Domestic turtles and their care. Turtle at home

Land turtles are considered one of the best types for keeping at home, as they are characterized by increased vitality and unpretentiousness to their habitat. They easily adapt to a new place, do not require particularly difficult conditions of maintenance and care, have small dimensions suitable for an apartment and, at the same time, are relatively inexpensive. All these advantages contribute to the fact that it is representatives of this type that are most often chosen as such an exotic pet.

Land turtles at home

Land turtle at home: care

The care of the land turtle is minimal. Once a week, it must be bathed in a basin with warm (up to + 30 ° C) water, the level of which should not be higher than half of the shell. When an animal sheds while bathing, it is useful to add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Strongly regrown claws can interfere with the turtle when moving, so they should be shortened, preferably with a manicure file.

It is important to constantly clean up the terrarium as it gets dirty. You need to change the water in the drinker and clean the plate of food every day.

V summer time land turtles you can walk on the grassy lawn, the main thing is that it is warm (from + 20 ° С).

Eating land turtles in the house

Best care behind these animals - balanced diet. "?" - a question that arises from any inexperienced owner. Terrestrial domestic turtles perfectly eat various vegetables and fruits, herbs and dandelions, and such products must be included in the diet of these animals. They can also be given earthworms and snails without shells, and in the summer they can be pampered with strawberries, dandelions, raspberries and grass. All food for land turtles must be finely chopped before serving. Calcium supplements and vitamins should be added to food from time to time. Food is served on a large, shallow platter.

The regime and menu of food for land turtles is set depending on their age. Young turtles need to be fed daily, and adults should be fed abundantly, but every other day, including once a week in their menu minced meat.

Land turtle: what to know about hibernation

The claim that land turtles should hibernate every year is not always true. At home, this is even undesirable. The point is that only a specialist can prepare an animal for hibernation and ensure the correctness of such rest, otherwise the turtle can fall asleep forever. If your pet stays in the corner of the terrarium for a long time and as a result seeks to bury itself in the ground, then it is likely that he is preparing for hibernation. To prevent this, the animal must be fattened and carefully read the specialized literature on ensuring the hibernation of turtles so that your pet comes out of it alive and well.

Land turtles at home with good care and proper nutrition can live up to 15-30 years. Taking this animal into the house, you take responsibility for its life, and how you take care of your turtle depends on how many years it will delight you with its presence in your home.

From the pets inhabiting modern apartments, it is worth highlighting the beloved turtles into a separate "caste of households". Land turtles are classified as wild reptiles, but they are well kept at home. Their main difference from vertebrates is the notorious slowness and cold-bloodedness (in the literal sense of the word). This must be remembered before deciding to have a "little animal". The article below describes what it is like to care for a land turtle at home.

To keep a turtle in an apartment, you will need a special house. In it, she can hide from prying eyes. A reptile's shelter is essential by nature. V natural environment the turtle chooses the optimal shelter in such a way as to fit freely in it. At home, such a shelter will serve, for example, a flower pot, you can use a box. You need to watch the pet - where he likes to retire to equip a house there.

Choosing a turtle is not easy. There are over 35 species of them in the world today. It's overland only. A Central Asian variety of turtles is suitable for keeping a house; they are also called steppe. Such turtles will be inexpensive, and in terms of size they are acceptable for average apartments.

The Central Asian land turtle has a roundish shell of yellowish, reddish or olive color. Such a reptile is perfect for keeping in an ordinary apartment, having a carapace only 25 cm long. natural conditions such turtles can live up to 50 years, and this is in arid Central Asia. However, at home, even with proper care, reptiles of this species can live side by side with their owners for 40 years - which is also a lot. Wherein it comes about routine and inexpensive turtle care. The main thing is to observe her daily routine, to closely monitor the state of health, appetite.

About walks

The turtles are not constantly in the shelter, but occasionally go for a walk. And for this they need a territory larger than a terrarium. For example, in the summer you can let your pet go for a walk on the grass (of course, under control, so that she does not eat something wrong or fall somewhere). To avoid overheating in the sun, it is worth equipping a special aviary or installing barriers.

Care turtle land at home

To live in your territory for a land turtle, you need to prepare a place - a terrarium with soil, a house and a couple of feeders, separately put a drinker and UV lamps.

