very comfortable pets. After a year of life, they can be fed every 1-2 days.

Usually the question of how to determine age and sex arises when you want to purchase a pair for an existing individual and try to get offspring, because you need to select a turtle not only already capable of reproduction, but also of the opposite sex.

How to find out the age of a red-eared slider?

It can be much easier during an external examination than to decide the question of her gender. Sex determination usually occurs by the shell. There are two main ways to determine the age of a red-eared turtle by its shell. The first is based on counting the concentric rings that form as the animal grows (this is similar to determining the age of a tree by cutting the trunk). Typically 1-2 concentric rings correspond to one year of a turtle's life. In addition, as they grow, the color of the shell becomes less bright, and the red spots on the head also fade.

The second way to determine the age of the shell is related to the analysis of its size. There are average growth rates for a turtle and at 1 year the length of the shell is approximately 6 cm, at 2 years - 9 cm for a female and 8 cm for a male, at 3 years - 14 and 10 cm, respectively, at 4 years - 16 and 12 cm, at 5 years old - 18 and 14 cm, at 6 years old - 20 and 17 cm (age 5–6 years is optimal for starting reproduction). On average, red-eared turtles live 30–35 years, and their maximum size reaches 30 cm.

How to determine the sex of a red-eared slider?

There are three main ways to determine the sex of a red-eared slider: by the shell, by the tail, and by the claws. How to determine the sex of a red-eared turtle by its shell depends on analyzing the shape of its lower back part. In the male it has a concave appearance, since it is this shape that facilitates mating, while the female has a more rounded and flatter end of the armor.

Determining sex by the tail is one of the most accurate. It is believed that in males the tail is thicker at the base, and sharply narrows towards the tip and ends with a pointed corner. The female's tail is more uniform in thickness and has a flatter and more rounded tip.

You can also judge the sex of a red-eared slider based on the shape of its claws. The male usually has very long and pointed at the ends, as well as curved claws, while the female is content with shorter, rounded nails. However, this last sign can let down inexperienced breeders, since in the conditions of life in an aquarium, the claws of both males and females can easily grind off on stones and recognizing the sex of the animal will not be so easy.

Many families, especially those with small children, have pets. Usually these are cats, dogs, hamsters or parrots. Much less often in a comfortable apartment you will meet a representative of the order of reptiles, a turtle. These animals have changed little over the past 200 million years and have a long life expectancy (about 150 years). Although in captivity, turtles rarely live more than 40-60 years. It depends on the care of the reptile. Calculating how old your pet is is difficult, but possible.

How do turtles grow?

All creatures are born defenseless, however, as they grow, some develop teeth, others develop claws, and still others develop shells. As you guessed, the latter applies to turtles, in which, as they grow, the size of the shell increases, its color metamorphoses, and also the shape of the body changes. So, for example,

In the case when the growth processes of turtles occur quite intensively, the new horny layers on the periphery of their scutes become light in color, and then processes of pigmented cells grow there, along which pigment is transferred - usually in the form of dark spots or thin rays. But, over time, these growth rings age, and the pigmented zones cease to differ from earlier ones - this often happens with turtles that are kept at home in captivity.

It is the body size that can tell us a lot about the age of a turtle.

. Therefore, below we will provide you with information regarding what parameters turtles have depending on their age.

The relationship between the body size of a turtle and its age

If the length of a newborn male is 2.5-3 centimeters, then by 1 year the length of his body reaches 5-7 centimeters, by 2 years - 7-9 centimeters, by 3 years - 8-12 centimeters, by 4- by the age of 10-14 centimeters, by the age of 5 – 13 centimeters.

If the body length of a newborn female is 2.5 - 3 centimeters, then by 1 year it reaches 5-7 centimeters, by 2 years - 7-9 centimeters, by 3 years - 9-15 centimeters, by 4 years for years – 13-18 centimeters, by 5 years – 17 centimeters.

