Small turtles require very careful care as they are less resistant to disease. Based on this, it follows that it is better to focus your attention on the teenage turtle.
It is advisable to purchase a turtle during the warm season, when the risk of disease is minimal and it is practically impossible to catch a cold.
Such well-known species of turtles as the marsh, red-eared, Central Asian, and trionics are more suitable for beginners, since they are less demanding of care than exotic species.
If the turtle is no more than 10 cm long, then not everyone will be able to determine its gender, so you can take any pet, as long as it is healthy.
Which turtle should you prefer, land or aquatic?
Although aquatic turtles are divided into marine and freshwater, almost no one keeps sea turtles at home, so only freshwater species of turtles are sold on the market or in pet stores, as well as land ones.
land turtle
- If you need to go somewhere, you can take the turtles with you or entrust the maintenance to neighbors or friends.
- There are no special costs for food, and the turtle eats under normal sanitary conditions.
- It is believed that aquatic turtles are more aggressive, although not always.
- Cleaning up after a turtle is quite simple and less time consuming.
- The land turtle is difficult to find, as many species are listed in the Red Book.
- When traveling abroad, it is hardly possible to obtain documents for it.
Aquatic turtle
- Aquatic turtles lead a more active lifestyle and also have brighter colors.
- They can be bred in captivity, so they are cheaper than land animals. This factor allows you to avoid causing damage to nature.
- Some species of aquatic turtles are capable of caring for each other.
- There are many more species of aquatic turtles, and it is possible to inexpensively purchase a turtle that you will love.
Land turtles tend to spend most of their lives on land, although there are species that require a small body of water for normal development. Basically, their diet consists of plant foods, but some species hunt mice, bugs, worms, etc. Aquatic turtles spend most of their lives in the water and only occasionally come to land. Some species of aquatic turtles spend a lot of time on land, others very little, but all require land.
Terrestrial reptiles
All sorts of popular species of land turtles have significant differences in appearance, but there is little strict classification by appearance.
Scientists know three main suborders of turtles:
- cryptocervical - the most adapted to life;
- side-necked;
- shieldless.
The first two species owe their name to the way their heads are retracted: in the cryptonecks - vertical, in the side-necks - horizontal. Turtles appeared during the Middle Triassic.
Side-necked turtles are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. Hidden-necked turtles live everywhere - in deserts, forest-steppes (maybe in water). They feed on animal and plant foods. Versatile reptiles.
Which type of turtle is simpler and more interesting?
First, you need to decide what kind of turtle you want to get - land or aquatic. As a rule, at home they keep turtles that grow no more than 50 cm in length. Such types of turtles as Coal, Leopard, Cayman, Vulture and others can grow in length more than 50 cm and it is easy to keep them in city apartments doesn't make sense.
Most of all, non-aggressive species of turtles, such as marsh or red-eared turtles, are suitable for such conditions. It is also possible to purchase other, rarer species, such as kinosternon, terrapin, etc.
As for land species, you can get a Central Asian turtle, as it is more common. Before choosing a turtle species, you should have at least the slightest information related to its size.
European Swamp Turtle: Hibernating Pet
The main external distinguishing feature of this turtle is its completely black color with occasional yellowish splashes. The shell of this individual is smooth and flatter than that of other turtles. Another distinctive feature is the long tail. Without exaggeration, it takes up ¾ of the length of the turtle itself. Moreover, the length itself is within 35 cm.
Such an amphibian is not considered exotic in our country - it is accustomed to living in Belarus, Russia, Georgia, and Armenia. Ponds and lakes are ideal habitats for these turtles. Since it can be cold in our regions, from about October until the end of winter the turtle hibernates .
As for keeping it at home, you need to take into account the temperature that will have to be maintained. The water temperature should ideally be 22-25 degrees, the air temperature should be 30. Also, pets should definitely have their own personal island on which they will relax.
Swamp turtles prefer fish, meat, insects and crustaceans. It is also recommended to give mineral supplements . It is curious that such a turtle can be taught to take food from tweezers - since it is a predator, it is not short of intelligence.
IMPORTANT: You need to remember that adults should be fed 2 or 3 times a week, and young ones - every day.
This is what a European marsh turtle looks like
Need a low-maintenance turtle?
All types of turtles are reptiles and require certain care. Land turtles need a terrarium, and aquatic turtles need an aquaterrarium. Regardless of whether a turtle is aquatic or land, the principle of operation of their body is almost the same, despite minor differences. They are all characterized by top heating and the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Their only difference is the presence of water in the aquaterrarium of an aquatic turtle. Otherwise, they are similar, and among them there are no special types of turtles, for example, frost-resistant ones.
red-eared
This is the most popular species of turtle and can often be found in captivity. Includes about 15 subspecies, which are also called “decorated”. It gets its name from the red or yellow spots around the ears.
