Geochelone elegans (Indian stellate). European swamp turtle with yellow spots on the body What is the name of the turtle with yellow spots

A reflection of the health and well-being of the domestic turtle is its shell. The owner of such a reptile should know this and carefully monitor the changes in the turtle's "armor".

Unfortunately, many owners of such animals accept the symptoms serious illnesses for signs of natural processes- molting, shell growth or flowering of the aquarium. Meanwhile, in order in order to recognize the disease in time, you just need to periodically examine your pet and know what features of the state of the shell are the reason for going to the doctor.

When the owner of a land or freshwater turtle brings a sick animal to the veterinarian, the disease is usually caused by one of two reasons - improper maintenance or improper feeding.

The shape of the shell directly depends on the lifestyle of the animal. Land turtle has a shell with a convex shape and horny outgrowths, which create its density. Have freshwater representatives the carapace is usually flat. Have sea ​​turtles it has a teardrop shape that allows you to move quickly in the water. Among the many species of turtles, there are also soft-bodied, that is, having soft skin as a shell.

But we will not talk about these representatives of the fauna yet.

What should be alarming in the state of the shell?

In general, any deviation from the normal state of the cover, integrity or color cannot be ignored. Another thing is that not every damage to the shell should be a reason for visiting a veterinarian. And in order to distinguish serious problems from nonsense, it is enough to know a few simple features, and then your house turtle will always be healthy.

Carapace damage

If you have a land tortoise, the most common thing you will have to deal with is traumatic damage to the shell. This usually happens when the domestic turtle crawls into a narrow space or falls from a considerable height. At the same time, it also happens that the owners are not aware of the injuries received. That's why it is necessary to regularly examine the pet for scratches, cracks and other changes.

If you nevertheless notice damage to the tortoise's shell, then do not delay, immediately contact your veterinarian herpetologist. Only a specialist can help restore the integrity of the shell and answer the question of what happened, because cracks are the result of not only injuries, but also serious diseases. Have insipidly aquatic turtles damage to the carapace can lead to serious peptic ulcer disease. This begins with a fungus attack on the shell, causing cracks and scratches to develop into ulcers. With such diseases, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

Peeling shell

What at land turtle the skin on the neck and paws may peel off- normal, this is a natural molting process. However, many owners of such animals believe that the shell can also peel off for the same reason. This is not true. If light scales appear on the shell, this means that the domestic turtle has a fungus or is deficient in vitamin A. Aquatic turtles may develop slight flaking on their shells as they molt, this is normal. This condition does not require any medical procedures. However, if a water turtle becomes covered with large rags of skin, and this happens for a long time, then this is already a serious cause for concern. Such symptoms appear in case of fungal diseases, which requires cleaning the terrarium and adding blue to the water.

Discoloration of the corneous scutes of the carapace

Often, molting in a land turtle is manifested by the formation of a small air bubble under the horny shield (a section of the shell on the back) or its ebb. But if under the flap appears a large number of bubbles or it changes color, this may be evidence of the development of secondary bacterial or fungal microflora, as well as the development of unicellular algae. Such problems can lead to the destruction of the shell.

If a dark-colored liquid appears under the corneal shield, resembling blood, and pours out when pressed, you need to consult a doctor immediately !!! This is how kidney failure develops in the turtle. And if you do not help her, the animal will die. Pink spots with a characteristic rough surface on the shell of a freshwater turtle are a sign of the development of osteomyelitis. It appears due to bacterial damage to the shell. If this disease is not treated, then the top layer of the carapace may die off, which will be manifested by the appearance of areas of yellow color. As the disease progresses, bone tissue and even internal organs can be affected.

Soft carapace

The density of the tortoise shell indicates an abundance of calcium in the body, accordingly, if the shell becomes soft to the touch, this is the reason for prescribing additional calcium intake to the animal. In aquatic turtles, the softness of the shell indicates non-compliance by the owner of the rules of maintenance (for example, a lack of ultraviolet radiation) or a lack of vitamin D. Therefore, in such situations, it is necessary to make sure that the domestic turtle lives in good conditions and introduce foods containing the missing vitamin into her diet. However, remember, in no case should turtles be given vitamins intended for dogs and cats, we recommend using Kalfos and Kalfon preparations in such situations.

Algae on the shell (in freshwater turtles)

Almost all aquatic turtles have some algae on their shells. However, if there are too many of them, this indicates that the water in the terrarium is polluted or its lighting is too bright. If there are too many algae on the pet's body, this can lead to flaking of the shields and even to the destruction of the shell. In order to avoid this, you need to clean the shell with Lugol's solution and be sure to clean the aquarium.

All of these signs should not be ignored. A domestic turtle can be sick for a long time, slowly dying. Often people bring their pets to the clinic and are sincerely surprised that the reptile is on the verge of life and death, and sometimes doctors can no longer do anything. Therefore, remember, any changes and damage to the tortoise shell must be eliminated or seriously treated, otherwise you will lose your exotic friend.

The shell of a fairly mature turtle is usually wrinkled. Its length depends on a specific subspecies and, as a rule, reaches 28 centimeters. has a small spot near the eyes. A feature is that their colors are diverse and tend to change over the years. Thus, in youth they have a green color, and in old age they are completely black. The abdominal shield of the carapace has bright yellow with darkish round spots. The turtle grows as follows: for the first year and a half of life, their growth reaches 7.5 cm, then the rate becomes slower and per year it increases by only 1.25 cm.In two years, growth can be more than 20 cm, that is, it is mistaken to consider it dwarf. And you shouldn't listen to sellers who convince you otherwise.

Scripta Scripta is about 27 cm long. This turtle has a bright yellow postorbital speck. Her plastron is deep yellow.

Another subspecies - Elegant, has a length of 28 centimeters. The reddish postorbital stripe is located on the head, and there are narrow stripes on the chin. The abdominal shield of the carapace has large specks on all the scutes.

The third species of turtle - Scripta Troostii, has the smallest length of all - about 21 centimeters. On the head there is a narrow postorbital stripe of yellowish color, and on the chin there are wide stripes. And her plastron consists of unusual patterns in the form of "eyes", and sometimes from ordinary small black specks.

Habitat

Turtles live in shallow lakes with swampy low shores. You can find them in the USA in Florida, Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, as well as in Mexico, throughout Central America, in northern Columbia.

What to feed the Tinder turtle

As for young turtles, they need animal food for active vital growth of the body. In this regard, it should be given once a day, but no more. Also, the aquarium should contain a variety of algae and any other plants that are edible for turtles.

Adult turtles are individuals that are much larger than 12 centimeters. They should eat food every two or three days, and half of their diet must necessarily be some kind of vegetation. Any edible plants should be kept in the aquaterrarium for turtles to eat between meals.