Body size can be influenced by the conditions in which turtles are kept, their diet (find out), as well as the characteristics of the species to which it belongs, however, based on these average parameters, you can calculate the approximate age of your turtle based on the length of its body.

How to determine the age of a turtle by the number of rings on its shell

Another fairly informative way to determine the age of a turtle is to determine it by the number of rings on your pet’s shell. If you consider that within 1 year 2-3 rings are formed on the shell, you can count the total number of rings and calculate the average number of years

However, if you calculate the age of a turtle using this method, you should take into account the fact that the size and number of rings may depend on the conditions in which the turtle was kept, and also on whether it hibernated. As a rule, the first rings on a turtle's shell appear when it is not yet 1 year old.

From this moment you can begin approximate time tracking. But, we would also like to draw your attention to the fact that in old turtles the shell becomes smooth, and the rings become pale, and counting them can be quite difficult... Also, if you calculate the age of a turtle based on the number of rings on its shell, We would recommend that you do not forget about the periods of active growth: the first period - from newborn to 2 years of age - the furrows determine the period of development from 4 months to 6 months, and in the future it is customary to rely on the perennial cycle.

The growth of the turtles can be seen by the light seams between the carapace scutes. If the turtle grows quickly, the new horny layers along the periphery of the scutes become very light, then processes of pigment cells (dermal melanophores) grow there and pigment is transferred along them, usually in the form of thin rays or dark spots. When these growth rings “age”, the pigmented zones will not differ from the previous ones. This is the cost of accelerated growth in captivity.

As young turtles grow, their body shape and shell color change. The shell elongates and darkens. When the turtle grows and becomes sexually mature, if it is a male, then it may have a depression on the plastron, a thicker and longer tail, and long claws. Eye color and nose color may also change.

Parameters of red-eared turtles born and living in nature

Parameters of land turtles, turtles born and living in nature (using the example of Testudo hermanni)

At home, the growth of a turtle depends on the size of the aquarium/terrarium, frequency of feeding, diet, and the addition of calcium to the food.

Interesting facts about turtles

The largest turtle is considered to be the leatherback turtle. This reptile can reach a length of up to 3 meters and a weight of over 900 kg. The animal lives in the ocean, and a collision between such a turtle and a boat can be very dangerous for its passengers. The Galapagos elephant turtle is considered the largest of the land turtles. The adult length is about 1.8 m and the weight is approximately 400 kg.

The snapping turtle is considered to be the most dangerous turtle in the world. During the mating season, a male reptile may mistake a bathing person for a female turtle and drown him. Also, these reptiles bite quite strongly and can cripple a person. Another most dangerous species of turtles are vultures. This type of reptile can easily snatch a person's finger with its powerful and razor-sharp jaws.

Animals can cause serious poisoning in humans. The fact is that some reptiles feed on poisonous species of mushrooms or jellyfish, and toxic substances can accumulate in their meat (see Mushroom poisoning). A person who eats turtle meat can easily become poisoned.

Turtles can go without food for about 5 years! The animal can also hold its breath for as long as 10 hours. The animal simply falls into a state of suspended animation and, after favorable conditions appear, wakes up and leads its usual way of life.

Turtles appeared on the planet more than 220 million years ago and continue to exist on Earth. Archelon is considered the largest individual to ever live on earth. This reptile was up to 5 meters and weighed over 2 tons.

Reptiles are long-lived and can live for over 150 years. Reptiles live almost everywhere, except in Antarctica.

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Conclusion

Red-eared turtles are quite kind and cheerful pets. To avoid being bitten by a red-eared turtle, a child must follow safety rules when handling it, and also be sure to monitor hand hygiene after interacting with turtles. Proper care and treatment of an animal will give a person the joy of communicating with their pet for many years.

Origin of the turtle

The question of the origin of the turtle is still occupied by the minds of many scientists. The conditional ancestor is considered to be Permian cotylosaurs or eunotosaurs. This small and very lizard-like ancient animal had short and fairly wide ribs, which together formed a kind of shield-shell in the back area.

