Aquatic turtles, small: care and maintenance in an aquarium at home

Under normal conditions, with proper care, red-eared sliders can live up to 30 years. It often happens that due to improper care, owners shorten the life of their pets to 2-3 years. It is a mistake to think that to keep a reptile you need to fill a basin with water and put a few stones in it.

Since turtles are quite demanding, you need to prepare excellent conditions for keeping them with all the necessary accessories.

Main types

The species united by the common name “waterfowl turtle” are divided into:

closing;
flat;
spotted;
Chinese.

Closing

The species of secluded aquatic turtles is represented by the following subspecies:

mud red-cheeked;
mud walleye;
musky keel;
common musk.

The natural habitat of aquatic turtles of this species is the coasts of South and North America. All animals have a spherical carapace - a rib-shaped spine of the neck plate, which in case of danger the reptile tightly closes, thereby gaining complete protection.

Interestingly, the subspecies of mud turtles has developed dense membranes between the toes on the front and hind legs. Animals in nature rarely grow more than 15 centimeters in length, and the bulk of the diet consists of food of animal origin.

Flat

The species of flathead aquatic turtles has several subspecies of Homopus:

boulengeri;
areolatus;
signatus;
femoralis;
solus.

Animals of this species are distinguished by a strongly elongated skull, and in adulthood they rarely exceed 10 centimeters in length. The head is proportional, there are special small protective shields on the neck, the carapace is convex, oval in shape, slightly extended forward. The shades of carapace range from dark brown to olive. Females are larger than males and lay up to 5 eggs in one clutch.

Spotted

A species of true amphibians, spotted water turtles are characterized by a unique ability to thrive only in tandem conditions of land and water in the conditions of their urban home. The aquarium of such an animal must be equipped with an island of land, on which the turtle will happily rest and also bask under the rays of a special heating lamp. The length of the reptile rarely exceeds 13 centimeters.

Chinese three-keel

Chinese turtles are most often found among new breeders. These wonderful animals are considered the easiest to keep and undemanding in terms of diet diversity. A water house with a volume of about 100 liters is suitable for this reptile, because the size of an adult individual of this species is only 12 centimeters.

Habitat of red-eared turtles

Trachemys scripta's habitat is primarily southeastern America and the adjacent region of Mexico: from southwestern Virginia through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to Mexico. To the north, the habitat extends to the ends of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and to the west to Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Red-eared slider sizes

Trachemys scripta elegans predominates predominantly in the western and central parts of this range. Occupying the Mississippi Valley from Illinois through eastern New Mexico west to the Gulf of Mexico.

Trachemys scripta scripta is predominant in the eastern part of its previously described range, ranging from southeastern Virginia to northern Florida. It should be noted here that an intergradation zone of Ts elegans and Ts scripta is formed in Alabama.

Trachemys scripta troostii has the smallest range of occurrence and is found in the upper Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. From southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia through Tennessee to northeastern Alabama.

Trachemys scripta occurs in a wide range of freshwater habitats including rivers, ditches, swamps, lakes and ponds. Quiet reservoirs with a soft bottom and an abundance of aquatic vegetation.

Content Benefits

Waterfowl turtles are kept at home primarily due to their simplicity and ease of care.

It is customary to highlight the following advantages of the content:

Unpretentiousness. To live together in a city apartment, it is enough to equip the turtle with an aquaterrarium that is optimal in terms of water temperature and lighting, and do not forget to feed it on time and correctly.
Inexpensive food. An adult turtle is fed 2 - 4 times a week.
Calm and peaceful character. The animal does not make loud sounds and does not require attention.
Longevity. A rare pet can boast an average life expectancy of 30 - 40 years. In addition, turtles are very persistent and hardy animals, are little susceptible to diseases and infections, and perfectly adapt to climatic conditions.
Safety. The reptile will not bite or scratch, and you can trust a child to care for it, but in this case, you need to explain the basic rules of maintenance and care, and also control that a curious child does not accidentally harm the turtle.

Description and features

The name of the red-eared turtle clearly reflects its main feature - red stripes on the sides of the head in the area of the ears. In German they are called red-cheeked, and red-headed ones are sometimes included in searches. This species belongs to the family of American freshwater turtles.

