How to bathe and wash a land turtle (Central Asian) at home

turtle house

To keep a pet turtle in an apartment you will need a special house.
In it she can hide from prying eyes. Shelter for a reptile is necessary by nature. In its natural environment, the turtle chooses the optimal size shelter so that it can fit comfortably into it. At home, such a shelter will serve, for example, a flower pot, or you can use a box. You need to watch your pet - where he likes to retire in order to equip a house there. Choosing a turtle is not so easy. There are over 35 species in the world today. This is only land. The Central Asian variety of turtles is suitable for keeping a home; they are also called steppe turtles. Such turtles are inexpensive, and their dimensions are acceptable for average apartments.

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

Central Asian tortoise - breeding in captivity

The Central Asian land turtle, which is kept and cared for at home, reaches sexual maturity at the age of 5-6 years. For breeding you will need at least a couple of individuals - a male and a female. Individuals mate starting in February, the duration of pregnancy is 2 months. Then, in April-July, the female lays 2-6 eggs in moist soil. During the season, she can make 2-3 clutches in holes.

Incubation will last 60-65 days, turtles 3-5 cm in size hatch in August-October. Sometimes they remain overwintered in the ground, emerging into the light only in the spring. At birth, turtles have a visible yolk sac; it retracts after 2-4 days, after which the babies begin to eat. They need to be fed soft plant foods, bathed daily, and at 2-3 months they can be switched to a standard diet.

How to determine the sex of a Central Asian turtle?

Adult males are smaller than females, the former measure 13-20 cm, the latter 20-23 cm. Outwardly, it is difficult to distinguish a boy from a girl; the difference between them can only be noticed at the age of 2-5 years with a shell size of 9-11 cm. How can you determine the sex Central Asian land turtles:

1. Males have a longer tail and wider at the base. There is a dent visible on the plastron closer to the bottom. The cloaca is located further along the tail.
2. In females, the plastron is flat-shaped, the tail is shorter, without thickening due to the placement of the oviduct. The cloaca is visible near the end of the carapace.

How to wash a turtle. Basic Rules

For the indicated hygiene procedure, you will need a container in which you can place a turtle for bathing, a soft sponge and cotton cloth, baby soap and, of course, warm water. It is best to heat it to a temperature between thirty and thirty-six degrees. It is necessary to pour such an amount of water into the bathing container so that its height is exactly two-thirds of the height of the animal; remember that the turtle is a land turtle, which means it can drown. If the water is too hard in composition, then chamomile decoction is used to soften it.

Usually the pet is bathed simply with water and a soft sponge, but if the animal gets dirty enough, in the case when the turtle is in a terrarium outside in the summer, then it can be washed using baby soap, but this only applies to the shell, the skin is only cleaned only with clean water, because soap, if carelessly, can get into the eyes or nose, which will cause great harm to the reptile. In addition, soap can cause allergic reactions on the skin.

Therefore, it is not recommended to use even baby soap more than once a week.

The shell should be washed very carefully, with a soft sponge, so as not to damage the horny plates and cause its deformation. Therefore, movements must be careful

When bathing, you may encounter a problem when it is impossible to wash your head, neck and paws, because the animal hides them under its shell. The solution in this case is quite simple. You need to place the turtle under running water at the appropriate temperature, then the animal will independently extend its head and straighten its paws. It is not recommended to rub them; the most you can do is to carefully remove the dirt from the skin with your hands.

Another important point. For swimming, you need to prepare at least two portions of water, since turtles love to relieve their natural needs in water, so it will have to be replaced.

The first bath at home will be a real stress for an animal. Therefore, after placing the turtle in a container of water, you need to give the pet a few minutes to get used to the new environment. After some time, this procedure will become a favorite, and the turtle will look forward to it.

If you notice that while bathing an animal is blowing bubbles in the water, then you should not be alarmed; this is a completely natural process that gives the animal pleasure.

Water procedures should not last more than half an hour. Afterwards, the turtle is taken out of the water, blotted with a cloth or paper napkin, the shell is rubbed with olive or sunflower oil to strengthen it, and placed to warm up under a lamp or in the sun.

Immediately after bathing, you should not allow the turtle to be in a draft or go for a walk, as it may become ill and contract pneumonia. Therefore, she should be limited in her movements for an hour in order to have the opportunity to warm up, regardless of the time of year.

Proper bathing of turtles is one of the components of keeping reptiles at home.

Keeping a Central Asian turtle at home

For a long-term life in captivity, the Central Asian land tortoise requires a spacious home, equipped according to the pet’s habits. Some breeders make large pens for her in the local area in the summer. If this is not possible, you still need to take the reptile out into the air and into the sun more often. The important thing in keeping a Central Asian land turtle is to provide it with more space to live, so it will remain active and healthy for many years. The reptile is placed in plastic boxes, aquariums, and terrariums.

