Content

• Steps

Tortoises can be very interesting and worthy animals to keep as pets. These include box turtles and all other varieties of tortoise. Before choosing to raise a turtle, remember that turtles need to live both indoors and outdoors in order to stay healthy. In addition, water turtles can live for more than 30 years, tortoises for more than 50 years (even some can live for more than 100 years). A tortoise can be your pet for a lifetime.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Choosing turtles

1. 

   Examine your options. Are you ready to raise a tortoise? Turtles live a long time, can grow to quite large sizes, are not ideal pets for young children, and the cost of caring and food for turtles can be quite expensive (lighting, barrier, veterinarian y). Turtles have a long life, so be aware that they can live longer than you with good care.

2. 

   
   
   Decide whether to raise a water turtle or a tortoise. Water turtles are omnivores and sometimes need to stay underwater. Turtles eat only plants and live on land. Both species need both outdoor and indoor environments and require careful care in order to thrive. Tortoises are famous for being "easy to keep" pets, but in fact they also require a bit of care.

3. 

   
   
   Visit turtle breeders and talk to other turtle owners online. Observe the turtles and see photos for some other options. Which ones do you like? Which species of longtime turtle keepers recommend? If this is your first time keeping turtles, you should also ask which turtles are easiest to care for and suitable for someone who has no experience with turtles.

4. 

   
   
   Pay attention to the climate where you live. With good care, tortoises should at least be outdoors for a while. Choose turtles that will do well in your area, meaning you need to choose turtles that prefer to live in wet conditions if you live in a humid climate. On the contrary, if you live in the desert, you should choose turtles that thrive in dry climates. This will make it much easier to take care of as you won't have to create a new outdoor environment for the turtles and maintain stability.

5. 

   Choose a small turtle. This is essential if you have to move and change the environment in which the turtles live. Trying to create a new outdoor-like environment for humid, humid turtles can be difficult and costly.

6. 

   Find native turtles. As well as choosing turtles that do well in the climate where you live to make care easier, you should also choose turtles that are native to the area in which you live. Native turtles are not everywhere, but ask about turtles that are capable of living in the area.

7. 

   Buy turtles from a breeder or animal aid organization. Turtles elsewhere are often caught in the wild, a practice that has depressed turtle populations worldwide. To protect the environment and native turtles, the best option is to buy locally bred turtles or turtles in relief. advertisement

Part 2 of 4: Creating an indoor environment for turtles

1. 

   Make a home for turtles. The turtle's accommodation must be enclosed. There are many ways to build turtles, but in general they should be relatively spacious, even for small turtles. Many documents suggest that at first it was possible to use large and deep plastic pots to house turtles; But as your turtle grows up, it will need more space. You can take advantage of old bookshelves and unscrew the shelves to make a turtle home, or use a children's plastic swimming pool. Your final choice will depend on the species of turtle.

2. 

   Equipped with facilities for turtles. Turtles have unique needs, and the specifics will depend on the breed you choose. Make sure to have everything ready before buying turtles. You cannot keep and buy items for turtles - turtles need everything right away.

3. 

   Buy the appropriate substrate for your breed. Turtles need a layer of soil for digging and also for waste disposal. It is essential to choose an appropriate substrate of good quality, as the turtles will have extensive contact with the soil.

4. 

   Provide special lighting for tortoises. Turtles need a light that provides UV-B rays to get vitamin B. Be sure to replace a new bulb every 6 months to a year because the UV-B generation of the bulb will be lost over time.

5. 

   Create more moisture for turtles depending on the species. Different species of turtles need different humidity, so you need to check the needs of the species you keep. This need can be low, medium or high depending on their local environment. Most turtles need a layer of dew on the ground.

6. 

   Maintain the right temperature for the species you keep. You can purchase a heating lamp to create a suitable environment for the turtles. This is especially important if your turtle is not native to your area. Temperature is possibly the most important factor for turtles.

7. 

   Provide water for the turtles. Box turtles and tortoises need water in their area. This need varies by species, but generally turtles need a shallow dish or a bowl of water to soak (and be able to defecate in them).

8. 

   Create hiding places for turtles. This is an essential part of how turtles interact with their environment. A turtle's hideout can be as simple as a small plastic box or a bowl with a hole in it. advertisement

Part 3 of 4: Creating an outdoor environment for turtles

1. 

   Make a place outdoors for turtles. This is just as important as the indoor accommodations for many species of tortoise. Make sure the turtle's house is spacious and safe. You need to protect turtles from predators, and not let them go away. The turtle's habitat should be high enough that they cannot climb out and must be fenced in the ground so they cannot dig underneath. Usually turtle habitats also need a roof over them.

2. 

   Be sure to use ground land as the foundation for turtle habitat. Don't use soil in your yard - it is not suitable for tortoises. Be aware that grass - especially wet grass - is also harmful to tortoises. It can scratch and hurt the turtle.

3. 

   Provide plants that turtles love to eat. Your turtle will spend a lot of time outdoors, so it's very sensible to plant a tree. You will not have to worry about finding food for them, and they can choose to eat what they want.

4. 

   Create hiding places and explore for turtles using materials like stone, wood, etc. Do not give turtles a flat and monotonous outdoor area. Make small hills for turtles to climb, many areas for them to explore and many other rich environments within their habitats. advertisement

Part 4 of 4: Taking care of your pet turtle

1. 

   Feed the turtle with the right nutrition. Some nutrients such as calcium or protein, if consumed in excess, can stunt or even die. Remember that tortoises are herbivores, and canned turtles are omnivores. You should feed canned turtles, snails, crickets, and other animal foods twice a week. The rest will eat fruit like watermelon, berries, and tomatoes. Green vegetables are also a great addition to a turtle's diet. Tortoises do not eat animals, and their diets are relatively different. Find out and determine which diet is best for your turtle.

2. 

   
   
   Consider whether to hibernate your turtle. Hibernation is a controversial issue among turtle farmers. Check with your vet to see if your pet turtle needs to hibernate. Remember that turtles that do not have enough fat stores can easily die from hibernation. Hibernation is also not recommended for turtles that are otherwise weak. Some turtle experts warn against hibernation.
   • If you choose to hibernate your turtles, you need to carefully prepare your habitat. You can even make a special hibernation box for turtles, depending on the needs of each species. The hibernation box should be located at a stable temperature and not flooded. Two weeks before the intended time of hibernation, you should stop feeding the turtles, and begin to slightly lower the turtle's temperature. The hibernation period can last from 3-5 months. Make sure to test the temperatures according to the needs of the species you keep.

3. 

   
   
   Create a good environment for the turtle and your family. Tortoises should not live in a home with a dog (tortoise's predator). Remember that turtles are not ideal companions for babies and young children. Many experts recommend that children under 12 years of age should not come into contact with turtles. Most small turtles carry salmonella, which can be life-threatening in babies, the elderly, and people in poor health. Even if your turtle is not a “small turtle”, children are still at risk of getting sick from the turtle.

4. 

   
   
   Take the turtle to the vet for a routine check-up. Most turtles carry parasites and can carry other pathogens, including some dangerous human diseases. Depending on where you buy turtles, your turtle could be at risk of malnutrition or dehydration. With turtles, it can be difficult to tell if they have a health problem, so choose a veterinarian who specializes in special animals.

5. 

   Change the environment for turtles as they get older. Most tortoises will grow in size fairly large as they mature. This means adjusting the turtle's habitat both indoors and outdoors, feeding patterns, and possibly hibernation. Water turtles need 0.3 square meters of area for every 20 centimeters of turtle length. Turtles need even more space - at least 2.5 square meters of area for every 30 centimeters of turtle length. advertisement