She usually swims leisurely in search of food. Having eaten, it crawls ashore to bask in the sun. It lives from tropical to equatorial zones, so when the water temperature drops to 18 °C it becomes passive and lethargic.

Conditions of detention

You need to create an aquatic home for an animal based on the type of turtle, since each has its own nuances.

Keeping turtles in an aquarium comes down to meeting the general and basic requirements for aquatic turtles:

an aquarium with a volume of at least 50 liters;
presence of heat and light sources;
a sufficient amount of food needed for a particular type of food.

Requirements for an aquarium

Only a horizontal terrarium is suitable for a turtle, since animals prefer to swim longer. Although the depth is of little importance for reptiles of this class, it is worth paying attention that the height of the container should be at least 30-40 centimeters. The material of the house should be durable glass or plastic, but it must be non-toxic. If a completely enclosed aquarium is intended, ventilation must be provided. Tap water is also suitable for filling, but it is better to use settled water and pour a volume that covers a little more than half the container.

Important! There is an interesting calculation of the length of its aquatic house required for an animal: the length of the aquarium should be 7-8 times the length of the shell of an adult animal.

To see the locking turtles, you need a glass house with at least 50 liters of water. It is recommended to line the bottom with bulk soil and plant several underwater plants - this way the animal will live in conditions close to natural conditions. Be sure to build a shelter at the bottom, it can be a piece of driftwood or a clay pot, or any other decorative element will do, the main thing is that it fulfills its main function - protection, and the reptile fits well in it.

Flatback turtles are a little more demanding in terms of living conditions, and they must be taken care of in a special way, otherwise the animal is unlikely to survive for long. This species cannot be kept together with other species. An aquarium with a volume of 50 liters or more is lined with small pebbles along the bottom, a layer of about 2 centimeters.

Spotted turtles need a container with a volume of 70 liters or more. Among all aquatic turtles, they are considered the most active, so it is necessary to provide sufficient space for swimming. The bottom is lined with gravel; underwater plants would be useful.

For Chinese turtles, not just an aquarium is created, but a real house with a volume of 100 liters or more. An island of land must be built on which several large stones are placed so that in the future they can be heated with a heat lamp. The bottom must be lined with soil, several underwater plants are planted, and decorative elements are installed.

Important! Amphibians, or semi-aquatic species, the Chinese and red-eared turtles, can easily leave their home over the rocks of a land island and go on a walking journey around the apartment. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to cover the part of the aquarium with dry land with glass or a special lid.

Necessary equipment

The terrarium must be equipped with the following elements:

Submersible heater for maintaining a constant temperature in the aquarium, on average from 20 to 25 degrees, depending on the type of animal and time of year. A device made of glass or plastic is immersed in water. A plastic device is preferable - it is stronger, has a safe suction cup, and the reptile will not get burned on it if it touches it.
Thermometer for constant monitoring of the temperature in the terrarium.
A water filter can be connected to an aeration device; it is necessary to purify water and enrich it with oxygen. The air tube of the aerator must be brought to the surface.
A light lamp with a timer is necessary for the proper organization of daylight hours (from 9 to 13 hours, depending on the time of year and the type of animal).
Land surface for semi-aquatic turtles. An island of land in an aquarium is, without a doubt, mandatory, but it is no less preferable for aquatic ones - there the animal can rest and warm up.

Temperature

For a specific subspecies, a certain temperature is set. The average is from 20 to 26 degrees.

How to choose?

Young red-eared turtles with a shell length of no more than 5-6 cm are usually found on sale. They do not need a large aquarium, but it is worth considering that in a few years they can grow up to 20-30 cm, and you will have to change their tank.

It is necessary to carefully evaluate the appearance of the future pet. Lethargic behavior, and especially lying with your eyes closed, are not good signs. Then you should inspect the shell. It should be firm and free of defects. All claws must be present on the paws; no foreign formations are allowed on the head. If the turtle is in the water, it should swim vigorously, maintaining an even body position.

Care

A water turtle at home, of course, requires constant care, albeit not energy-consuming.