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Terrarium for the Central Asian turtle

For a Central Asian land turtle, when kept in a terrarium for a single individual, an area of ​​at least 60x130 cm is recommended, and better yet, even more. Home improvement:

1. The vessel is selected as a horizontal type with top and side ventilation.
2. The temperature in the terrarium should be at 25-27°C, in a separate corner under a lamp - up to 33°C.
3. A 40 W daylight bulb is fixed on the lid for heating and illumination at a height of 20 cm. The heat ensures the normal functioning of the turtle’s body.
4. You definitely need to put up a shelter that acts as a hole. An inverted box or half a pot is suitable for this.
5. Sometimes a container of water is placed in the terrarium, but this is not necessary - the turtle needs lush grass and weekly baths to saturate the body with moisture.

Soil for the Central Asian turtle

It is important to know what the Central Asian tortoise needs so that it feels almost like it is in the wild. Steppe reptiles love to dig. In a vessel in the corner you need to pour a layer of earth with coconut shavings. Sand is not used; the Central Asian turtle is able to swallow it and clog its insides. The soil must be moist, the layer 10-15 cm, so that the reptile can burrow into it. In a turtle house in a warm corner you need to pour pebbles and put voluminous flat stones. They help reptiles sharpen their claws. In addition, turtles love to climb onto rocks and bask under a light bulb.

Lamp for Central Asian tortoise

In addition to heating, the Central Asian land tortoise needs a UV emitter at home. For this purpose, 10% UVB lamps for reptiles have been developed; they do not emit heat into the terrarium, but supply it with ultraviolet light. UV rays are important for the production of vitamin D3 and the absorption of calcium by the body, on which the hardness of the skin depends. The lamp is attached at a level of about 25 cm. The acceptable operating time is 5-12 hours a day.

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Washing a land turtle

In order to bathe your beloved pet, you first need to properly prepare the water so that the reptile does not experience discomfort.

Water preparation process

To carry out water procedures, you must first prepare the water. The water temperature for swimming a land turtle should be +30-+36 degrees. This temperature is the most comfortable for the reptile. You also need to monitor the water level so that the turtle is on the surface and does not drown. It is best to make the water level so that 1/3 of the turtle's body is not in the water.

To soften the liquid, you can add a pre-prepared chamomile solution. You should also prepare some clean water, since reptiles may defecate while bathing. Washing your pet is not a mandatory daily procedure. You should bathe your pet once a week, or whenever the need arises.

The process of washing the head, neck and shell

Bathing land turtles involves some nuances, for example, washing the shell cannot be done with a brush. Because, in this way, you will remove a layer of horny plates, and in some cases, possible damage to the reptile’s shell. To make a turtle shell clean, you need to use only soft sponges, rags, or, in extreme cases, a toothbrush.

Washing a reptile's head can be a challenge, as the turtle may simply refuse to remove it from its shell. However, there is still a solution. Place the animal under running water at the required temperature and the turtle will show its head. When washing such delicate parts of the body as the neck and head, you should not use a rag, but simply remove dirt with your finger, and do not press on your pet under any circumstances.

Is it necessary to use soap

It is quite possible to bathe a land turtle without soap. If you want to give your pet a real bath, using soap more than once a week is highly not recommended. It should also be taken into account that you need to use only a product that will not cause an allergic reaction.

Turtles have rather delicate skin, so soaps containing chemical elements can be very harmful to your pet. It is best to use baby soap or shampoo; its composition is designed to avoid allergies and does not contain harmful chemicals.

Completing the bathing process

It is best to wash land turtles for no more than 30 minutes; this is the optimal time for water procedures. After finishing washing, you need to remove the turtle and remove excess moisture with a soft cloth. Under no circumstances should you immediately let your pet go after bathing, especially if there are drafts in the room. This can cause colds and pneumonia in your reptile. The best solution would be to place your pet in a terrarium where the temperature is suitable and there is no draft.

The question of bathing is not the only one; many breeders are interested in the correct design of the terrarium. Regardless of bathing land turtles, the owner must also take care of the cleanliness of his pet's home. Be sure to change the litter at least once a week. You should also wash the land turtle’s terrarium itself as the need arises and arrange it properly. In the case of an aquaterrarium, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the aquatic environment. If all the conditions necessary for a reptile are met, as well as proper care, a turtle at home can please its owner for 30 years.

Common mistakes when bathing turtles

To properly bathe a turtle, you must adhere to certain rules to prevent unpleasant consequences of the procedure if the animal is handled incorrectly. The main mistakes when bathing turtles are:

1. High water temperature.

Bathing water should be lukewarm. Even at room temperature, water can burn the turtle's delicate skin.

