Keeping turtles in an aquarium. Red-eared turtle and fish in the same aquarium. Proper Diet for Turtles

04.11.2020

Small aquarium turtles are very popular with reptile lovers. They are quite easy to care for, but ignorance of even the simplest rules of maintenance can lead to diseases and even death of a pet.

Fundamentals of care and maintenance

In the aquarium, it is necessary to equip two zones: an island of land (1/3) and a body of water (2/3). All aquarium turtles must be kept in clean water. Do not neglect the arrangement of the aquarium with an ultraviolet lamp. Without ultraviolet rays, a reptile will not grow a shell. Moreover, the turtle can develop diseases. The optimum temperature for most species is 27-32°C.

Types of aquarium turtles and their care

You should consider which aquarium turtles and their species are the most common inhabitants of home aquariums.

musk turtle- the smallest and easiest to care for, and, as a result, the most popular among lovers of such pets. It grows from 7 to 14 cm. It has a rather restrained dark color with light stripes. In food, the reptile is completely unpretentious - lettuce, algae, and fish can be included in its diet.

Aquarium red-eared turtles have a very beautiful color, but most of all her red ears catch the eye. The female reaches 30 cm in size, and the male - half as much. This is an omnivorous reptile that can eat both plant foods and fish, frogs, mice, snails, and worms.

Trionics, or shellless turtle, has a very original appearance due to a bizarre proboscis. But in fact, behind her funny cute appearance is a real predator. AT natural conditions the turtle breaks all stereotypes about these reptiles, and many fish can envy its speed and agility.

Aquarium turtles - description of popular species, joint keeping with fish

Aquarium turtles - description of popular species, joint keeping with fish

The relevance of this topic is raised by many beginners in the aquarium world and not only by them.

Often, on the Internet you come across a funny video where turtles swim peacefully with fish, and on the forums you see photos of the joint keeping of fish and turtles with forest reviews.

Also, the stories of acquaintances that their soft-bodied turtle is offended by guppies stir up interest!?

After watching and reading all this, the aquarist thinks - and in fact it’s true !!! Why not??? After all, in natural - natural conditions, turtles, fish, frogs, snakes and other reptiles live together - in one area! So all this can be recreated at home?!

Well, let's take a closer look at this issue and see real examples of turtles living together with fish!

So, for starters, it’s worth noting that the turtle is different from the turtle! Therefore, we propose to consider four types of turtles that are in demand among lovers of aquarium and terrarium animals.

Red-eared turtle and aquarium fish

This type of turtle is often referred to as the red-eared turtle. I emphasize that this turtle has never been a sea turtle. This is a completely freshwater resident.

Contrary to the expectations of many who want to have this type of turtle, these individuals require a fairly wide space to move around. For one or two such Tartils, an aquarium with a volume of at least 100 liters is required. Also, the aquarium should be equipped with an island for relaxation, and a powerful filter. Aeration is not required, as turtles breathe atmospheric air, climbing to the surface. Pet stores sell special islands for turtles, which are installed at the bottom of the aquarium. 70% of the island is under water. For the convenience of landing on land, there is a smooth rise to the surface, which has a rather rough surface with protrusions, so that the turtle's paws have something to cling to.

It is equally important to remember that the highest part of the turtle resting island should be about 20-30cm from the lid, depending on the size of the pet, because when buying a tiny five centimeter specimen, you need to consider that turtles grow quite quickly and grow up to 25 cm if properly maintained in shell diameter. These representatives of the armored ones, despite their external slowness and sluggishness, are very fond of arranging escapes from their father's house, therefore, in order to avoid searching for a pet throughout the apartment, it is better to comply with the requirement to place the island.

Turtles spend most of the day in the water, they crawl out to the island to rest and warm up. That is why it is necessary to equip the turtle's house with an incandescent lamp, which will be directed to the island. At the same time, the water temperature should not exceed 26 degrees, warm water is detrimental to the turtle and entails not only poor health, but also the formation of various fungal diseases. At lower temperatures (down to 18 degrees), the turtle feels comfortable.

It is necessary to change the water of turtles no more than once a month, as they are quite clean and do not need frequent water changes, which suits their owners very much.

The diet of the red-eared turtle for the most part includes animal feed. They are fed bloodworms, tubifex and special pellets of dry food, sometimes fed with lettuce or young cabbage. Adults should be given Gamarus (aquatic crustaceans) in a dry and raw form. Also, red-eared turtles like to eat boiled fish, or shreds of chicken and beef meat.

Given all of the above, the VERDICT - this turtle is absolutely impossible to keep together with fish! The conditions of keeping and parameters (quality) of water of almost all freshwater fish species are fundamentally different from the conditions of keeping the red-eared turtle, in almost all criteria. Cohabitation will be painful. But the main reason why you should never keep a turtle in an aquarium with fish is that turtle predators. Clumsy, slow, funny and safe on land, in the water turtles turn into excellent swimmers with an unsurpassed instinct for prey. If a young turtle may not hunt fish, then growing up ... all the scaly inhabitants of the aquarium will turn into high-quality food for her.

For the doubters!!! Here is a marginal video (censored) on the same topic Bog turtle and fish

According to the conditions of detention, the marsh turtle does not differ much from the red-eared turtle. But it's more large view turtles and therefore one or two individuals require at least 150l.

Bog turtles often have calcium deficiency, so the aquarium must be equipped with an ultraviolet lamp in addition to an incandescent lamp and supplement the diet with crushed eggshells. The rest of them dinner table almost a mirror image of the table of the red-eared tortoise.

The bog turtle is even more aggressive than its red-eared cousin. There is no need for a video. They bite, moreover, quite sensitively and an adult can bite through human skin, so picking up such a pet is not recommended.

Thus, we can conclude that this breed of turtles is even less suitable than the previous one for keeping together with aquarium fish.

Turtle Trionics and fish
Trionics is a soft-bodied turtle.
Its shell is a thick leathery covering.

Unlike the above-described species of turtles, Trionics practically do not need an island. For them, a small structure with a smooth rise, which does not have to originate right at the bottom, may well be suitable. This is a fully aquatic turtle. The elongated spout allows them to freely receive the necessary oxygen on the surface of the water, and after that they do not need it for a long time. But at the same time, the aquarium must be equipped with continuous filtration and aeration, since this type of turtle needs clean water and can get oxygen without floating to the surface. This is a very active and funny creature. Trionics love to burrow into shallow soil or sand, leaving only a small, elongated muzzle on the surface. The comfortable water temperature for them is 24-26 degrees, although experts have noticed that without harm to health they live in temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees. The required volume of the house for Trionix should be at least 150 liters per individual.

In its natural habitat, it is a strong and dangerous predator that feeds on fish and small crustaceans. Not infrequently, this type of shellfish loves to feast on a laying of eggs left by a negligent bird nesting on the banks of a pond, river or lake where these "vandals" live. The mouth of Trionix is equipped with saw teeth, and therefore its bites to the human hand may not please even more than the bites of a bog turtle.

Nevertheless, according to the conditions of keeping, this turtle is more suitable than others for keeping together with fish, and therefore it is not uncommon to find it in a common aquarium. BUT! There are several archival nuances:

No plants planted in the ground will survive acquaintance with Trionix. If you care about your green spreads, you will have to refuse from Trionix. A harmful turtle uproots plants, digs up the soil wherever possible, and where it is impossible, it digs it up three times more actively. Small decorative elements also always interfere with this type of turtle.

- This is a predator. Very fast, both in water and on land, unlike other types of turtles.

If all the same, the above does not cool your ardor in acquiring this miracle, it is worth noting that this turtle can only take root with fish if you take it at the youngest age possible, and follow an abundant and varied food menu.

And in conclusion, it would be a crime not to say that even if you follow all the precautions, this does not guarantee that Trionix will never covet your fish. Experienced aquarists know that all fish, even the same species, have their own character. The same can be said about turtles. There is no guarantee that the predatory instinct inherent in this tiny creature will not emerge.

One phrase can be said: "these turtles can be kept in an aquarium with fish, but only at a young "young" age." Then you still need to sit down!

Here is a video for thought!!

The author of the video called it: “Turtle (Trionics) - Lucy the fish got scared”

This type of turtle is very similar to its marine counterparts, however, it is freshwater. It can also live in slightly brackish water.

Perhaps this is the only species of turtle that can live peacefully and without incident with any fish, since for the most part this beauty is a vegetarian. Unpretentious, need a temperature of 23-27 degrees. Filtration and aeration are naturally necessary, but they do not require any additional equipment.

They say about these turtles that they do not swim, but fly around the aquarium. Having a rather nice appearance, this miracle pleases the eye.

But there are a number of significant disadvantages:

- Space. If a young turtle of this species (up to two years old) can live in a volume of 200 to 500 liters, then an adult turtle needs at least 1000 liters. Two-clawed turtles grow up to 50 cm in shell diameter.

- Price. From 200 to 800 $, which is significantly different from the prices of the species described above.

This species is still little studied, is not widely distributed on sale, but is already popular with aquarists. And according to this, nevertheless, all "experiments" with this turtle remain on the conscience of the owner.

So, let's sum up. For the most part, keeping completely different aquatic creatures like fish and turtles together is not worth it. There are many attractive alternatives to diversify your aquarium. Mankind knows an incredible number of species of turtles, and there are so few that can be kept at home. And this suggests that even these few species need own house equipped especially for them and only for them. You should not tempt the fate of your pets by checking their tails and abdomen for strength.
Finally - here good video about fish and turtles But, alas, here are the comments left by the author of the video on YouTube: Eugene Karpenko 3 years ago Emoticons of the author, can be replaced with a bitter "oops")))

Red-eared turtle at home: contents from A to Z

The red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta), also called the yellow-bellied turtle, is the most common among pet turtle enthusiasts. Unfortunately, such popularity also has the other side of the coin, a huge number of domestic red-eared turtles are doomed to death or life in inappropriate conditions. Unscrupulous sellers often do not know or hide details from buyers in order to earn money. To make this happen less often, we will tell you in detail about the maintenance, feeding and care of the red-eared turtle.

Brief introductory
Habitat in nature
sense organs
How to determine gender?
Buying a turtle
Handling Toddlers
Fights and aggression
Keeping a red-eared turtle
Priming
Coastal heating for turtles
Aquarium water
Red-eared turtle feeding
Vegetable feed
Live food
How much and how often to feed?
hibernation
reproduction

Brief introductory

The domestic red-eared turtle at home is very hardy and well suited for beginners. On the one hand, they live a long time and often become the first type of turtles for many fans, but on the other hand, people who buy them often ruin them. They don't know that red-eared turtles need water and land (shore) where it should be warm and where UV rays should reach. At the same time, they spend most of their time in water, which should be clean, warm and changed regularly. As a rule, all problems and illnesses are caused by negligent owners who do not know that dirty water is the cause of infections, without calcium the shell will become crooked, without heat and UV lamps, the turtle does not absorb calcium and gets sick!

Red-eared turtles are fast, strong and can be aggressive. They easily attack other turtles, and each other. They are also known for their individuality and charisma, which compares favorably with other types of turtles. They are very skilled when it comes to feeding and can take food from each other. In the wild, being an invasive species, they displace and destroy endemics so that in the same Australia they are outlawed and exterminated.

Red-eared turtles make great pets, if only because reptile allergies are rare. However, if you decide to get her as a gift to a child, remember that all responsibility for her health and behavior lies with you! Children cannot take care of a turtle at the proper level; moreover, they can quickly lose interest in a new toy and abandon it. And it needs to be fed, water changed, warmed, even washed. How long do red-eared turtles live? At good care a turtle can live from 20 to 40 years.

Habitat in nature

The red-eared turtle comes from North America and is especially common along the Mississippi River before it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. She lives in a warm climate, in the southern states of the USA, from Colorado to Florida. But, its popularity is great and now it is often found in nature around the world, often creating a threat to the local fauna.

In its natural habitat, it needs the following conditions: fresh water, places to bask, dense vegetation and for a nest. Usually these are lakes, ponds, swamps, creeks. It prefers ponds with warm water and a weak current, always with places above the surface of the water on which it will crawl out to bask. Often in such places they directly lie on top of each other. The bottom in such places, as a rule, is sandy or silty. The range is usually limited to the water's edge, American aquatic red-eared turtles do not like to move far from the coast, although females need solid ground to lay their eggs.
Small turtles in nature feed on fish, snails, insects and various plants.

Appearance, size, life expectancy

The red-eared turtle is recognizable, it is difficult to confuse it with other species. A characteristic red (sometimes orange) stripe starts from the eyes and continues down the neck. Carapace (upper shell), rounded and smooth, olive green with black and yellow lines. The plastron (lower part of the shell) is also smooth, yellowish in color with dark spots. Young turtles have a very bright green shell color, but it darkens with age. With age, the spots on the shell also darken, and the red stripe on the head turns pale.

The size of the red-eared turtle is determined by measuring the length of the carapace from edge to edge with a ruler. At the same time, they do not pay attention to the curvature of the shell, so it is best to measure with a ruler, not a tape measure.
Only hatched turtles are about 2.5 cm long, after a year of life they grow to 5–7 cm. Males become sexually mature at a size of about 10 cm, and females 12.5. The average size of the red-eared turtle is from 25 to 30 cm, depending on the conditions of detention and species. Males are smaller in size than females.

Note that size cannot be a sign of age. The fact is that at home, red-eared turtles grow faster than in nature, this is the result of overfeeding and ideal conditions. But, with the right maintenance and feeding at home, turtles live longer than their wild relatives. A domestic turtle can live up to 40 years, while a wild one can live no more than 20.