Reptiles grow 18-30 centimeters in length. The color of the shells of young individuals has a light shade, and there are characteristic green stripes on the body. Males have more powerful claws and tails, which makes them different from females.
They feel great at temperatures up to 32 degrees. These are rather lazy and slow turtles; to keep them you need to buy a large terrarium or aquarium, the volume of which is at least 200 liters.
I want to keep an exotic turtle!
In nature you can find several hundred species of turtles, both land and aquatic, and anyone can choose any of them. However, not every type of turtle can be found in pet stores due to the presence of certain factors. Many species of turtles are listed in the Red Book and are prohibited from being removed from their natural habitat. Many species are simply difficult to keep at home due to their size and specific content. Some of the many species cannot be obtained from abroad and cannot be sold, and no one wants to engage in smuggling, since they will have to deal with the law.
In this regard, the choice of turtles is limited to several species and it’s not a matter of “I want.” Of the terrestrial representatives of turtles, two species are available - the Central Asian and Mediterranean ones, and of the aquatic representatives - these are Trionics, marsh and red-eared turtles. In pet stores they are sold at prices ranging from 500 to 1500 rubles. Other types of turtles can be ordered from persons who may import them from abroad. Moreover, the price can fluctuate depending on the type and sometimes reaches tens of thousands of rubles per piece.
On some websites you can find a complete list of all available turtle species, as well as information about one or another species. The legal process of purchasing a turtle requires some knowledge of the purchase and sale procedures.
What do you need to know before purchasing?
Turtles are an interesting and unique species of our smaller brothers. In the meantime, my two representatives are sleeping peacefully nearby, I want to tell you a little about how to choose a turtle for your home and which turtle is better to choose. Because there are also many types of turtles.
We will also tell you how to choose a healthy turtle. How to transport them and care for them. Many turtle species are inexpensive, so some people may be able to go out and buy a turtle right away. And it will be your mistake. At one time I fell for this mistake myself.
Before you choose and buy a turtle, first find out in advance about how to feed it, how to care for it, how and where it lives. It is also necessary to understand how much money you are willing to spend on a terrarium, enclosure, equipment and food. You will spend approximately 3000-5000 rubles on the entire household, the main thing is to plan these expenses. You don't have to buy everything at once.
Be sure to take into account that over time the turtle will grow and take up more space, so take care in advance of the place in which you will place a large terrarium or aquarium. You should have free time to set up an enclosure for your turtle, improve it, care for the animal, feed it and watch it.
And most importantly, there must be an interest in the animals themselves! If you buy a turtle as a gift for children or as a toy, it will soon become boring. There is no need to keep the animal somehow, because a turtle will look much more impressive for both you and your guests in a beautiful terrarium than in a box under the sofa.
Let's look at questions that often arise when buying and choosing a turtle:
- How many turtles can you buy at once? First, it’s better to take one, and only then buy more for it, but not 3–5 pieces at once, otherwise you may not be able to handle it.
- When is the best time to buy turtles? The best period to purchase a turtle is late spring - early autumn. In winter, you can buy a sick turtle, or catch a cold while transporting it home. These recommendations do not apply if you purchase a turtle from a trusted place, then you can buy a turtle in any season.
- Should you plan to purchase an aquarium/terrarium before the turtle arrives or after? It is clear that the aquarium/terrarium must be purchased and fully equipped for habitation before the turtle appears.
- Where is the best place to buy turtles? The best option is to pick up the turtle for free if the owner has abandoned it. And under no circumstances should you buy a turtle at the Bird Market - you may run into a sick animal or one listed in the Red Book.
- How to determine whether a turtle is healthy or not? If the turtle is healthy, then it moves actively, it does not have any discharge from the eyes or nose, it does not breathe through its mouth, its eyes are open and there is a reaction to people.
- How much can a turtle cost? Prices vary from 150 rub. up to 30,000 rub. and more depending on the exoticism. You can also take a turtle for free if the owner gives it up.
- How much will it cost to purchase a terrarium along with equipment? All together will result in an amount of at least 3,000 rubles, but if you search on the Internet, you can find advertisements in which these things are given away for free.
- What documents should be required for turtles in the store? Be sure to ask for a sales receipt or a copy of it. Where the number of animals, their type, the name of the seller, his signature, date of sale and price are clearly indicated. It is advisable to have a veterinary certificate or a copy thereof stating that the animal is healthy.
When is it best to get a turtle?