1. Leaving a turtle in the water unattended.

Sometimes the animal may lower its head to drink water or clean itself. It should be remembered that land species of turtles cannot swim and can drown or choke at high water levels. It is also necessary to periodically check the water temperature, since keeping a turtle in water with a low temperature can lead to colds.

1. Using coarse bristle brushes when washing your turtle.

To avoid damaging the turtle's skin, use a sponge or brush with soft bristles. It is not recommended to brush red-eared turtles, as the rough bristles can damage the top layer of the carapace, which in turn can lead to infection of the turtle. If a brown coating forms on the shell of a water turtle, you can use a special anti-algae product and gently wipe the contaminated area with it.

1. The use of oil-based chemicals or lotions.

When bathing a turtle, it is not recommended to use regular gels or shampoos. In special cases, you can use a weak soap solution and treat the most contaminated areas with it.

Excessive lubrication with oil or greasy lotion closes the pores and prevents the skin and shell from breathing. Often such procedures lead to the occurrence of infectious diseases in the animal. For a beautiful and healthy appearance of the shell, it is necessary to periodically bathe the turtle and walk it in the sun.

5. Use running water.

Often, to carry out cleansing procedures, the turtle’s head and shell are placed under running water. A sharp change in temperature, admixtures of disinfectants in the water, and incorrect positioning of the turtle can lead to serious consequences, including burns or damage to the animal’s organs.

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Useful tips

In order to avoid causing any harm to the red-eared turtle during washing, you can use a few simple tips that will make the bathing process as safe as possible.

1. Bathing should not last more than 5 minutes.
2. When washing, do not turn the turtle upside down so that soapy water does not get into the pet's eyes and nose.
3. If there is a brown coating on the shell, and it does not wash off, it means that it is a fungus. In this case, you will need to buy a special remedy against mycosis.
4. You need to bathe your pet no more than once a week.
5. Red-eared turtles defecate quite often while swimming. If this happens, then it is imperative to change the dirty water.

These simple tips will help any red-eared turtle owner wash their pet without any problems.

How to provide a turtle with water?

When studying this issue, owners are interested in what to feed a land turtle? From all of the above, we can conclude that to ensure normal moisture levels, the turtle needs proper nutrition. Therefore, plants in the diet are a mandatory component. However, you should not give only solid vegetation; it is also necessary to provide your pet with succulent types of plants, such as cabbage and lettuce leaves, which will provide the reptile with the right amount of liquid. Another succulent leaves are young leaves of clover and dandelion. If you provide your pet turtle with succulent food, it will not need an additional source of moisture.

Another option to ensure the required level of moisture in the reptile’s body is to bathe the pet. You should put the turtle in water, and it will absorb the required amount of moisture. The turtle will not drink the water in which it bathes.

A categorical “no”

• Letting your pet walk around on the floor: firstly, he can catch a cold, secondly, he can eat dust and dirt, thirdly, someone will simply step on him;
• Feeding the turtle is monotonous - it quickly gets fat and begins to get sick;
• Place the terrarium on the floor or in a draft;
• Keeping a turtle in a bucket or cardboard box - it also has its own needs;
• Forcefully send them to winter without conducting tests to determine their health status. Weak animals may not come out of hibernation.

Features of Shared Content

Future owners mistakenly believe that at home the red ear should live in a flock with its relatives. In the wild, reptiles live separately from each other and do not change their behavior even with the appearance of offspring. The maternal instinct does not awaken in domestic turtles either, so it is recommended to remove them from the nest.

If the desire to raise several pets is too strong, then adhere to the following rules:

1. Place a male in a group of females. When keeping several males, fights will begin for a partner or territory. They will have to be constantly monitored to prevent injuries during fights.
2. Arrange separate feedings. In the absence of a competitor, reptiles will exhibit calmer behavior.
3. Add space and divide it into closed areas. Sometimes increasing the volume of the aquarium is not enough, so add barriers and walls to block the view of other inhabitants.

If keeping turtles together is possible under certain conditions, then the idea of ​​adding aquarium fish is immediately doomed to failure.

New neighbors will be perceived as live food, so waterfowl predators will deal with them in the near future. You can only care for fish and turtles in separate aquariums, but you will still have to periodically feed the reptile with guppies or crucian carp.