The amount of food given is determined based on the size of the turtle. For babies, the norm is two or three pieces of one cubic centimeter, and for older turtles, two or three pieces are several times larger in size.

It is necessary to ensure that the food is at a suitable room temperature and always of a raw consistency. It is important to remember that young turtles are, first of all, predators. Their main food is fish. You can add live fish to the aquarium, which you cannot eat. It is necessary to diversify the given diet and not feed only gammarus and dry food. And adult turtles are omnivorous. They eat both animal and plant food.

Types of feed

From fish it is useful for turtles to eat pollock, gobies, cod, blue whiting and any other, but not fatty. Liver can be beef, and you can also give liver, chicken heart... From insects and crustaceans: not dry gammarus, earthworms, daphnia crustaceans, crickets without legs, beetles. You can also diversify the food served with the help of small snails, mollusks, squids, frogs, small tadpoles, you should not get carried away with sea products, since any turtle itself is sea. Aquatic plants are not prohibited from plant food: duckweed, hyacinth and others. In addition, it can be dandelion, daisies and any non-poisonous meadow flowers and plants. And vegetables, except for carrots and lettuce leaves, are undesirable.

It is strictly forbidden to give meat turtles to eat: any minced meat, sausages, beef, sausage, lamb, chicken, pork and more. Forbidden oily fish, cheese, fruits and bread. It is best to avoid dry food.

If the aquarium is well equipped, has ultraviolet lighting, appropriate temperature conditions, then vitamins can be omitted from the diet. But, in the case when the conditions are far from ideal, then it is imperative to remember about the vitamin and mineral base. For this purpose, vitamins are already included in the feed.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity occurs in females and males in different ways and this is also influenced by their lifestyle. If they are in captivity, then this period begins from 4 years in males and from 5-6 years in females. And in the wild, they reach maturity by about 8 years. Mating season begins in the spring: in the month of March - April. Their process is as follows: the male crawls very close to the female, sticks his muzzle into her and tickles her chin with long claws.

The eggs laid do not exceed 4 cm in size. They are laid on land, not in water. But the place for the eggs must be wet, so the female moistens it with water from the anal bladders and then pulls out a small hole. In their nests, turtles - females lay no more than 10 eggs, which are subsequently buried. The incubation period is up to 150 days. Interesting feature with temperature. If the temperature remains above 30 degrees, then females hatch, and if below 27 - males.

What should be an aquaterrarium for a turtles

It should be quite long, but at the same time not wide and low. The volume is not less than 120 liters. The water level must match the proportions of your turtle's shell so that it can roll over. A small shore should be equipped near the aquarium. Maintain the water temperature within 25 degrees, on land - 31 - 33 degrees. To keep the temperature at the same level, a special heater must be provided.

The water must be changed and cleaned depending on the degree of contamination. But you can also use a special filter. For young turtles, external is preferable, and for adults only internal. An ultraviolet lamp does not hurt, but it should not be located low, the approximate height is 25 cm, so that the turtle does not get burned eyes. Another option for arranging an aquaterrarium is an incandescent lamp with the same requirements. They both need to shut down for the night.

If the weather is nice and warm outside, then try to take out the turtles to bask more often. But remember that the first time you do not need to keep it in the sun for more than 5 minutes. And it is important to increase the time spent in the fresh air gradually. They also need a dark place where they can periodically hide from the sun, as they are prone to overheating.

So, for the other two turtles from January to March, the temperature should be 18 degrees, and the lighting duration should be 8 hours, April - 21/8, where 21 is the temperature, and 8 is the lighting duration, May - 24/10, June - 27 / 13, July - 28/13, August - 28/11, September - 25/10, October - 22/8, November and December - 18/8.

And for Trachemys scripta troostii the requirements are as follows: January - March - 18/8, April - 20/8, May - 21/10, June - 23/13, July - 26/13, August - 25/11, September - 20 / 10, October - December - 18/8.

Falling into hibernation

Some scientists have argued that Trachemys scripta goes into hibernation and that they need it. But it is quite difficult to imagine this process at home. It would be more logical not to create difficulties for yourself and not cause unnecessary harm to the health of the turtle, organizing hibernation for it.

Up to 45 years, and European marsh can last up to 80.

Many fishermen use their eggs to bait fish.

Be careful, as turtles can bite not only their own kind, but also humans! But if they are accustomed to the hands, then there is nothing to be afraid of.

And don't forget that balanced diet the guarantee of the active growth of the turtle and its longevity!

Video review

The gorgeous turtle belongs to those species of freshwater turtles that are ideal for keeping at home: it quickly adapts to new habitats, gets used to the owner and is unpretentious in feeding (eats small fish, earthworms, vegetables and green salad). Distributed in the southern United States.

Appearance

A small, up to 20 cm long, animal with a high ridge on the ridge and a slightly curved upward edging of the shell. The general color is light brownish red; a spotted pattern of a light red hue is visible on the head, neck and legs.

Lifestyle

The gorgeous turtle spends a lot of time on land, moving into the water only at dusk. Professor R. Mertens described the curious behavior of adults who threw sand with their front feet on their backs: thanks to the upward-curved edge of the shell, the sand lingered on the backs of the animals. The researcher suggested that turtles use this technique as a kind of disguise.

Diadem turtle

In captivity, the diadem tortoise gets along well with other species of turtles. At the slightest danger, the animal opens its mouth wide and makes sounds similar to the hissing of snakes, but never bites.

The diadem turtle is found in the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra basins. Lives in deep, low-flowing bodies of water.

It is considered the only representative of its kind.

Appearance

The tortoise shell is 50 cm long. There is a small longitudinal keel on the back. The color of the carapace is dark brown. On the head there is a characteristic pattern of light yellow stripes forming a diadem (hence the name): from the tip of the muzzle, yellow stripes go behind the eyes and join at the back of the head.

Diadem turtle meat is surprisingly tasty and tender, which is why turtle fishermen take risks, diving to the very bottom of their prey.

Lifestyle

Feeds on plant food... Small aquatic animals make up an insignificant part of the diet.

In case of danger, the turtle dives into the water and buries itself in the silt.

Caroline box turtle

The captive box turtle gets along well with other species of turtles. It feeds mainly on food of plant origin, however, it also eats animal food with pleasure. There are cases when these turtles ate poisonous mushrooms without harm to their own health. Distributed in the southeast of Canada and the east of the United States to Texas.

Appearance

Box-shaped Caroline turtles differ from other species by a very bright color: bright yellow spots and stripes stand out against the general dark gray background. The iris of the eyes makes this turtle especially attractive - bright red in males and reddish-brown in females.

