Turtles are increasingly found as pets and there is nothing surprising here. These animals are very loyal, calm and can be entertaining if not ignored. Caring for them can guarantee an excellent life expectancy, for example up to 50 years. Interestingly, it is not so easy to determine the age of a turtle; not everyone can do this, which becomes the basis for mistakes.
Age can be determined using various parameters, but, of course, the error may be quite large. Note that as turtles grow, the color and shape of their shell changes, they elongate, special depressions appear, and the colors of their eyes and nose change.
Life of the European marsh turtle
There is no consensus on the life expectancy of this species.
But there is no doubt that she is a long-liver. The numbers range from 30-50 to 100 years. If properly maintained, she can live in captivity for at least 25 years. For favorable conditions for keeping a marsh turtle in captivity, an aquaterrarium (150-200 liters) is required. You definitely need to make an “island” that will act as a shore. You should not use sand as soil; it is better to take medium and large stones so that the turtle cannot swallow them. A powerful filter is needed to purify water, since the main life processes of a turtle occur in the water, thereby polluting it.
Clean water in the aquarium is the key to its health and life expectancy; it is necessary to change the water regularly. Fresh water should be the same temperature as the drained water, otherwise there is a possibility of the animal catching a cold. During the day, the air temperature should be 28-32 degrees, and the water temperature 25-28 degrees. They need ultraviolet light. It should be located above land. The water height for small individuals should be approximately 10 cm, for larger ones - 15-20 cm.
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What difficulties may arise
Turtles are considered long-lived.
These amphibians can live almost 120 years. And if all maintenance measures are followed when keeping them at home, then reptiles can outlive not only their owners, but also their children and even grandchildren. In captivity, this amphibian animal can be kept in simple conditions; they do not require special care. But you definitely need to equip an aquarium with a large volume, about 150-200 liters. It must maintain a temperature of at least 25-30 degrees.
It is worth noting! Until a certain age, it is almost impossible to determine the sex and age of a land turtle. Full puberty begins at about 6-8 years of age, but visible signs may appear even later than this time.
How do turtles grow?
All creatures are born defenseless, however, as they grow, some develop teeth, others develop claws, and still others develop shells. As you guessed, the latter applies to turtles, in which, as they grow, the size of the shell increases, its color metamorphoses, and also the shape of the body changes. So, for example,
In the case when the growth processes of turtles occur quite intensively, the new horny layers on the periphery of their scutes become light in color, and then processes of pigmented cells grow there, along which pigment is transferred - usually in the form of dark spots or thin rays. But, over time, these growth rings age, and the pigmented zones cease to differ from earlier ones - this often happens with turtles that are kept at home in captivity.
It is the body size that can tell us a lot about the age of a turtle.
. Therefore, below we will provide you with information regarding what parameters turtles have depending on their age.
The relationship between the body size of a turtle and its age
If the length of a newborn male is 2.5-3 centimeters, then by 1 year the length of his body reaches 5-7 centimeters, by 2 years - 7-9 centimeters, by 3 years - 8-12 centimeters, by 4- by the age of 10-14 centimeters, by the age of 5 – 13 centimeters.
If the body length of a newborn female is 2.5 - 3 centimeters, then by 1 year it reaches 5-7 centimeters, by 2 years - 7-9 centimeters, by 3 years - 9-15 centimeters, by 4 years for years – 13-18 centimeters, by 5 years – 17 centimeters.
Body size can be influenced by the conditions in which turtles are kept, their diet (find out), as well as the characteristics of the species to which it belongs, however, based on these average parameters, you can calculate the approximate age of your turtle based on the length of its body.
How to determine the age of a turtle by the number of rings on its shell
Another fairly informative way to determine the age of a turtle is to determine it by the number of rings on your pet’s shell. If you consider that within 1 year 2-3 rings are formed on the shell, you can count the total number of rings and calculate the average number of years
However, if you calculate the age of a turtle using this method, you should take into account the fact that the size and number of rings may depend on the conditions in which the turtle was kept, and also on whether it hibernated. As a rule, the first rings on a turtle's shell appear when it is not yet 1 year old.
From this moment you can begin approximate time tracking. But, we would also like to draw your attention to the fact that in old turtles the shell becomes smooth, and the rings become pale, and counting them can be quite difficult... Also, if you calculate the age of a turtle based on the number of rings on its shell, We would recommend that you do not forget about the periods of active growth: the first period - from newborn to 2 years of age - the furrows determine the period of development from 4 months to 6 months, and in the future it is customary to rely on the perennial cycle.