How to determine the age of the red-eared turtle? A very approximate table is below, since everything depends on health and conditions of detention:
1 year: 6 cm.
2 years: female - 9 cm, male - 8 cm.
3 years: female - 14 cm, male 10 cm.
4 years: female - 16 cm, male - 12 cm.
5 years: female - 18 cm, male - 14 cm.
6 years: female - 20 cm, male - 17 cm.

sense organs

The red-eared turtle has well-developed sense organs, especially sight and smell. They can distinguish colors both in and above the water, and can look out for nesting sites for other turtles. They perfectly notice movement, at a distance of up to 40 meters, no matter if it is a victim or a predator. They also have a good sense of smell, which helps them find food.

But the hearing of the red-eared turtle is not very good, its ears are covered with skin and feel only dull sounds and vibrations. The shell is sensitive to touch, as nerves run through it. In addition, they have a sense of touch, and they can refuse unpalatable food in favor of more delicious.

Of the sounds, she can make a hiss, snort, or short sounds like a squeak. Turtles do not breathe underwater, they rise to the surface for oxygen!

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

Just as domestic red-eared turtles grow faster, they also become sexually mature faster. A turtle becomes sexually mature at the age of one year, and you will not be able to determine the sex of a turtle with confidence if its size is less than 10 cm. More or less confidently, you can tell if it is a male or female when the age of the male is 2–4 years, and the female is 3–5 years and their size is about 10-15 cm. True, in the case of abundant feeding, sexually mature may become earlier.

The main differences between males and females are that females are larger and have shorter tails. In addition, the female cloaca is located closer to the base of the tail. An indirect sign can be the claws on the paws, in males they are longer and more curved. Of even more relative signs - in males, the plastron is slightly concave inward, which helps him during mating.

The location of the cloaca in the female (right) and male (left)

Male's claws

Buying a turtle

So you've decided to get a red-eared turtle. You can do just go to the market or pet store and choose the first one that comes across. And it can be more difficult, first read, find out, create conditions, buy and take it to the veterinarian. What for? Vendors often keep them in unsuitable conditions, and a veterinarian will check the turtle for wounds, infections, tightness, and disease.

If you already have turtles, it is best to keep the acquired one in quarantine for 3 months. Do not keep baby and adult turtles together, as this is fraught with accidental and intentional injury! Only turtles similar in size and conditions of detention can live together.

After the purchase and change of residence, it may take several days to adapt. During this time, the red-eared turtle can be both lethargic and very active, it is best to leave it alone, but do not forget to feed and look after.

Handling of the red-eared turtle

Attention! When you take a turtle in your hands you need to be very careful! They can be slippery with water, resist, hiss, and have a bowel movement. They have sharp claws, powerful paws, and they bite painfully, so it's not always pleasant to take them. Try to hold the red-eared turtle with both hands! Due to awkward handling, many owners and even more turtles have suffered.

After you have held the turtle in your hands, wash them with soap! This is especially important for children, because despite the fact that the red-eared turtle lives in a different environment and there are different bacteria. It is especially important to keep the aquarium clean and the freshness of the food, as red-eared turtles can carry salmonellosis.
Ideally, any animal in the home should not have access to the kitchen and food preparation areas. Avoid washing your turtle in the kitchen sink, and don't wash your aquarium or accessories there.

Handling Toddlers

Most turtles that appear in a home aquarium are still babies. They are still very tender and it is important to make sure they eat well and are comfortable. Cubs have a high mortality rate, are susceptible to disease, and can die for no apparent reason.

If you notice something on your turtle's plastron, it could be the yolk sac. Newly hatched turtles consume nutrients from it and should not be removed or touched. They may refuse food during the first time, and begin to eat after the yolk sac is completely resolved.

Try not to hold small turtles in your arms. Of course, they are beautiful and elegant, but at the same time they can get scared, get stressed and get sick. Do not stand over the aquarium and do not knock on the glass, let them get used to it for a few days, start eating. It is very important that the temperature of water and air (land) be stable.

It is impossible to put an aquarium with a red-eared turtle in direct sunlight or in a draft. Make sure that she has free access to land and that this place is heated with a special lamp. Keeping temperature for baby turtles should be slightly higher than for adult turtles! It is 26-27C for water and up to 32C for land. The water must be as pure as possible, and if not good filter then change every couple of days. Feeding - branded feed for turtles with calcium, since there is now a wide choice of them. As already mentioned, do not keep baby and adult turtles together. Remember, most problems can be avoided simply by creating the right conditions.

Fights and aggression

If the aquarium is viewed as a small pond, then red-eared turtles will display dominant behavior towards others. They can easily injure others with claws or biting. Males may chase females and this often ends in serious aggression with bites, tails torn off, or death. Adding a new turtle can provoke fights, especially if the turtles are already sexually mature.
If this happens, then a significant increase in space can help, although it does not guarantee success. Also reduces aggression feeding alone (one outside the aquarium). Barriers, plastic plants, or walls can be added to prevent the animals from seeing each other.
In general, this is a wild animal by nature, and such behavior is more than normal for the American red-eared turtle. If you don't want problems, then you need to keep them alone. Attention! Red-eared turtles do well living alone. Adult turtle and babies - fight for food:

What do you need to buy for content?
You understand, prices can vary greatly, so just list the necessary things:

Aquarium for red-eared turtles 200 liters
100W water heater
Filter (can be internal, but external is better)
UV lamp for aquatic turtles with UVB 10%
heating lamp
Lamp
Thermometer
land/coast/island

As you can see, the list is quite serious, and most importantly, all this is really necessary. Now do you understand why so many pet turtles are dying?

How to care for a red-eared turtle?

For almost everyone who wants to get a turtle, the first problem is to find an adequate container and buy additional equipment. And then they begin to understand that the content is more complex than they imagined. And very often the owners simply do not buy what they need, and then the animal suffers and dies.

Here, even such a simple thing as what to put the terrarium on can cause problems. Aquarium for red-eared turtle from 150 liters, plus water, equipment, shore. The output will be more than three hundred kilograms, and not every table can withstand this.

A larger aquarium will keep your aquatic turtle more active and healthy. Attention! Remember - if you keep the turtle in cramped conditions, it will not remain small! This is a common misconception that also applies to aquarium fish and other animals. She will become sick, twisted, but not small!

Red-eared turtles: care and maintenance

So, for keeping you will need an aquarium or a terrarium for a red-eared turtle (or rather an aquarium, since it needs both land and water), from 150 to 200 liters. When you look at a small turtle, such requirements seem overstated, but he will grow up and become much larger. There should be enough water so that the turtle can freely turn over in it, that is, more than the width of its shell.

You also need artificial land or an island on which the turtle will crawl out and bask. Such an island can be bought at a pet store, they are specially made. If you decide to do it yourself, then remember that it should be a sloping climb, but which it will be convenient for the animal to climb. In principle, this is all that is needed from him. You can make an island with your own hands, in nature, turtles get out on snags, stones, old tires, any debris sticking out of the water. But it's easier to buy ready product, as it must meet certain conditions: not be toxic, be stable, have a textured surface, not have sharp corners and burrs.

The coast can be

The island must occupy at least 25% of the surface of your aquarium and meet the following requirements:
to keep warm, this is the main purpose of the shore for the turtle. The temperature on it should be 10 degrees higher than in the water. Too high a temperature is not good, it can lead to hyperthermia (overheating) in the turtle.

be semi-flooded, at least one side must be submerged
be safe so that the turtle does not get stuck between the wall of the aquarium and the shore itself
do not emit toxins when heated and in water
be stable, as red-eared turtles are quite strong and can turn the shore over
have a textured surface

An example of an aquaterrarium with a turtle and fish:

Priming

You can not use it at all, like any decor, turtles do not need it. However, if you want the aquaterrarium to look less dull, then use only large stones. For example, gravel can be swallowed and killed by turtles, and the soil makes aquarium maintenance more difficult.

Coastal heating for turtles

In nature, turtles come ashore to bask, and the same should be done for them in a home terrarium. To achieve the desired temperature of 30-35C (on the shell), you need a lamp located above the turtle. You will need to look at the thermometer regularly to check the parameters. Be careful as too close the lamp can cause burns, especially if you keep several aquatic turtles, they can climb on top of each other and be closer to the heat source.

Perfect aquaterrarium

In general, you can buy a suitable lamp at the pet store, especially since they are now sold in pairs with UV lamps, which are needed separately.
A heating lamp, like a UV lamp, should work throughout the day, this is 10-12 hours.

Both lamps in operation

UV lamp for turtles

Proper lighting and heating is critical important points in keeping aquatic red-eared sliders at home. In nature, it has enough sunlight and heat to produce all the necessary elements. But in captivity, she lacks neither warmth (it was described above), nor spectrum, and she needs special care. More precisely, the UV rays that are needed so that it can properly absorb calcium and produce B vitamins. In the absence of a UV lamp in the terrarium, the turtle begins to absorb calcium poorly, and it needs it for the normal development of the shell. The result is scary animals suffering from rickets, with a strongly curved shell.

A heating lamp, like a UV lamp, should work throughout the day, this is 10-12 hours. Moreover, glass or plastic retains a significant part of the rays and the UV lamp should hang over the turtle. For adult turtles, a 10% UVB lamp is used.

Aquarium water

Since the red-eared turtle is an aquatic species, it spends most of its time in the water, so it is very important to monitor its quality. Turtles eat, sleep and defecate into the water, so you need to filter, change it often. Dirty water is one of the sources of discomfort, disease and infection.

The minimum water level in the aquarium is such that the turtle could roll over if it suddenly finds itself on its back. That is, no less than the width of her shell. However, if possible, keep it as high as possible, since the more water, the more stable it is and the cleaner it remains. At the same time, the turtle should have free access to the shore, it should be able to climb on it at any time and warm up.

Water must be set aside for a minimum of 24 hours so that chlorine leaves it and it reaches room temperature. Attention! The water temperature in an aquarium with a red-eared turtle should be 22-28 ° C and not fall below 20, if this is possible for you, then it must be heated with a heater. Be sure to use a thermometer, do not trust your feelings! The purity of the water is very important, as the turtles both eat and defecate in it. Harmful substances-ammonia and nitrates accumulate very quickly, the water starts to stink. To avoid this, the water in the aquarium with the red-eared slider is changed once or twice a week. You can also use an internal or external filter, however, this does not cancel the water change. For a turtle, internal filters are too low power, and external filters are good, but quite expensive.

How long can a red-eared turtle live without water? For quite a long time, it happens that they run away from the aquarium and the owners find them only after a few days, lethargic, but alive. In general, she will live quietly for a day or two, but will suffer from drying out.

Red-eared turtle feeding

Omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of food. Variety is important as it keeps the turtle healthy. What to feed the red-eared turtle? You can feed: artificial food, food for aquarium fish, vegetables, aquarium plants, insects, fish, invertebrates. In addition to variety, it is important to give a balanced diet high in calcium. Like all wild animals that live at home, there is a tendency to overeat.

Young turtles are mostly omnivores. But, as they grow and mature, they become more and more herbivorous. Omnivorous means what is in the diet a large number of protein, but in adult turtles it is much less. Turtles of any age will prefer live prey or carrion, but it is only worth feeding them occasionally. You also need to additionally give calcium for the normal formation and growth of the turtle shell.

What to feed the red-eared turtle?

They eat almost everything, but the main food may well be artificial food for aquatic turtles, since there are many options and types. Their composition is specially selected so as to give turtles all the necessary substances. The high protein content of commercial feeds allows them to be fed in small portions.

To make the feeding more balanced, add calcium and vegetable foods and your turtle will be quite happy. Please note that calcium supplements are most often already included in commercial feeds, read the labels on the packaging.

Red-eared turtles need water to swallow because they do not produce saliva. They may take food on land, but will drag it into the water to eat. You can use this to your advantage and feed them in separate container, so the water in the aquarium will remain clean for a longer time.
Feeding artificial food

Feeding red-eared turtles with plant foods

Fresh vegetables should always be given to the turtle, regardless of whether it shows interest in them or not. A good mix of vegetables contains the necessary fiber, calcium, vitamins A and K. Aquarium plants can also be given, especially since they are similar to those that a turtle eats in nature. Attention! It is especially important to feed adult and old turtles with vegetable food! Their diet should be 75% vegetables and aquarium plants. It can be duckweed, richcia, ludwigia, hornwort, lettuce, slices of cucumber and zucchini, scalded dandelion and nettle, lumps of filamentous algae.

Red-eared turtles and live food (guppies, snails)

Poor gold fish(slow you say?)

How much and how often to feed red-eared turtles?

Difficult question, as it mostly depends on the size, age and the feed you give. Turtles up to a year old need to be fed artificial food daily, and plant foods can also be given daily, even if she refuses. But a turtle older than a year can be fed every other day or even two. However, plant foods, again, you can feed more often.

The amount of food may also vary. Newly hatched turtles should receive more protein, about 50% of the total amount of food. Since most turtle food contains about 40%, you can additionally give fish such as guppies, insects, earthworms. For adult turtles, the percentage of artificial food is reduced to 10-25%, and the rest should be various plants.
Since the size, shape and composition of the feed can vary significantly, you need to focus on what the manufacturer writes on the packaging.
Poor mouse! (hard video)

hibernation

Hibernation is the period during which the red-eared slider slides during the winter months. Attention! There is no need for the domestic red-eared turtle to hibernate! Moreover, it is not recommended! Never encourage her to do so.

Reasons why hibernation for the red-eared turtle may not be safe:

you may not have enough experience to care for her at this time
most likely, in order for her to normally hibernate, you do not have conditions
young and sick turtles may be too weak to survive the hibernation period
your turtle may not need it at all

Turtles hibernating in nature burrow into leaves and silt at the bottom of a reservoir, the depth of which is shallow, vice versa into the surface. They do not rise to the surface during this time, but take in oxygen through membranes in the mouth, pharynx, and cloaca. At the same time, the depth of the reservoir is important so that the water is not too cold, but also contains enough oxygen. Most artificial conditions and ponds are unable to recreate such conditions.