Choosing a terrarium for a land turtle

Modern terrariums are presented in the following options:

• glass (ordinary),
• plastic,
• wooden

The standard size of a terrarium is two or even three times the size of the reptile itself. If the size of the turtle is 12 cm, then the volume of the terrarium usually reaches 80 liters. For placement in an apartment, they choose a calm, ventilated, but without drafts, place, and the structure is placed on a stand at a height of about 20 cm from the floor. It is not recommended to put the "box" on the floor in order to avoid debris and dust accumulation in the house.

After installing the terrarium, soil is poured into it with a thickness of 4 cm. different variants decoration - you can use sawdust or hay, stones or pebbles, you can combine these elements. It is important that the stones are flat and smooth. The pebble itself is selected according to the size of the pet's head. Ordinary earth or sand is not at all suitable for the soil. Do not use cat litter as bedding.

Sawdust (or other flooring) should be changed regularly and it is recommended that the enclosure be cleaned daily. The turtle's home should be equipped with a pool where it can dive in its entirety. However, the water level must reach half of the shell so that the turtle can climb in and out of the tank (pool) on its own. By the way, your pet will be in it quite often.

Caring for a land turtle at home assumes that for a comfortable stay of a land turtle in the terrarium, it must always stand drinking water in the drinker. It is important that there is always free access to it, as well as to the feeder. A flat bowl or plate is suitable as the latter, you can even adapt the lid from the jar. However, the feeder cannot be placed directly under the lamp. Leftover feed must be removed.

Continuing the theme of comfortable living of the turtle in the terrarium, more attention should be paid to the issue of maintaining the temperature. For a land turtle, a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius is suitable. For heating, a special lamp with a power of 1 W is used per 1 liter of the volume of the terrarium. The lamp can be purchased at pet stores. The device should be positioned so that not the entire space is heated, but a shadow remains, where the reptile can hide at any time. Maximum temperature in one place should not exceed 32 degrees. The lamp is connected for a couple of hours in the morning and evening.

About feeding the land turtle

Everyone knows that turtles, regardless of the species, are herbivores. Their daily diet 90 percent consists of plants, herbs. The traditional menu of the turtle includes: clover, plantain, dandelions. You can feed lettuce leaves, vegetables (cabbage, carrots). Also, the turtle's diet needs to include fruits: apples are most suitable. Reptiles have been noticed to love berries and seaweed.

An adult turtle is fed every two to three days, more often it is not recommended due to possible problems with digestion. Until the turtle is two years old, feed in the terrarium should be placed daily. The remaining 10 percent of the diet is animal food. For example, you can occasionally give Ground beef for a change.

What should be discarded?

• potatoes (fruits or peels),
• fruit pits,
• citrus peel,
• ready-made food for dogs and cats.

Proper nutrition of a reptile implies vitamin and mineral supplements. For these purposes, it is worth purchasing a reptilian. These can be powdered vitamins. In order not to guess with the dosage - all feeding is carried out in accordance with the instructions. Once a week, vitamins are added to the feed. Some owners also put chalk in the terrarium so that the turtle does not have a calcium deficiency. If this is a problem, the reptile will try the chalk itself, no need to force it.

How to bathe and water a land turtle at home

Caring for a land turtle at home includes the obligatory cleaning of the terrarium, which takes some time. Therefore, it is better to make a schedule for cleaning the turtle's house. Regularly - at least once a week - the turtle needs to be bathed. To do this, warm water is poured into a small container (up to 36 degrees), you can add a little chamomile solution to the water. If the reptile has time to defecate, the water needs to be changed. Cleanliness is the key to your pet's health. This is an important criterion when it comes to home content.

For bathing on land - soap is usually not used, unless at the same time contamination has a strong character... In the latter case, you cannot use a brush; it is better to replace it with a soft sponge. Finally, a rag will do. It is important to know how to wash a land turtle. You need to wash not only the shell, but also the neck and head. To do this, it is enough to gently, without pressing, walk with your finger along the limbs of the reptile. Full bathing takes about half an hour. After that, the turtle must be thoroughly wiped dry and returned "home" (you cannot leave the pet after bathing on the floor, so as not to catch a cold). It is worth remembering that the turtle absorbs water through the skin as well. Therefore, in the first days after buying a reptile, bathing is done every day, until the pet is saturated with water. Then you can switch to weekly bathing and the usual care of the land turtle at home.