The growth of the turtles can be seen by the light seams between the carapace scutes. If the turtle grows quickly, the new horny layers along the periphery of the scutes become very light, then processes of pigment cells (dermal melanophores) grow there and pigment is transferred along them, usually in the form of thin rays or dark spots. When these growth rings “age”, the pigmented zones will not differ from the previous ones. This is the cost of accelerated growth in captivity.
(c) D.B. Vasiliev.
As young turtles grow, their body shape and shell color change. The shell elongates and darkens. When the turtle grows and becomes sexually mature, if it is a male, then it may have a depression on the plastron, a thicker and longer tail, and long claws. Eye color and nose color may also change.
Parameters of red-eared turtles born and living in nature
Parameters of land turtles, turtles born and living in nature (using the example of Testudo hermanni)
At home, the growth of a turtle depends on the size of the aquarium/terrarium, frequency of feeding, diet, and the addition of calcium to the food.
What are turtle growth rings
Turtles that grow in their natural environment regularly alternate between growth and pause phases each year. Therefore, every spring/summer a new growth ring is formed along the growth plates. (photo 1)
Thus, the better the turtle keeper is able to recreate the natural annual rhythm, the more uniformly the growth rings/stripes appear, and the easier it becomes to determine the age of the animal under human care.
Turtle growth rings (photo 1).
Turtle growth rings (photo 2).
Turtle growth rings (photo 3).
More difficult is determining the age based on the growth rings of turtles, which begin to hibernate in a warm terrarium, then hibernate outdoors or in an incubator, and in April wake up again in a heated house. There are several growth phases per year, as is the case with this 5-year-old Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri. (photo 2)
It is almost impossible to determine age based on rings on turtles that did not hibernate from their youth, during their period of greatest growth. In this case, their growth lines are irregular and barely outlined with each other, as is the case with the animal shown in the photo, which spent its youth in the living room without hibernating. (photo 3)
Origin of the turtle
The question of the origin of the turtle is still occupied by the minds of many scientists. The conditional ancestor is considered to be Permian cotylosaurs or eunotosaurs. This small and very lizard-like ancient animal had short and fairly wide ribs, which together formed a kind of shield-shell in the back area.
Some scientists suggest that turtles owe their origin to a special group of parareptiles that were descendants of the amphibian discosauriscus. The first, most ancient specimen that fell into the hands of scientists was Odontochelys semitestacea, very well known in scientific circles. This turtle was characterized by the presence of the lower half of the shell, as well as teeth, which modern species are completely devoid of. The second oldest turtle is Proganochelys quenstedti. This animal had a full and well-formed shell and also had teeth.
The largest land turtles from the genus Meiolania had shells that often exceeded two meters in length. In addition to the huge shell, the animal had a very long and incredibly powerful tail, which was decorated with flattened bone spikes arranged in two rows. The species is characterized by the presence of a triangular skull, on which there are elongated, blunt-type spines directed backwards and sideways.
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Main enemies
But the number of turtles was also affected by deliberate actions of people against these harmless animals. In Turkmenistan, there is a belief among a certain part of the population that the turtle is the filthiest animal. This belief was previously accompanied by a ban on touching the turtle. Today it is combined with the aggressiveness of teenagers who destroy these slow creatures. In Uzbekistan, the origin of the turtle is linked in legend to a rogue merchant. He so shamelessly weighed down the buyers that they became indignant and cried out to Allah. Allah got angry, took two pans of the scales on which the merchant was underweighting the flour, and squeezed the swindler with them. “You will forever bear these evidences of your shame,” Allah concluded. Between the scales the merchant had only his head and limbs left sticking out, and he turned into a turtle. It must be assumed that such a legend did little to promote people’s caring attitude toward turtles. Also, a large number of turtles die from the feet of artiodactyl animals and birds of prey.
How to determine the sex of a reptile
When the question arises of what gender, you should look at the tail, the shape of the shell, limbs, head and behavioral characteristics.
- Tail. In males it is thinner and longer, while in females it is short and thick. In addition, males periodically pull out the genital organ. The cloaca in females resembles an asterisk and is located closer to the base of the tail.
- Shell shape. In males it is elongated and narrow with a plastron concave inward. Females are rounder and wider with a flat plastron. It is noteworthy that the latter are usually larger than the former.