In general, the domestic red-eared slider should not and should not be put into hibernation. By the way, the key condition here is the temperature of the water, it must be maintained at the level of 24-26C. Lower temperatures just remind her of winter and hibernation.

Reproduction of red-eared turtles

A sexually mature turtle or not depends on its size. Approximately: 2-4 years for a male and a shell of more than 10 cm and 2-5 years for a female and 12-13 cm. Mating games are started by a sexually mature male (although young ones can also try), with a kind of courtship. During which he swims in front of the female, with his muzzle towards her and waving his paws very quickly in front of her eyes. In nature, breeding occurs in March and June, but domestic turtles can mate throughout the year.

When a turtle is pregnant, that is, it is carrying eggs, you need to prepare a special place for it where it will lay these eggs. A female red-eared turtle can carry eggs without a male, but they will not be fertilized! You can gently feel the eggs between the carapace and her hind legs, but be careful, they are very fragile. The female will instinctively look for a place to nest and lay eggs. A clutch can contain up to 20 eggs for a large female. If the conditions are suitable, then during the season the female lays up to 3-4 clutches.

In a home aquaterrarium, a female red-eared turtle signals her preparation for breeding by changing her behavior. She becomes very restless, imitates digging movements with her hind legs and tries to get out of the aquarium. Also during this time she spends more on land and needs calcium and UV rays. The place where she can lay her eggs is very important, if there is none, she will lay them in the water or even carry them further, which will cause them to harden. If you see that the turtle has laid one or two eggs, try to make a nest for it. Most likely, the rest of the clutch has not yet come out and she is still pregnant.

Attention! If the female does not lay eggs, they will harden, can cause infection and death of the animal. Even a properly prepared nest is not a guarantee that everything will go well, since the turtle can be old, tight, sick. If she tries to lay off the clutch, but nothing works, then it is better to take her to the veterinarian. Possible signs of problems: reduced activity, heavy breathing, hollows or swelling around the cloaca. If an unpleasant liquid comes out of it or there is a smell, then the eggs inside may have broken. For any health problems in the red-eared turtle, contact your veterinarian immediately!
Marriage games:

Health and disease of the red-eared turtle

Attention! More than 85% of all diseases of red-eared turtles are the result of improper care, maintenance and feeding, and most often all at once. It is easy to maintain clean water and the right temperature for your pet, as well as create the right conditions.

Sick turtles should be kept at a higher temperature, in most cases 27-30 Celsius. At this temperature the immune system operating at peak efficiency. It is important to maintain fluid balance in the turtle's body so that it does not become dehydrated. Making sure that she drank and was in the water is more important than her nutrition, since a sick turtle can die from dehydration, her kidneys will fail. Even in malnourished turtles, the fluid balance is first restored, and then they start feeding.

A sick red-eared turtle swims poorly, swims on one side, it can even drown. Lower the water level and make sure she can come ashore as soon as she wants to.
If an infection is suspected, isolate the animal immediately, and be sure to clean hands after contact.

The basis of success in the treatment of the red-eared turtle is an appeal to a specialist. Do not treat the animal yourself, go to the vet!

The main diseases of red-eared turtles and their symptoms

Symptom:
The red-eared slider has swollen or red eyes and often does not open them. The skin around them is red, swollen, there may be discharge from the eyes.
Probably this:
Bacterial eye infection, most commonly caused by dirty water. Change the water, clean the aquarium, check temperature regime.
Treatment:
Antibiotics in drops, cleaning the aquarium.

Symptom:
Formations in the mouth, most often of a necrotic nature. The turtle refuses to feed, the eyes may be closed.
Probably this:
A bacterial infection in the mouth caused by gram-negative bacteria.
Treatment:
Serious condition requiring immediate treatment. The mouth should be cleaned with gauze and an antimicrobial solution, removing diseased tissue. The basis of treatment should be antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian. With early onset, it responds well to treatment.

Symptom:
The tortoise is lethargic, holding its head high or in an unusual position. May show weakness in the front or hind legs, may have discharge from the mouth or nose, often wheezing.
Probably this:
Serious respiratory infection, probably pneumonia.
Treatment:
A visit to the vet is a must. Antibiotic injections are given first (antibiotics are not given orally to turtles due to the duration of action and the unpredictability of the effect when passing through the gastrointestinal tract)

Symptom:
The soft shell of the red-eared tortoise. Carapace or plastron (upper or lower part of the tortoise shell) - soft, hemorrhages are visible. May be bad smell(tortoise stink), the affected area rapidly increases.
Probably this:
Bacterial tissue infection, likely from injury or illness. Usually caused by gram-negative bacteria.
Treatment:
Treatment of the affected area with antibacterial drugs, removal of dead tissue, isolation. Antibiotics as prescribed by the veterinarian. In most cases, the cause is trauma - a burn from a heater, damage from sharp stones, etc.

Symptom:
Lethargy, weakness, probably reddening of the paws or plastron.
Probably this:
Sepsis - blood poisoning
Treatment:
In most cases, sepsis is the result of an injury through which bacteria from dirty water enter the bloodstream. Treatment - antibiotics, and correct and quickly.

Symptom:
The carapace (tortoise shell) is soft and can be twisted. Weak limbs, feeding problems.
Probably this:
Calcium deficiency, complete or partial.
In very advanced cases, the turtle dies. Treatment consists of injections of calcium supplements, plus a review of feeding and increased UV radiation.

Symptom:
Fresh, open wound.
Probably this:
The result of a fight, fall or damage on decor or stones.
Treatment:
Remove the cause of the injury. Treat the wound, clean the aquarium, make sure that the wound does not become a gateway for infection and sepsis.

Symptom:
Swelling or inflammation in the head.
Probably this:
Abscess in the ear. In the case of the red-eared turtle, the most common cause- dirty water.
Treatment:
Surgical intervention under general anesthesia.

Decorative red-eared turtle: care features

The ornamental red-eared turtle is one of the most popular species of freshwater reptiles kept at home. In this article, you will learn what equipment is needed to keep turtles, how to care for them, how to feed them, and much more.

Are red-eared turtles ornamental?

To answer this question, let's consider what the word "decorative" generally means when applied to pets. A decorative animal does not perform any useful actions, it starts up only for the purpose of observation and communication. A decorative animal does not guard the house, does not catch mice.

Let's take a rabbit as an example. There is a wild rabbit, there is a domestic rabbit, which is used for food, and there is a decorative rabbit - for keeping in an apartment as a pet. The word "decorative" is often associated with dwarfism (as many small breed dogs are called decorative), but this attribute is not required. Thus, to the question of whether it is possible to call a red-eared turtle intended for keeping in an apartment decorative, we will answer in the affirmative.

Are red-eared turtles dwarf?

On the net you can find questions: “How to distinguish a red-eared turtle from a decorative one?”, “Are there red-eared turtles dwarf?” etc. The fact is that some unscrupulous sellers, they can even be called scammers, sell ordinary red-eared turtles, passing off as dwarf ones and calling them decorative ones. They give recommendations for care - feed once every 4 days with dried hamarus or feed the young 1-2 times a week.

Indeed, turtles bought from such sellers and living in the recommended conditions do not grow. How long can a red-eared ornamental turtle not eat? Up to several weeks, the animal may starve, but the owner will assume that this is normal, because the seller advised to feed less often! Turtles live in constant hunger, they do not have enough energy to grow, only to maintain a semblance of life. Animals die after a few years from exhaustion.

If you've bought a "pygmy ornamental" red-eared slider that the seller claims will never grow up to be just as small and cute, then you've been lied to. There are no such turtles. Now let's talk about what the red-eared turtle is, how to care for it and how to feed it properly.

Description

The ornamental red-eared turtle came to us from the northeastern part of Mexico and the southern states of the USA. Thanks to unpretentiousness, the habitat of red-eared turtles has expanded very significantly. It can be found today in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

The turtle gets its name from two red (sometimes orange or yellow) spots behind its eyes. Turtles grow relatively small - up to 30 cm in diameter, but giants can also be found - up to 60 cm. In the first 2 years of life, the turtle grows intensively - up to 10 cm per year! With age, growth slows down, and the animal's shell adds 1-2 cm per year.

The lower part of the shell is dark with yellow stripes and edging, and the color of the upper part changes with age and can be of various shades of green - from dark green to olive and even yellow-brown.

Aquaterrarium

Turtles are often recommended as a simple animal for beginners, and they are inexpensive - 100-150 rubles. But is the red-eared ornamental turtle so unpretentious? Care at home will require both labor and material costs, because the purchase of the necessary equipment will have to pay 10-20 thousand rubles.

Decorative red-eared turtle can be kept both singly and in a group. It should be noted that for the maintenance of one individual, an aquaterrarium with a volume of at least 110 liters is needed. If you decide to purchase several turtles, then they should be about the same age and size. In a group consisting of only males, conflicts will constantly arise, so pay attention to the sex of the animals in advance.

The water in the aquarium should be warm, 26-28 °C. The water level must be higher than the width of the animal's shell, otherwise the turtle will not be able to roll over. You need to change the water 1-2 times a week, if you purchase a filter, then you can do it less often - 1-2 times a month. An aquarium heater is needed to maintain the temperature.

Land in the aquaterrarium should be at least 25% of the total area. The shore of the island should rise at an angle from the bottom. The land should be located so that even a grown turtle could not get out into the wild - at least 25 cm from the top edge of the terrarium.

Aquaterrarium lighting

Decorative red-eared turtle in nature spends a lot of time on the shore, under the rays of the sun. They are replaced in captivity by a UV lamp. It is installed at a height of about half a meter above the aquarium. At first, turn on the lamp 1-2 times a week for a few minutes, gradually bringing the time up to half an hour daily. UV rays disinfect the tortoise shell; without a special lamp, the animal starts to get sick.

The terrarium should also be equipped with an ordinary incandescent lamp for lighting and heating. The air temperature on the island should not rise above 30 °C.

Nutrition

How to feed a decorative red-eared turtle? In order for the turtle to actively grow and be healthy, it needs to eat fully. At a young age, turtles prefer animal food, with age they begin to eat more plant food.

Young animals are fed daily, after two years - 2-3 times a week. You can feed both special food bought at a pet store, and natural food. It could be:

Poultry, beef, horse meat (pork and lamb are not suitable due to their fat content).
Offal (liver, heart, lungs, stomach, etc.).
Low-fat fish (soaked for several minutes in hot water) or small live fish, shrimp, squid.
Snail meat.
Insects. Not poisonous! Grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, flour worm, bloodworm, coretra, large daphnia.
Live or dried hamarus.
Aquatic plants - duckweed, hornwort, ceratopteris, ludwigia.
Vegetables and herbs - cucumber, lettuce, clover, dandelion.

Homemade food

You can make your own combination food. Its composition may vary in various recommendations, but usually it is something like this:

Edible gelatin (30 g per half glass of water).
Fish fillet - 150 g.
Squid fillet - 100 g
Milk - 150 ml.
Raw chicken egg - 2 pcs.
Carrot - 70 g.
Apple - 50 g.
Cabbage - 50 g.
Calcium glycerophosphate - 10 tablets.
"Tetravit" - 20 drops.

The mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for a week. Before use, the cut piece must be warmed to room temperature. This amount is enough for 7-10 days for an adult turtle. Bone meal or crushed eggshells should be given daily as a source of calcium.

If you choose a ready-made commercial turtle food, then carefully read its composition. Feeds consisting of dried hamarus or bloodworms alone will not work.

Turtles are fed in the water. The food remaining 20-30 minutes after the meal should be removed from the terrarium.

The main mistakes of owners of red-eared turtles

So, a decorative red-eared turtle has appeared in your house. Caring for this animal is not as easy as it seems. Very often, newly minted owners are poorly oriented in the features of keeping an animal. Consider their main mistakes.

"For a little turtle - a small aquarium." This reasoning is fundamentally wrong. The animal should swim freely at any age, and turtles grow very quickly.
"Aquatic turtle can live in an ordinary aquarium without land" is another mistake. A red-eared turtle without an island of land will simply drown!
"UV lamp is optional." Again, no, without UV rays, the turtle will suffer from vitamin D deficiency and start to get sick.
You can not feed the turtle the same thing, for example, only meat or only hamarus. The diet should be varied.
You can not run water in the aquaterrarium. It must be clean, no turbidity or film! In dirty water, young animals may refuse food.
Do not remove peeling plates from the shell; you do not need to clean it with a hard brush.
Do not buy at the same time two males or turtles that differ significantly in size, they will fight, conflict. And constant stress will lead to illness.
Don't hibernate your turtle yourself. At home, while maintaining the recommended temperature, the turtle will not hibernate.
All accessories for cleaning the aquarium should be separate, it is unacceptable to use sponges with which you clean the room or kitchen.
Don't keep a turtle in the same tank as fish unless they are reptile food.
Do not let the turtle walk on the floor, it can quickly catch a cold.

Caring for a water turtle at home

Water turtles that can be kept at home are, as a rule, marsh, red-eared or Caspian. In order to keep such a reptile at home, it is necessary to have a terrarium, because even the name itself - water, suggests that such a turtle cannot live without water.

Basic content rules

As we have already said, to keep an aquatic turtle at home, you need an aquarium. Ideally, the tank should be twice as wide as it is tall, and the total volume should be chosen according to the size of the reptile. Small water turtles, if available good food grow very quickly, this must be taken into account when choosing an aquarium. But you should not buy it immediately “for growth”, the little turtle will not feel comfortable in a large space. It is better to buy an inexpensive aquarium, and after a while replace it with a larger one.