Some scientists suggest that turtles owe their origin to a special group of parareptiles that were descendants of the amphibian discosauriscus. The first, most ancient specimen that fell into the hands of scientists was Odontochelys semitestacea, very well known in scientific circles. This turtle was characterized by the presence of the lower half of the shell, as well as teeth, which modern species are completely devoid of. The second oldest turtle is Proganochelys quenstedti. This animal had a full and well-formed shell and also had teeth.

The largest land turtles from the genus Meiolania had shells that often exceeded two meters in length. In addition to the huge shell, the animal had a very long and incredibly powerful tail, which was decorated with flattened bone spikes arranged in two rows. The species is characterized by the presence of a triangular skull, on which there are elongated, blunt-type spines directed backwards and sideways.

This is interesting: Description of the largest turtle in the world

Third way

Another evidence of the years the turtle has lived is the intensity of the color of the shell and the structure of its body. The younger the turtle, the lighter and brighter its color.

Only at four years old does the animal’s shell begin to darken. During this period, the age rings that appear on the shell are the same color as the previous ones, but the old ones become increasingly darker. Over time, they almost turn black, which is why older reptiles also become almost black.

In addition, in mature turtles, the shell acquires a regular oval shape over the years, loses its surface roughness, becoming almost smooth with grooves barely perceptible to the touch.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the age of any animal is indicated primarily by its behavior - young individuals of all types of earthly fauna are curious, active, and have a large supply of energy; mature age reminds itself of its poise, sometimes fatigue and a sedentary lifestyle. Turtles are no exception in this regard.

How to determine the sex of a reptile

When the question arises of what gender, you should look at the tail, the shape of the shell, limbs, head and behavioral characteristics.

Tail. In males it is thinner and longer, while in females it is short and thick. In addition, males periodically pull out the genital organ. The cloaca in females resembles an asterisk and is located closer to the base of the tail.
Shell shape. In males it is elongated and narrow with a plastron concave inward. Females are rounder and wider with a flat plastron. It is noteworthy that the latter are usually larger than the former.
Limbs. Males have elongated claws for courting a partner during the mating period.
Head. Different species of turtles have sexual differences in the color and shape of their heads, as well as eye color.
Behavior. Males usually flirt with females, showing their interest in them by chasing, biting on the neck, scratching with their claws.

Age determination

When studying the question of how to find out how old land turtles are, it is also necessary to highlight that there are also aquatic species. Land animals at birth do not exceed 3 cm in length. They look tiny and weigh only 10 grams. After a year, such a reptile grows up, but increases in size by only a couple of centimeters. When the turtle's shell reaches 18 cm, its growth stops. After 10 years, the reptile is already considered large and adult. At this age, her shell will be 17 cm in diameter.

Determining the age of land reptiles is possible using unusual characteristics. We are talking about a shell that has an amazing property. Until one year of age, rings appear on the shell. During growth throughout the year, up to 3 rings appear on the scales. After a year of life, growth is not so rapid and for each new year an additional ring will appear. True, it is not always possible to understand just from this characteristic how old the turtle is. There are other factors that contribute to changes in the number of rings.

Their quantity is influenced by the indoor climate, living conditions, care, hibernation time, quality and quantity of food. You can also use simple calculations to determine age. If we take into account that in one year the reptile only grew by a couple of centimeters, and at birth it was 3 cm, then you need to measure the shell itself. The data is recorded and 3 cm is subtracted from it. Next, the resulting number is divided in half, and the result will characterize the age of the pet.

Both methods that allow you to find out the age of a reptile are not accurate, and you can only understand the approximate period of life. Only an experienced veterinarian can tell exactly the age, who will conduct a series of examinations of the body and only then will be able to determine the exact years of the reptile.

It is worth noting that for aquatic turtles the determination is made according to other factors and rules. A general method for determining age in both types of reptiles includes light seams on the shell; in a young reptile they will always be light. Such parts begin to darken at the age of 4-5 years.