Diseases and problems of land turtles

The better you care for your turtle, the longer it will live in good health. Therefore, it is so important to try to avoid possible problems when caring for her. Let's consider the main ones in order to know how to look after and not make mistakes:

In any case, with the initial symptoms, you should seek the help of a specialist. Also, only a veterinarian can prescribe preventive measures. Knowing how to keep a land turtle at home, you can safely leave the reptile in a specially designated clean enclosure.

How to care for a land turtle at home: video

If the article "Caring for a land turtle at home" turned out to be useful to you, add it to your bookmarks, share it with your friends on social networks

Despite the fact that turtles are rather unpretentious reptiles, they need a content corresponding to this exotic species... The main care for a land turtle at home is to create a certain climate, arrange a home, ensure regular walks in the warm season and swimming. Such an integrated approach will allow you to avoid the troubles associated with pet diseases.

The most common home option is the Central Asian reptile, which can live next to a person for about 40-50 years. This is a small animal with a sandy-brown shell, covered with a dark brown pattern, and having a length of 20 cm. You can read about other types of turtles in.

The choice of such a reptile is important, and for this there are rules that prevent the purchase of a knowingly sick or non-viable reptile:

• you should not buy a recently born animal, it is better to take a grown turtle;
• It is wiser to purchase a purchase in the summer, since transportation in autumn and winter can lead to colds future pet;
• you should pay attention to the fact that there are no traces of peeling, scratches and other defects on the shell;
• the breathing of the animal should be even, without wheezing and wheezing;
• the mouth of a healthy reptile is usually pink, and the saliva is clear, any sores may indicate a turtle's illness.
• the state of health is evidenced by the activity of the animal - retraction of the head, if you bring your hand to its eyes, and the movement of the legs.

That, in fact, is all about what a healthy land turtle should be like, and maintenance and care is a separate topic for discussion.

Arrangement of living space for an animal

Correct maintenance provides for the presence of a dwelling for a pet. The turtle cannot move around the apartment, like a cat or a dog - it needs its own house.
The ideal solution would be to place the reptile in a specially equipped terrarium. It can be made of glass, wood or high quality plastic, for this purpose it is allowed to use an aquarium. Such a container should be spacious enough for the animal - about 20 liters and placed at a height of 20-30 cm above floor level.

The minimum area of ​​the dwelling assumes that the structure is 60 cm high and 120 cm long for one turtle.

The size is determined taking into account the height of the young reptile. If there are several animals, then the area of ​​the structure should be larger.

There are other requirements for arranging a terrarium:

1. It is important to maintain a temperature of 25 to 27 degrees Celsius and have a warm corner (+33 degrees) where the animal will be warmed up. To do this, install a 40 W lamp at a distance of 20 cm from the bottom.
2. A supply of fresh air must be provided from the sides and top. In this case, there should be no drafts.
3. Reptiles need shelter in the form of a house, since in nature the animal is used to digging a hole for itself. This can be a box with air holes in which the reptile can be freely placed.
4. Do not place driftwood or plants in the terrarium, as this will impede the movement of the pet.
5. Despite the fact that the animal receives the main liquid from the pulp of the fruit and from the leaves, stems of plants, install a drinking bowl with clean drinking water.

1. Although some owners cover the bottom with a mixture of clay and sand, this is undesirable, since animals can eat grains of sand - it is better to use calcined ground with coconut flakes.
2. Sawdust specially designed for this purpose, without harmful additives and flavors, is also suitable.
3. In order for the animal to grind its claws, flat large pebbles, pebbles, which are larger than the turtle's head, are also needed - so it will not be able to swallow them and will use them for their intended purpose.
4. It is permissible to use hay, mixing it with large pebbles.

The soil must be monitored constantly and renewed daily, removing contamination. In no case should you use cat litter as a coating.

You cannot lower the reptile to the floor, and there are reasons for this. Firstly, the reptile does not tolerate drafts. Secondly, it can swallow small debris and get sick.

