A tortoise as a pet: what to think about?

If you choose a turtle as a pet, you have the choice between a land turtle or a water tortoise. These animals require intensive care, requiring a terrarium with the correct size, temperature, and lighting. Turtles can live very old, up to eighty years. Many tortoises hibernate even though they are kept in captivity. Tortoises are herbivores, while aquatic turtles are omnivores. It is wise to be well informed before purchasing a turtle.

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Think carefully about

A turtle as a pet is something you should think about in advance. First, you need to know whether you choose a tortoise or water turtle, both need a different kind of care. For example, a tortoise can become very old, up to 80 years, and it needs good care. Aquatic turtles need more intensive care. Turtles need a terrarium where a good temperature and lighting are important. Before purchasing a turtle, be well informed by an expert. The care and needs of both the tortoise and water turtle are discussed below.

tortoise

A tortoise in particular is a precious pet. It is expensive to purchase, but maintenance also costs money and time. Since a tortoise can live to be very old, you should realize that it will be with you for a long time, probably the rest of your life. Most species naturally hibernate from November to March at the latest.

If you keep him indoors in a warm environment with light, he will not hibernate. This will not harm his health. If the turtle is kept outside and hibernates, be aware that temperatures below zero degrees can be deadly for several days. In that case, it is better to keep it in a box in a cool place at home.

Properties

A tortoise has a rounder and harder shell than an aquatic turtle. The Greek tortoise is about 25 cm long and weighs about 2 to 3 kg. Usually, other tortoise species range in size between 10 and 50 cm and between 1 and 10 kilos. Turtles originally come from Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Housing

You can keep it outside in the garden if the garden is well protected. It is a herbivore, so it will eat the plants and grass. Make sure he has a place where he can sit sheltered. You can also keep it indoors, preferably in a terrarium. The length of the terrarium should be at least five times the size of the shield. The turtle must be able to warm up and needs a temperature of 36 to 39 degrees. He can’t swim, but he does need a shallow bath. Make sure the bottom is rough so that his nails can wear down well.

Nutrition

And tortoise is a herbivore and he needs a varied supply of vegetables. For example, you can give him the following vegetables: endive, nettles, Chinese cabbage, grass, dandelion leaves, bell pepper, chicory, thistle, and narrow plantain.

You can give him fruit to a lesser extent, be moderate with this because of sugars. Because the seeds in an apple are poisonous, it is better not to give them to him. It is also better not to give him tomato or lettuce. Tortoises need regular supplements to prevent growth problems.

water turtle

Aquatic turtles are cheaper to maintain than tortoises, but they also require more intensive care. You often lose a lot of money for the purchase of the territory. First of all, you need a good terrarium and the water turtle is an omnivore and needs the right food. A water turtle is not an animal to cuddle and pet, but they do look very nice and you can look at them for hours. Species that are commonly kept are yellow-cheeked, yellow-bellied, and saw back.

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Housing

The water turtle needs a large aquarium. The minimum size is six times the length of the shield and four times the width of the shield. Preferably, the terrarium is larger. At least a third of the total surface must be a sunspot and a good UV lamp is needed for this. This must be a part of the country that is easily accessible. Cover the top of the enclosure halfway to prevent pneumonia.

The water should be at least the height of the shield. Because the water quickly becomes polluted, a good pump and filter are necessary. An aquatic turtle can grow quite a bit and this means that its enclosure should increase in size as it grows. The water should be between 18 and 26 degrees. The air temperature should be at least 2 degrees higher than the water,

Nutrition

Young aquatic turtles mainly eat meat and an adult turtle eats about 50 percent meat (e.g. insects and mealworms). For the rest, they mainly eat fruit and vegetables, such as endive, lettuce, pods, chicory, carrots, cucumber, peppers, mandarins, apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes, and kiwis. Dietary variety is very important. Furthermore, they often need to be fed for the growth and strength of the shield.

Multiple water turtles

A tortoise is an animal that naturally lives solitary. If you want to keep several together, make sure that the accommodation is large enough. Also, don’t put a large turtle with a small one because they can bite quite hard, and then a body part can be bitten off the small turtle. A turtle can be kept alone.

Male or female?

Both tortoises and tortoises can only be seen at a later age, whether male or female. This is usually only visible from the third year of life, or when they have a minimum length of 10 centimeters. A male is smaller than the female, has long nails on the front legs, and has a long thick tail than a female.

A male tortoiseshell has a dented ventral shield, while the female has a flat ventral shield. A female turtle may want to lay eggs at some point, even if she is kept alone. Provide a land area with sand. If she is unable to lay eggs, she will be in distress and a visit to the vet will be necessary.

Behavior

A turtle doesn’t make a sound, but it can make a kind of hissing sound when it’s angry. They can sometimes react angrily if you pick them up. A turtle that keeps swimming back and forth in its terrarium is not happy. In that case, adjust his stay, for example, give him another place to stay or create more hiding space. A turtle laying flat on the land area with legs outstretched is enjoying sunbathing. When a turtle has retracted its head and legs, it is afraid.