How to care for a turtle

Video: How to take care of a Turtle? 🐢 RED EARED SLIDER

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 5: Choosing Your Turtle
Part 2 of 5: Nutrition and Care for Your Turtle
Part 3 of 5: Keeping your turtle in your home
Part 4 of 5: Taking care of your turtle outdoors
Part 5 of 5: Keeping Your Turtle Healthy
Warnings
What do you need

Turtles have existed on our planet for over 200 million years, which means that these amazing creatures walked the earth at the same time as dinosaurs. They have become adorable pets that are fun to watch and care for. However, since they have been around us for a long time, they have enough time to develop some preferences and work out a certain list of personal needs. This means that caring for your turtle is more of a responsibility than you might think, and it takes time and dedication to ensure that your turtle is healthy and strong.If you want to know how to start caring for this incredible creature, then start with the first step.

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Choosing Your Turtle

1 Choose your turtle. There are many types of them, and when it comes time to choose, many factors are taken into account, such as how you want her to look, what environment she prefers, and how much you intend to "fork out" for this creature in the shell. Any type of turtle will make a wonderful pet once you take on the responsibilities of caring. Some of the most common species of turtles are spurred, leopard, red-footed, yellow-footed, Greek, Russian, Balkan and stellate Indian. Here are some points you should know before choosing a turtle:
- The quantity... Although the turtle you bring home may be small and cute to begin with, it can grow over 60 cm after 5-10 years in the house. If you really intend to keep it for a long time, then you will have to consider if you can care for a large turtle. It all comes down to whether you plan on keeping it indoors or out. If you plan to keep it in the house, then it is better to choose a smaller turtle.
- Environment... Turtles generally don't like the cold, so if you live in cooler climates you will need to keep your turtle indoors for part of the year (unless you keep it inside all the time). In this case, you need to choose a turtle that will do well indoors for at least part of the year. If you live in a very hot climate and want to keep your turtle outside, this will be easier, but you may need to block some species of turtle from the light.
- Price... Everyone thinks the star turtle looks great, but it's not cheap either. When choosing your turtle, decide how much money you want to spend.
2 Buy yourself a turtle from a reputable seller. It is important to buy your turtle from a reputable seller who has a successful sales history and can promise that the turtle you choose is healthy. Avoid purchasing your creature at the reptile show, as it may turn out that you buy, and you will not be able to contact the seller again. Ideally, your salesperson should guarantee that your turtle will live for at least a few days, although it is difficult to give a longer warranty as he or she will not be able to verify how you care for the animal.
- Find a salesperson who prides themselves on their customer service, whether it's a pet store or looking for a pet online. If your salesperson says that he or she will be easy to contact after purchase, then chances are you are making a safe deal.
- There are some legal restrictions on keeping or breeding certain species of turtles, especially Mediterranean breeds. If you want one, then make sure that the seller has a certificate from the C.M.T.I.V. (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
3 Make sure you commit to caring for your turtle for a long time. If you are looking to take care of your turtle for a year or two and then move in, then this pet may not be the right pet for you. Turtles can live from 50 to 100 years, which means that your beloved pet will live longer than you. Don't be intimidated by this; just make sure that when you bring your pet, you live in a stable environment and know someone to trust your turtle to when you leave or after you leave.
- You don't need to live in one place for 50 years, but you need to be willing to take care of an additional member in the house for a long time.