Lifestyle

The Karolinska turtle lives in forests in the immediate vicinity of ponds or streams, but sometimes it can also be found in open places - in meadows, swamps or in dry hilly areas. During the day, it goes out on land, and with the onset of darkness, it hides in the water. It also hibernates on land, tearing the soil with its front paws and burying itself in sod or leaf litter.

In June-July, females start laying eggs by digging a small nest-hole with their hind legs. Cubs are born in the fall and, without leaving the surface, remain in the nests for the winter.

Box turtle

The main food for Caroline turtles is green parts of plants, mushrooms and berries.

During the breeding season, turtles eat worms, molluscs and various insects.

Turtle painted

Distributed from southern Canada to Florida, the Mississippi delta and northern Mexico, the Rocky Mountains, in the north of the United States up to the Pacific Ocean. A rather unpretentious animal: some individuals eat both plant and animal food in home conditions, and do not impose special requirements on the temperature regime.

Appearance

The length of the painted turtle does not exceed 18 cm, the carapace is smooth, greenish-brown with reddish-yellow stripes. Marginal scutes with bright red spots, red spots and stripes on the legs, longitudinal red-yellow stripes on the neck.

Lifestyle

Painted turtles live in river bays, shallow ponds, densely overgrown with vegetation. They spend most of the day in the water, in exceptional cases moving to land. In mid-June - early July, females go to land, where they lay eggs. For wintering, turtles burrow into silt at the bottom of the reservoir. Animal nutrition is mixed, with a slight predominance of animal feed.

There are several subspecies of the painted turtle.

Turtle painted north american

The painted North American turtle is the most common turtle found in fresh waters. This beautiful and unpretentious animal is ideal for a home terrarium. The only condition that a turtle makes to its place of residence is pure water... Distributed in North America, northern Mexico.

Appearance

The average weight of a turtle does not exceed 60 g. The shell is smooth, flattened, oval, painted in green-black colors, with red and yellow markings in some subspecies. The length of the carapace reaches 10–18 (sometimes 25) cm. Plastron is yellow, sometimes with red, black or reddish-brown spots of various outlines.

The skin of North American painted turtles is black or olive with red and yellow stripes on the neck, legs and tail. There are yellow stripes on the head. Males have long claws on their front legs, tails are long and thick. Females have shorter and thinner claws and tails. Females reach a length of 85 mm, males 130 mm. In the first years of life, sexual dimorphism is weak. Males reach sexual maturity by 3 years, females only by 7.

The shell of the North American painted turtle serves it as an excellent protection, at the same time causing a lot of inconvenience: over time, the ribs grow together with the shell, as a result of which the turtle cannot breathe, inflating its chest. She has to breathe in and out through the lateral and shoulder muscles.

Lifestyle

North American painted turtles feed on plant and animal food, insects, and do not disdain carrion. The turtle chews food with serrated plates, which replace its teeth.

Painted turtle

After coming out of hibernation, the turtles begin to mate, for which they need enough low temperature water. Therefore, quite often the mating period occurs in autumn, less often in early spring. In early June, females look for a sunny area near the water, dig deep and narrow holes and lay from 4 to 15 oval eggs with soft shells in them.

The babies hatched from eggs spend the first days of life in exceptional silence so as not to attract the attention of predators. They are in real danger of being eaten from all sides, and their main enemy is predatory fish for which little turtles are desirable prey. However, growing up, turtles retain the habit of producing as few sounds as possible.

North American painted turtles have excellent sense of smell and color vision, but the situation with hearing is worse.

North American painted turtles live in freshwater rivers and lakes on a pebble bank, densely overgrown with vegetation, with a muddy bottom.

Western turtle painted

The western painted turtle is considered the largest of its kind. Currently, as a result of crossing Western painted turtles with representatives of other subspecies, hybrids have been obtained that perfectly adapt to life in captivity. This turtle is widespread from Ontario to British Columbia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming. Quite significant populations are found in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Chihuahua (Mexico).

Appearance

The length of the shell of an adult can reach 25 cm (usually 20 cm). Carapace is green, with a web of light patterns. The plastron is yellow, sometimes reddish, with a dark blurred pattern.

Lifestyle

V natural conditions habitat turtles prefer shallows, ponds, swamps, lakes with a clay bottom and an abundance of aquatic plants. Western painted turtles are predominantly diurnal, with the onset of dusk the animals sink to the bottom or hide on half-flooded logs. In the morning they go back to land and spend several hours in the sun before going in search of food. The turtles take rest breaks between meals, after which the feeding process resumes.

Sunbathing at Western painted turtles resembles a kind of ritual. A few hours after sunrise, in the habitats of these animals, you can find several dozen individuals of various age groups basking in the sun.

In early March, the mating season begins for Western painted turtles. During this period, the turtles are divided into pairs and the males begin courtship. The male swims around the female, periodically colliding with her head, after which he grabs her neck and head with his long claws and shakes his whole body. The female, ready for mating, sinks to the bottom of the pond and stretches her forelimbs.

The female lays eggs near the shore in a hole, which she pulls out in the sand. The sex of small turtles is influenced by the temperature of the incubation period: females hatch at a temperature of 30.5 ° C, and males at 25 ° C. At average temperature the same number of males and females are hatched.

Baby turtles are born into the world by biting through the egg shell with their caruncle, or egg tooth, which falls out a few days after birth.

The shell of a newborn turtle is extended with a keel. With age, the outlines of the shell change. The pigmentation of the carapace in babies is lighter and the patterns are more distinct than in adults. Turtles reach physical maturity at the age of 5 years. These animals live up to 15–20 years.

Western painted turtles tolerate lower temperatures environment... Even very small turtles survive in relatively light frosts, and adults feel great swimming under the ice. However, the turtles living in the northern regions prefer to hibernate during this time, burying themselves in heaps of silt or mud. The amount of oxygen that enters their body through the skin is quite enough for them during hibernation. Animals living in the southern regions are active all year round.

Western painted turtle

The food of painted turtles is very varied. They eat both plant and animal food. Young turtles prefer food of animal origin, however, as they grow up, they almost completely switch to plant food.

Many hobbyists keep Western painted turtles at home, equipping them with spacious terrariums. But it is worth noting that these animals are very shy and any sudden movement of a person causes them to panic: turtles immediately hide at the bottom of an artificial reservoir.

Oriental turtle painted

Extended to east coast USA. In conditions of maintenance, it requires a rather loose and at the same time moist soil for nesting.

Appearance

The carapace of the eastern painted turtle usually has a length of 13 to 15 cm, however, there are some individuals, the length of the carapace of which is 18 cm.