Aquarium device

The arrangement of the aquarium should be such that the turtle can both swim and be on land, because it is not a fish, and cannot swim all the time. To improve growth and development, small turtles are best taken out of the aquarium at night and placed in a dry and warm place. It can be some kind of box, covered with a terry towel. The turtle will be comfortable there. You need to illuminate the aquarium with an ordinary electric lamp, the power of which is determined based on its volume.

For reptiles weighing more than one kilogram, the water temperature must be regulated using special devices, water should not heat up more than 21 degrees.

It is very good if it is possible to illuminate the aquarium with ultraviolet light, because without it the turtle will not be able to absorb calcium, which is simply vital for it. And, of course, caring for a water turtle implies that the water needs to be changed quite often, a musty smell should not be allowed - this will adversely affect the health of the reptile.

Nutrition Features

Lean meat must be included in the diet of water turtles. It can be chicken, turkey or beef, it is not recommended to give only pork to reptiles. Young turtles sometimes refuse food, then they can be fed with guppy fish. Be sure to include chopped vegetables in the turtle's diet, and adults are recommended to give supplements that contain calcium, as well as various vitamins and macronutrients necessary for the growth and proper development of the turtle. While the turtle is still small, you need to feed it every day, and when it matures, the number of meals should be reduced to once every three days.

Unlike other species, water turtles grow very quickly, and by acquiring a very small turtle that fits easily in the palm of your hand, you should not think that it will remain that way. Within three months, the body size of the reptile will increase by about five times.

How to care for a small water turtle?

Julia Karpova

Red-eared turtle
Most often, we have red-eared turtles in our house. Like any turtles, they live a long time: at least 30 years in good conditions. But an unprepared and irresponsible owner can shorten the life of a turtle to 2-3 years.
Red-eared turtles are merman turtles and should only be kept in spacious aquaterrariums. So, for one turtle you need an aquarium of 100-150 liters. Although red-eared turtles spend most of their time in the water, they need dry land where they can rest and walk. Some owners of turtles are limited to sticking a plastic island to the wall of the aquarium. But this is not the way out. It is difficult for a turtle to climb it; a gradually rising slope will be much more convenient for it. The sloping bank should be rough enough so that the turtle's claws easily cling to it. The stores sell special islands for turtles, they meet all the necessary requirements (Inclined slope, rough surface, large area of \u200b\u200b"land"). The land surface should be large enough - at least a quarter of the total area of the aquarium. It will be easy for you to feed the turtle on the island where it will go out to bask.
The water in an aquarium with a turtle should be completely changed once a month. It is advisable to pre-defend water.
Turtles need warmth. Therefore, we install a lamp over the island. Since the lamp will be our source of heat, MirSovetov recommends buying an ordinary incandescent lamp - its heat dissipation is simply wonderful. Moreover, the light of an incandescent lamp is so similar to sunlight. If the lamp constantly warms the island, there is no need to heat the water, the turtle will always be able to get out and warm on the island. MirSovetov recommends: the island should be at a level of 30 cm from the edge of the aquarium, if it is too close to the edge, the most nimble turtles will probably try to escape
Turtle feeding
Red-eared turtles are happy to eat bloodworms, minced meat and granulated feed. However, to eliminate calcium deficiency, turtles need boiled fish (give fish along with small bones, do not be afraid, they will not choke). Try not to give them fatty fish such as capelin, sprat, mackerel. Meat should not be the main food. Turtles "brought up" on meat inevitably suffer from rickets. The diet of young red-eared turtles should be dominated by animal foods, and with age, plant-based foods should be preferred. Until the age of two, the turtles are fed every day, and those that are older can be fed 2-3 times a week.
How to feed? Place food at the water's edge first. When the turtle is used to it, start feeding it on the island by placing the food in a saucer of water. If your aquarium has algae planted, the turtles will eat it. So that they do not lack vegetable food, give them lettuce, young cabbage and various pond algae. Keep in mind that turtles can eat small aquarium fish, so feed them on time.
If the turtle's claws have grown too long, trim them with manicure tweezers. You don't need to cut the beak, because your turtle is a predator and it needs the sharp edge of the beak to tear food.

Beginning animal lovers incorrectly believe that aquarium turtles can withstand any conditions, making a lot of mistakes when arranging their habitat. Divided into land, marine and freshwater creatures, these reptiles have completely different habits, before buying an exotic pet, you need to study all the nuances of his behavior.

Starting houses for giant reptiles that live in ocean waters is problematic. In an apartment, it is advisable to keep land species of creatures, their swamp counterparts or small reptiles that are accustomed to a freshwater environment. Keeping turtles in an extremely difficult task cannot be called. Fans need to know the basic rules for selecting soil and a suitable container for pets, be able to maintain the correct water balance and acquire good food.

In order for a funny creature with a shell to please the owner with his company for ten or more years, you need to create suitable conditions for him. An ignorant approach leads to disappointment and death of the acquired reptile in a short period. Saving money and buying low-quality small-sized containers in this matter is unacceptable. For the maintenance of large land creatures, enclosures are generally required, the dimensions of which exceed 250 liters.

What kind of aquarium is needed for a turtle:

To calculate the capacity, a formula is used where the length of the aquarium is determined by multiplying the length of the reptile by 7. The width of the tank is approximately half its length.
A small or medium turtle will need a living space with dimensions from 60x40x50 cm, and a large creature or several medium-sized reptiles need an aquaterrarium with a minimum size of 120x50x50 cm.
The minimum dimensions of the aquarium in width should exceed 2 times the length of the reptile shell.
A 40-liter container is suitable exclusively for babies; for them, a vessel of an elongated horizontal shape with a height of 35 cm or more is purchased.
Aquarium turtles are considered large, reaching a length of 13 cm, which require a volume of living space from 150 liters.
Amphibious animal species need a shoreline to rest on. Containers are best suited where water occupies 75% of the total volume, and the land area optimally matches the size of the inhabitants with a shell.
Aquarium turtles should not touch the bottom while swimming. It is advisable to equip a vessel with a pool depth of 20 cm or more.

This device is necessary when arranging a container where aquatic reptiles will live. Distinguish and. The design of the external filter resembles a canister with a pump placed outside the tank. In its body there are several compartments filled with a filter substance. This device is connected to the aquatic environment of the aquarium using tubes. The advantage of external filters is that they do not occupy usable space inside.

Internal filters are smaller and look more modest. They are equipped with pumps and a diffuser, doing a good job of cleaning the liquid. Water filtration occurs using a cartridge with a sponge, coal or other elements. The design is attached to the wall from the inside of the container at different angles. If you are making a list of what a turtle needs in an aquarium, then the filter should be on the first lines in it.

Aquariums and terrariums should contain soil, an artificial pool, a backlight lamp, and ultraviolet lamps. The temperature of the environment in a warm corner reaches 30-40 degrees, depending on the type of reptile. Creatures from hot countries, like Libyan tortoises, are extremely thermophilic. Ultraviolet is important for small aquarium turtles, the proper care and maintenance of which is impossible without vitamin D. UV lamps help the body absorb this element, with its deficiency, animals suffer from shell curvature and rickets.

The soil is made for water creatures from gravel and fine sand. For terrestrial aquarium turtles, earth from a garden without impurities and chemicals, a substrate of coconut, is suitable. Reptiles often damage the roots of plants, you can plant them in pots or be limited to floating algae. Well decorate aquariums islets of stones and decorative look driftwood.

In the question of what aquarium turtles eat, they are not particularly demanding. Land creatures eat juicy and dry vegetation, pieces of vegetables, fruits, slugs, caught insects. In aquariums, they are offered leaves of fruit trees and grapes, lettuce, dandelions with alfalfa and clover. Aquatic reptiles eat shellfish, shrimp, snails, pieces of beef. In addition to live food, sea turtles need plant foods - lettuce, cabbage and greens. Include vitamin supplements and minerals, eggshells, and bone meal in your pets' food.

Types of aquarium turtles

There are hundreds of types of reptiles of different sizes that have a shell. Some have chosen the sea for life and amaze with their size, others live on the continents in fresh waters, sands and swamps. Aquarium turtles are considered species of creatures that are best suited for captivity in terms of size. Many years of experience of most lovers of exotic animals suggests that land and freshwater reptiles require the least special environmental conditions.

Sea turtle in the aquarium

The species of marine reptiles that live in the ocean will not be considered here. Large leatherback, green and olive turtles require spacious pools with sophisticated equipment. Mostly freshwater creatures start houses, which successfully replace the huge marine aquarium turtles. For this purpose, you can find in pet stores the inhabitants of the aquatic environment of moderate size, which do not require large maintenance costs.

Common types of turtles for marine aquariums:

Aquarium land turtles

Creating and maintaining a high-quality aquarium for a land tortoise is simple, the main condition is that the dimensions of the container must correspond to the dimensions of the purchased reptile. It is advisable to buy a tank with a margin, choosing it “for growth” 2 or 6 times more spacious than what is required for the baby at the moment. It is undesirable to use thermal mats for heating reptiles, the release of heat from below harms the pet's body. It is better to install a simple incandescent foot, adjusting the temperature by the height of the lighting device in relation to the ground.

Popular land aquarium turtles:

Bog turtle in the aquarium

The appearance of this reptile is not too bright, but it lives perfectly in an artificial environment, without causing owners big problems. The color of the shell of the Sicilian subspecies of reptiles is yellow-green, and animals from Europe and America are predominantly black in color. Breeding aquarium turtles of marsh species is not difficult. In nature, they eat wood lice, frogs, fish, various larvae, aquatic plants. Lettuce, duckweed or cabbage are eaten mainly by adults.

Keeping reptiles together with fish is a troublesome business. Many of their species are predators, eating small animals in their habitat. In addition, reptiles require a special area with land that other aquatic creatures do not need. The exception is the smart two-clawed (pig-nosed) turtle, which behaves normally in an aquarium with large fish. She eats plant foods, squid meat, small fish of non-fatty varieties. The pig-nosed turtle does not require the arrangement of an island.

Trachemys scripta

The red-eared tortoise is a freshwater animal that is quite often found in the home aquaterrariums of lovers of all countries. In nature, these curious creatures live in the USA, Southeast Asia, South Africa, as well as in southern and central Europe.

They got their interesting name, of course, not for the red ears, but for the stripes of this color in the usual place for the ears. These turtles do not have an external auditory canal, but the tympanic membrane is still present and is located on the head. Red-eared turtles have good hearing, although many consider them deaf. True, they hear only low sounds, up to 3000 hertz. But their vocal cords are not developed - the redhead can only hiss and make a sound similar to a short squeak.

very young red-eared turtle

When these turtles are born, their shell diameter is about 3 cm, at 1.5 years old it is already about 8 cm, and then every year the shell size increases by another 1-1.3 cm and so on up to 6-8 years. Then the growth stops. The maximum shell size of the domestic red-eared turtle is 30 cm, but usually less.

Aquarium for red-eared sliders

For the maintenance of domestic red-eared turtle (given immediately the size adult) you need an aquarium with a volume of 100-150 liters. It is imperative to equip a land area in it, which occupies approximately ¼ of the area of \u200b\u200bthe entire bottom. The ascent to this island should be gentle with a rough surface for the turtles to hook on with their claws to climb onto the shore. In the aquaterrarium, there should not be soil with a particle size smaller than the turtle's head, as there are frequent cases of swallowing such stones, from which the redworts die.

perfect home for redheads

Above the island, it is desirable to install an ordinary incandescent lamp, the heat from it will heat the land, on which the turtles crawl out to bask and sleep. Install the lamp at such a distance that the air temperature above the island is about 32-40⁰С. Lights must be turned off at night.

In addition to the usual incandescent lamp installed to heat the island, it is also necessary to install an ultraviolet lamp, which is very necessary for the turtle to get vitamin D3. In almost any pet store you can now buy special lamps for terrariums "Repti-Glo" or "Llife Glo". Such a lamp should shine 12 hours a day. Install such a lamp from above, at a distance of at least 30 cm from the ground. Once a year, such a lamp should be replaced with a new one.

The water level in the aquarium can be any, but definitely it must be higher than the width of the turtle's shell, so that in case of turning over on its back, it could return to its normal position.

The water temperature for keeping the red-eared turtle should be in the range of 22-28⁰С, so it is advisable to purchase and install a thermostat. Once a week, the water must be completely changed to clean, settled, similar temperature. If you put a filter, then the frequency of water changes can be halved.

the turtle really likes a fresh cucumber

What to feed red-eared turtles

In the first two years of life, red-eared turtles are fed daily, then they switch to a regimen of 2-3 times a week.

You can feed your pets only natural food, or you can alternate it with dry balanced food. Of the dry foods, Tetra and Sera manufacturers are good, they are balanced and already contain the vitamins necessary for turtles.

balanced food for young turtles

If you feed a young turtle with this food, then there is no need to give calcium separately, it already has everything it needs.

If you feed the red-haired woman with ordinary food, then you need to periodically add calcium. After all, if the food contains little calcium, then the tortoise shell can soften, and this should not be allowed. How calcium is given: bone meal (it is sold in pet stores) or “human” calcium gluconate ground into powder is added to cooked food, or pieces of food are simply rolled in it.

Many aquarium plants are suitable for natural food, for example, duckweed, richia, hornwort, ludwigia, spirogyra, edogonium, Anacharis, ceraptopteris, spiral wallisneria, Javan moss, Thai fern, sagittaria. In summer, it is best to give the turtle dandelions, plantain, and carrot tops from green food. It is also sometimes necessary to offer her sprigs of birch, willow or any fruit trees (you can directly with leaves) - the need for fiber is satisfied and it becomes possible to gnaw solid food, which prevents the growth of the beak. For the winter, you can dry plants such as dandelion, nettle, oregano, clover, calendula, burdock - the turtle will eat them with pleasure. You can also give it all fresh.