Basic principles of care:

it is necessary to monitor the behavior of the reptile and its state of health daily;
make sure that the water in the terrarium remains clean and change it on time;
when changing the water in the terrarium, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse all decorative elements;
replace gravel in a timely manner and ensure its cleanliness;
feed the animal in accordance with the requirements of the species, on time;
enrich the diet with special mineral supplements;
start treatment in a timely manner if alarming symptoms occur.

The class of aquatic aquarium turtles is really undemanding in care and maintenance.

What to look for when purchasing

Aquatic turtles are quite active creatures. A healthy animal shows interest in everything that is happening, eats well, and its reflexes work perfectly (for example, in case of the slightest danger, the reptile quickly hides in its shell). It is recommended to purchase a turtle from a trusted pet store or nursery, where there is no doubt about the living conditions created for the animals. When purchasing, the main criteria for evaluating a turtle will be its activity and appearance.

A properly raised young reptile has the following characteristics:

smooth and clean shell without plaque or damage;
clear, clean eyes, without wounds and suppuration;
active swimming;
good reflexes and movement of limbs.

It is also worth noting that a truly healthy animal is simply pleasant to look at.

Important! Aquarium turtles that live with fish should be small, and the fish, accordingly, should be large enough so that they are not perceived as food by the reptiles.

How to pick up

To communicate with an animal, you need to learn how to hold it correctly. The turtle is picked up under the belly, if it is small, and held in the palm of your hand, while larger animals are taken with both hands on the sides of the shell and be sure to grab the belly.

A turtle, like any animal, needs to be taught to be touched gradually. If your pet hisses or tries to hide, you should not force him to communicate. When the animal has become accustomed to the owner and his hands, you can sit him on your hand or knee, but it is not advisable to keep him in a canopy for a long time - this is unpleasant for turtles.

Changing water

The amount of water is indicated in the requirements for keeping the species, but the general criterion for quality is purity. Accordingly, the water should be changed at least once a month, and more often if it is heavily polluted.

Hibernation

It is extremely difficult to properly hibernate a reptile at home. If the animal is active and does not show signs of wanting to “winter”, you should not artificially create conditions for it. Improper hibernation can cause irreparable harm to the body.

Hibernation

The natural habitat of the red-eared turtle is from the equatorial to the tropical zone. Living conditions at a temperature of about +35 degrees Celsius do not force it to hibernate. But at the same time, the widespread artificial distribution of these turtles in many countries has changed their biorhythms. In October, when the air temperature drops below 10 °C, they become inactive, sink to the bottom of reservoirs and overwinter there. They do not eat or defecate, their breathing rate drops, and their heart rate decreases. Therefore, the question of whether pet turtles need to hibernate is controversial among scientists. But not every owner is able to correctly prepare a pet for hibernation, provide him with suitable conditions throughout its entire duration, and then competently bring him out of this state.

Therefore, red-eared turtles living at home hibernate quite rarely. But if this does happen, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Reduce water level. The turtle burrows into the ground, where it sleeps without rising to the surface, receiving air using special membranes in the mouth and cloaca.
Turn off backlighting and filtering. The movement of water contributes to the destruction of the thermal layer around the animal.
Naturally, do not try to feed the turtle or touch it at all.
Monitor her well-being. If she doesn’t wake up in February, she needs to be woken up.

Feeding

A turtle's diet is based on the needs of a particular species. The majority is food of animal origin, supplemented by permitted vegetables. You can feed turtles with special dry food, but only high-quality food and no more than once a week.

Fish and seafood

What is the best way to feed a turtle? The basis of nutrition for waterfowl turtles of any kind is low-fat small fish. Live is preferred, but not required.

The following types are suitable:

cod;
hake;
perch;
crucian carp

Fish caviar (raw!) is a real delicacy for turtles; it can and should also be offered to your pets.

It is not recommended to feed turtles with fatty fish, such as:

capelin;
sprat;
sprat

The diet will also be enriched with raw seafood:

squid;
crabs;
crayfish;
shrimps;
mussels;
scallops;
octopuses.

Plant food

You can give it no more than twice a week, preferably less often.

Suitable:

dandelion leaf, plantain leaf;
lettuce and cabbage;
seaweed (dry);
apples, bananas, pears;
carrots, cucumbers, pumpkin.