A feature of this animal is that the lateral and vertebral shields of the carapace are located in the same plane. The color of the carapace is olive or dark brown, the plastron is yellow, sometimes with brown spots.

On the head of the eastern painted tortoise, behind the eyes, there are yellow spots, and on the sides of the head and neck there are two stripes, which are painted yellow on the head and turn red on the neck. There are also red spots on the marginal scutes, as well as on the limbs and tail.

Lifestyle

The painted turtle spends most of its life in the water, occasionally going out on land to bask in the sun. In case of danger, she hides in the water. These turtles do not always hibernate, often hibernating under the ice.

Turtle painted southern

This subspecies lives in the southern states of the United States. In conditions of detention, it makes increased demands on temperature and humidity conditions.

Appearance

The southern painted turtle differs from the previous species in that its carapace has an orange longitudinal stripe along the spine. The margins also have orange stripes. The length of the carapace of this turtle does not exceed 15 cm.

Lifestyle

Shows activity throughout the year. Unlike other species of turtles, it does not hibernate. The female usually lays up to three clutches per year, each clutch contains 5 to 12 eggs. The incubation period lasts 45-60 days; depending on the temperature, either males (at low temperatures) or females (at high temperatures) are born.

Musk turtle

A feature of the musk turtle is the presence of two pairs of musk glands under the carapace. If the turtle is frightened or angry, a yellowish liquid with an unpleasant odor is released from them. Lives in North America.

Appearance

The carapace of this species is tall, domed, brown or dark gray, from 7.5 to 14 cm long.

In adults, the carapace is smooth and most often monochromatic, in juveniles it has 3 keels and irregular dark spots or stripes. The plastron consists of 11 shields held together by a bundle. Males differ from females by the presence of a blunt ridge on the tail and scaly calluses on the inner surface of the hind limbs. The comb on the tail of the females is pointed.

Lifestyle

The breeding season for turtles begins at the end of winter - early summer, depending on the region of residence. Animals mate only in water. Females lay 1 to 9 eggs in small nests, which mature in 9–12 weeks.

Musk turtles inhabit mainly stagnant water bodies or small ponds. V warm weather animals often go ashore to bask in the sun. Despite the fact that musk turtles swim quite well, they most often move along the bottom of the reservoir in search of food.

Malay box turtle

The Malay box turtle lives in tropical forests, as a result of which it is active throughout the year, that is, unlike most of its relatives, it does not hibernate. Distributed in Southeast Asia.

Appearance

The general color of the Malay box turtle is dark olive, with three yellow stripes on each cheek. The length of an adult individual reaches 20 cm. The color of the carapace is dark olive or dark in different shades in some subspecies. The shape of the carapace can also vary from flattened to bulky. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: the lower carapace of females is more concave, the tail is longer and thicker than that of the female. The female's claws are much thinner than those of the male. Animals reach sexual maturity by 5 years.

Lifestyle

Malay box turtles live in low-lying rainforests. The diet of Malay box turtles is very diverse: they eat green parts of plants, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, insects and their larvae, algae, small fish and even crustaceans. Interestingly, the Malay box turtles feed only 2 times every 6-7 days, and they eat only in water.

For a home terrarium, it is best to purchase turtles of a relatively small size. Keep in mind that some species continue to grow throughout their lives.

The lifespan of Malay turtles depends on the habitat: in nature, one turtle lived for about 38 years, while in captivity these reptiles live only up to 20 years.

Mating of animals also occurs in water, and the turtles lay eggs on land: the females find a damp place near the reservoir and dig holes with their hind legs, where after a while they lay from 1 to 5 eggs of a spherical shape. With favorable weather conditions females make several clutches. From the moment of fertilization to the beginning of hatching of the young from the eggs, 76 days pass.

Malay box turtles are often kept in captivity. It is worth noting that these animals not only get along well with other inhabitants of terrariums, but also reproduce successfully.

Chinese box turtle

The population of the Chinese box turtle has recently declined significantly due to the fact that it has been exported to the United States for many years as a raw material for drugs... Dwells in South China, in Taiwan and Ryukyu Island.

Appearance

The carapace is convex, the carapace and plastron are dark brown, a clear light yellow stripe runs along the back, the plastron is bordered with light yellow. Unlike most species, in which the plastron is connected to the carapace by a bone bridge, the Chinese box turtle has movable joints called ligaments. The carapace, fastened in this way, provides a secure shelter in case of danger.

On the front legs of the animals, 5 claws each, on the hind legs - 4 each. Top part the head is colored light green, bright yellow stripes go from the eyes to the back of the head. The neck and chin are apricot, pink or yellow. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed: the tail of males is somewhat wider and longer than that of females.

The length of the carapace of baby Chinese turtle is 31–44 mm, weight is from 8 to 13 g.

Lifestyle

In natural conditions, turtles live in the subtropical or temperate zone in wooded areas or in rice fields near reservoirs overgrown with dense vegetation.

The mating process of Chinese turtles takes place on land. He is preceded by the courtship of the male for the female: he either chases after his girlfriend to turn her over, then rubs his head against her chin. Sometimes the male gently bites the female. The courtship process in Chinese box turtles is accompanied by mating songs that resemble whistles. Courtship ends the moment the male bites the female and thereby stops her. The forepaws of the female extended forward symbolize her consent to start mating, after which the male climbs onto her carapace.

The birth of a baby Chinese box turtle

In warm climates, turtles mate throughout the year. If several animals are kept in the aquaterrarium, one can observe the manifestation of aggression of adult males towards other males of their own species, while they are indifferent to turtles of other species.

In natural habitat, females start nesting in March. As a rule, for this they choose a fairly shady place with moist, loose soil. Before laying eggs, females dig several holes about 10 cm deep.

Female Chinese turtles make several clutches a year. In clutch of large females there are 2-3 eggs, small ones lay 1 egg each. The incubation period lasts 80–90 days.

Newborn cubs of the Chinese box turtle run fast and begin to forage already on the 5th day after birth (in the first days they feed on the reserves of the yolk sac). The shape of the shell and color of the babies resemble adult turtles, but their tails are longer, and pink blotches can be seen on the light yellow patterns of the side plates.

Keeping a Chinese box turtle at home

Chinese box turtles are kept in spacious terrariums with clean water and bright lighting. In areas with a warm climate, these animals can be kept outdoors in a specially equipped enclosure. Adults are left in the pen for the winter, since the turtles of this species can tolerate a rather cold (about –24 ° C) winter. Burrowing into the soil, animals hibernate.