With great pleasure, turtles eat pumpkin, melon, red sweet pepper and some other vegetables and fruits, mostly red and yellow (for some reason they like this color more).

From domestic potted plants grown for turtles, for example, geranium, hibiscus, tradescantia.

From the "greens" you can not feed tomatoes, cabbage, peas, beans, radishes, radishes, spinach, mushrooms, pineapples, potatoes, onions, garlic, cherries, pears.

In the first years of life, the diet of turtles should consist of approximately equal parts of animal and vegetable food, and then the food should become less and less high-calorie and more fortified, that is, practically only greens.

What animal food is given to red-eared turtles? Small pieces of raw and boiled beef, lean fish, earthworms, gammarus, bloodworms, tubifex are placed in water and make sure that such food is eaten in half an hour. If food is left, it must be removed, otherwise the water will spoil. To prevent the water from spoiling, you can gradually accustom the turtle to eat on the shore, putting food closer and closer to land. To make up for the calcium deficiency in the body of a turtle, some amateurs release live fish and snails into the aquarium for food. The way to feed is not very humane, but it also has a place to be.

Red-eared turtle compatibility

By the way, on the forums I often see questions about with whom you can keep a red-eared turtle. To understand this, it is enough to look at how this turtle tears food with its long claws or grinds coils of snails with its powerful jaws.

Newts and frogs for living together with a red-eared turtle are not an option, they can get along with young red-eared turtles, and then the turtles will grow up and eat such neighbors anyway. It is also a problem with fish, small ones are eaten almost immediately, large ones - gradually, first gnawing at the fins, then they kill the fish themselves. And why? Many experiment, some even sometimes survive fish, but these are most often huge aggressive cichlids, in the same huge aquariums.

Gender of red-eared turtles

By the age of 4 years, males and 5-6 years of age, females reach sexual maturity, but the sex of red-eared turtles can be determined already in the second year of life. Males have longer claws on their front paws than females. They help to stay on the female during mating. The tail of the male is thicker and longer than that of the female, and the cloaca is located farther from the carapace. The plastron (lower part of the shell) is flat in females and concave in males, which helps the male to take a comfortable position during intercourse. In red-eared turtles of the same age, males are smaller than females, but the spots on the head are larger and brighter.

Under good conditions, red-eared turtles live up to 60 years.

Red-eared turtles - video

The ornamental red-eared turtle is one of the most popular species of freshwater reptiles kept in the home. In this article, you will learn what equipment is needed to keep turtles, how to care for them, how to feed them, and much more.

Are red-eared turtles ornamental?

Are red-eared turtles dwarf?

Description

Aquaterrarium

Turtles are often recommended as a simple animal for beginners, and they are inexpensive - 100-150 rubles. But is the red-eared at home so unpretentious it will require both labor and material costs, because you will have to pay 10-20 thousand rubles for the purchase of the necessary equipment.

Aquaterrarium lighting

Decorative red-eared turtle in nature spends a lot of time on the shore, under the rays of the sun. They are replaced in captivity by a UV lamp. It is installed at a height of about half a meter above the aquarium. At first, turn on the lamp 1-2 times a week for a few minutes, gradually bringing the time up to half an hour daily. UV rays are disinfected without a special lamp, the animal starts to get sick.

The terrarium should also be equipped with an ordinary incandescent lamp for lighting and heating. The air temperature on the island should not rise above 30 °C.

Nutrition

Young animals are fed daily, after two years - 2-3 times a week. You can feed both special food bought at a pet store, and natural food. It could be:

Poultry, beef, horse meat (pork and lamb are not suitable due to their fat content).
Offal (liver, heart, lungs, stomach, etc.).
Low-fat fish (soaked for several minutes in hot water) or small live fish, shrimp, squid.
Snail meat.
Insects. Not poisonous! Grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, bloodworms, coretra, large daphnia.
Live or dried hamarus.
Aquatic plants - duckweed, hornwort, ceratopteris, ludwigia.
Vegetables and herbs - cucumber, lettuce, clover, dandelion.

Homemade food

You can make your own combination food. Its composition may vary in various recommendations, but usually it is something like this:

Edible gelatin (30 g per half glass of water).
Fish fillet - 150 g.
Squid fillet - 100 g
Milk - 150 ml.
Raw chicken egg - 2 pcs.
Carrot - 70 g.
Apple - 50 g.
Cabbage - 50 g.
- 10 tablets.
"Tetravit" - 20 drops.

If you choose a ready-made industrial one, then carefully read its composition. Feeds consisting of dried hamarus or bloodworms alone will not work.

Turtles are fed in the water. The food remaining 20-30 minutes after the meal should be removed from the terrarium.

The main mistakes of owners of red-eared turtles

"For a little turtle - a small aquarium." This reasoning is fundamentally wrong. The animal should swim freely at any age, and turtles grow very quickly.
"Aquatic turtle can live in an ordinary aquarium without land" is another mistake. A red-eared turtle without an island of land will simply drown!
"UV lamp is optional." Again, no, without UV rays, the turtle will suffer from vitamin D deficiency and start to get sick.
You can not feed the turtle the same thing, for example, only meat or only hamarus. The diet should be varied.
You can not run water in the aquaterrarium. It must be clean, no turbidity or film! In dirty water, young animals may refuse food.
Do not remove peeling plates from the shell; you do not need to clean it with a hard brush.
Do not buy at the same time two males or turtles that differ significantly in size, they will fight, conflict. And constant stress will lead to illness.
Don't hibernate your turtle yourself. At home, while maintaining the recommended temperature, the turtle will not hibernate.
All accessories for cleaning the aquarium should be separate, it is unacceptable to use sponges with which you clean the room or kitchen.
Don't keep a turtle in the same tank as fish unless they are reptile food.
Do not let the turtle walk on the floor, it can quickly catch a cold.

The red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta) is so named because of its phenotypic features: two orange-red oblong spots stretch on the sides of the head from the eyes to the neck. Its second name - yellow-bellied - also speaks of a characteristic feature, and more specifically, of the bright yellow color of the plastron (abdominal shield).

The high popularity of red-eared turtles from the American freshwater family (Emydidae) is quite understandable: these reptiles are unpretentious, beautiful, interesting to watch, and some owners even teach them to handle. But alas, many of the owners make gross mistakes that lead to the death of reptiles of this species.

In our article, we will talk about the features of care, maintenance, feeding, the most common diseases and their treatment, as well as some other nuances that, we hope, will help your turtle live a long and happy life. And some specimens of this species, by the way, live up to 40 years in captivity.

Caring for the red-eared turtle

The first thing we advise you to pay attention to when buying a "red ear" is its size and condition. A turtle that has not grown to at least 4-5 cm will be much more difficult and difficult to grow, because at this age they are very susceptible to various diseases. Alas, nature is harsh and thus regulates the survival of a healthy generation. Therefore, a five-centimeter turtle is the best choice.

When buying, carefully inspect the turtle. She must have all claws intact, tail, carapace (upper shield) and plastron must be smooth, lenticular in shape, without spots, scratches, dents and "humps", solid. The eyes are shiny, the skin is clean, also without whitish and pinkish small spots. In the aquarium, the turtle should swim smoothly, without falling on its side.

Red-eared turtles are amphibians. Therefore, they need to spend part of the time on land and part in the water.

They fall into hibernation at home extremely reluctantly, and the process of transferring them to this state is rather difficult. It is necessary to gradually lower the temperature and provide adequate nutrition, because if the turtle does not gain the required number of calories, it may not come out of hibernation. Simply die of hunger.

It is very important to clean the aquarium from green algae. The turtle itself cannot wash its shell, and the algae, settling under the scales of the carapace, gradually destroy it. Moreover, a dirty aquarium is a source of fungal and bacterial infections.

It is advisable to feed the turtle in a separate container. Tearing food into pieces in the water, the "rubber" pollutes it very much. And on land, turtles of this species do not eat.

By the way, pay attention: if your turtle has eaten, then it is advisable to give it a little more time to free the intestines from the remnants of digested food.

Turtles have the same not very aesthetic habit as rabbits - they eat their own excrement. Only, unlike long-eared rodents, this reptile does this only when hungry.

Periodically (once every three to four days) you can wipe the shell with a clean soft cloth, removing algae and other dirt. It is impossible to lubricate the shell with oils and creams, since this, although it makes the turtle “beautiful”, is very harmful to its skin breathing.

It is desirable that the water in the terrarium or aquarium be soft, although tap water may well be suitable. It is only necessary to defend it for at least two days in order to ensure the almost complete evaporation of chlorine. Once a week, you need to add water with the selection of about 1/3 of the "old". A complete replacement is not recommended, as the aquarium creates a microflora that provides a favorable environment for the turtle to live.

As for feeding, here you must follow the principle: the first year the turtle is fed every day, the second - after two days, the third and all subsequent ones - after three or four. You need to give food as much as she can eat in five minutes. A young turtle should eat mainly animal food with the addition of vegetable food, a 3-4 year old turtle should eat vegetable food with the addition of animal food, and old reptiles in general are shown a predominantly vegetable diet.

You can determine how hungry a turtle is by its behavior. She begins to actively rummage in the stones at the bottom in search of food. Feeding time can be any, but preferably no later than 7 pm.

Before purchasing, you must immediately stock up on all the necessary equipment:

an aquarium;
islet;
ultraviolet lamp;
an incandescent lamp that can be installed above the island;
filter;
water heater;
large (!) decorative stones, pebbles.

Do not purchase aquarium plants, either live or artificial. Red-eared turtles are omnivorous and also like to dig in the ground (rocks), so the whole decor will either be eaten or torn to pieces or torn off the bottom. You can decorate the bottom with snags, but they must first be boiled for at least an hour in boiling water. Plastic products can also be installed in the aquarium, provided they are non-toxic. The soil, island and all decorative elements should be washed every one and a half to two weeks under running water.

Aquarium

Ideally, 150 liters or more, but a 10-liter is enough for a start. However, prepare for the fact that your pet will grow rapidly, adding 3-4 cm in height every year until it reaches its normal size (20-30 cm depending on sex and subspecies). And they also need to move a lot so as not to get obese. Yes, turtles can also suffer from this disease. Therefore, the minimum dimensions of the aquarium should be such that its width is not less than three lengths of the shell, and its length is not less than six lengths.

You need to pour enough water so that the turtle can stick out its muzzle while standing on its hind legs. If the aquarium is deeper, then a stone or snag can be placed in it for this purpose.

It is strictly forbidden to use small stones as soil! Carried away by getting food, small turtles (and sometimes adults) can accidentally swallow a pebble, which will cause intestinal obstruction and, as a result, the death of the animal. Remember that some aquatic plants (elodea, lagenander, ambulia) are poisonous to reptiles.

Island

Now there are different options for turtle islands on sale, but when buying them, pay attention to what they are made of and how they are attached to the aquarium. Usually, plastic frames with suction cups are used as fasteners.

But when your turtle grows up and weighs about a kilogram, the suction cups will constantly come off. Ideally, it is desirable to use a flat area as an island, on which your pet (pet) will get out of the water.

That is, a ladder is needed for the island, which does not prevent the animal from swimming in the aquarium, but, at the same time, sinks to a sufficient depth so that the turtle can sit on it when it gets hot under the lamp. We do not recommend buying islands made of painted polyurethane foam. The sharp claws of an adult turtle crush it with ease.

Lamps

An ultraviolet lamp is necessary in order for the turtle to produce vitamin D3, which is involved in the absorption of calcium. In nature, solar lighting contains enough ultraviolet radiation, but at home, special lamps are needed. Household UV sources are not suitable for these purposes, because it is difficult to provide the necessary wavelength with their help. The most common terrarium (aquarium) lighting options are Repti Glo 5 and 8 lamps. Place these lamps at a distance of no closer than 40 cm, as they can cause burns.

An ordinary incandescent lamp (from 40 to 60 W), the light spectrum of which includes infrared rays, is needed for turtles to digest food. A variety of metabolic processes in cold-blooded animals, which include reptiles, occur only at a certain temperature. environment, which is provided by the lamps. A decrease in temperature entails a slowdown in metabolism and hibernation.

Heater and filter

Choose these devices based on the volume of water in the aquarium. There are many filter options, some of them allow you to change the water once a month. External filters require less care, and there is no chance that your reptile will remove it from the wall, swallow the suction cup or bite through the electrical wire. As for the heater, one is needed that could automatically regulate the water temperature within the specified range. A comfortable temperature for a turtle is 20-27 ° C.

What to feed red-eared turtles

Young turtles should receive "live" protein. Many of the owners make a serious mistake by feeding their pets only special blends. These mixtures should be in the diet no more than a third. The other two are plant and animal foods. Of the plants, it is best to use the leaves of young cabbage, spinach, duckweed (only beforehand it must be washed very well under running warm water).

Providing turtles with animal food requires a serious approach. Of course, she can be given lean beef and chicken, chicken liver once a week. But such nutrition is not natural. Small turtles can be remarkably fed with bloodworms, gradually replacing it with fish. Be sure to give your pet shrimp, insects, earthworms or Canadian worms (they, like bloodworms, can be bought at fishing stores), aquarium and grape snails. We do not recommend adding slugs to the diet, since they secrete a lot of mucus in the water.

By the way, you can throw into the aquarium and river snails, and even empty shells. The turtle, which needs calcium on a regular basis, eats them remarkably, grinding them with its powerful jaw plates that replace its teeth. You can give a boiled egg.

You can not feed turtles with flour products and potatoes, berries, legumes (peas, beans, lentils, soybeans), citrus fruits.

However, sometimes it is allowed to give them carrots. Cereals and raw cereals are also contraindicated for these reptiles, but dandelion leaves for them are a rich source of vitamin PP (folic acid) and some other valuable substances. Everything that you "extract" in nature (snails, worms, dandelions) must be washed from dirt.