- Limbs. Males have elongated claws for courting a partner during the mating period.
- Head. Different species of turtles have sexual differences in the color and shape of their heads, as well as eye color.
- Behavior. Males usually flirt with females, showing their interest in them by chasing, biting on the neck, scratching with their claws.
Other sexual characteristics in turtles
The sex of a land turtle can be determined by its size. In order for females to bear healthy offspring, nature created them to be larger. The difference in size between a male and a female is especially noticeable if several individuals live in the aquarium at the same time.
You can determine the sex of turtles by the color of their eyes. Most often, females have yellow eyes, and males have brown eyes.
You can also determine the sex of reptiles by their behavior. The difference is especially visible during the mating season. It is by behavior that you can find out as accurately as possible where the turtle is female and where it is male.
Males, in order to impress females, behave extremely actively and even aggressively with their relatives. They usually start fights and attack each other, while biting their opponents on parts of the body not protected by the shell.
Male turtles demonstrate all their advantages in front of females. It's like a kind of dance. The males begin to swing their front legs, intensively move their heads from top to bottom, actively move their tails and make attempts to climb onto the females.
When fighting, males turn over on their backs and strike each other with their clawed paws. This behavior is not typical for females. Females are always calm and leisurely, even during the mating season.
For each species of land turtles, and there are more than a dozen of them, in addition to the general signs of sex determination, there are individual characteristics that are characteristic only for it. This could be the color of the eyes, nose, or the special shape of the tail. Only a specialist can determine gender based on such characteristics.
In addition, whether a turtle is male or female is determined already at puberty, so when buying a small turtle in a store, this will not be possible. Therefore, it is better to give your pet a nickname that will suit him regardless of gender.
Article on the topic: How to find out how old a turtle is, determining age by external signs
Age determination
When studying the question of how to find out how old land turtles are, it is also necessary to highlight that there are also aquatic species. Land animals at birth do not exceed 3 cm in length. They look tiny and weigh only 10 grams. After a year, such a reptile grows up, but increases in size by only a couple of centimeters. When the turtle's shell reaches 18 cm, its growth stops. After 10 years, the reptile is already considered large and adult. At this age, her shell will be 17 cm in diameter.
Determining the age of land reptiles is possible using unusual characteristics. We are talking about a shell that has an amazing property. Until one year of age, rings appear on the shell. During growth throughout the year, up to 3 rings appear on the scales. After a year of life, growth is not so rapid and for each new year an additional ring will appear. True, it is not always possible to understand just from this characteristic how old the turtle is. There are other factors that contribute to changes in the number of rings.
Their quantity is influenced by the indoor climate, living conditions, care, hibernation time, quality and quantity of food. You can also use simple calculations to determine age. If we take into account that in one year the reptile only grew by a couple of centimeters, and at birth it was 3 cm, then you need to measure the shell itself. The data is recorded and 3 cm is subtracted from it. Next, the resulting number is divided in half, and the result will characterize the age of the pet.
Both methods that allow you to find out the age of a reptile are not accurate, and you can only understand the approximate period of life. Only an experienced veterinarian can tell exactly the age, who will conduct a series of examinations of the body and only then will be able to determine the exact years of the reptile.
It is worth noting that for aquatic turtles the determination is made according to other factors and rules. A general method for determining age in both types of reptiles includes light seams on the shell; in a young reptile they will always be light. Such parts begin to darken at the age of 4-5 years.
The number of years is also determined by the shape of the shell. To be precise, its shape makes it possible to understand that the reptile has already reached sexual maturity, in which case the shell will be oval. In addition, its pattern not only begins to darken, but may be almost invisible or disappear altogether. Mature males will have stronger claws and tails than females.
To simplify the calculation of years, you can use data, but they are taken to take into account parameters in the wild, for land turtles. Keeping in captivity can distort the data shown in the table:
By finding out how old your pet is, you can understand how long he has approximately to live in a normal life. After all, death in reptiles at home occurs due to improper maintenance, nutrition and infectious diseases. On average, they can live from 20 to 50 years, it all depends on the breed and conditions.
Leisurely friends, clad in bone armor, no matter how small or huge they are, have found a niche of people who love them very much and have them in their apartments, make them enclosures on their property, or even fence off a large area for them in private nurseries. And the fact remains that turtle owners love their pets.
But there are very, very frequent cases that for one reason or another these cuties are abandoned and they have to look for a new home
And the fact remains the same: turtle owners love their pets. But it is very, very common that for one reason or another these cuties are abandoned and they have to look for a new home.