In the diet of Chinese box turtles, it must be present as animal feed ( earthworms, snails, slugs, mealworms) and vegetable (strawberries, melon, bananas, carrots, corn on the cob) origin. Calcium supplements or bone meal should be included in the diet about once a week.

In captivity, female Chinese box turtles do not show maternal instinct, so the owner will need to take care of the babies that are born. To do this, the cubs are placed in an aquarium, after having poured settled water there at a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C so that its layer is no more than 1-1.5 cm.In the aquarium there should be a platform of stones and soil, a heating lamp above it, as well as mineral dressing. To feed small turtles, a small amount of small tubule or bloodworms is released directly into the water.

For the best development of baby turtles, the water in the aquarium is changed daily.

As the babies grow, the volume of water in the aquarium increases.

At 6 months of age, the turtles are housed in a shared terrarium or outdoor enclosure. The length of the carapace of a 6-month-old cub reaches 60 mm, body weight - 80–90 g. During the mating period of adult individuals, the cubs are removed from the common terrarium.

Quite often, even a turtle purchased from a pet store has any health problems, which most often arise from improper care of the animal during transportation or from crowded content. Therefore, when choosing pets in a pet store, you should pay attention to their appearance and behavior.

Inexperienced owners of turtles make the same mistakes: they do not let animals out into the fresh air, they keep them on dry food. Turtles that are not outdoors often suffer from sombrero syndrome: their shells are wide and flattened, and their limbs are weak. Keeping in a cramped glass aquarium with little water can result in the animal losing all claws and even fingers.

Spotted turtle

Currently, two populations of the spotted turtle are known to exist separately from each other. One is common in North America, on the east coast of Maine to northern Florida, in coastal zone Virginia, Carolina and Georgia. The second population of the spotted turtle lives in the central area of ​​Indiana, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, some individuals are found in Georgia.

Appearance

The length of the carapace does not exceed 11 cm. The carapace of adult animals is smooth, without protruding sutures, black-brown or almost black in color, with yellow round spots. In old turtles, the spots are faded or completely absent. The plastron is yellow or orange, with a black pattern on each shield; in older individuals it is almost black. The head is black, with one or two yellow spots, limbs on the outside are black with yellow spots, on the inside are orange-pink or pink-red. The neck is also pinkish red.

Spotted turtle

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: the carapace of males is elongated and flattened, a depression is noticeable in the central part of the plastron. The male chin is light brown, the eyes are dark brown or black. The anal opening is removed from the edge of the carapace. In females, the carapace is convex, round, and the plastron is flat. The eyes are orange, the chin is light yellow or orange. The tail is narrow, the anus is under the edge of the shell. Females are slightly larger than males.

The color of the carapace of newborn cubs is the same as in adults, but there is a speck on each shield. The length of the tail is the same as the length of the carapace. Carapace is round in shape, up to 3 cm in length.

Lifestyle

Spotted turtles live in temperate forests and rain forests, inhabiting shallow water bodies with shallows, with a soft muddy bottom and dense thickets vegetation. They are also found in sphagnum bogs and boggy ponds.

The diet of spotted turtles consists of food of plant (water lily seeds, algae, soft leaves of aquatic plants) and animal (small crustaceans, worms, molluscs, amphibian caviar, insects and caterpillars, carrion) origin.

During the mating season, one can observe real battles between adult male spotted turtles. Males fight for every female that reaches puberty.

Animals reach sexual maturity at the age of 7 to 13 years, while the inhabitants of the northern regions begin to bear offspring much later than their southern relatives. Turtles start mating in the spring, after coming out of hibernation.

Courtship of a male for a female is reduced to chasing and biting on paws or carapace, after which he climbs on her, bites her head and neck and starts mating, which can last up to 1 hour.

At the end of May, the female lays from 1 to 8 eggs. Many females begin re-clutches after a while.

To build a nest, the female chooses a damp place, open to the sun's rays, not far from the reservoir. The incubation period from fertilization to hatching depends on the ambient temperature and ranges from 44 to 83 days.

Spotted turtle

The sex of the turtles also depends on temperature conditions: at a temperature of about 30 ° C, females hatch, at a lower temperature, males.

In natural conditions, spotted turtles have a lot of enemies, and first of all, these are raccoons. The turtle traveling in search of food becomes an easy prey for these animals. However, if the animal did not manage to move far from the reservoir, then at the slightest danger it hurries to dive into it and hide at the bottom. Spotted turtles are also hunted by water rats.

North American forest turtle

The age of these animals is determined by the number of scutes on the shell, however, upon reaching maturity, the growth of turtles slows down, which means that this rule is valid only for young individuals.

North American forest turtles are considered the fastest and smartest among other freshwater turtles, as they often have to travel long distances in search of food and constantly flee from enemies during migrations. They are distributed in parts of Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Appearance

The length of the carapace of an adult animal is 15 - 25 cm, it is colored brownish or gray-brown with yellow pigment, the shields are sculptural and voluminous. Old turtles have flat shells. The plastron is yellow with a black pattern.

The head of the turtles is black with light specks. The forelimbs are black or variegated brown, the chest, neck and inner parts of the limbs are colored yellow, orange or red, sometimes interspersed with dark pigment. The color of forest turtles largely depends on local conditions: in the west of the habitat, animals are painted in yellow colors, and in the east - red.

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: the male carapace is convex and long, on the plastron there is a depression in the center, the tail is long and rather thick. The anal opening is far from the edge of the shell. Females are much lower and wider than males, their carapace and plastron are flat, the tail is narrow and short, the anus is located at the very edge of the shell.

The hatched cubs have a round carapace, the length of the carapace reaches 4 cm, the length of the tail coincides with the length of the carapace. The color of young turtles is brown or bright gray.

Lifestyle

The diet of the North American forest turtle is varied. Animals feed on the leaves and flowers of the field and forest plants, fruits, as well as various worms and insects. In addition, North American forest turtles sometimes attack sick or injured fish, eat fish eggs and amphibian eggs, and do not even disdain carrion.

It is known that forest turtles hunt earthworms, luring them out with dull blows of the forelimbs or plastron. It is believed that in this peculiar way these animals imitate the sounds of rain.

Female North American Forest Turtle

Males in natural conditions show aggression towards representatives of their own sex, while females are hostile to both males and other females.

In the spring or autumn, when the turtles spend a lot of time in the water, the mating season begins. The male takes care of the female, after which they both circle in a kind of dance. As soon as the male decides that courtship is over, he begins to bite the female on the limbs and head, forcing her to stop. The male climbs onto the female and, crouching, hits her shell with his plastron. The entire mating process can take place both on land and in a body of water.