The number of years is also determined by the shape of the shell. To be precise, its shape makes it possible to understand that the reptile has already reached sexual maturity, in which case the shell will be oval. In addition, its pattern not only begins to darken, but may be almost invisible or disappear altogether. Mature males will have stronger claws and tails than females.

To simplify the calculation of years, you can use data, but they are taken to take into account parameters in the wild, for land turtles. Keeping in captivity can distort the data shown in the table:

By finding out how old your pet is, you can understand how long he has approximately to live in a normal life. After all, death in reptiles at home occurs due to improper maintenance, nutrition and infectious diseases. On average, they can live from 20 to 50 years, it all depends on the breed and conditions.

Leisurely friends, clad in bone armor, no matter how small or huge they are, have found a niche of people who love them very much and have them in their apartments, make them enclosures on their property, or even fence off a large area for them in private nurseries. And the fact remains that turtle owners love their pets.

But there are very, very frequent cases that for one reason or another these cuties are abandoned and they have to look for a new home

And the fact remains the same: turtle owners love their pets. But it is very, very common that for one reason or another these cuties are abandoned and they have to look for a new home.

Exactly like the cases when, under the guise of being young and inexperienced, they sell you an adult with character. How not to be deceived and how to have at least a small idea who is in front of you, a youth or an adult? How to determine the age of a turtle? Let's figure it out together.

Wherever you point your pointer at our planet, with the exception of places with a cold climate, you will find a turtle everywhere. And more and more varieties can be found as pets every year.

To begin determining the age of these reptiles, let’s decide who the target is:

Sea turtle.
Freshwater.
Land.

Because each of them has its own distinctive features.

Reliable determination of a pet's age

It is not difficult for a specialist to determine its age just by looking at a reptile. But what should inexperienced owners do when they get such an unusual pet? You can use several methods - measure the length of the carapace, evaluate the nature of its pattern, the shape and color of the shield.

Method I

It's not 100% correct, but it's still worth a look because it's fairly easy to do.

Initially, it is important to find out whether the turtle is male or female, which is not so easy to do, especially if we are talking about a young individual. And only after this can you measure the diameter of the reptile’s shell and compare the data obtained with basic information:

in the first year of life, the size of the carapace in red whales is 6 cm, regardless of gender;
in the second year of life, the diameter of the armored shield of females increases to 9 cm, of males - to 8 cm;
by the 3rd year, the carapace of females grows to 13-14 cm, and in males its length does not exceed 10 cm;
in the 4th year, the size of the shell of males and females increases on average by 2 cm;
in 5-year-old individuals, the length of the carapace is 18 cm in the case of a female, and 14 cm in males;
at 6 years, the female’s shield increases by 2 cm, the male’s by 3 cm.

When a reptile reaches 6 years of age, its shell grows to its maximum size, and subsequently its diameter remains practically unchanged. Even if this happens, the increase is insignificant, and gradually the growth stops completely. The size of the carapace of a red-eared turtle is associated with the following factors:

variety of diet;
the size of the aquaterrarium;
living conditions;
the absence of hibernation or the presence of this period.

If you take into account such nuances, it is easy to understand that errors, often quite significant, cannot be avoided in calculations. Having obtained data in this way, you can correct the result using another technique - the most reliable.

II method

This method is based on determining the age of a reptile from the image on its carapace. Experts consider a turtle's shell to be its individual identifier, comparing it to a human fingerprint.

If the turtle eats well and lives in suitable conditions, then the shield pattern will be unique. But when a reptile lives in an unsuitable environment, is injured, becomes dry, or experiences other difficulties, its scutes can become deformed and peel off, which negatively affects the pattern.

There are a number of concentric rings on the shell that indicate its age. They appear in individuals after the first year of life, and then become intense during the 2nd and 3rd years. Every 6 months there are 2-3 more rings, after which the process slows down, and then only one ring appears per year.

If you count the number of rings, it is easy to find out how old the four-legged swimming pet is. Even if he came to a new home already as a large, adult individual. To get an accurate figure, you need to count the rings and take the average result. And in this case, some discrepancy with reality is possible.