Exactly like the cases when, under the guise of being young and inexperienced, they sell you an adult with character. How not to be deceived and how to have at least a small idea who is in front of you, a youth or an adult? How to determine the age of a turtle? Let's figure it out together.
Wherever you point your pointer at our planet, with the exception of places with a cold climate, you will find a turtle everywhere. And more and more varieties can be found as pets every year.To begin determining the age of these reptiles, let’s decide who the target is:
- Sea turtle.
- Freshwater.
- Land.
Because each of them has its own distinctive features.
Habitat
The Central Asian land turtle is most often found in Central Asia. Its habitat is the steppes from China to Uzbekistan. You can meet these little ones on a hilly area near a pond in thick, luxurious grass. Although sandy soil also often becomes home to these animals.
Turtles live in self-dug burrows, but there are known cases of settling in previously inhabited dwellings. Most often this happens during a dry climate, when the animal cannot dig a hole on its own; this fact forces the turtle to look for a shelter dug by someone earlier. The Central Asian turtle is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.
Puberty
Experts say that the sexual maturity of reptiles depends on its habitat. If the animal lives in the wild, then the female becomes capable of laying eggs at 10-15 years. Males mature much earlier - at 5-6 years they can fertilize their chosen one.
Some reptile breeders claim that their pets themselves began to express their readiness to reproduce at 4-5 years of age. In fact, this should not be allowed. This is simply due to the improper maintenance of the animal.
After all, judging by human standards, a reptile (female) at 4 years old is still in its early adolescence, comparable to a 10-12 year old girl. Like a child, a reptile can be fertilized and even lay eggs. Another question is how this will affect the health of the turtle itself and its offspring.
Therefore, experts categorically prohibit keeping young females under 10 years old together with males.
Since the average lifespan of a reptile is 30-40 years, after 25 years the Central Asian land turtle begins to grow old. But some females are still able to lay eggs.
But at this age, for a reptile to give birth to offspring is a very serious burden on the body. Therefore, this must be prevented. It is best to limit contact between older females and males who have reached their twenties.
In order for pets to live long in captivity, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of their proper maintenance.
Age of turtles by human standards
In the wild, Central Asian turtles live for about 50 years, but at home only 15. Rare individuals live up to 30 years with very careful treatment and competent care from the owner.
In order to calculate the age of a reptile by human standards, we will start from the following indicators:
According to the indicators taken into account, the approximate ratio will look like this:
| Age of turtle (years) | Age in human terms (years) |
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 12 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 27 |
| 7 | 31 |
| 8 | 36 |
| 9 | 40 |
| 10 | 45 |
| 11 | 50 |
| 12 | 54 |
| 13 | 59 |
| 14 | 63 |
| 15 | 70 |
Unlike in the wild, where sexual maturity occurs only at 10 years of age, domestic living conditions, which reduce overall life expectancy, stimulate early maturity, allowing offspring to be acquired before death.
Due to the rapid maturation of the turtle, wear and tear on the body begins early, which is reflected in a change in the ratio after reaching maturity.
IMPORTANT! Due to too many factors influencing life expectancy, the figures presented are not absolute values and are suitable only for approximate calculations.
The methods considered have many nuances, but they allow you to calculate the approximate age of the pet. Before purchasing a turtle, check the age with the seller and be sure to check the information yourself.
Source
Boy or girl?
The sex of a reptile can be determined only after its shell reaches a length of 12-14 cm; at an early age it is impossible to distinguish between them. The best way to determine the sex of turtles is by comparing representatives of both sexes.
The male's claws will be longer and thicker. The ventral part of the shell, the plastron, is concave in males and flat in females. The eyes of females are brighter in color - this is their only decoration, and the only way to attract a partner.
The shape of the shell in boys is long and narrow, while in girls it is round and short.
The cloaca in males is in the form of a longitudinal line, and in females it is in the form of an asterisk. The tail of males is wide at the base and thick along its entire length. In females it is thin at the base and short.
The sex of reptiles is also determined by their behavior: males are more active, show more interest in females, flirt, nod their heads, bite the neck.
To correctly determine the sex and age for breeding turtles in captivity, it is better to seek advice from veterinarians who can more accurately answer these questions.
Features of gender determination
If a land turtle is purchased for breeding, then it is important to be able to determine not only its age, but also its sex.