In mid-May, the female begins to build a nest, for which she chooses a site near the reservoir, open to the sun's rays, digs a hole and lays from 5 to 14 eggs in it. After that, she buries the eggs and carefully smoothes the surface of the sand.

At the end of August or September, small turtles hatch from the eggs, which immediately go to the water. Unlike many other North American forest turtle cubs, they prefer to spend the winter in a body of water rather than in a nest.

Depending on the temperature of the incubation period, males or females are born from the eggs. Turtles of this species reach sexual maturity at the age of 14–20 years, and their average life expectancy is 58 years.

Most of the time turtles spend in the sun, basking on a half-flooded tree or log. Thus, they synthesize vitamin D in their bodies, and also regulate body temperature. In addition, the sun's rays help turtles fight pests and all kinds of disease-causing bacteria.

North American forest turtles hibernate at the bottom of a shallow reservoir, less often on land, buried in loose moist soil or sand.

Adult single turtles occupy an area of ​​about 5 hectares. As a rule, wandering in search of food, they try not to move very far from water bodies and move mainly along river banks.

Despite the fact that, in general, the turtles prefer not to change their habitat, some of them move to another body of water during the mating season, and return to their native for the winter.

Interestingly, North American forest turtles find their way home unmistakably. So, American researchers once carried out the following experiment: the turtles were moved at a distance of about 2 km, and after a while they all returned back. The experiment was repeated, slightly changing it: some turtles were injected into their nostrils with a special substance that reduces the sense of smell, but, to the surprise of scientists, they still returned to their reservoir.

Female forest turtles spend significantly more time on land than males. However, despite their name, they prefer streams with sandy or pebble bottoms, wetlands and marshes.

Pond turtle Reeves

The Reeves pond turtle is one of the most common turtles kept in captivity. Typically, turtles of this species are sold in pet stores, as well as in bird markets. For home keeping, the Reeves pond turtle is made suitable for its relatively small size. The homeland of the Reeves pond turtle is China and Japan. It is also found in Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Appearance

The length of the shell in adults does not exceed 13 cm, its shape is oval. The color of the carapace is different: from yellowish brown to dark brown, almost black. The head, neck, legs can be olive, greenish-gray or black. White and yellow lines run along the sides of the neck and head in light-colored individuals.

By some signs, you can easily distinguish a male from a female: the tail of males is long, thick at the base, under the tail near the edge of the carapace is the anus. Some amateurs distinguish turtles by color - females are slightly lighter than males.

Lifestyle

The Reeves pond turtle lives in ponds, streams and shallow canals, preferring to inhabit sandy and clay shallows. During the day, turtles crawl out onto logs or a pile of stones to bask in the sun.

Reeves pond turtle male

In their natural habitat, turtles feed on insects, frogs, fish and aquatic plants. They eat well when kept in captivity raw liver, beef heart, boiled chicken, green lettuce, pear, melon, as well as earth and meal worms. Most hobbyists feed their pets with the special "Tetras" Reptomin "turtle mixture.

When feeding your turtle, remember that it does not feel full. With irregular feeding, reptiles consume too much food, which is why they suffer not only from gastrointestinal disorders, but over time they can die from obesity.

Typically, turtles are fed in a separate container. This is done so that food debris does not spoil the water in the aquarium. It is worth noting that the turtles get used to this movement within a few days and themselves ask to go to the "dining room" arranged for them.

Most hobbyists keep Reeves' pond turtle in the aquarium only in winter period, and in the summer they make special enclosures for pets with artificial reservoirs in the open air.

A home turtle tank should be large and long enough. But you don't need to decorate it: very mobile turtles can simply ruin the scenery. All that is required is to place a few large stones or a piece of wood so that the animals can breathe air from time to time. By the way, it is additionally necessary to install a fluorescent lamp under which the turtles will bask.

Reeves pond turtle female

It is very interesting to observe the funny behavior of young turtles: when they go out on land to bask in the sun (or under a lamp), they climb on top of each other in such a way that a kind of pyramid of their bodies is obtained.

Despite the fact that Reeves pond turtles can tolerate even freezing temperatures, at home the water temperature in the aquarium should be at least 22 ° C.

The behavior of turtles during the mating period is interesting. Approaching the female, the male tries to push his head into the holes of her shell in order to collide with her nose or tail. For quite a long time, the female does not seem to notice the courtship of the male, and if he becomes more persistent, then drives him away, opening her mouth threateningly. But the male, in turn, tries to scare the female by opening his mouth wide. Despite all these threats, none of the turtles actually tries to bite the other, and the male's intimidating behavior forces the female to come to terms with his courtship.

Breeding the Reeves pond turtle

As already mentioned, the aquarium where Reeves' pond turtles live must be equipped with a small area of ​​land with sand, where the female will lay her eggs. One turtle usually lays no more than 3 eggs. In order for the embryos to develop correctly, a temperature of at least 25 ° C is required. In this case, after 80 days, cubs are born. At lower temperatures, the turtles hatch later.

It is worth noting that turtles are best purchased from pet stores. Only in this case can you be sure that they are healthy. The fact is that most hand-acquired turtles are infected with some infectious diseases or suffer from a lack of vitamins, as a result of which the shell may peel off and even separate from the internal organs.

Red-eared turtle

Red-eared turtles, thanks to their ability to adapt to low ambient temperatures and eat any food, have settled far beyond their natural habitat in the southeastern United States. Red-eared turtles are widespread in North America, South and Central Europe, South Africa, South-East Asia.

At home, red-eared turtles are kept because of their beautiful coloration. However, despite the fact that in natural habitat these animals are rather unpretentious, it is very difficult to keep red-eared turtles in captivity. As a rule, sellers of red-eared turtles say that animals quickly adapt to domestic conditions, eat everything and reproduce already in the fifth year of life. Alas, this is not the case.

In their natural habitat, the diet of animals is quite diverse, in addition, they prefer to inhabit large, well-lit bodies of water, while in captivity their food is not very diverse, and life is limited by an aquarium and a lamp, which cannot but affect the well-being and ability to reproduction. That is why, when keeping red-eared turtles in captivity, it is very important to create conditions for the animals that are as close to natural as possible.

Female red-eared turtle

Male red-eared turtle

Appearance

Interestingly, in some red-eared turtles, the colors and patterns of the shell and body are quite peculiar. Carapace is oval, slightly flattened. The lower part of the carapace is yellow; the head, neck and legs are painted in the same color. The main body color is greenish, on the shields there is a pattern in the form of green rings. On the legs are powerful membranes. In adults, the general color becomes more diffuse, in old males it becomes dark brown, almost black. A pair of bright orange or red spots similar to ears are visible on the sides of the head (hence the name). Males reach sexual maturity by 3 years and females by 6–7.