III method

This method is based on assessing the color of the carapace - the intensity of the shade changes with age. The younger the individual, the lighter and calmer the color of its shell. After 4 years his tone becomes darker. Older red-eared turtles have an almost black shield, and this also applies to the rings.

As the reptile matures, the carapace becomes regular, oval in shape, and its surface becomes smooth, which is not the case in young animals. Young turtles are more active, energetic and inquisitive, they move more and climb everywhere. Old individuals are sedentary and phlegmatic; they can often be found resting. But such signs are observed not only in turtles, but also in other creatures - old age manifests itself in the same way in almost everyone.

It is worth noting that if the pet was purchased when it was still small, then there is no particular need to calculate its exact age. The main thing is to distinguish between the needs of young, adult and elderly reptiles and provide suitable food and amenities. But, regardless of age, the red ear needs clean water, ultraviolet rays, warmth and maintaining certain parameters of both water and air. This is the key to a healthy, long and fulfilling life for your pet.

Many animal lovers have problems when it comes to determining the gender of a pet, but if the differences in the structure of primary sexual characteristics in cats and dogs are more or less clear to all of us, then the task of finding out whether a red-eared slider is male or female can baffle anyone.

Fortunately, in reality everything is not as difficult as it seems.

Puberty

Experts say that the sexual maturity of reptiles depends on its habitat. If the animal lives in the wild, then the female becomes capable of laying eggs at 10-15 years. Males mature much earlier - at 5-6 years they can fertilize their chosen one.

Some reptile breeders claim that their pets themselves began to express their readiness to reproduce at 4-5 years of age. In fact, this should not be allowed. This is simply due to the improper maintenance of the animal.

After all, judging by human standards, a reptile (female) at 4 years old is still in its early adolescence, comparable to a 10-12 year old girl. Like a child, a reptile can be fertilized and even lay eggs. Another question is how this will affect the health of the turtle itself and its offspring.

Therefore, experts categorically prohibit keeping young females under 10 years old together with males.

Since the average lifespan of a reptile is 30-40 years, after 25 years the Central Asian land turtle begins to grow old. But some females are still able to lay eggs.

But at this age, for a reptile to give birth to offspring is a very serious burden on the body. Therefore, this must be prevented. It is best to limit contact between older females and males who have reached their twenties.

In order for pets to live long in captivity, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of their proper maintenance.

How does the age of a turtle depend on its size?

At birth, the length of the shell of a small turtle is on average 3 cm. It weighs only 10-12 g. Like newborn children, there are some standards for a reptile. So, every year they grow by 2 cm. For example, if measurements showed that the length of a turtle is 16 cm, then after making simple arithmetic calculations (15-3)/2, we come to the conclusion that it is 6 years old. By the age of 8-10 years, a pet raised in captivity becomes 18-20 cm long. Upon reaching this milestone, growth slows down significantly. It is worth taking into account that in some species of turtles, females grow more rapidly than males.

Boy or girl?

The sex of a reptile can be determined only after its shell reaches a length of 12-14 cm; at an early age it is impossible to distinguish between them. The best way to determine the sex of turtles is by comparing representatives of both sexes.

The male's claws will be longer and thicker. The ventral part of the shell, the plastron, is concave in males and flat in females. The eyes of females are brighter in color - this is their only decoration, and the only way to attract a partner.

The shape of the shell in boys is long and narrow, while in girls it is round and short.

The cloaca in males is in the form of a longitudinal line, and in females it is in the form of an asterisk. The tail of males is wide at the base and thick along its entire length. In females it is thin at the base and short.

The sex of reptiles is also determined by their behavior: males are more active, show more interest in females, flirt, nod their heads, bite the neck.

To correctly determine the sex and age for breeding turtles in captivity, it is better to seek advice from veterinarians who can more accurately answer these questions.

The structure of a turtle

This reptile has four limbs, the front of which are four-toed. The carapace is round and low, its color can be various shades of yellow-brown or yellow-green, with black or brown spots on each shield. This color allows for excellent camouflage among sand and dry grass.