Need to know how to care for an animal a certain kind e.g. for content Central Asian tortoise, in addition, you will need to install an ultraviolet lamp, the radiation of which has a beneficial effect on bone tissue and pet shell. It must be fixed 25 cm from the surface of the terrarium and kept on for 6 to 12 hours a day.

Proper care of a land turtle at home includes other important procedures for the animal.

Home turtle care

When figuring out how to keep a land turtle at home, you need to pay attention to necessary procedures such as washing and bathing. This is necessary to cleanse the animal of impurities in the form of droppings and food debris, as well as to stimulate the normal functioning of the animal's intestines.

Young reptiles under three years of age and animals dehydrated due to improper maintenance should be washed regularly or once every two days. Healthy and older individuals are bathed up to twice every 7 days.

If a bathtub is installed in the terrarium, then the turtles use them on their own, and then they do not need to arrange special events. It is important that the volume of water in such a bath reaches half the height of the shell, and the pet can easily get into it. The pool water needs to be changed daily.

How to bathe a land turtle at home:

• for this they take a basin or a deep tray;
• pour the required amount of flowing warm water with a temperature of 30 to 35 degrees;
• it is impossible to expose the animal's shell under the current stream or leave the reptile in the sink with the water supply turned on unattended - a sudden shutdown of a hot or cold water can lead to burns and stress for the pet;
• 30-60 minutes is enough for bathing, after which the turtle is wiped off with a soft towel and immediately placed in the warm climate of the terrarium so that it does not catch cold;
• reptiles often empty themselves in water, so you will have to change the water;
• in some cases, when peeling the skin of the shell, it is recommended to bathe the animal in water with chamomile broth - it will soften its epidermis.

Turtles with severe dehydration often immerse their heads in water, swallowing liquid. With frequent procedures, such actions are usually not observed. Washing is usually required to cleanse the dirt from the reptile's integument.

How to wash a land turtle:

• cleanses the body of the animal without using any detergents with chemical composition- the exception is hypoallergenic soap for children in case of heavy pollution;
• for the same purposes, you can use a wet sponge, gently wiping the shell and legs with it;
• soapy water should be avoided in the mouth, eyes and nose of the animal;
• the water should be, as when bathing the animal - no more than 35 degrees, the temperature even one degree higher may already be too hot for the pet, and this must be taken into account.

It is imperative to wash the turtle's face during a hygienic procedure, as the remains often dry out on it. plant food... This is done gently with your finger, rubbing the sides of the mouth. An animal that has been recently taken can hide its head under a shell, and then you will need to tickle it in the area of ​​the tail. At the same time, the turtle stretches its head, which can be washed. As after bathing, at the end of the wash, the turtle is wiped off with a terry cloth or soft paper towel and lowered into the warm environment of the terrarium.

It should be noted that healthy adult turtles cope with washing on their own and after eating, as a rule, they themselves clean the muzzle of stuck food with their front paws.

When bathing and washing in a tray of water, white matter may be seen coming out of the pet's body. These are urine salts, and if they are hard, it means a lack of moisture. This means that it is necessary to place a bath in the aquarium and moisten the soil in one of the corners of the structure. Ideally, salts should be liquid, but if they are not available at all, the case requires a visit to the veterinarian.

Other important points in keeping a reptile

In nature, land turtles hibernate twice, but at home, when they have enough heat and light, they remain active. However, in winter, along with maintaining optimal temperature, the terrarium needs additional lighting with UV devices. The power of the lamp can be calculated based on the fact that 1 W should fall on one liter of capacity. For most species of these animals, a couple of hours under ultraviolet light in the morning and evening will be enough.

In the summer, when the temperature outside the window is above 20 degrees, it is advisable to take the turtle to Fresh air... She may well crawl on the grass, the main thing is that no straight lines fall on her. sunbeams, and the light was diffused, otherwise overheating of the body may occur. Of course, the pet must walk under supervision - you need to make sure that no injury occurs, and not every grass in the yard will be useful.

Caring for a land turtle at home is not as difficult as it seems at first glance, and even a child can cope with it if he is taught to handle a small pet correctly. If you add a varied menu for a reptile to the right content, it will always be healthy, active, and live a long and happy turtle life.

Feeding turtles should not be too difficult for their owners. These animals are almost omnivorous. When composing a diet for your pet, you need to take into account what species it belongs to, because food for terrestrial and aquatic reptiles will be different.