Males have a small indentation on the underside of the carapace, which facilitates the mating process. Their tail is long and thin, and has a thickening at the base. The males have long claws on the forepaws. Females are much larger than males.

Lifestyle

They live in shallow water bodies with swampy shores. Mating begins at the end of February. At home, they retain the ability to mate throughout the year.

Each clutch contains about 8-10 eggs. The length of the shell of newborn cubs is about 3 cm. The period of intensive growth lasts a year and a half: during this time, small turtles grow up to 8 cm. Then their growth slows down somewhat, and they grow by about 1–1.3 cm per year.

There are several subspecies of the red-eared turtle, some of them even interbreed with each other.

V feng shui turtle- a symbol of wisdom, longevity, heavenly support and gradual but sure progress forward. This is the most respected feng shui symbol, one of the most powerful talismans. The turtle is one of Celestial animals... There are four of them: tiger, dragon, turtle and phoenix.

The support provided by this symbol is quite multifaceted, but it is mainly directed towards protection, stability and career advancement. And the turtle can really help you a lot to achieve your goals, but only if you work for this, since this animal is also symbol of hard work that is never in vain and is always rewarded. She will not give you a lucky lottery ticket, will not change your life in the blink of an eye, but will direct your aspirations in the right direction, will give wisdom to make the necessary decisions, will provide stability and protect against many negative factors.

First of all, the turtle helps head of the family, because the well-being of the whole family depends on him. That is why it is important that he must have this symbol. It is also very important for old people, because it gives them vitality and improves well-being.

Feng Shui turtle types of mascots

Metal turtle

A figurine made from any metal plated with gold or silver - the best way this talisman. Metal generates water, and water is the native element for the turtle. For this reason, such a talisman acquires special power and is considered the most effective... The heavier such a figure is, the more weighty its support will be.

Pyramid of three turtles

Three turtles, one on one, are symbol of generations... Such a talisman will bring stable prosperity and wisdom to more than one generation in your family.

Feng shui black turtle

Actually, the shape and material do not prevent the figures from having different colors. Therefore, it cannot be said that the black turtle is some kind of special symbol. But the black color corresponds to the water element and the career zone, which this symbol has a special influence on. As a consequence, black is simply enhances the action mascot in this area.

Dragon turtle (dragon-headed turtle)

As we said, the dragon and turtle are two of the four most important animals in feng shui. Accordingly, such a figurine assumes power and strength. two heavenly animals and gives its owner unsurpassed strength, protection and prosperity.

Turtle on coins

With this symbol that unites in itself coins and animal, everything is very clear: a turtle sitting on a hill of coins will help you if you are waiting for a solution to some financial issues or you need to increase your income.

Live turtle

It is no longer just a symbol, but also a feng shui pet. It will bring you wisdom and protection in the same way as a figurine, but it will require attention to itself. Despite the fact that it is better to place the figurine behind the back (we will talk about this a little later), there is no place for an aquarium with an animal - there will be water sweep all your endeavors and efforts that you make while climbing the career ladder.

Other types of turtles

Regardless of what material the turtle will be made of - be it ceramics, wood, soft toys or even just an image - its energy will still fill your home. Therefore, you can even make such a feng shui talisman on one's own... For example, draw this animal on paper, or find an image in a magazine, cut it out and hang it on the wall. You can add a triangle to the shell of blue color symbolizing water and your photograph.

Where to place the feng shui turtle

Turtle match career zone located in the North. It is logical that there she belongs. But since her task is to cover your rear, let her be behind you. The type of turtle you choose depends on what is behind your back: if the surface is flat (for example, a cabinet or a wall), stop at the image of the animal, hanging it so that the turtle crawled up... Then it will pull up and the level of your life.

If there is a shelf or window in the back, you can put a figurine. This should be done so that the turtle looked out the window... In this way, you will allow her to neutralize the harmful Sha energy coming from the outside. It can be factory pipes outside the window, dirt, a sharp corner of a neighboring building, etc. Direct her gaze at such objects - and she will absorb their destructive energy. But by no means a turtle shouldn't look into the room, otherwise it will take away the life force from those living in the house.

Do not forget that the principle "the more the better" in the case of a turtle is not appropriate: she loves loneliness, so the figurine should be only one. This talisman does not need any special activation, but you can enhance its influence by placing a container with water or some plant(except cactus) - what is natural environment turtle habitat.

Although the best place for the turtle in the quarry area, pay attention to material from which the figurine is made. A ceramic or metal turtle will take root in its rightful place. And here wooden better put on South or East. Stone let the figurine stand on balcony, pyramid of three turtles- on Northeast, in the family area (this symbol is appropriate if all three generations live in the house at the same time). Just like a feng shui horse, a turtle should not be placed in the bedroom.

Many feng shui talismans can be depicted on other talismans in order for them to enhance each other's action. As we already understood thanks to the Dragon Turtle, our today's symbol is no exception. Just draw a turtle on any other symbol or stick it on it - and you get double interaction of talismans.

The Orthodox Church is categorically against feng shui!

Name (rus): Indian star
Name (lat): Geochelone elegans, Testudo elegans
Name (eng): Indian Star Tortoise, Starred Tortoise

Suborder: (Cryptodira) Stealth Turtles
Family: (Testudinidae) Turtles
Genus: (Geochelone) Ground

Description: Females grow up to only 22-28 cm, and males - up to 15-18 cm. The turtles got their name because of the peculiar yellow pattern in the shape of a star, with 5 to 8 rays. The center of the "star" coincides with the middle of the convex costal and vertebral scutes. The side plates also have yellow stripes, which are like a continuation of the rays of the "stars". The general background of the carapace is black or dark brown. Despite the brightness, such a "radiant" color perfectly camouflages the animal in natural conditions, when turtles hide between clumps of dry grass. Ocher leather with some black spots. The shell is rounded with pyramidal shields, this structure of the shields is characteristic of stellate turtles; this should not be confused with the curvature of the shell due to poor conditions of detention.

Females have a rounder and wider carapace, a shorter tail, and larger cone-shaped vertebrates and costal scutes. The dorsal scutellum is one, in the male it is elongated and descends downward along the tail. Females are larger than males and usually grow faster. The angle between the anal scutes is rounded.
In males, the vertebral and costal plates are smoother, the tail is long; the shell is oblong; the plastron is concave. Males often show their genitals. The angle between the anal scutes is wide and acute.

This species is quite diverse in color options. In the official taxonomy, it is not customary to distinguish subspecies of stellate turtles, however, they talk about the so-called "isolated populations". Meanwhile, in the English-language literature there are calls to allocate subspecies among elegans by habitat.
Turtles from different isolated populations are very diverse in color: from almost regular wide stars to thin yellow arrows on an almost coal-black background.