After all, for normal fruiting, one male and 2-3 females are usually required. So how to determine the sex of a reptile? The following methods will help with this:
If you are planning to get a land turtle in the future, then you should definitely know how to determine the sex and age of this reptile. This will help you purchase the most suitable young animal that can be used for breeding.
Source
How to determine the age of a turtle
Calculating the age of a turtle is quite a difficult undertaking. If you do not know the date of birth of your turtle, then there is no way to determine the exact number of years the animal has lived.
We offer you two ways to help determine how old your turtle is. But it is worth remembering that the calculations will be approximate. Only a specialist in this field can give a more accurate figure, with the help of special studies and procedures, and even then not everyone can do such a study.
Calculating age based on shell size
Turtles are born very small. The approximate size of the shell at birth is about three centimeters. Then, every year the shell increases by another two to three centimeters.
Based on this, to determine the age of your turtle, measure its shell using a ruler. Then subtract the number three from the length of the shell in centimeters. Divide the resulting difference by two. So you found out how old your pet is. You can also use a table based on statistical data:
- Five to six centimeters - one year.
- Seven to eight centimeters - two years.
- Nine to ten centimeters - three years.
- Eleven to twelve centimeters - four years.
- Thirteen to fourteen centimeters - five years.
- Fifteen to sixteen centimeters - six years.
Age based on the number of rings on the shell plates
In the first two years of life, a turtle manages to acquire six rings on its shell. Subsequent years, one or two rings are added per year.
With this knowledge, you can calculate your pet's age. To do this, count the number of rings on the selected plate. From the resulting number, subtract six (this is the first two years of life) and divide by two (the number of new rings per year). To the result of the calculations, add the first two years of life that were taken away earlier. So you found out how old your turtle is.
This method is less accurate than the first. In sufficiently mature individuals, it is difficult to count the number of rings, since the plates wear off over time.
Interaction with other pets
You can safely get a Central Asian if you have cats and dogs in your house. They usually get along quite well. The dog, as a rule, will sniff an unknown individual and, realizing that the reptile is of no interest to it, will leave it alone.
Cats are usually indifferent to them, but are sometimes afraid of them.
Different breeds of turtles should be kept in different pens.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that a turtle is a pet that does not require special care from its owners, so it will be an excellent first pet for your child.
The Central Asian turtle is a rather interesting, although not a social pet.
The reptile is also suitable for busy people who want a pet. But they do not have enough time to care for the animal. Which requires more care.
How many years does the Central Asian land turtle live?
This species is most common in Russia and the former CIS countries. It is not difficult to meet the owner of this pet, since the reptile does not require care, is calm, easily tamed, and is not aggressive.
The average lifespan of a Central Asian tortoise in the wild is determined to be 30-40 years. But in records found in the monasteries of Jerusalem, contemporaries read about some individuals who were 100 and even 120 years old.
The longest living among Central Asians is Marion, which has crossed the 152-year mark. This fact is documented.
At home, land turtles live 15-20, less often 30 years. This is also a long time, if you compare them with cats, rabbits and hamsters.
Spreading
This species is widespread throughout the Eurasian steppe, which is why it is also called the steppe tortoise. The largest populations live in Russia south of Kuibyshev and in Central Asia east of the Caspian Sea in the countries of the former USSR.
They are also found in eastern Iran, northern Afghanistan, western China and Pakistan. The main suppliers of these animals to the world market remain Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The local population collects them at the age of 7-8 years and sells them to buyers for further resale.
The Central Asian tortoise settles in arid areas with rocky or clayey soil near oases with grassy vegetation, springs and small rivers.
To date, 6 subspecies are known.
Lifespan of turtles
The loss of eggs due to nest predators is 40-95%. The survival rate of young animals is 10-55%; at the age of 10 to 15 years, 10-15% die per year. A complete change of generations occurs every 20 years, and animals aged 30 years are already rare. At home, turtles often die from infections and poor maintenance. But on average, small turtles live for 50 years, large ones for 80 years, and very large ones for 150-200 years.
Approximate data taken from observations of herpetologists in Zoos and private collections:
Central Asian - 40-50 years old Red-eared - 40-50 years old
Indian roofing turtle (Kachuga tecta) – 37 years old
box turtles - 50-100 years
Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) - 60 years, desert gopher (Gopherus agassizii), sea turtles - 80 years
radiant - 85 years
Balkan (Testudo hermanni) – 90 years
spur-bearing - 115 years Galapagos, Seychelles - 150-180 years
The lifespan of a turtle depends greatly on its care. Some people have turtles that are 20-30 years old or even 40-50 years old, but many of them, due to poor maintenance, have many senile diseases and do not live long.