Meat

Once a week you are allowed to treat your turtle to lean poultry or lean beef. It is more beneficial to give chicken or beef liver in small quantities.

Insects

The following insects are suitable in dry or fresh (even live) form:

zoophobus;
mealworm;
cricket;
locusts;
snails;
bloodworm;
gammarus;
earthworms;
cockroaches (ash, periplanets);
wax moth larvae;

It is not advisable to feed a turtle this food more than once a week, and it is allowed to feed moth larvae no more than once a month.

Where to feed, how often

It is recommended to organize feeding in the same place in the aquarium. The amount of food given to the animal at one time should be eaten by it within 20 minutes. As soon as the reptile begins to get distracted and scatter pieces of food, it means it has had enough and no longer needs it. It is recommended to remember this volume.

Babies are fed daily, often twice a day, dividing the daily amount of food into morning feeding and evening feeding, and adults are fed in one meal every two or three days.

Prohibited Products

It is strictly forbidden to feed your turtle food that has undergone heat treatment, especially fried food.

The following should not be included in the diet:

spinach;
peas;
radish;
cauliflower;
mushrooms;
pineapples;
citrus fruit;
nuts;
porridge;
dairy and fermented milk products;
bakery products;
crab sticks.

It is also prohibited to give seeds and seeds of permitted fruits and vegetables.

Feeding baby turtles

Small turtles are a big responsibility, and it is worth feeding them correctly. It is better to use specialized food for them. If possible, you should consult a veterinarian and choose the best option.

As feed for babies, you can buy earthworms, bloodworms, and squid meat. They need a raw product - only they have the amount of protein they need.

The size of raw food should take up 2/3 of the total diet!

A turtle's diet should consist of three parts:

Complementary feeding with ready-made mixtures;
Animal protein – fish, meat, seafood;
Vegetation, vegetables.

As the turtle grows, feeding should be carried out according to the following scheme:

In the first year of life - daily;
Second year – after 2 days;
Next years – in 3 – 4 days.

Important! Pay attention to how much the turtle eats, and next time give it no more food than that.

Reproduction

Mating occurs in conditions of satiety, warmth and humidity all year round. It is recommended, a couple of months before the expected mating season, to place males and females in different enclosures, and preferably rooms, so that the animals do not see each other. It is recommended to place males with females.

A turtle's pregnancy can last from a week to two months. If the female is not satisfied with the conditions for laying eggs, she is restless and may refuse to eat. A few days before laying, the female will begin to look for a suitable place and dig the soil. It is recommended to organize a special box.

Eggs can be different in shape, round and oval, white and yellowish. Incubation of eggs lasts about two months. It is strongly recommended to move the eggs into a special incubator and check them daily for spoilage - rotten eggs may appear and ruin the entire clutch. The female is not interested in the clutch; further care of the babies falls on the owner.

How to determine gender

Gender is established at the stage of embryo formation in the egg. However, in most cases it is possible to accurately determine sex only after the animal reaches sexual maturity and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. Typically, at home, a turtle reaches maturity at the age of 2.5 to 5 years, depending on the species and conditions of detention.

There are a number of procedures that can help reveal gender earlier, such as:

blood test for a certain number of hormones;
radiography;
Ultrasound;
endoscopy.

Often such studies are uninformative and costly, and are resorted to in especially rare cases.

Let's look at how the sex of an animal is determined based on secondary sexual characteristics.

Carapace

In males: elongated, narrow, concave, quite high, noticeably smaller than in females, the posterior end has a V-shaped appearance.

In females: rounded, short, relatively flat, noticeably larger in size, the rear end is rounded.

Tail

In males: long and thin, the cloaca is located 1/3 from the edge of the shell, and looks like a longitudinal line.

In females: short and thick, the cloaca is located close to the carapace, has the appearance of an asterisk.

Limbs

In males: the claws are curved and long, quite sharp, the forelimbs are slightly longer than those of females, and well-defined femoral spurs.

In females: the limbs are shorter and more massive than in males, the claws are short and blunt.

Head

In males: the head is larger, the nose is sharper.

In females: the head is smaller than that of males, and the nose is not so pointed.

Important! Depending on the species, males and females differ in eye color.