• Turtles from Sri Lanka, have 5-7 thick rays, this geographical variation reaches large sizes;
• South Indian form - the same color as individuals from Sri Lanka, but reach smaller sizes; "Southern" stars can also be patterned with thin stripes, but the base color is usually bright black.
• Individuals from northern India have 7 to 9 fine rays; They are darker with a dull color. Most often, they do not get to amateurs due to their lower prevalence, large size and less interesting color. And there are more elegance farms in Sri Lanka and South India.

Habitat: India from the states of Orissa in the east and Sindh and Kach in the west to the very south of the Indian subcontinent, as well as Sri Lanka and southeast Pakistan. Inhabits tropical falling forests and savannahs.

Food: In nature, stellate turtles are mostly herbivores. In captivity, you need to feed only plant food: some fruits and vegetables, a lot of herbs, sometimes dried herbs or soft hay. It is recommended to give vitamins and calcium every 2-4 weeks, because otherwise, there is an enhanced curve of growth of the shell. Breeders feed the turtles mainly with prickly pear cacti, hibiscus leaves and flowers, mulberry leaves. Once or twice a week, breeders give Choy Sum cabbage, okra (okra), long beans.
Star turtles keepers recommend feeding juvenile turtles twice a day in the morning and evening, and adults once a day in the morning. During the week, you can skip 1-2 days of feeding.

Reproduction:

Stellate turtles reach sexual maturity in a fairly early age about 7 years. The normal weight for reproduction in females is about 1 kg, in males 500-600 g.

Courtship in this species is rather calm and quiet: males do not force females to mate, and females behave indifferently during the mating period and do not refuse food.
Mating can take place throughout the year, but most of the rutting time is during rainy periods (June to October).

After fertilization, the female makes 3-4 clutches per year, 2-7 eggs in each. The size of the eggs is 4.5 x 3.5 cm. The incubation period lasts 100-150 days (up to 7.5 months) at a constant temperature of 26-30 degrees and a sufficiently high humidity of 80%.

Newborn turtles do not have a typical "star" pattern on their shells. Two forms of coloration of young turtles are described. In the first, the carapace has an orange background, along which a yellow stripe stretches along the spine; the second has a yellow carapace, and the stripe is absent. On the back there are five or six branched black "blots", the same spots (five on each side) are also present on the sides of the carapace. A branched yellow stripe extends from the edge of the carapace to the apex of the last vertebral scutellum. On the plastron, there are five pairs of black spots located at the joints of the shields.

Many males show their organs when swimming in warm water, when they reach a weight of 200-300 g.

To stimulate reproduction, it is useful to keep the turtles for 2 months at a temperature of 18-20 ° C.

Terrarium:

For geochelone elegans, a spacious horizontal terrarium is needed, as the turtles like to move a lot, closed (to control temperature regime and humidity), with adequate ventilation. Being relatively peaceful turtles, stellate turtles do not require huge housing space, and for a group of one male and two females, a dwelling measuring 200 x 100 cm is quite suitable. The terrarium should have shelters for turtles. You can combine the shelter with the second floor, turtles will sometimes climb on it. Any plants planted in the terrarium will be barbarously dug up and scattered.

The soil should be necessarily not dusty (otherwise rhinitis occurs), retaining heat, making it possible to burrow. Ideally, the soil in the terrarium should be analogous to a wooded substrate. This is where the variations begin: someone washes and dries dusty store soils like a forest barque, someone uses alder or ash shavings or chopped bark.
In one of the corners of the terrarium, it is desirable to "settle" sphagnum or some other kind of edible moss. Pebbles are a bad kind of soil for stars. Sand, sawdust, compressed sawdust - very bad. It is recommended to put peat, coconut shavings or sphagnum moss in the corner of the terrarium near the bathing suit.

Establishing the origin of the turtle is important in order to understand how to keep it. A turtle from northern India requires a familiar temperature range of 22-24 degrees Celsius in an unheated corner of the terrarium and low humidity. An animal from Sri Lanka or the south, where it is very humid and warmer, needs more high temperature in a cold corner - 25-27 degrees and humidity 65-70%. The warming point for them is the same - 30-33 degrees. As for the night temperature, for healthy, adapted animals, it fluctuates between 24-26 degrees. Turtles are prone to rhinitis even when all the conditions seem to be met. At times it is recommended not to let the temperature fall below 26 C.
The daytime temperature in the terrarium is maintained with incandescent bulbs. If at night in the room where the turtles are kept, the temperature drops below 23-24 degrees, it is better to correct it with a thermal cord, a ceramic infrared lamp or a Night Glo lamp (not to be confused with Moon light lamps, which give only light).

There must be a 10% UVB ultraviolet lamp for reptiles at a distance not higher than 30 cm.

It will also not be superfluous to create zones in the dwelling with varying degrees of humidity. Even in terrarium housing, it is necessary to simulate wet and dry seasons to stimulate mating. It is imperative that the terrarium has a large drinking bowl, at least such that the largest turtles available can fit in it; periodic spraying from a spray bottle is needed. The terrarium must have at least one hygrometer.

V summer months it is recommended to keep or walk the turtles in the fresh air, at temperatures that are acceptable for them. When walking on the street, it should be borne in mind that turtles love to dig, so you need to make sure that the turtle does not escape from the enclosure through the underground passage. You can only walk at temperatures above 24 ° C.

It is advisable to put it in a terrarium in order to exclude the pyramidal shape of the shell of growing turtles.

Health: These turtles are characterized by rhinitis, which manifests itself with changes in temperature and humidity (cool and dry). In general, he does not really interfere with the life of the turtle. Rhinitis is often caused by fungal diseases, which are helped by a solution of natamycin (Natamycinum, pimaricin), which is dripped into the nostrils. Some experts believe that this is something like allergic reaction on mites, and it is recommended to treat the substrate active substance from Azadirachta indica. Also, Ciprovet drops, which drip into the nose, help from rhinitis.
Turtles are also susceptible to diseases of other species of turtles, so they should only be kept separately.
Turtles are sensitive to the antibiotic Marbocil (Marbofloxin).

Additionally: Opened by SCHOEPFF, 1795.
Peak activity at star turtle falls in the morning and evening. On a hot afternoon, turtles prefer to rest in the shade. She is active for wet season, and in the dry period hibernates. Lives up to 30-50 years.
Turtles are difficult to keep and not recommended for beginners to establish at home. According to some reports, in the first year of life, more than half of the turtles of this species die in newcomers.

Conservation status:

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