Many began to have a variety of pets, quite rare and interesting, whose homeland is the distant tropics - these are boas, snakes, crocodiles, pythons, and turtles. In most cases, preference is given to a harmless turtle that leads a calm and measured lifestyle, especially since the costs of its maintenance are minimal. Very often, based on such considerations, they start a fish that leads a mainly aquatic lifestyle.
Turtles can be considered one of the longest-living animals among many animals, up to 50 years
.
As for home maintenance, everything will depend on how close home maintenance is to natural ones. If you properly care for it and keep it clean, then it can live for 30 years or more
, especially since it does not require any exceptional care, but you should know some subtleties. Firstly, you need to know how old the purchased turtle is and only then decide on the conditions of detention and proper nutrition.
Most likely, the turtle will be purchased at a pet store and the seller should tell you its age. This is necessary in order to decide on nutrition, since it may differ depending on age.
Behind the eyes, the red-eared slider has spots that are not associated with the hearing organs. Throughout life, these spots change color from scarlet to burgundy.
A young turtle has a streaked green shell that fades and darkens as it grows and matures.
You can focus on the age of a turtle by knowing the size of its carapace. But again, in home conditions, especially favorable conditions, a turtle can grow somewhat faster than in nature. Moreover, there are many subspecies of turtles that have different ratios of shell length in relation to age.
Basic information about redears
Representatives of the breed are aquatic reptiles, but they require an island of land. Such requests can be satisfied by purchasing a special tank - an aquaterrarium, and equipping it properly. In addition, such a container can be selected to match the design of the room, making it a real decoration of the room, and without compromising the comfort of its inhabitants.
When purchasing a cute little turtle, you should take into account that the pet will grow to a very impressive size. Life expectancy (from 30 to 50 years) is related to the living conditions of the reptile; the closer they are to natural ones, the longer the pet will live. The owner should know the age of the “red ear” not out of idle curiosity, but for two important reasons:
- to provide her with the most comfortable conditions;
- determine the appropriate diet and feeding regimen.
How many years do turtles live?
It is generally accepted that turtles can live 300 years, although in fact this opinion is erroneous. Of course, among the representatives of this species of animals there are some long-livers, but there is no reliable data that any individual lived to such a respectable age. In many ways, this impression of turtles is due to isolated cases of longevity among large species.
Life expectancy is affected by the size of the turtle - the larger the species, the longer its representatives can live:
- small turtles can live up to 50 years;
- representatives of medium-sized species live up to 80 years;
- the maximum age of large reptiles is 200 years.
Being in captivity can either extend a turtle's lifespan or shorten its years. Necessary living conditions, a balanced diet and the absence of enemies allow the animal to live long enough, but improper care or feeding with unsuitable food will lead to the rapid death of the pet.
Land
Turtles that include more than a dozen genera are called land turtles. They live in Asia, southern Europe, Africa and America. These reptiles prefer open spaces - steppes, deserts and forest-steppes, but can also feel comfortable in tropical rainforests.
The size of animals can be either very small, not exceeding 10 cm, or quite large. Common to all land turtles are a round shell and thick legs with fused toes. Reptiles prefer to eat a plant-based diet.
In their natural habitat, such animals can live from 50 to 100 years, which is influenced by the type of particular animal, its size and external factors. European land turtles are bred in captivity more often than others, with an average lifespan of 40 years.
Central Asian
The Central Asian tortoise is one of the representatives of land animals. It differs from other varieties in its shell. This part of the body is divided into sectors and colored yellow-brown with spots.
The habitat of these animals covers the countries of Central Asia. There the turtle is found in the foothills, near reservoirs and in deserts. The species grows only up to 20 cm, therefore it is classified as small. In the natural environment, under favorable circumstances, they live up to 50 years; in captivity, the period is limited to thirty years.
Marine
Sea turtles live in warm oceans and seas. They differ quite strongly from their land counterparts:
- the shell has an elongated shape;
- the front and hind limbs do not retract;
- the paws are more like flippers.
The body length ranges from 70 to 140 cm. Due to their impressive size, they do not live at home. In captivity, they can only be seen in aquariums and large zoos. If the living conditions of sea turtles are favorable, they live up to eighty years.
