Turtles red-eared - care at home

Turtles are also called yellow-bellied red-eared. They are so common among pet lovers. It should be noted that, unfortunately, this popularity has the reverse side of the coin. The home turtle red-eared in most cases is doomed to death or life in unsuitable conditions for it. In order to avoid this, the owner of a home turtle should know as much as possible about these amazing animals. In the article we talk about red-bellied turtles, their content and feeding.

Turtles in the home

The home turtle of this species is very hardy and is great for those who are just beginning to care for animals. However, in order for your pet to be healthy and happy, it is necessary to take care of it properly. Turtle turtles need to have a shore (land), on which there should be heat, and water, warm and clean, in addition, the liquid must regularly change.

Character

Turtles red-eared strong, fast, can be aggressive. They easily attack both other kinds of turtles, and against each other. In addition, they have charisma and individuality, and this is what distinguishes them from other species. Turtles red-eared - very skillful, if it is a question of stealing feed in other animals. In the wild they are an invasive species and destroy and displace endemics.

Red-bellied turtle and child

Turtles of this species can be wonderful pets, for example, because allergies to reptiles are extremely rare. Caring for the red-bellied turtle at home is not a big deal for an adult. However, if you decide to have it as a gift for a child, it is worth remembering that the entire responsibility for the life and health of the animal lies solely with you. Children are not able to provide proper care for domestic turtles red-eared, in addition, they can quickly cool to a new toy and forget about it. But it must be fed, heated, washed and changed in the aquarium.

Appearance

Turtles red-eared, care for which requires some effort, easily recognizable. They can not be confused with any other kind. Typical for this species is a red or sometimes orange band that starts from the eye and continues along the neck. The upper part of the shell is rounded and smooth. The color is olive green with yellow and black lines. The lower part of the shell is yellow, but with age it darkens. Also, dark spots on the shell, and the red strip on the head loses its brightness.

Dimensions

The dimensions of this reptile are measured by a ruler from the edge to the edge, the roughness of the shell is not taken into account. Freshly hatched little red-billed turtles about 2.5 cm in length, and after a year of life they grow to 5-7 cm. The average size of a reptile is 25 to 30 cm, depending on the conditions of the contents.

Age

Dimensions can not be a sign of the age of the turtle. At home, these reptiles grow faster than in nature. This is the result of plenty of food and ideal conditions. However, if you care for the red-bellied turtle at home correctly, then it will please you much longer. A wild reptile will not live longer than 20 years, and a domestic reptile can reach 40 years.

Appeal

It must be remembered that when you take the reptile in your arms, you need to be careful. It can be slippery, hiss, resist and empty the intestines. Red-bellied turtle has sharp claws, powerful paws, it painfully bites. It is necessary to hold the reptile with both hands. Because of the wrong treatment, many hosts have suffered and far more turtles.

After you have held the turtle in your hands, they should be washed with soap. In particular, this applies to children. The reptile lives in other conditions with other bacteria. It is especially important to monitor the freshness of food and the cleanliness of the aquarium, as bugs can tolerate salmonellosis.

The turtle should not have access to the kitchen and to places where food can be found. Also, do not wash the reptile, the aquarium and accessories in the sink in the kitchen.

Treatment of babies

In most cases, the turtles that appear in the home aquarium are toddlers. They are very gentle, and it is important to keep them in comfort and eat well. Turtle cubs have a high mortality rate, they can die without an external cause and are susceptible to disease.

If you noticed something on the lower part of the tortoise shell , it is most likely a gastric bag. The reptile that has just hatched uses all the necessary nutrients from it. Therefore, it should not be touched or removed. During the first time, turtles may refuse to eat until the stomach bag has resolved.

It is better not to take small turtles into hands, as they can be frightened, hurt and run into stress. Do not stand near the aquarium, knock on the glass. Give them some time to get used to and start eating. It is important that the temperature of land and water is stable.

Do not place the aquarium in a draft or in direct sunlight. Do not keep adults and small turtles together. Small reptiles should have access to land. The water temperature for keeping babies is 26-27 degrees, and for sushi - up to 32. The water should be clean, and if there is no filter, it should be changed once in a couple of days. Feed turtles can be proprietary feeds. Remember that most problems can be avoided if you simply create the necessary conditions.

Red-bellied turtles: care and maintenance

To keep the turtle turtle you will need an aquarium or a terrarium. Its volume is 150-200 liters. Remember that your little turtle will eventually become bigger. It needs such a height of water that it can freely turn over, that is, not less than the breadth of its shell. However, this is the minimum level of water that a red-bellied turtle needs. The more room for swimming she has, the better.

In addition, it needs artificial land, on which the red-bellied turtle will get out to warm up. An islet can be purchased at a pet store. In principle, this is all that is needed. The island must be stable, sloping, it should not have burrs and sharp corners.

The land should occupy not less than 25% of the surface of the terrarium and meet the following requirements:

1. The island must be heated. The temperature on it should be no less than 10 degrees higher than water. Remember that too much temperature will cause the reptile to overheat.
2. The land must be semi-submerged (at least one of its sides is in the water).
3. The island must be safe. The tortoise should not be stuck between it and the glass of the aquarium.
4. When heated, it should not release toxic substances.
5. Reliability and stability are important, since the turtles of this species are very strong and can turn it.
6. The land must have a textured surface.

Feeding

Turtles are omnivores, they feed on different types of food. For them, diversity is important. Feed red-turtle can be artificial feed, vegetables, food for aquarium fish, insects, aquarium plants, fish and invertebrates. In addition to diversity, it is important to ensure that the diet of the reptile is balanced and with a high level of calcium. They, like other pets, have a tendency to overeating.

Hibernation

Hibernation is the period in which the turtle falls during the winter. It is not necessary for the red-bellied tortoise to fall into a hibernation. In addition, it is highly not recommended! Therefore, do not stimulate hibernation! Why can this process be unsafe?

For example, because you may not have enough experience to care for the reptile during this period. You will not have conditions for the turtle to fall asleep normally. A reptile in general may not need it. Patients or young bugs may be too weak to endure this period.

Those reptiles that fall into hibernation in natural conditions burrow into vegetation and ooze on the bottom of the reservoir, which has a large area and a small depth. Turtles do not rise during this period to the surface: they absorb oxygen through the membranes that are located in their mouth, cloaca and pharynx. In this case, the depth of the reservoir, its temperature and the oxygen content in it are extremely important. The vast majority of artificial ponds do not provide the necessary conditions.

Thus, a red-billed turtle, grown up in captivity, is unnecessary and should not be put into a state of hibernation. What is the key condition for this? The water temperature in the terrarium should not be less than 24-26 degrees. Otherwise, the low temperature will remind the red-bellied tortoise about the winter months, which must be spent in hibernation.