When accustoming a turtle to a new type of food, in case it refuses to eat it, do not give up. Keep her hungry for a couple of days, and then throw a small piece directly into the aquarium (after turning off the filter so as not to clog it).

If you do not give the turtle a liver, then once a week you need to add special vitamin complexes (for example, ReptoSol) to its diet. In general, it is advisable to pour them directly into her mouth with a pipette.

To fill in the vitamins, you need to take the turtle in your hand (by the side) and hold it tightly, as it will try to escape. Then bring the pipette to your mouth and tap on it. The turtle will hide its head in its shell, but you have to be persistent. When she gets tired of hiding, she will start to hiss and try to scare you. At this point, you need to have time to inject vitamins.

Such torment has to be endured only when the turtle is small. As an adult, she aggressively defends her territory and rushes at any unfamiliar object, which can be a pipette with medicine in your hand.

Males of this species of turtles begin to breed at the age of 4, and females at five. If the owner wants the turtles to give birth, he must prepare the aquarium accordingly. Firstly, the thickness of the water layer should not be more than 10 cm, since during the mating process, the male can hold the female under water for a long time, as a result of which she suffocates. Secondly, you immediately need to prepare a container on land where the female will lay her eggs.

By the way, sometimes females have the ability to lay eggs without males, but, in this case, they will be unfertilized. Therefore, turtles do not hatch from them.

The male can be distinguished from the female not earlier than at the age of about a year. In males, the plastron is concave to make it easier to stay on the female, the tail and claws are longer.

The claws of males are only 3-5 mm longer than those of females. By the way, like many reptiles, females are slightly larger than males.

To start breeding, red-eared sliders need ultraviolet light in the range of 320-400 nm. Shorter wavelengths of UV light are needed to prevent rickets. In addition, reptiles begin to mate only if they have enough plentiful and nutritious food.

Please note that there should be only one male and one female in the aquarium. Otherwise, the males will fight, and they fight very aggressively, biting off each other's tails, crippling their paws.

For the same reason, you can not leave laid eggs in the aquarium - you must definitely move them to the incubator. The size of the container with sand for eggs must be selected based on the fact that the egg in diameter reaches 4 cm and there can be up to 10 of them in one clutch. That is, in order to lay eggs, the turtle gently dig a hole of the appropriate diameter and depth. Above the container with sand you need to create a small shadow.

After the turtle lays eggs, the container with them must be placed in an incubator that you can make yourself, or you can use one that is used for chicken eggs. The optimum temperature in the incubator should be maintained at 27 ° C (plus or minus two degrees).

Hatching of turtles can be expected up to 5 months, however, if the ideal temperature regime is observed, you can wait for them to appear after 2 months. Babies should not be released into an aquarium with adults, since these reptiles do not have maternal and paternal instincts and they can attack and injure the younger generation.

If you do everything right, and at the first sign of illness in your pets, do not hesitate and immediately contact a veterinarian, then the turtles will delight you for decades.

aquante.ru

Habitat in nature

The historical habitat is Central America and the United States, which is why the red-eared turtle is called American.

The red-eared tortoise has a long lifespan in nature. It is important to know that aquatic red-eared reptiles living in river conditions need land no less than other land turtles, when starting a red-eared turtle at home, you should create high-quality conditions for it, similar to living in nature. The small and large red-eared tortoise lives not only in water, but also on land, where it must be warm.

Important to know before buying

Caring for a red-eared turtle at home is not difficult, it is enough to follow the rules and create the appropriate conditions for keeping a red-eared reptile. Yellow-bellied tortoise is suitable for beginners.

In winter, the turtle does not hibernate. The red-eared reptile spends a large period of time in the water, so you should carefully monitor its cleanliness and maintain the required temperature.

It is important to consider that pets are very active and can be aggressive.

When buying small red-eared turtles in the size of 2 centimeters, it must be remembered that the sizes of red-eared individuals can reach the palm of a person, so the aquarium for them must be of the appropriate volume.

Often sellers deceive buyers and misrepresent the field of the turtle, so be sure to check this before buying.

Aquarium turtles in an artificial environment can live an average of 30 years. This feature of the red-eared individual obliges the breeder to take the purchase seriously.

Distinctive features of the red-eared turtle

A distinctive feature of the American individual is the red stripe. The juvenile has a brighter stripe than the adult red-eared turtle. The shell is smooth and rounded. The color of the tortoise shell is green with black and yellow lines. The older the freshwater individual, the darker it is.

The length of the shell is not an indicator of age, since the red-eared reptile grows quite quickly under home conditions. Achievable sizes depend on environmental conditions, the quality of care and the health of the pet. The temperature of the water in the terrarium depends on the age and season. Above all, the temperature should be in summer and autumn. For young representatives, the water should always be warm.

For small representatives, the basis of nutrition is a completely plant-based diet. Upon reaching a size of 10 centimeters, animal food is proportionally added to the diet. In old age, the diet of an individual again becomes predominantly of plant origin. Read more about how to feed the red-eared turtle in a separate article.

Dimensions

The size of the red-eared turtles is measured with a ruler, the shell is measured to determine the length, its irregularities are not taken into account. Newborn individuals are born about 3 centimeters in length. The average size of a sea turtle is 20 centimeters. Growth duration and maximum size depends on habitat conditions. As practice shows, than better conditions habitat, the better individuals grow.

The red-eared tortoise in good house conditions not only grows quickly, but can also grow a few centimeters more, how much will also depend on environmental conditions.

Life expectancy varies; a well-maintained domestic individual will live longer than other representatives. On average, about 30 years.

How many years a pet will live at home, and to what size the red-eared turtle will grow, depends on its breeder.

Do you need neighbors

The reptile is not the owner of a friendly disposition. Often, turtles kept at home in the same container arrange fights, especially this behavior is observed in adulthood. It is recommended that representatives of the same species be kept separately from each other. If there is no possibility of resettling pets in different terrariums, the space can be divided using partitions.

the size of individuals should be the same;
there should not be more than one male in the group;
individuals must be of equal age.

Frogs, toads, lizards and snakes and other similar individuals are perceived by turtles exclusively as food.

How to care for a red-eared turtle

A novice breeder should know how to properly care for their pet. The content of the red-eared turtle requires high-quality regular care, proper diet. A home-kept red-eared turtle should not be disturbed frequently, especially small pets that have recently appeared in a terrarium. New individuals need time to adapt without the risk of stressful situations. To care for reptiles, it is recommended to carry out frequent cleanings, monitor the purity of water, bathing procedures, the habitat should be equipped with everything necessary. These few knowledge about care and maintenance will be enough for the longevity and health of the red-eared pet.

Necessary items and tools

To ensure a good life, the red-eared turtle must receive not only high-quality care, but also have all the necessary items in arranging its home.

The main list of what you need to keep a red-eared turtle:

suitable container;
100 watt water heater;
filter;
incandescent lamp;
lamp;
island;
thermometer;
decorative stones.

It is not recommended to use aquarium plants, live and artificial. All flora runs the risk of being eaten, and some plant species are deadly to turtles. The soil, if used, should be large.

Selection and arrangement of housing

Domestic red-eared pets require a large terrarium or aquarium (with a volume of at least 150 liters). The height should be greater than the width of the adult representative's shell, as it needs to roll over freely. For a small individual, you can use a small vessel, within 50 liters. To keep a pet, water must be poured so that it can stand on its hind legs and stick out its muzzle.

If you plan to use wooden snags, then they must be kept in boiling water for a while. All plastic products must be of high quality and non-toxic. All elements of the interior of the turtle's home, such as the substrate, island and other decorative elements, should be regularly rinsed under tap water.

Inside the terrarium, an island of land should be installed, on which the reptile can freely climb.

Incandescent bulbs of 40 and 60 W should be located no higher than 25 centimeters, if the location is lower, then the light will interfere with the reptiles, getting into their eyes.

Aquarium water

The quality of care and the main condition for keeping a turtle is the condition of the water inside the aquarium. It is important to maintain cleanliness and maintain the required temperature of the liquid. Pets spend most of their lives in the aquatic environment, therefore, it should be replaced, filtered carefully to prevent the occurrence of diseases.

It is important for red-eared turtles to have free access to the shore, on land it can rest and warm up, this requirement applies to all individuals.

Water for the aquarium should be settled, without chlorine. The temperature should vary from 22 to 28 degrees. If the water drops below 20 degrees, it should be heated with a heater, for an accurate measurement it is necessary to use a thermometer.

Once a week it is important to carry out water changes, no more than 1/3 part. It is forbidden to replace the water completely, as the internal biological balance of the terrarium, favorable for life, will be disturbed.

Heater and filter

For the proper maintenance of pets at home, it is important to satisfy their natural need to bask on land. The shell should be heated to 35 degrees, for this it is necessary for the individual to install a lamp. It is important to monitor the temperature on the thermometer. It is forbidden to place the heat source too close so that the pet does not get burned. The lamp must be protected from water splashes and fumes. The heat source must work during the entire light period every day.

When choosing a filter, all the features of internal and external cleaning elements should be taken into account. The filter is selected taking into account the volume of the terrarium. External elements require less maintenance, are safer for the reptile, since the pet can remove the internal filter and damage it.

Features of handling a pet

Red-eared turtles must not be released onto the floor. They can bite, hiss and show aggression, you should handle it carefully, picking it up, it is recommended to hold the reptile with two hands, the shell can be quite slippery. After contact with pets, hands must be washed with soap and water; a large number of pathogenic bacteria accumulate on the shell.

Living in a natural environment, turtles independently extract all the vitamins and minerals necessary for health. In a home environment, the owner must independently add important elements to the feed.

Mandatory list of useful substances:

vitamins d3, A and E;
calcium;
minerals.

All additives must be added strictly following the instructions and recommendations, any overdose is dangerous for the life of the individual.

walks

The red-eared turtle, kept at home, needs to walk in summer period. Thus, it becomes possible to receive a dose of ultraviolet rays, eat useful grass, get some fresh air. The place for a walk should be clean, remote from the road with the presence of lawn grass.

The temperature in the shade should not exceed 20 degrees, and the walking time should not exceed half an hour. When walking, water should be in a prominent accessible place. In order not to lose your pet among the green grass, it is recommended to attach a bright mark to the shell, for example, orange, it can be a sticker or a flag.

Care and hygiene

It is recommended to arrange water procedures for pets at least 1 time per week. Water turtles need more frequent bathing or a bathing tank in their terrarium. Bathing water should be warm, but not more than 32 degrees, boiled if possible. The liquid level must be comfortable for being with the head retracted.

In the first bath, you should carefully monitor the procedure to prevent the fright of the animal. If the reptile does not feel well in the water and refuses to bathe, it is recommended to limit yourself to spraying the shell and skin. If the bathing container is freely available inside the terrarium, the liquid must be changed every day.

For washing, it is recommended to use a cloth or sponge, they should be soft. The use of chemicals is prohibited. For preventive measures against the fungus, methylene, bought at a pet store, is used. After each contact with water, the turtle should be able to dry and warm up under an ultraviolet lamp. It does not tolerate temperature changes in the aquarium, the risk of colds increases.

findings

Before you start a yellow-bellied reptile, you need to re-read the description of the article in detail again, the red-eared turtle may die if environmental conditions do not meet its needs. Keeping turtles requires knowledge of care information and the availability of all the necessary equipment for a comfortable living of the red-eared representative. In order to keep a reptile, it is necessary to ensure the aquatic environment and the land surface, the proper temperature, and also take care of the cleanliness of the home during home maintenance.

rybkies.ru

How to handle aquatic turtle

Proper care of an aquatic turtle at home implies that you need to follow a number of rules regarding the handling of these beautiful animals. First, and most importantly, try not to pick them up often (only when needed). Turtles are one of those animals that are better to just watch than to touch.

But in those situations when they need to be moved somewhere, be sure to hold the turtle with both hands. They are quite slippery and can easily slip out of your hands. And falling turtles are unacceptable, as this is fraught with injuries.

Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after contact with your pet. Its habitat often becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, so it is important to pay due attention to the cleanliness of the aquaterrarium. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to keep a reptile in the kitchen or other places where you eat or cook.

As practice shows, the overwhelming majority of turtles that appeared as pets are babies. Baby aquatic turtles should be handled with extreme care, as they have a high mortality rate due to improper handling.

Do not place the aquarium with newborns in drafts or under direct sunlight. Make sure that small pet water turtles have uninterrupted access to the island, which warms up to 32℃. Acceptable water temperature in the aquarium is 26-27℃.

List of things needed for a turtle

As you already understood, in order to keep a reptile at home, you will have to acquire certain equipment. Be sure to buy:

Aquaterrarium 200 liters
Water heater
Filter
ultraviolet lamp
incandescent lamp
Lamp
Thermometer
Island of sushi

The list is quite impressive and requires material costs. But believe me: these things are really necessary and without them the pet will die. Consider the most important items from the above.

The first is an aquaterrarium. That is, a place where there is both land and water. Try to choose as many as possible. At first glance, a small turtle does not need a 200 liter tank. But given their intensive growth and life expectancy, it is better to immediately acquire a large aquarium, as you still have to buy it.

An important part of the aquaterrarium is the shore - the pet will climb out on it to warm up. You can either buy it at the pet store or make it yourself. In the second case, be sure to use environmentally friendly materials and make sure that the reptile can easily climb it.

Experts recommend observing the following proportions: land 25% and water 75%. The optimum temperature on the island is 30-35℃. To do this, you need to design a lamp on it. The thermometer will allow you to control the temperature. Overheating for a pet is harmful because it can cause burns. Position the lamp so that it is as far away from water as possible: this will prevent moisture from getting on its surface.