Food - very important point in keeping any animals. V wildlife turtles choose their own food depending on the needs of the body and what they can find.

At home, a pet's diet depends entirely on its owner. The owner must develop a complete balanced diet for your pet, so that his body does not need any useful substances. Otherwise, the reptile may develop health problems.

Turtles are usually divided according to the type of food into three large groups:

Carnivores... 70-90% of their diet is animal food, 10-35% is vegetable. Carnivorous reptiles eat mostly meat. This species also includes aquatic turtles, which mainly feed on fish and seafood.

Omnivores... Their food consists of 50% animal food and 50% plants.

Herbivores... Their diet includes 95% plants and 5% animal food.

Diet of aquatic turtles

are considered predators. In its natural environment they primarily feed on fish. At home, they must first of all be fed with low-fat fish, without clearing it of small bones and viscera. It can be alive or thawed.

Fish products... Young reptiles should be given fish with bones, chopped into small pieces... For adults - whole or large chunks... Large bones are best chopped or very finely chopped.

The following types of fish are suitable:

• perch;
• crucian carp;
• cod;
• blue whiting;

Sometimes the animal can be treated and oily fish... Sprat, Baltic herring, capelin or sprat are good choices. Before feeding, it is kept for some time in a container with hot water... Turtles are very fond of caviar. From time to time they can be pampered with this expensive delicacy.

Seafood be sure to include in the pet's diet: shrimp, squid, mussels, octopus, raw scallop and frogs. But before throwing it into the aquarium, you need to keep in mind that not all species can be given to turtles. Therefore, you should first consult a veterinarian. A small part of the food of aquatic inhabitants should be crabs and the tail of crayfish. They can be given every seven days.

Meat products... In second place is lean meat. Boiled chicken, chicken or beef liver... Pets also do not disdain small mammals: once a week, domestic predators will happily hunt naked mice, rats and runners.

Fatty meats - beef, pork and lamb - should be eliminated. Minced meat, sausage, sausages, dog and cat food are not allowed.

The reptile diet additionally includes:

• dry food (sticks, granules, tablets, capsules, flakes, etc.);
• insects (bloodworms, grasshoppers, crickets, forage cockroaches, etc.);
• amphibians, molluscs and invertebrates (tadpoles, slugs, small snails with shells, etc.).

Vegetable feed should be given to the domestic predator periodically. If the pet feels a lack of it, it will begin to consume algae from the aquarium. In this case, you can give the following plants:

• lettuce and dandelion leaves;
• cabbage;
• carrot;
• cucumber;
• beets;
• a tomato;
• Apple;
• pear;
• pumpkin pulp;
• parsley or dill (but not all turtles love them).

In winter, a pet needs multivitamins to prevent disease.

Balanced diet for land turtles

making up a diet is a little more difficult than their aquatic counterparts. They mainly feed on plants. The food should be varied so that the pet, in addition to the gastronomic pleasures of food, receives other useful substances: vitamins, minerals.

80% of the total feed should be greens: lettuce, edible leaves, flowers, herbs, succulents, parsley, dill. Especially reptiles love dandelion, both greenery and flower.

15% of the diet are vegetables. Suitable cucumbers, pumpkin, carrots with tops, zucchini, Bell pepper etc.

The rest of(about 5%) - unsweetened fruits such as apples, apricots, nectarines, peaches. You can give the pulp of seedless watermelon and citrus fruits.

Small amounts of peeled orange and grapefruit, pineapple, cherries, basil, banana, mushrooms, pear, cabbage, green onions, peeled peas, sprouted beans, radishes, radishes, asparagus, beets, sorrel, spinach, garlic cloves, etc.

All of these products are only given raw. They cannot be boiled or stewed.

Once a week, the turtle needs to be given dry food - edible mushrooms(russula, brown mushrooms, mushrooms), seaweed, yeast, soybean meal and bran.

The animal cannot be fed meat, milk and any fermented milk products, potatoes, cereals, corn, fish, dates, eggs, bread and any baked goods, cheese, citrus peels, cat and dog food.

The reptile periodically needs to be given water to drink.... But everything is not so simple here. Some pets drink once every 30 days, others - once a week. It depends on the diet. If your pet's gastronomic preferences consist of a large number juicy fruits and vegetables, then you need to water it less often than a turtle that eats a lot of dry food.