Water
European water turtles or aquatic turtles live in the southern part of the African continent, in the countries of the Middle East and Asia. These freshwater reptiles are small and only grow up to 30 cm.
Aquatic turtles are distinguished from other turtles by their smooth, plain or colored shell. These are quite popular pets; in captivity they are kept in special aquariums. Life expectancy both in the wild and in captivity is 50 years.
Red-eared
The yellow-bellied or red-eared turtle is a representative of American aquatic turtles. It can grow up to 30 cm, with females being slightly larger. Small red-eared turtles are bright green. As they get older, animals darken and acquire a brown or olive color. They have elongated patterns on their body, but the shell is almost entirely painted in one color.
Next to their eyes they have spots of red or orange, which is why reptiles got their name. Initially, red-eared animals lived only on the American continent, but then they were brought to other countries. They live in lakes and ponds with gentle banks, where it is convenient to get out onto land. Life expectancy, like that of aquatic species, is 50 years.
The oldest turtle in the world
The oldest turtle was Alagba, who lived 344 years and died of illness. It existed in Nigeria in the royal palace of Obgomosho. According to scientists, if the turtle was able to live to this age, the reptile must already be more than a hundred years old at the time of its discovery. If Alagba really lived such a long life, then she “observed” the reign of 18 kings of the kingdom of Obgomosho.
However, experts do not agree on the established age. According to Tim Skelton, the maximum age of giant reptiles is 200 years.
Jonathan is considered the oldest turtle in the world today. He is 187 years old. The giant reptile lives on the island of St. Helena and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Jonathan the tortoise is considered the oldest land animal in the world
The best way to determine the age of a turtle is from the breeder. In other cases, it is only possible to approximately determine the age of the reptile, since even the appearance of the pet depends on the conditions of detention. The growth of carapace in a favorable environment occurs much faster and more actively than in an unfavorable one.
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How long do land turtles live?
To answer the question, it is necessary to focus on what type of turtle we are talking about, as well as on the living conditions of the animal. In their natural environment, land representatives of the turtle world can live for quite a long period of time.
For example, there are some individuals that live more than a hundred years.
To find out how long a turtle has already lived, you need to take into account several nuances. Most of all, the age figure is influenced by living conditions, as well as compliance with the reptile’s diet. If you provide your pet with everything she needs, she will live to a respectable age. You should provide your pet with proper care, provide clean water, and feed it with foods that closely approximate the diet in its natural environment. It is also necessary to give the turtle a vitamin complex for its better development and health. The average lifespan of a land turtle is thirty, although long-livers can also occur.
Maintenance and care
The care your landlubber will need is not particularly difficult. But there are a number of conditions that must be met.
How to choose the right house?
cardboard box
Therefore, proper care and maintenance of a turtle implies the presence of a well-equipped terrarium where your pet will feel as comfortable as possible.
Arrangement of the terrarium
- An ordinary glass aquarium is perfect for these purposes. The size of the turtle house should be such that its inhabitant can move freely in it. To keep one individual, a tank with a volume of about one hundred liters will be enough. The width of the house must be at least 3 times larger than its occupant.
- You need to build a special house inside the terrarium so that your land friend can hide and relax alone. You can purchase it at a pet store or make it yourself from plywood.
- Next, you should carefully choose the soil with which the bottom of the terrarium will be lined. The thickness of the coating can vary from 5 to 10 cm. For these purposes, you can use medium-sized pebbles (small animals can swallow) or sawdust, but their disadvantage is that they get dirty very quickly. The ideal option would be hay with the addition of pebbles. Do not use cat litter, sand or soil as bedding. Ingestion of such soil by a turtle can lead to serious health problems.
- A home terrarium should have a microclimate that is as close as possible to the animal’s natural habitat. The temperature should vary within + 25-30 degrees. To ensure the proper temperature, a 75 W incandescent lamp is installed at a height of 30 cm from the bottom of the terrarium. There should be a separate place under the heat source, where the temperature reaches +33-35 degrees. A special ultraviolet lamp for reptiles is required, the rays of which are similar to those of the sun. It should be 30 cm from the animal. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the animal’s body produces vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which helps it absorb calcium.
Caring for a land turtle necessarily includes a bathing procedure. This helps to stabilize the water-salt balance, replenish moisture reserves in the body and normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to bathe the animal in warm water (+32-35 degrees) once every two weeks.