How to determine the age of a land turtle? One way is through the scutes of its shell. It consists of a carapace (dorsal) and plastron (abdominal). In newborns it is soft, it gradually hardens. The plastron is divided into 16 scutes. The carapace has 13 central scutes, and another 25, smaller in size, are located on the sides.

There are grooves on the carapace scutes that resemble circles on Now have you guessed how to determine the age of a land turtle? Yes, just like the age of a tree - by the rings.

How to determine the age of a turtle

Calculating the age of a turtle is quite a difficult undertaking. If you do not know the date of birth of your turtle, then there is no way to determine the exact number of years the animal has lived.

We offer you two ways to help determine how old your turtle is. But it is worth remembering that the calculations will be approximate. Only a specialist in this field can give a more accurate figure, with the help of special studies and procedures, and even then not everyone can do such a study.

Calculating age based on shell size

Turtles are born very small. The approximate size of the shell at birth is about three centimeters. Then, every year the shell increases by another two to three centimeters.

Based on this, to determine the age of your turtle, measure its shell using a ruler. Then subtract the number three from the length of the shell in centimeters. Divide the resulting difference by two. So you found out how old your pet is. You can also use a table based on statistical data:

Five to six centimeters - one year.
Seven to eight centimeters - two years.
Nine to ten centimeters - three years.
Eleven to twelve centimeters - four years.
Thirteen to fourteen centimeters - five years.
Fifteen to sixteen centimeters - six years.

Age based on the number of rings on the shell plates

In the first two years of life, a turtle manages to acquire six rings on its shell. Subsequent years, one or two rings are added per year.

With this knowledge, you can calculate your pet's age. To do this, count the number of rings on the selected plate. From the resulting number, subtract six (this is the first two years of life) and divide by two (the number of new rings per year). To the result of the calculations, add the first two years of life that were taken away earlier. So you found out how old your turtle is.

This method is less accurate than the first. In sufficiently mature individuals, it is difficult to count the number of rings, since the plates wear off over time.

Method of counting the rings on the shell to find out the age of a turtle

This method is informative for any type of reptile and is similar to determining the annual rings of trees. The shell of a turtle consists of a horny and bony layer. The horny scutes of a newly born animal are soft, but become harder over time. Two or three annual rings are formed on them in 12 months. These layers are lighter than the rest of the shell. When the reptile turns five years old, the horny rings will begin to darken and appear one at a time each year. Old "tortillas" have an oval, smooth and pale shell.

How many years does the Central Asian land turtle live?

This species is most common in Russia and the former CIS countries. It is not difficult to meet the owner of this pet, since the reptile does not require care, is calm, easily tamed, and is not aggressive.

The average lifespan of a Central Asian tortoise in the wild is determined to be 30-40 years. But in records found in the monasteries of Jerusalem, contemporaries read about some individuals who were 100 and even 120 years old.

The longest living among Central Asians is Marion, which has crossed the 152-year mark. This fact is documented.

At home, land turtles live 15-20, less often 30 years. This is also a long time, if you compare them with cats, rabbits and hamsters.

Why is it difficult to find out the sex and age of a turtle?

The turtle is a species of reptile that can live more than 120 years. This is quite a long time, since one pet turtle, with proper care, can easily outlive not only its own owners, but also their children and even grandchildren. A turtle can be kept in captivity in the simplest conditions, and no problems will arise with its breeding. It is also interesting that until a certain age it is completely impossible to find out the gender and exact age of a pet of a given species. Sexual development begins only after reaching 6-8 years of age, and distinctive signs appear even later than this time period.

According to scientific research, the turtle tops the list of animals that have not changed their appearance at all during the process of evolution. As they were in the last millennium and even at the beginning of the era, so they remain at the present time. Under natural conditions, this type of reptile reproduced and lived on the basis of natural impulses - the problem of age and gender worries only the owners; the turtles themselves do not care about this indicator at all.