To improve the functioning of the digestive tract and for hygienic purposes, the animal needs to have a bath once a week. Pour quite a bit of water into the container and place the turtle there for half an hour. During this time, the pet will drink and bathe. Water should not flood the reptile's nostrils.

The diet of omnivorous turtles should consist of animal and plant foods. They eat the same foods as their aquatic and terrestrial counterparts.

Exists general rules for feeding all out-of-species turtles:

• juveniles are fed daily;
• older reptiles are fed 2 or 3 times every seven days;
• cannot be starved;
• it is strictly forbidden to give food intended for aquatic turtles their land brothers and vice versa.

Calcium should be present in the pet's diet, it should be given once a week, not more often. As a top dressing is suitable carbonate, ground eggshell, bone meal, calcium palmitate, etc.

It is unacceptable to add calcium to the eye. It is given at the rate of 100 mg of feeding per 1 kg of weight.

Nutrition for your turtle is easy. She loves available products, many of which everyone has in the refrigerator. But this does not mean at all that you can give everything indiscriminately and in unlimited quantities. The main thing is that the food is suitable, varied and naturally fresh.

Many owners, with an inept approach, shorten their life to 3-5 years. Some people believe that to keep the turtle at home, it will be enough to put a basin of water and put a pebble there. However, turtles are demanding animals and for their normal development you will need to purchase an aquaterrarium, build or buy a resting island, a UV lamp and a heating lamp, a thermometer and a water filter.

In addition to water, the turtle needs a comfortable and non-slippery climb so that the turtle can easily crawl out onto land and warm up. The islands can be bought in specialized stores or made by hand. You can put a snag, a stone with a rough surface. But shop islands, unlike those made at home, are more stable and have a textured surface. Another factor that determines the quality of the islet is the absence of piercing burrs and sharp corners.

Soil and plants

Depending on the purpose for which the turtle was purchased: as a pet or for breeding for sale, the soil is selected. In the first case, the bottom of the aquarium can be decorated with large stones, since turtles can swallow gravel. Breeding will require shallow soil so that the turtle can freely break it open and lay eggs. You can pour a layer of river washed sand.

Aquarium plants are of interest to the turtle, she tries to taste each of them "by the tooth" and, if she likes it - the plant will be eaten, if she doesn't like it - it will be pulled out by the roots. Therefore, it is recommended to "plant" artificial plants in aquariums.

Shore heating and temperature maintenance

Turtles are thermophilic animals and, living in natural conditions, they love to bask in the sun. To bring content at home closer to natural, you need to install. To maintain the optimum temperature, the aquarium should have a thermometer.

When placing the lamp, you should pay attention to two things: firstly, it should not be located too low above the island, and secondly, between the lamp and the water you will have to install safety glass to avoid splashing water on the incandescent lamp.

The operating time of the heating lamp is 10-12 hours a day. You can buy it in a specialized store.

UV lamp

Depending on the age of the turtles, the power of the UV lamp is selected:

• for juveniles - 5% UVB;
• for adults - 10% UVB.

The presence of an ultraviolet lamp is the main condition for normal development. red-eared turtles... To prevent animals from getting burned to their eyes, the UV lamp should be set at a level of at least 25 cm and turned on for 10-12 hours, turned off only at night.

Ultraviolet light prevents the development of rickets, improves metabolism, and affects the activity of turtles. The rays help the body absorb calcium, which is essential for building a shell.

Water

For the successful keeping of the red-eared turtle, it should not fall below +20 ºC, the most optimal parameter+ 22 + 28 ºC.

The turtle spends almost all the time in the water, so you should make sure that the water is clean. Animals sleep, eat and empty directly in the water, so it needs to be changed frequently. A filter must be installed in the aquarium.

In dirty aquatic environment pathogens develop that cause various infectious diseases turtles, which are then difficult to cure.

The water level in the aquaterrarium should be higher than the size of the turtle's shell. This is done so that the animal, inadvertently on its back, could easily roll over on its own.

Normal development of red-eared turtles is possible only when creating for them good conditions... The turtle becomes a favorite pet, so you need to take care of it accordingly.

Keeping red-eared turtles - Video