Part 2 of 5: Nutrition and Care for Your Turtle

1 Feed your turtle. The type of food a turtle eats is highly dependent on its species. It is important to ask where you buy her what food can be made part of her main diet.Basically, most turtles eat a variety of leafy greens, such as the “spring mix” you can find at any grocery store. When turtles are still small, they need more tender food, as their tiny jaws will have a hard time handling rough food. The basis of the diet of a land turtle should be weeds, leaves of edible plants and hay (80%), then vegetables allowed for feeding turtles (15%) and fruits (5%).
- Your turtle will also need supplements to make sure she or he grows healthy and strong. Your turtle will need a calcium supplement twice a week, a multivitamin supplement two or three times a week, and a vitamin D3 supplement if it lives indoors and does not receive sunlight.
- Some turtles prefer dandelion leaves, celery leaves, lettuce and sometimes fruit. Grapes may also be a good option.
2 Provide your turtle with water. It is important that your turtle has enough water to keep it strong and not dehydrated. You can simply pour some water into a shallow tray or saucer and sink it into the floor of the enclosure so the turtle cannot turn it over. It should be small enough so that your turtle can easily stand in it and lower its head without completely submerging itself in the water.
- Change the water every day. Your turtle should have its own cup of water, whether it lives indoors or outdoors.
3 Handle your turtle with care. Never leave her; if the shell breaks, they die. Also, never press down on the carapace. The carapace is very close to the tortoise's spine, with a minimal amount of tissue between the bones and the carapace. The pressure and impacts on the shells cause severe pain to the turtles. While you may be dying to hold your turtle, you should take it easy and not let others hold too much of it. This can strain your pet and lead to inactivity.
- If there are small children around, explain to them that it will be best if they love and care for the turtle from a distance. Too much attention can scare the turtle.
4 Dip your little turtle in the water several times a week. Turtles need water, especially when they are small. When you bring your turtle home for the first time, you should dip it in water several times a week to keep it fully hydrated, making sure it doesn't dip its head in the water. Usually, after the turtle is wet and feeling well, it immediately starts drinking water. This means that everything is going fine. Remember, more is not always a lot when it comes to bathing your turtle. Land turtles are usually bathed once a week for 15-30 minutes.
5 Choose the type of housing you like for your turtle. Ideally, you should provide some kind of external hiding place for the turtle. Some people believe that it is inhuman to keep a turtle only indoors. If you are really going to have one, you need to be prepared to need an outdoor shelter for it, unless it is a small turtle or a species that can sit comfortably indoors. If you are only going to keep your turtle indoors, then you should look for and choose a species that can handle it.
- You can also mix and match by keeping your turtle indoors during the winter and letting go outside during the warmer months. You must be prepared for both content options.
- Review the sections below to learn how to care for your turtle, whether it lives indoors or not.

Part 3 of 5: Keeping your turtle in your home

1 Find the right accommodation. If you want to keep your turtle at home, then you have to think about the type of enclosure, be it a glass aquarium or a terrarium.Note that you will need at least about half a square meter of space for a small turtle. A 5-10 liter tank is fine for a small turtle, but it will grow quickly and soon you will need to make sure it has enough space.
- You can use glass, but the turtles will get nervous as they try to go through the glass. You can stick paper on the outside to avoid confusion.
- You can also use a fiberglass box or cement mixing tube for your baby turtle. Their advantage is that they have muddy walls, and they will not embarrass turtles as much as glass.
- The fence should not be too high - just a few centimeters.
2 Provide your turtle with adequate lighting. If you keep her outdoors, then you don't need to worry about whether she or he has enough light. But if your pet lives indoors, then you need to make sure that there is enough light, therefore, there is enough vitamin D for health. Here are a few things to consider when setting up lighting for your turtle:
- A land turtle must have two lamps: a heating lamp and a 10uVb UV lamp to provide light, heat and ultraviolet light to the turtle. Important! The UV lamp should be specifically for reptiles and sold in pet stores and aquarium salons, household UV lamps are not suitable and are dangerous for turtles!
- The heating temperature of the lamp should be about 30-35 degrees, but this can vary depending on the type.
- Make sure to position the lamp correctly so that your turtle can absorb the heat and take breaks. The turtle must have a place in the shade, not too close to the heat source - otherwise it will overheat.
- Providing your turtle with warmth and light is essential for more than just health, it contributes to its happiness. They love to sunbathe!
3 Provide proper bedding for your turtle. It must cover the floor where the turtle lives and must be formulated appropriately for health and safety. Most importantly, wherever your turtle lives, indoors or outdoors, you need to make sure it is not too humid or your turtle will be prone to infections. It should be dry enough, but not overdry. The coverage depends on the type of turtle you have. Here are a few points to watch out for:
- If your pet needs a medium to high humidity environment, then your mat should retain moisture well. It should contain something like coconut fibers, sphagnum moss or peat moss in this case.
- If your pet needs a drier climate, then the mat should contain dried coconut fibers, grass cuttings, or shredded paper. You can also lay out a newspaper as an economical option. Either way, shredded paper works best for the decor, as it offers a more interesting option for the turtle.
- Avoid using sand in the cover, as the turtles can swallow it and seriously injure themselves.
- When your turtle lives outdoors, the coating does not play as much of a role as a suitable natural environment. You can add environmental peat for extra stimulation. Just make sure anything that is used as a coating is free of chemicals or pesticides.