People involved in breeding pet turtles are very concerned about purchasing a pet of the exact gender that is required. In order to be fully prepared before purchasing, you need to understand the current issues.

Lifespan of turtles

The loss of eggs due to nest predators is 40-95%. The survival rate of young animals is 10-55%; at the age of 10 to 15 years, 10-15% die per year. A complete change of generations occurs every 20 years, and animals aged 30 years are already rare. At home, turtles often die from infections and poor maintenance. But on average, small turtles live for 50 years, large ones for 80 years, and very large ones for 150-200 years.

Approximate data taken from observations of herpetologists in Zoos and private collections:

Central Asian - 40-50 years old Red-eared - 40-50 years old

Indian roofing turtle (Kachuga tecta) – 37 years old

box turtles - 50-100 years

Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) - 60 years, desert gopher (Gopherus agassizii), sea turtles - 80 years

radiant - 85 years

Balkan (Testudo hermanni) – 90 years

spur-bearing - 115 years Galapagos, Seychelles - 150-180 years

The lifespan of a turtle depends greatly on its care. Some people have turtles that are 20-30 years old or even 40-50 years old, but many of them, due to poor maintenance, have many senile diseases and do not live long.

Many began to have a variety of pets, quite rare and interesting, whose homeland is the distant tropics - these are boas, snakes, crocodiles, pythons, and turtles. In most cases, preference is given to a harmless turtle that leads a calm and measured lifestyle, especially since the costs of its maintenance are minimal. Very often, based on such considerations, they start a fish that leads a mainly aquatic lifestyle.

Turtles can be considered one of the longest-living animals among many animals, up to 50 years

.
As for home maintenance, everything will depend on how close home maintenance is to natural ones. If you properly care for it and keep it clean, then it can live for 30 years or more
, especially since it does not require any exceptional care, but you should know some subtleties. Firstly, you need to know how old the purchased turtle is and only then decide on the conditions of detention and proper nutrition.

Most likely, the turtle will be purchased at a pet store and the seller should tell you its age. This is necessary in order to decide on nutrition, since it may differ depending on age.

Behind the eyes, the red-eared slider has spots that are not associated with the hearing organs. Throughout life, these spots change color from scarlet to burgundy.

A young turtle has a streaked green shell that fades and darkens as it grows and matures.

You can focus on the age of a turtle by knowing the size of its carapace. But again, in home conditions, especially favorable conditions, a turtle can grow somewhat faster than in nature. Moreover, there are many subspecies of turtles that have different ratios of shell length in relation to age.

How many years do turtles live?

It is generally accepted that turtles can live 300 years, although in fact this opinion is erroneous. Of course, among the representatives of this species of animals there are some long-livers, but there is no reliable data that any individual lived to such a respectable age. In many ways, this impression of turtles is due to isolated cases of longevity among large species.

Life expectancy is affected by the size of the turtle - the larger the species, the longer its representatives can live:

small turtles can live up to 50 years;
representatives of medium-sized species live up to 80 years;
the maximum age of large reptiles is 200 years.

Being in captivity can either extend a turtle's lifespan or shorten its years. Necessary living conditions, a balanced diet and the absence of enemies allow the animal to live long enough, but improper care or feeding with unsuitable food will lead to the rapid death of the pet.

Land

Turtles that include more than a dozen genera are called land turtles. They live in Asia, southern Europe, Africa and America. These reptiles prefer open spaces - steppes, deserts and forest-steppes, but can also feel comfortable in tropical rainforests.

The size of animals can be either very small, not exceeding 10 cm, or quite large. Common to all land turtles are a round shell and thick legs with fused toes. Reptiles prefer to eat a plant-based diet.

In their natural habitat, such animals can live from 50 to 100 years, which is influenced by the type of particular animal, its size and external factors. European land turtles are bred in captivity more often than others, with an average lifespan of 40 years.

Central Asian

The Central Asian tortoise is one of the representatives of land animals. It differs from other varieties in its shell. This part of the body is divided into sectors and colored yellow-brown with spots.