It is best to do this in the summer, when the weather is warm outside and the turtle is quite active. Thus, you can easily distinguish a healthy pet from a sick one. It is very important that after purchasing, when carrying it home, there is no possibility of catching a cold. In other words, you should choose the right day to purchase a turtle, then there will be no problems with keeping your pet. In the warm season, it is much more pleasant to arrange a place for keeping.
If you buy a turtle in winter, then in 90% of cases you can buy a sick reptile. As a rule, those animals are sold in winter that could not be sold in summer, based on one reason or another.
If you purchase a smuggled land turtle, you should remember that they are transported under extremely unfavorable conditions, which can contribute to their illness. By purchasing such a turtle, it is possible that problems with its maintenance are guaranteed.
Dogs
Golden retriever
An unusually intelligent, friendly and active golden retriever will become a true friend and companion for a restless child. These dogs are created for family life, they love communication and are afraid of loneliness. Their increased playfulness and cheerfulness literally makes it impossible to sit still. Retrievers love to chase a ball, fetch a stick, and swim. They are calm, balanced and quickly learn any commands.
Golden retriever
Pug
The small short-haired pug is an inquisitive, funny animal that is ideal for keeping both in the house and in the apartment. This breed is distinguished by its friendliness, ability to find a common language with any person, cleanliness and incredible mental abilities.
pug
Irish Setter
Fawn-red Irish beauties have long gained popularity among pet lovers. Energy, kindness, and need for attention are the main distinguishing features of the breed. Setters have hunting instincts, so the owner will be protected during a walk. At home, the Irish are incredibly affectionate and gentle with all family members. They love to be brushed. Teach this skill to your child.
Irish Setter
Dalmatian
This cute Dalmatian will make a wonderful, loyal friend for both boys and girls. Dalmatians have an easy-going, calm and patient character. They will never offend a child or show aggression towards him. It is quite simple to teach these dogs various commands - they happily fulfill the requests of their owner.
Dalmatian
Labrador
Labradors are easy to train. The main thing is to start doing this on time (at about three months of age). It is quite difficult for these dogs to sit still, so try to find them some kind of task as often as possible, for example, fetching slippers. Labradors love to swim. Don’t forget to take your pet with you on your summer holiday to the river, letting him swim in the river. This breed is patient with children. They will faithfully sit next to the child, guarding his sleep.
Labrador
Bichon Frize
The Bichon Frize is a unique breed with a thick, fluffy, but hypoallergenic coat. Little perky dogs are the true embodiment of friendliness and affection. They are agile, obedient and smart. The perfect combination of all qualities in one pet.
bichon frize
Who is better to buy a turtle from?
Naturally, it is better to take a turtle from a person who breeds them. Such people know a lot of useful things about these reptiles and know how to care for them well. During the purchase you can get a lot of useful advice. Unfortunately, in Russia there are very few such people and no one does this purely for business, since it is a rather labor-intensive process and takes a lot of time.
Red-eared turtles are bred in Europe and Asia on special farms in fairly large quantities.
As for Central Asian turtles, they are smuggled from Central Asia. Exotic representatives of the turtle species can be bred or removed from natural conditions, which naturally causes significant harm to nature. Based on this, you should always think before bringing one or another type of turtle into your home. This is especially true for rare species of turtles listed in the Red Book.
Chinchilla
An incredibly sweet and beautiful creature, and her plush fur coat will completely captivate you! The pet lives quietly alone and is content with human company. Chinchillas usually have a calm and docile character.
Joy:
- An interesting feature of the chinchilla is that it has practically no sebaceous and sweat glands, so the little animal always smells very tasty;
- The chinchilla is smart, if you teach her to go to the toilet in one place, her house will also be clean;
- Even a preschooler can clean and clean the cage after a pet - her house is always dry, she doesn’t produce much dirt;
- The chinchilla is peaceful and has no claws. If you hurt her, she may “bite” slightly, but only as a warning;
- chinchillas have good health - they rarely get sick and live 16-20 years;
- You can teach your pet easy commands and basic training skills.
Nasty:
- The life schedule of chinchillas is nocturnal. She wakes up after lunch, around 5-6 pm, and is most active around midnight, just when we are already sleeping soundly. An active chinchilla gnaws at the house, branches and stems, slurps loudly while eating and runs around the cage. Therefore, you need to place her cage at night in a place where you won’t hear her at night;
- very rarely, but people may be allergic to chinchilla food, not to the chinchilla itself;
- The chinchilla itself is not cheap, but it is still a rather exotic animal;
- Your pet needs to take sand baths occasionally to live a full life. When a chinchilla bathes in sand, it flies in all directions, and you then have to clean it all up. In addition, the sand itself (purified) is not cheap;
- Not every chinchilla can be cuddled and stroked; as a rule, they are quite cuddly and do not like to be held.