Part 4 of 5: Taking care of your turtle outdoors

1 Create a protective barrier for your turtle. Keeping your turtle outdoors in moderate temperatures is ideal. Although, you can let the turtle out into your yard and let him or her do whatever they want. Instead, you should place an escape barrier to keep the turtle within the perimeter. You can use concrete blocks bonded together or painted or sealed wood walls.
- Your turtle will try to dig a hole or dig in the corners of the barrier, so it should be neat and sturdy. If your turtle is digging, you can also pull the net down below to maintain the barrier.
2 Provide shelter for your turtle. You will need this kind of shelter to make your turtle feel safe, to protect it from heat, rain, or other possible factors. You will also want your turtle to feel good and warm and not overheat. Ideally, you should make a burrow where it will sleep and wait out the weather. You can make it out of wood and sprinkle it with a thin layer of sand to keep it warm during cold weather, if necessary.
- First, just dig a large hole. You can put a plywood barrier on the floor there.
- Add a roof to shelter your turtle.
- Cover it with a layer of earth.
3 Provide plants for your turtle. You should keep enough vegetation for your outdoor turtle to eat and feel safe all day. Take a closer look at your turtle's diet to find out what plants are there so that they are not poisonous. Basically, many turtles eat broadleaf weeds such as dandelions, any grass or clover.
4 Reward your turtle. Your turtle needs to have an interesting environment so that it doesn't get bored and stays active. You can add a few tufts of grass for the turtle to dig, and also help it hide in the shade. You can place some boulders there to give your turtle some privacy, as long as they are not too sharp. You can also plant some small trees to provide shade and shelter, and to improve the appearance of the environment.

Part 5 of 5: Keeping Your Turtle Healthy

1 Protect your turtle from other animals. If your turtle is kept outdoors, then you should take precautions to keep it away from other predators such as cats. If you have a dog, never let him get close to the turtle; even the best-mannered dogs can attack a turtle without warning. While you cannot completely shield your turtle from birds, foxes, or other predators, try to provide as much protection as possible by building shelters and places to hide, keeping the fence intact and observing the outside world.
- Some recommend covering the young turtle's house with wire mesh to keep out pesky critters.
2 Help your turtle stay healthy if it closes its eyes. Many believe that something has happened to the turtle if it keeps its eyes closed. In reality, this is rarely the case. If the turtle keeps its eyes closed, it usually means something is wrong, and in most cases, the turtle is short of water. In this case, dip it in water and water the shelter a little to make it more humid if the turtle lives indoors. If this happens all the time, then you should make the coating more damp or visit your veterinarian to find out the cause of your pet's closed eyes.
3 Help your turtle stay active by meeting its natural needs. While it's okay for a little turtle to sleep most of the day, if your animal is completely inactive, then it's time for you to start taking action to pinpoint the source of the problem. Here are some reasons why your animal might become inactive:
- One of the most common reasons is that your turtle is too cold. Make sure it is in a place that is warm to the environment. Cover it with wood or turf or other materials to keep it warm if needed.
- If your turtle lives indoors, then make sure he or she is provided with light. The bright light makes her more active.
- Make sure your little turtle gets regular baths throughout the day.One of the reasons for its lethargy may be a lack of moisture.
- Watch to see if it is being held in your hands too often. While you may feel like holding her and letting ten of your best friends hold her, it might scare your pet. Try to minimize hand holding, especially in the beginning, so that your turtle feels comfortable - no pun intended - inside its shell.
- Make sure your turtle has a balanced diet. Make sure the mixture of herbs, vegetables, and supplements contains everything it needs to be healthy.
4 Maintain the strength of your turtle's shell. If it has a soft shell, then it looks like it lacks light. This is rare for those who live outdoors, but it can happen for those who live in the house, as it is more difficult for her to access a constant source of light. If your house turtle has a soft shell, make sure it is at least 20-25 cm away from the UV light source, and the lamp should be changed after 9-12 months of use to keep it fresh and active.

Warnings

Do not abandon the turtle, as this can damage the shell and subsequently lead to death.
You cannot feed the turtle with animal food, any food for humans or animal food, and also do not get carried away with juicy vegetables / fruits and cabbage.