It is also worth noting that male aquatic turtles can “show off their voice” - squeak to attract attention. They are more active than females and can show some aggression and chase other turtles even at a fairly young age.

Wood turtle

Scientific name: Glyptemys insculpta. Originally from North America. It is characterized by a dark gray shell. The legs, head and abdomen are orange with black spots, the limbs are short and strong.

Males are larger than females, the size of an adult is 23 centimeters, weight is about a kilogram. They are omnivores. In spring and summer it lives on the surface, in winter and autumn it chooses an aquatic environment.

Taking care of your health

Compliance with all the rules for the care and maintenance of waterfowl turtles in a home apartment will protect the animal from possible infections and diseases. However, any pet can get sick. Common diseases and treatments are presented in the following table:

Disease	Symptoms	Treatment
Abscess / Otitis	Tumor in the ears, on the limbs	Operation
Pneumonia	Does not drown, falls over, does not eat, wheezes, white mucus and bubbles appear from the nose	Deadly. Treated in a hospital or at home with injections
Conjunctivitis/swelling/redness of the eyes	Swollen eyes, redness, suppuration under the eyelids, lack of appetite	Local treatment
Soft/Twisted Shell (rickets / osteopenia / hypocalcification)	Softening of the shell, its curvature	The curvature process is irreversible; local treatment
Helminthiasis	Diarrhea/constipation, presence of helminths in tests	Treatment by a veterinarian
Dermatitis/skin fungus	Increased shedding, skin redness, white growths	Treatment by a veterinarian

Diseases

Despite the endurance and resilience of red-eared turtles, sometimes due to errors in keeping the reptiles get sick and die. Knowledge about common turtle ailments and treatment methods will help you avoid such consequences:

Pneumonia - the disease develops due to being kept in cold water or lack of food. Symptoms include hoarse breathing, lethargy, weakness and pallor of the mucous membranes. Treatment is carried out using an injection of Baytril 2.5% - 0.4 ml/kg into the brachial muscle.
Bone ailments - if white spots on the shell and detachments are detected in a red-eared turtle, we can conclude that there is a fungal infection. Pets are treated with Clotrimazole ointment, treating damaged areas.
Lack of calcium - with this problem, reptiles' shell peels off. The deficiency can be eliminated by giving pets small fish with bones and calcium supplements.

By following the maintenance rules, red-eared turtles will not be affected by any diseases.

Animal handling

When contacting an adult pet, you need to be extremely careful , especially if you plan to pick it up. The reptile may be wet and therefore slippery. In addition, she may try to free herself, hiss, and even have bowel movements. Do not forget that the turtle has sharp claws and strong paws, and its bite is quite painful. If you still need to pick up the animal, then this should be done with only two hands in order to minimize the likelihood of injury to both the person and the pet.

Be careful with adults

You need to be even more careful with the little red-eared turtle. It is advisable not to touch it with your hands at all and not to knock on the glass of the aquarium. This beautiful and elegant creature is easily frightened and can become ill from stress.

After contact with a reptile, your hands must be washed with soap. It should be noted that aquatic reptiles can be carriers of salmonellosis.

Subspecies

There are 13 subspecies of the red-eared turtle, but only 3 of them are the most famous and widespread:

Florida or Red-eared Slider

The dimensions of this main species, also known as Elegant, reach 30 cm, and its postorbital narrow stripe is reddish. All yellow abdominal plates have bright dark spots.

Yellow-bellied slider

Its plastron (abdominal shell) is more oval in shape, the plates are dark, with yellow spots and the same line along the edges.

Trusty or Cumberland species

This is the smallest red-eared turtle, its maximum size is 21 cm. The stripe behind the eyes is usually yellowish and narrow, and on the chin it is wide. There are patterns on the shell that resemble a scattering of black dots or peculiar eyes.

There are also interspecific hybrids.