The habitat of these animals covers the countries of Central Asia. There the turtle is found in the foothills, near reservoirs and in deserts. The species grows only up to 20 cm, therefore it is classified as small. In the natural environment, under favorable circumstances, they live up to 50 years; in captivity, the period is limited to thirty years.

Marine

Sea turtles live in warm oceans and seas. They differ quite strongly from their land counterparts:

the shell has an elongated shape;
the front and hind limbs do not retract;
the paws are more like flippers.

The body length ranges from 70 to 140 cm. Due to their impressive size, they do not live at home. In captivity, they can only be seen in aquariums and large zoos. If the living conditions of sea turtles are favorable, they live up to eighty years.

Water

European water turtles or aquatic turtles live in the southern part of the African continent, in the countries of the Middle East and Asia. These freshwater reptiles are small and only grow up to 30 cm.

Aquatic turtles are distinguished from other turtles by their smooth, plain or colored shell. These are quite popular pets; in captivity they are kept in special aquariums. Life expectancy both in the wild and in captivity is 50 years.

Red-eared

The yellow-bellied or red-eared turtle is a representative of American aquatic turtles. It can grow up to 30 cm, with females being slightly larger. Small red-eared turtles are bright green. As they get older, animals darken and acquire a brown or olive color. They have elongated patterns on their body, but the shell is almost entirely painted in one color.

Next to their eyes they have spots of red or orange, which is why reptiles got their name. Initially, red-eared animals lived only on the American continent, but then they were brought to other countries. They live in lakes and ponds with gentle banks, where it is convenient to get out onto land. Life expectancy, like that of aquatic species, is 50 years.

How to find out the gender of a rubella turtle by its behavior

There are different ways to determine who is who among the red-eared turtles, but it is best to take into account all the signs together to avoid mistakes. For example, male turtles reach sexual maturity a year and a half earlier, the size of the animal also depends on age, and the claws of male terrarium turtles sometimes wear off and may well be shorter than the claws of the female.

If it appears in the house, of course, the new owners usually find out first of all. Determining the sex of these animals is not such an important task, but it will not be superfluous, for example, in order to adequately perceive the corresponding physiological changes in the reptile, and simply to give the pet the correct name.

It’s impossible to keep up with modern fashion - people never cease to amaze by getting more and more unusual and exotic pets, including reptiles. Against the background of such diversity, red-eared turtles look rather modest, but among their fellows they stand out for their bright appearance, individuality and charisma. In addition, they do not require complex care and large financial costs, such as crocodiles or pythons. Red-eared turtles live for quite a long time, and often have more than one owner throughout their lives. Both new owners and buyers of an adult reptile are faced with the question of how to determine the age of a red-eared slider if there is no reliable data?

Representatives of the breed are aquatic reptiles, but they require an island of land. Such requests can be satisfied by purchasing a special tank - an aquaterrarium, and equipping it properly. In addition, such a container can be selected to match the design of the room, making it a real decoration of the room, and without compromising the comfort of its inhabitants.

When purchasing a cute little turtle, you should take into account that the pet will grow to a very impressive size. Life expectancy (from 30 to 50 years) is related to the living conditions of the reptile; the closer they are to natural ones, the longer the pet will live. The owner should know the age of the “red ear” not out of idle curiosity, but for two important reasons:

to provide her with the most comfortable conditions;
determine the appropriate diet and feeding regimen.

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.

Turtles in nature

First, let's get acquainted with the land turtle itself, because before you bring this reptile into your house, you need to know at least a little about it. So, it is Central Asian, it is also steppe. Although it is called steppe, the native habitat of this species is the deserts of Central Asia.

Turtles feed on plant foods. In winter they hibernate. Sexual maturity occurs at approximately ten years of age. The female lays several eggs, but not all at once, but at intervals of two days. Newborn turtles are only 30 mm long. It is interesting that, as soon as they are born, they immediately burrow into the ground, where they spend the winter, and in the spring they are released into the wild.