Turtles are pets that enjoy watching them, as they are found in many attractive and interesting colors. Turtles can be interactive pets, and it can be admitted that when you decide to raise turtles at home, you need a set of information and basics that will enable you to raise turtles well and provide them with the necessary care. Tortoises need a lot of work to take care of them, unlike cats and dogs. Turtles have the ability to live about 20-30 years as long as they are provided with the right environment and place for growth. When you buy a tortoise, you need to make a commitment to take care of it and do so for a long time.
We all love pets and you can choose the type of pet according to your schedule. For example, if you have enough time, you can buy a turtle as one of the pets. Like many flippers, tortoises prefer to be left alone and admire when they are handled. Turtles can need low maintenance and are easy to care for. But the key to their health and happiness is to have a permanent place for them. Taking care of turtles is not a difficult process at all.
Tips for raising turtles at home
History of turtles:
Turtles have been around for thousands of years and the oldest can live for at least 200 years. Their ancient history belongs to the history of dinosaurs and was part of myths and folklore. These reptiles come in many shapes and colors that swim quickly. Turtles are cold-blooded creatures and are very sensitive to changes in temperature, so it is essential to keep them in their environment. In the case of raising aquatic turtles, they spend most of their time in the water. By placing turtles in habitats of about 75% water, semi-aquatic turtles need 50% water. This type of turtle may be slow when walking on land because their feet allow them to swim quickly. Aquatic turtles usually come on land to lie in the sun or to lay eggs, while semi-aquatic turtles spend more time on land and may not swim well.
There are also turtles that spend a long time on land and use water only on water for bathing and drinking. They are also not good swimmers and become prone to drowning, so it is important to know exactly what type of turtle you have. This ensures that you provide the correct care for your turtle.
Turtle breeding tank:
Most aquariums are closed aquariums such as an aquarium suitable for placing a turtle inside, but there are many basic requirements for this aquarium to be the right environment for turtles.
- Water: Water is the main ingredient, chlorine-free water is preferred and should be added according to your tortoise’s needs. Aquatic turtles need 75% water, semi-aquatic turtles need 50% water, land turtles need 25% water or less, preferably very shallow. Natural spring water must be available for drinking at all times, change it daily, and open the lid for ventilation.
- Provides ultraviolet heating through thermal light to mimic natural light patterns. Ultraviolet rays help turtles get vitamin D3 and stay healthy. The temperature of the tank should be about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the water at 70 degrees Celsius.
- Filter: It is preferable to review the size of the holes and the area in the fish tank to ensure that no harm is caused to the turtle.
- Turtle Bed: Turtles need an area to bask in. Make sure the floor area is not too high or too close to the top of the tank or near the bulb so that the turtle does not accidentally burn itself. You can use a 60-watt lamp to produce 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce the air temperature to 10 at night.
- The heater is also necessary to keep the water warm. You can use a warm pad under the tank or a submersible heater in the water to maintain the water temperature to 70 degrees Celsius.
- The use of Riptogarde is a slow conditioner to control disease-causing microorganisms that can alter It helps the turtle to climb when they need to get out of the water.
- Items inside the tank should not allow turtles to get stuck or hinder swimming in the water or on land. Put the turtle tank in a clear area inside the house where there are no noticeable changes in temperature.
- Put the turtle in a large tank, and the larger the tank, the better, because the turtle grows and increases in size. The large tank also allows you to separate the male turtle from the female turtle.
- You can add live or plastic plants to enhance the tortoise’s home. And don’t forget to clean the plastic plants. Live plants are great additions to a turtle’s diet, but make sure the plants you choose are not poisonous to turtles.
Medical concerns:
Turtles can carry salmonella and if you keep tortoises in a home with children and young adults they can get this virus. Turtles may not be the best addition to your family. And remember to wash your hands after handling the turtle.
There are many items to avoid in a tank such as pebbles, glass, tree bark, and wood chips that your turtle can consume. There is also a risk that the turtle will absorb these elements, as they may become contaminated or cause suffocation. You can use pebbles from individual pieces at least twice the size of the turtle’s head.
Signs of disease can appear on tortoises and include soft shells, patches of cloudy skin or milky eyes. These symptoms indicate malnutrition or disease. If you know these signs, you should take your tortoise to a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.
Turtles can die when kept for a long time in a dirty tank filled with waste, so it is necessary to clean the tank once a week. Put the turtle first in a safe and well-ventilated container away from other pets. Make sure that the container is not kept in an area where the temperature is different from that of the aquarium. You can clean the turtle tank using bleach diluted with water and allow it to dry before adding water to the contents back in the tank.
Unsuitable temperatures for turtles can result in a lack of appetite, disease and even premature death of turtles. Therefore, you should check the temperature often to ensure that the water and air are at accurate levels and their heating elements are working. Do not forget to change the UV bulbs every six months to ensure effectiveness.
Hibernation :
When turtles are outdoors they are more likely to hibernate in the fall. Indoor turtles may never reach hibernation. It is not recommended to put turtles in cold areas such as the refrigerator to promote hibernation. A stable level of cold will be impossible to maintain for a long period of time and a simple power outage can cause a drastic change in temperature. Remember that turtles cannot handle temperature changes well and can be prone to death.
Food used for turtles:
Turtles have specific nutritional needs. Land turtles tend to be strictly vegetarian, but most inland turtles are aquatic. Regardless of which live plants you can add to the tank, you will need to stock up on nutritious food. Turtles like to hunt, so it is best to put small live fish once a week in the tank to provide nutrition and promote exercise. Nervous turtles are a common item and you can also feed turtles snails, earthworms, bugs, leafy vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, alfalfa, and many more,) Turtles prefer carrots, berries, and leafy greens.
Leaving the turtle outdoors
Outdoor homes may be the right environment in different climates. Check out our Turtle Health Breeding Guide for specific information on creating a suitable outdoor oasis for your tortoise.
Turtles can be lovely creatures to relax and watch and don’t need much care. If you have enough time to provide food, change the drinking water every day and clean the water tank once a week, you will have happy pets that may live a long time.
Providing pebbles and other accessories:
You should keep a set of pebbles and accessories for decorative and environmental purposes. You can put the pebbles in the slope until the turtle has a place to sit above the water under the lamp. However, this requires a lot of grit. You can also buy a cage to put your turtle in. To prevent further decorating the tank, you can add branches, plants, and other accessories to the turtle’s tank. This ingredient is not required but can give a more natural look. The tortoise needs to enjoy a more natural environment.
Final thoughts about tortoises:
We must bear in mind that tortoises, whether wild or tortoises in the pet store, are a big commitment, as turtles can live anywhere from ten years to forty years and a hundred years. The lifespan of a tortoise depends on the breed, so do your research before deciding to take in a wild tortoise. If you are not ready to take care of a turtle for a long time, you should reconsider your decision. If your children want to keep turtles, you can decide to raise turtles.
Unlike turtles, when they are taken out of their environment, they can become very depressed when they are taken from their natural habitat and placed in a tank. Wild turtles do not use human contact and can suffer from the experience. If you want to leave the natural environment, you can put the water for the turtles to enjoy swimming in the fish tank.