Interesting Facts

Red-eared turtles breathe atmospheric air, so they are always forced to rise to the surface of the reservoir.
Amphibian reptiles will sooner or later eat any fish if you try to keep them together.
The sex of the red-eared slider is formed after fertilization and depends on developmental conditions. Up to +27 °C males hatch, above +30 °C only females hatch.
In the range of +27…+29 °C or with frequent temperature changes, both male and female individuals can hatch.
At the edge of the red-eared slider's plastron there is a strange formation - this is a trace of the yolk sac, which served as a source of food for the embryo.
Fishermen specifically look for clutches of red-eared turtle eggs, as they are an excellent bait for schools of large fish.
In the Mississippi River Valley, small turtles are captured en masse and sold to pet stores. This is a legitimate business. But the population does not suffer from this, as a lot of these amphibians are born.
Wild turtles are quite aggressive and can bite humans painfully. But domestic specimens treat household members with patience.
Although scientists believe that these amphibians are not able to distinguish many sounds or get used to people, they sometimes demonstrate miracles of training.

Diseases - prevention and treatment

Almost 90% of cases of diseases of red-eared turtles occur due to improper care, housing conditions and feeding, or all at once. If an animal is sick, do not treat it yourself, go to a specialist. A lot of situations require veterinary diagnosis.

Types of diseases

Pneumonia. The turtle becomes lethargic and cannot dive, although he tries. There may be discharge from the mouth or nose, and wheezing is common. As in humans, pneumonia can be unilateral or bilateral. The latter most often leads to death. The disease is most often caused by temperature changes - red-eared turtles are extremely thermophilic. Treatment may include inhalation with chamomile decoction. The pet must be periodically held over the container with it so that it inhales the medicinal vapors. The temperature of the steam must first be checked with your hand so that the turtle does not get burned. It is also important to remove sources of cold - otherwise treatment will be useless.

Rickets. This is a calcium deficiency caused by a lack of ultraviolet radiation and poor diet. For example, a purely meat diet leads to it. Red-eared turtles need both protein and fiber and carbohydrates. When sick, the reptile's skull and other bones do not soften, only the shell suffers. It softens and may become warped. Problems with feeding the red-eared slider may also arise. In the most advanced cases, the animal may die. Treatment consists of injections of calcium supplements, changes in diet and increased UV radiation.

Skin diseases. They are caused by an unbalanced diet, for example, a lack of vitamins A and B. The skin begins to peel off. It is necessary to strengthen your diet with foods high in these vitamins. But in order not to overdo it and cause hypervitaminosis, it is better to use special supplements - the vitamin content in them is strictly dosed. Additionally, you can take care of your skin using products prescribed by specialists.

Sepsis or blood poisoning. It mainly occurs as a result of injury to the skin, through which bacteria enter the blood directly from dirty water. Symptoms of sepsis may include weakness, passivity, and redness of the paws or shell. Treatment must be urgent and is carried out with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.

Abscess in the ear. The most common cause in turtles is dirty water. The disease manifests itself as inflammation or swelling on the head. Since turtles do not have ear canals, treatment is carried out only by surgery under general anesthesia.

Conjunctivitis. The turtle's eyes become swollen or red and he cannot open them. There may be various discharges from the eyes. Turtles are prone to eye infections. The disease is contagious, and the sick turtle must be separated from the others. In order not to aggravate the disease, it can only be put into water for 1-2 hours a day. Treatment consists of antibiotic drops in the eyes. Ordinary human ones are suitable, for example Diclofenac. You also need to replace the water, clean the terrarium, and check the temperature. If you start therapy at the first symptoms, a couple of days of treatment will be enough.

Bacterial infection in the mouth. Symptoms will be formations in the mouth, usually necrotic in nature. The animal stops eating and may not open its eyes. This is a very serious condition that requires immediate treatment. The oral cavity should be periodically cleaned with a gauze swab with an antibiotic solution, removing the affected tissue. With timely treatment, it can be cured well.

Bacterial skin infection. Usually caused by bacteria that have entered the skin due to injury - a burn from a lamp, injury from sharp objects, or other illness. Symptoms will be a soft shell with visible hemorrhages. The affected area rapidly increases in size. There may be an unpleasant odor from the turtle. It is necessary to remove dead tissue and treat the affected area with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian until complete healing.

IMPORTANT: Red-eared sliders are recognized as carriers of salmonella bacteria. If these animals are handled incorrectly, people can become infected. This led to legal restrictions on their sales in a number of countries.