Also for a water turtle you need to install an ultraviolet light bulb. They need to receive a dose of UV radiation for the normal functioning of the body, namely the absorption of calcium. Deficiency of ultraviolet radiation will lead to the development of various diseases. The lamp should work throughout the daylight hours (about 12 hours). Make sure that there are no obstacles in the form of plastic or glass in the path of the rays.

It is also important to keep the water in the aquarium clean. Polluted water often causes infections and diseases. It is forbidden to pour water straight from the tap: it must be defended for 24 hours. You also need to change the water twice a week.

Nutrition

Domestic water turtles eat almost everything except human food (cottage cheese, bread, eggs). As feed, it is best to use fish fry, vegetables, insects. It is better to refuse nutritional mixtures from a pet store: it is much more useful for a pet to eat natural food.

Plant foods should be given regularly. It is advisable to make various mixtures from vegetables, as they are a source of calcium, vitamins and fiber. Ideally, aquarium plants and vegetables should make up ¾ of the diet. In moderation, pamper your pets with live food - fish, worms, snails.

hibernation

In its natural habitat, this reptile hibernates in winter. Keeping her at home is highly discouraged. There are a number of reasons for this:

Often, owners of red-eared turtles do not have enough experience to care for an animal during hibernation.
Lack of conditions for hibernation
Weakened pets due to illness may not come out of hibernation
The animal simply does not need hibernation

Thus, this process is quite difficult to adapt to home conditions. If you keep the water temperature around 25℃, the body can be "deceived" and the pet will forget about hibernation.

krasnouhaya.ru

How to care?

Aquarium. The most optimal would be a glass aquarium with a capacity of 150 - 200 liters;
Water. The level for a small turtle should be 10 cm, as the pet grows, it must be increased. In general, water should be poured more than the width of the shell. If the turtle was on its back, it could easily roll over. If there is no filter, then you need to change it at least once a week. It is better to use filtered;
Temperature. Water should be from 20 to 27 degrees;
Land. Although turtles are called water turtles, they cannot stay in the water all the time. A flat stone is suitable for the island (it should be boiled before use), gravel or decorative pebbles for aquariums can be used. The main thing is to make the ball slope, for the convenience of the turtle. The size of the sushi is slightly larger than the size of the shell;

Lighting. The sun at home can be replaced by an ultraviolet lamp. This is necessary for full development and growth. The distance between the aquarium and such a lamp is 1.5 m. It is enough to turn it on 2 times a week for 5 minutes, then increasing it to 30 minutes. For warming it is not bad to use the usual table lamp. To avoid burns, the distance between the island and the lamp should be 30 cm;
paddock. You should take your pet out of the aquarium from time to time, and in the summer you should take it outside.

Video: proper care

What needs to be fed?

Before feeding, let the turtle warm up well which improves digestion.

The diet should be varied and balanced. A very small turtle can only be fed with special food, small crustaceans are suitable - gammarus and shrimps. Calcium is needed for shell development.

To do this, you can give eggshells clean and crushed or shell rock. Feeding is carried out twice a day, gradually moving to a one-time meal. Turtles that have reached 2 years of age are enough to feed Two times per week.

Always accustom new foods gradually. Along with crustaceans, you can later use dried marble cockroaches, crickets or locusts.

You can give turtles fresh meat and fish. But not often and in small portions. It is better that the meat is not fatty or boiled. Once a week it is necessary to give the liver, It contains trace elements necessary for life.

From fruits: apples, pears and bananas. It is good to add sprouted wheat and sunflower seeds to the diet. The turtle must gnaw, to avoid deformation of the jaw. Apple or pear branches are perfect.

Never leave food leftovers in the water!

hibernation

Turtles sleep in nature in winter within 5 months. The activity of the body slows down, and she hardly breathes.

At home, sleep only reaches up to three months. A week before hibernation, the turtle should be stopped feeding, then moved to a container with moist moss and a lower air temperature.

At home there is no great need for winter hibernation. The pet will have enough sleep several times a day.

Diseases

Redness and swelling of the eyes- the most common disease. Occurs with malnutrition or from very dirty water. For treatment, foods that contain carotene should be introduced into the diet. Swimming should be reduced to three hours a day. Eyes should be carefully treated with a 3% solution boric acid. Additionally lubricate and antibiotic containing ointments;
Shell softening- the shape of the bones is broken, thickenings appear. The turtle becomes lethargic and moves little. It is necessary to give small fish along with the bones. Add ultraviolet;
Pneumonia- arises from too cold water or proximity to drafts. A very serious illness that can lead to death.

Emergency care - warming up over a solution of pharmacy chamomile.

To what size does it grow?

Turtles are born no larger than three cm in size. The first two years are a period of intensive growth, turtles grow up to 7 - 10 cm. Then they grow a little more slowly. Adult turtle in conditions of no will able to grow 25 - 32 cm. Adult males are much smaller than females. For comparison, in nature, their relatives can grow up to 50 cm.

How many lives?

Common at home is red-eared turtle. In optimally created conditions for life, she can live up to 40 years. And if you have bog turtle, then her life period is less - maximum 25 years.

tvoipitomec.info

Brief introductory

The red-eared turtle at home is very hardy and well suited for beginners. On the one hand, they live a long time and often become the first type of turtles for many fans, but on the other hand, people who buy them often ruin them. They don't know that turtles need water and land (shore) where it needs to be warm and where the UV rays need to reach. At the same time, they spend most of their time in water, which should be clean, warm and changed regularly. As a rule, all problems and illnesses are caused by negligent owners who do not know that dirty water is the cause of infections, without calcium the shell will become crooked, without heat and UV lamps, the turtle does not absorb calcium and gets sick!

They are fast, strong and can be aggressive.

They easily attack other turtles, and each other. They are also known for their individuality and charisma, which compares favorably with other types of turtles. They are very skilled when it comes to feeding and can take food from each other. In the wild, being an invasive species, they displace and destroy endemics so that in the same Australia they are outlawed and exterminated.

Red-eared turtles make great pets, if only because reptile allergies are rare. However, if you decide to get her as a gift to a child, remember that all responsibility for her health and behavior lies with you! Children cannot take care of a turtle at the proper level; moreover, they can quickly lose interest in a new toy and abandon it. And it needs to be fed, water changed, warmed, even washed. How long do red-eared turtles live? With good care, a turtle can live from 20 to 40 years.

Habitat in nature

The red-eared turtle is native to North America and is especially common along the Mississippi River before it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. She lives in a warm climate, in the southern states of the USA, from Colorado to Florida. But, its popularity is great and now it is often found in nature around the world, often posing a threat to the local fauna.

In its natural habitat, it needs such conditions: fresh water, places to bask, dense vegetation and for a nest. Usually these are lakes, ponds, swamps, creeks. It prefers ponds with warm water and a weak current, always with places above the surface of the water on which it will crawl out to bask. Often in such places they directly lie on top of each other. The bottom in such places, as a rule, is sandy or silty. The range is usually limited to the water's edge, American aquatic red-eared turtles do not like to move far from the coast, although females need solid ground to lay their eggs.
Small turtles in nature feed on fish, snails, insects and various plants.

Appearance, size, life expectancy

The size of the red-eared turtle is determined by measuring the length of the carapace from edge to edge with a ruler. At the same time, they do not pay attention to the curvature of the shell, so it is best to measure with a ruler, not a tape measure.
Only hatched turtles are about 2.5 cm long, after a year of life they grow to 5–7 cm. Males become sexually mature at a size of about 10 cm, and females 12.5. The average size of a turtle is from 25 to 30 cm, depending on the conditions of detention and species. Males are smaller in size than females.

Note that size cannot be a sign of age. The fact is that at home, turtles grow faster than in nature, this is the result of overfeeding and ideal conditions. But, with the right maintenance and feeding at home, turtles live longer than their wild relatives. A domestic turtle can live up to 40 years, while a wild one can live no more than 20.

1 year: 6 cm.
2 years: female - 9 cm, male - 8 cm.
3 years: female - 14 cm, male 10 cm.
4 years: female - 16 cm, male - 12 cm.
5 years: female - 18 cm, male - 14 cm.
6 years: female - 20 cm, male - 17 cm.

sense organs

But her hearing is not very good, her ears are covered with skin and feel only dull sounds and vibrations. The shell is sensitive to touch, as nerves run through it. In addition, they have a sense of touch, and they can refuse unpalatable food in favor of more delicious.

Of the sounds, she can make a hiss, snort, or short sounds like a squeak. Turtles do not breathe underwater, they rise to the surface for oxygen!

How to determine gender?

Buying a turtle

After the purchase and change of residence, it may take several days to adapt. During this time, the turtle can be both lethargic and very active, it is best to leave it alone, but do not forget to feed and look after.

Turtle Handling

]When you pick up a turtle, you need to be very careful! They can be slippery with water, resist, hiss, and have a bowel movement. They have sharp claws, powerful paws, and they bite painfully, so it's not always pleasant to take them. Try to hold the turtle with both hands! Due to awkward handling, many owners and even more turtles have suffered.

After you have held the turtle in your hands, wash them with soap! This is especially important for children, because despite the fact that the red-eared turtle lives in a different environment and there are different bacteria. It is especially important to keep the aquarium clean and the freshness of the food, as turtles can carry salmonellosis.
Ideally, any animal in the home should not have access to the kitchen and food preparation areas. Avoid washing your turtle in the kitchen sink, and don't wash your aquarium or accessories there.

Handling Toddlers

It is impossible to put an aquarium with a red-eared turtle in direct sunlight or in a draft. Make sure that she has free access to land and that this place is heated with a special lamp. Keeping temperature for baby turtles should be slightly higher than for adult turtles! It is 26-27C for water and up to 32C for land. The water should be as clean as possible and if there is no good filter, then change every couple of days. Feeding - branded feed for turtles with calcium, since there is now a wide choice of them. As already mentioned, do not keep baby and adult turtles together. Remember, most problems can be avoided simply by creating the right conditions.

Fights and aggression

If the aquarium is viewed as a small pond, then red-eared turtles will display dominant behavior towards others. They can easily injure others with claws or biting. Males may chase females and this often ends in serious aggression with bites, tails torn off, or death. Adding a new turtle can provoke fights, especially if the turtles are already sexually mature.
If this happens, then a significant increase in space can help, although it does not guarantee success. Also reduces aggression feeding alone (one outside the aquarium). Barriers, plastic plants, or walls can be added to prevent the animals from seeing each other.
In general, this is a wild animal by nature, and such behavior is more than normal. If you don't want trouble, then you need to keep them alone.] Red-eared turtles do well living without a mate.

An adult turtle and babies - the struggle for food:

What do you need to buy for content?
You understand, prices can vary greatly, so just list the necessary things:

Turtle aquarium 200 liters
100W water heater
Filter (can be internal, but external is better)
UV lamp for aquatic turtles with UVB 10%
heating lamp
Lamp
Thermometer
land/coast/island

As you can see, the list is quite serious, and most importantly, all this is really necessary. Now do you understand why so many pet turtles are dying?

How to care for a red-eared turtle?

Here, even such a simple thing as what to put the terrarium on can cause problems. Aquarium from 150 liters, plus water, equipment, shore. The output will be more than three hundred kilograms, and not every table can withstand this.

A larger aquarium will keep your aquatic turtle more active and healthy. ]Remember - if you keep the turtle in cramped conditions, it will not remain small! This is a common misconception that also applies to aquarium fish and other animals. She will become sick, twisted, but not small!

Red-eared turtles: care and maintenance

You also need artificial land or an island on which the turtle will crawl out and bask. Such an island can be bought at a pet store, they are specially made. If you decide to do it yourself, then remember that it should be a sloping climb, but which it will be convenient for the animal to climb. In principle, this is all that is needed from him. You can make an island with your own hands, in nature, turtles get out on snags, stones, old tires, any debris sticking out of the water. But, it is easier to buy a finished product, as it must meet certain conditions: not be toxic, be stable, have a textured surface, not have sharp corners and burrs.

be semi-flooded, at least one side must be submerged
be safe so that the turtle does not get stuck between the wall of the aquarium and the shore itself
do not emit toxins when heated and in water
be stable, as red-eared turtles are quite strong and can turn the shore over
have a textured surface

An example of an aquaterrarium with a turtle and fish:

Priming

Coastal heating for turtles

Also, do not forget that turtles diving into the water raise the splashes, and when they hit the base, they will easily destroy it, since it is hot. So the lamp for turtles should be closed from water and vapours.
In general, you can buy a suitable lamp at the pet store, especially since they are now sold in pairs with UV lamps, which are needed separately.
A heating lamp, like a UV lamp, should work throughout the day, this is 10-12 hours.

UV lamp for turtles

Proper lighting and heating are critical to keeping a red-eared slider. In nature, it has enough sunlight and heat to produce all the necessary elements. But in captivity, she lacks neither warmth (it was described above), nor spectrum, and she needs special care. More precisely, the UV rays that are needed so that it can properly absorb calcium and produce B vitamins. In the absence of a UV lamp in the terrarium, the turtle begins to absorb calcium poorly, and it needs it for the normal development of the shell. The result is scary animals suffering from rickets, with a strongly curved shell.

Aquarium water

Water must be set aside for a minimum of 24 hours so that chlorine leaves it and it reaches room temperature. ]The temperature of the water in the aquarium with a turtle should be 22-28 ° C and not fall below 20, if this is possible for you, then it must be heated with a heater. Be sure to use a thermometer, do not trust your feelings!
The purity of the water is very important, as the turtles both eat and defecate in it. Harmful substances-ammonia and nitrates accumulate very quickly, the water starts to stink. To avoid this, the water in the aquarium is changed once or twice a week. You can also use an internal or external filter, however, this does not cancel the water change. For a turtle, internal filters are too low power, and external filters are good, but quite expensive.

How long can a red-eared turtle live without water if it ran away from the aquarium? For quite a long time, it happens that they run away from the aquarium and the owners find them only after a few days, lethargic, but alive. In general, she will live quietly for a day or two, but will suffer from drying out.

Feeding

Omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of food. Variety is important as it keeps the turtle healthy. You can feed: artificial food, food for aquarium fish, vegetables, aquarium plants, insects, fish, invertebrates. In addition to variety, it is important to give a balanced diet high in calcium. Like all wild animals that live at home, there is a tendency to overeat.

Young turtles are mostly omnivores. But, as they grow and mature, they become more and more herbivorous. Omnivorous means that the diet contains a large amount of protein, but in adult turtles it is much less. Turtles of any age will prefer live prey or carrion, but it is only worth feeding them occasionally. You also need to additionally give calcium for the normal formation and growth of the turtle shell.

What to feed the red-eared turtle?

Red-eared turtles need water to swallow because they do not produce saliva. They may take food on land, but will drag it into the water to eat. You can use this to your advantage and feed them in a separate container, so the water in the aquarium will remain clean for a longer time.

Feeding plant foods

Fresh vegetables should always be given to the turtle, regardless of whether it shows interest in them or not. A good mix of vegetables contains the necessary fiber, calcium, vitamins A and K. Aquarium plants can also be given, especially since they are similar to those that the turtle eats in nature.] It is especially important to feed adult and old turtles with plant foods! Their diet should be 75% vegetables and aquarium plants. It can be duckweed, richcia, ludwigia, hornwort, lettuce, slices of cucumber and zucchini, scalded dandelion and nettle, lumps of filamentous algae.

Red-eared turtles and live food (guppies, snails)

Poor goldfish (slow you say?)

How much and how often to feed red-eared turtles?

hibernation

Hibernation is the period that the red-eared slider slides into during the winter months.] There is no need for the pet turtle to hibernate! Moreover, it is not recommended! Never encourage her to do so.

Reasons why hibernation may not be safe:

you may not have enough experience to care for her at this time
most likely, in order for her to normally hibernate, you do not have conditions
young and sick turtles may be too weak to survive the hibernation period
your turtle may not need it at all

Reproduction of red-eared turtles

In a home aquaterrarium, the female signals her preparation for breeding by changing her behavior. She becomes very restless, imitates digging movements with her hind legs and tries to get out of the aquarium. Also during this time she spends more on land and needs calcium and UV rays. The place where she can lay her eggs is very important, if there is none, she will lay them in the water or even carry them further, which will cause them to harden. If you see that the turtle has laid one or two eggs, try to make a nest for it. Most likely, the rest of the clutch has not yet come out and she is still pregnant.

]If the female does not lay eggs, they will harden, can cause infection and death of the animal. Even a properly prepared nest is not a guarantee that everything will go well, since the turtle can be old, drawn out, sick. If she tries to lay off the clutch, but nothing works, then it is better to take her to the veterinarian. Possible signs of problems: reduced activity, heavy breathing, hollows or swelling around the cloaca. If an unpleasant liquid comes out of it or there is a smell, then the eggs inside may have broken. For any health problems in the red-eared turtle, contact your veterinarian immediately!
Marriage games:

Health and disease

]More than 85% of all diseases of red-eared turtles are the result of improper care, maintenance and feeding, and most often all at once. It is easy to maintain clean water and the right temperature for your pet, as well as create the right conditions.

Sick turtles should be kept at a higher temperature, in most cases 27-30 Celsius. At this temperature, the immune system is at its peak. It is important to maintain fluid balance in the turtle's body so that it does not become dehydrated. Making sure that she drank and was in the water is more important than her nutrition, since a sick turtle can die from dehydration, her kidneys will fail. Even in malnourished turtles, the fluid balance is first restored, and then they start feeding.

A sick turtle swims poorly, swims on one side, it can even drown. Lower the water level and make sure she can come ashore as soon as she wants to.
If an infection is suspected, isolate the animal immediately, and be sure to clean hands after contact.

The basis of success in treating a turtle is an appeal to a specialist. Do not treat the animal yourself, go to the vet!

The main diseases of red-eared turtles and their symptoms

Symptom:
The red-eared slider has swollen or red eyes and often does not open them. The skin around them is red, swollen, there may be discharge from the eyes.
Probably this:
Bacterial eye infection, most commonly caused by dirty water. Change the water, clean the aquarium, check the temperature.
Treatment:
Antibiotics in drops, cleaning the aquarium.

Symptom:
The soft shell of the red-eared tortoise. Carapace or plastron (upper or lower part of the tortoise shell) - soft, hemorrhages are visible. There may be an unpleasant odor (tortoise stink), the affected area rapidly increases.
Probably this:
Bacterial tissue infection, likely from injury or illness. Usually caused by gram-negative bacteria.
Treatment:
Treatment of the affected area with antibacterial drugs, removal of dead tissue, isolation. Antibiotics as prescribed by the veterinarian. In most cases, the cause is trauma - a burn from a heater, damage from sharp stones, etc.

Symptom:
Swelling or inflammation in the head.
Probably this:
Abscess in the ear. In the case of the red-eared turtle, the most common cause is dirty water.
Treatment:
Surgical intervention under general anesthesia.

catfishes.ru

Aquarium turtles - description of popular species, joint keeping with fish

Aquarium turtles - description of popular species, joint keeping with fish

The relevance of this topic is raised by many beginners in the aquarium world and not only by them.

Often, on the Internet you come across a funny video where turtles swim peacefully with fish, and on the forums you see photos of the joint keeping of fish and turtles with forest reviews.

Also, the stories of acquaintances that their soft-bodied turtle is offended by guppies stir up interest!?

Well, let's take a closer look at this issue and see real examples of turtles living together with fish!

Red-eared turtle and aquarium fish

This type of turtle is often referred to as the red-eared turtle. I emphasize that this turtle has never been a sea turtle. This is a completely freshwater resident.

It is necessary to change the water of turtles no more than once a month, as they are quite clean and do not need frequent water changes, which suits their owners very much.

Considering all of the above, the VERDICT is that this turtle should not be kept together with fish! The conditions of keeping and parameters (quality) of water of almost all freshwater fish species are fundamentally different from the conditions of keeping the red-eared turtle, in almost all criteria. Living together will be painful. But the main reason why you should never keep a turtle in an aquarium with fish is that turtle predators. Clumsy, slow, funny and safe on land, in the water turtles turn into excellent swimmers with an unsurpassed instinct for prey. If a young turtle may not hunt fish, then growing up ... all the scaly inhabitants of the aquarium will turn into high-quality food for her.

For the doubters!!! Here is a marginal video (censored) on the same topic Bog turtle and fish

According to the conditions of detention, the marsh turtle does not differ much from the red-eared turtle. But this is a larger species of turtles and therefore at least 150l is required for one or two individuals.

Bog turtles often have calcium deficiency, so the aquarium must be equipped with an ultraviolet lamp in addition to an incandescent lamp and supplement the diet with crushed eggshells. Otherwise, their dining table is almost a mirror image of the red-eared turtle's table.

Thus, we can conclude that this breed of turtles is even less suitable than the previous one for keeping together with aquarium fish.

Turtle Trionics and fish
Trionics is a soft-bodied turtle.
Its shell is a thick leathery covering.

- No plants planted in the ground will survive acquaintance with Trionix. If you care about your green spreads, you will have to refuse from Trionix. A harmful turtle uproots plants, digs up the soil wherever possible, and where it is impossible, it digs it up three times more actively. Small decorative elements also always interfere with this type of turtle.

— This is a predator. Very fast, both in water and on land, unlike other types of turtles.

- If all the same, what is written above does not cool your ardor in acquiring this miracle, it is worth noting that this turtle can only take root with fish if you take it at the youngest age possible, and follow an abundant and varied food menu.

One phrase can be said: "these turtles can be kept in an aquarium with fish, but only at a young "young" age." Then you still need to sit down!

Here is a video for thought!!

The author of the video called it: "Turtle (Trionics) - Lucy the fish was scared"

This type of turtle is very similar to its marine counterparts, however, it is freshwater. It can also live in slightly brackish water.

They say about these turtles that they do not swim, but fly around the aquarium. Having a rather nice appearance, this miracle pleases the eye.

But there are a number of significant disadvantages:

— Space. If a young turtle of this species (up to two years old) can live in a volume of 200 to 500 liters, then an adult turtle needs at least 1000 liters. Two-clawed turtles grow up to 50 cm in shell diameter.

— Price. From 200 to 800 $, which is significantly different from the prices of the species described above.

So, let's sum up. For the most part, keeping completely different aquatic creatures like fish and turtles together is not worth it. There are many attractive alternatives to diversify your aquarium. Mankind knows an incredible number of species of turtles, and there are so few that can be kept at home. And this suggests that even these few species need their own home, equipped specifically for them and only for them. You should not tempt the fate of your pets by checking their tails and abdomen for strength.
Finally - here is a good video about fish and turtles But, alas, here are the comments left by the author of the video on YouTube: Eugene Karpenko 3 years ago «all the swordsmen are gone for a long time :-) but the catfish is already much larger than the turtles. until recently, the barbus lived well. six months or so. disappeared somewhere the other day :-)" Emoticons of the author, can be replaced with a bitter "oops")))

Red-eared aquarium turtle: features and conditions of detention

Most often among our compatriots in aquariums for turtles you can find a swamp, snake-necked, and also red-eared turtle. These species are common among lovers of these animals. Especially popular in pet stores are aquariums for red-eared turtles. This aquarium turtle is popular for its easy care and bright colors. These animals grow quite quickly. It takes only five years for the shell of a small turtle to reach 30 centimeters in diameter.

How long do red-eared turtles live in an aquarium? At home, they live long enough - at least 30 years. However, for this they need proper care. Males have a long tail, wide at the very base, but females cannot boast such an impressive tail. Just look at the photo to identify another salient feature inherent in males - long claws on the front paws.

How to care for a water turtle:: aquatic turtle at home:: Care and education

Turtle is the quietest and calmest pet. However, her invisibility does not mean that she needs less attention and care. To properly care for a turtle, you need to carefully study a few rules.

The question is “HOW can a baby be retrained to go to the tray (she is 4 months old)? » - 3 answers

What to feed the turtle?

The water turtle is a seemingly harmless creature, but it is a real predator. Therefore, it will have to be fed with animal food.

Basically, water turtles are fed various insects, earthworms and snails - all this can be bought at any pet store. At least once a week, the animal should be given meat. It's best to find out what kind of meat your turtle prefers. Some turtles are happy to eat beef, others love chicken meat, but not a single representative will refuse fish. It is advisable to pre-cook the fish and clean it of small bones so that the turtle's body can easily digest food.

It is desirable to fortify the feed. Especially useful for water turtles is calcium, which can be given once a week.

As turtles age, they switch to a "vegetarian diet". Therefore, the older the animal, the more often different vegetation, in particular algae, should be added to the diet. It also depends on the age of how often you need to feed the turtle. Juveniles need daily food, while adults have enough food for three days.

"Interior" of the aquarium

Although turtles spend most of their lives in the water, they still need dry land. Therefore, the aquarium must have an “island” with a lamp that will warm the area of the hill. This "island", as well as the whole soil, should consist of sand or gravel.

Be careful, the turtles are childishly curious, everything that is in their reach will definitely be tried on the tooth. Therefore, make sure that the "grains" of the soil are large, larger than the turtle's head. It also follows from this that it is useless to add other inhabitants to the turtles: fish and plants.
The aquarium should be maintained at a constant temperature of 25°C by changing the water every month (assuming a filter is installed). It is advisable to have thermometers that will give you information about the temperature. Note that turtles can only thrive in a large tank, so take care of that before you get a pet.

Age

Before you decide to have a turtle at home, think about the fact that this is one of those few animals that can outlive a person for several years.
The average lifespan of a turtle is about 100 years. There are cases when turtles lived up to 300 years. But at home, of course, everything is different. Aquatic turtles with good care can live up to 40 years.

What else can be installed in the aquarium with your own hands

Red-eared turtles should not be kept with aquarium fish, as they will be eaten. Sometimes aquarists make compromises by enclosing the aquarium with vertical glass with water holes. There should be no large gaps so that the turtles do not crawl into another part of the tank. It turns out that ½ of the nursery is in the possession of reptiles, and the second is “fish”. Just in it, you can plant plants for fish, special soil and decorations with your own hands.

The growth of turtles is fast, in the first year of life they reach a size of 22-25 cm, so take care of large capacity for living. The interior of the “house” should contain safe decorations: medium-sized pebbles (so that the animal does not swallow it), it is not safe to place gravel. Pre-treated snags, houses, grottoes, caves should be installed in the reservoir. It is undesirable to plant plants - turtles are not averse to eating them, although some species are suitable for food.

Check out the DIY aquarium for red-eared sliders.

But, since the snails themselves are rarely kept in the aquarium, it is better to count on a larger volume of the aquarium. So, for 3-4 snails + fish, you need about 100 liters. Of course, a lot depends on your conditions and details. But the rule, 10 liters per ampoule will not let you down.

Yellow snails are completely peaceful, never touching fish or invertebrates. There is a misconception that they attack fish. But, this is due to the fact that snails are scavengers and eat up dead fish, but it seems that they killed the fish. Not a single snail is able to catch up, catch and kill a healthy and active fish.

But the ampoule fish are very disturbing. They can cut off their antennae, such as Sumatran barbs, or even completely destroy them, like dwarf tetradon, fahaka, green tetradon, clown bots or large cichlids. Some will not be able to eat large snails, but small ones will be taken out clean. And large ones will be gnawed at every opportunity, which will not add to their health either. Invertebrates can also become a problem - shrimps and crayfish, they skillfully pick out snails from shells and eat them.