Diseases of Central Asian turtles

In good conditions, reptiles live for decades, but they can become depressed. Central Asian tortoise – possible diseases:

1. Rickets. The individual's skin and bones soften and become deformed, and fractures occur. The problem is a lack of vitamin D3 and calcium, and insufficient lighting. It is necessary to introduce mineralized supplements into the reptile's diet, increase daylight hours under a UV lamp, and expose it to the sun. Calcium glucanate should be injected under the skin.
2. Abscesses. The cause is injuries and insect bites, manifested by swelling, abscesses, and tissue necrosis. The site of the abscess is opened by a veterinarian, washed with hydrogen peroxide, lubricated with trypsin antiseptic, and antibiotics may be needed.
3. Fungus. White spots and peeling appear on the shell. The affected areas are lubricated with antifungal ointments.
4. Pneumonia. Happens due to a draft or walking on a cold floor. The reptile begins to breathe hoarsely, mucus forms in the mouth, and bubbly fluid flows from the nose. A course of antibiotics for 5 days is required (amikacin 5 mg, baytril 5 mg per kg of weight).
5. Rhinitis, sinusitis. Mucus discharge appears from the nose, and the individual behaves sluggishly. The pet should be kept warm, the sinuses should be rinsed with chlorhexidine and sea salt from a syringe.
6. Conjunctivitis. There is inflammation and redness of the eyelids, the disease is caused by a streptococcal infection. The course of therapy includes ointments (tetracycline) and antibiotics.

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Sources:

https://myturtle.ru/kak-kupat-sredneaziatskuyu-cherepaxu/ https://turtle-home.net/12-kupanie-suhoputnoy-cherepahi-kak-pravilno-myt-pitomca.html https://womanadvice.ru /sredneaziatskaya-cherepaha-kak-soderzhat-i-uhazhivat-za-ney-doma

Features of choosing an aquarium and its arrangement

The red ear will need a spacious rectangular aquarium with a volume of at least 100 liters. When pouring water, take into account the size of the shell. The turtle must make flips without hindrance during swims. As the body grows or the number of reptiles living together increases, it is necessary to choose a larger aquaterrarium.

Aquatic turtles spend most of their time in water, so you need to take care of the following indicators:

1. Water level
   . The purity of water is directly related to its quantity. Small aquariums will need to be cleaned more often.
2. Temperature
   . Heat-loving reptiles need water with a temperature of 22° to 28°. At lower levels, activity is lost, and at higher values, the turtle may die from overheating.
3. Purity
   . If you keep a red-eared slider in a large aquarium (more than 150 liters) with a powerful filtration system, then it is enough to completely change the water once a month. With more modest housing parameters, a weak filter or its absence, the frequency of cleaning increases to several times a week.

At home for turtles, you can use regular tap water, left to stand for 24 hours. This will help remove the bleach and bring it to room temperature.

Keeping red-eared turtles at home is not complete without an artificial shore - a small piece of land occupying 25% of the aquaterrarium. Ready-made islands are sold in pet stores and are equipped with:

• a sloping ascent, allowing you to easily get out of the water;
• stable and textured surface, eliminating the presence of sharp corners and possible overturns;
• fastenings that allow you to hang the dry land on hooks or attach it to suction cups;
• anti-toxic coating, eliminating the formation of harmful substances upon contact with water and heating lamps.

The shore is used by turtles for heating, so the temperature on land should be about 10° higher than the water temperature. For comfortable keeping, make sure that the temperature in the shade does not fall below 23°, and in the light does not exceed 32°.

In addition to having sushi, you need to take care of:

1. Water heater
   . Sometimes room temperature is not enough to maintain the optimal number of degrees. Automatic temperature control is a reliable tool that allows you to avoid sudden temperature changes.
2. Filters
   . Choose an external filtration system that offers more powerful cleaning and is safely located away from turtles.
3. Thermometer
   . Constantly monitoring the temperature will help protect your pet from overheating and hypothermia.
4. Grunte
   . Choose large, smooth stones that match the size of your reptile's head. Red-eared turtles prefer to eat aquarium plants, so choose edible or artificial options that do not pose a danger to your pets.

Issues of hygiene and healthy lifestyle

The basis of proper turtle hygiene is timely care and keeping it clean. The reptile should be bathed regularly, washing off particles of dust and soil in which it likes to dig.

It is important to carry out the procedure in warm water with the addition of soda at the rate of 1 teaspoon per liter of water. The turtle should be immersed in the bath so that only the head remains on the surface

The average duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.

The second important point is regular trimming of the animal’s claws using special tweezers. In their natural environment, turtles can grind down their claws on their own.

In addition to proper care of your pet and balanced feeding, it is necessary to keep the terrarium clean, regularly changing the filler as it gets dirty.

Turtles bathing

Basic hygiene is important for everyone, including reptiles. Land animals love to dig into the litter located at the bottom of the terrarium, and the corners of their mouths get dirty with food particles, so turtles should be looked after and washed regularly.

The bathing process is quite simple:

1. You need to add a teaspoon of soda to one liter of warm water.
2. Pour the water into a convenient container (preferably a special bath for turtles).
3. Gently lower the pet, leaving the head on the surface.
4. Leave in water for 20 minutes.
5. After the time has passed, remove the turtle and let it dry.

In small turtles and hatchlings, the drying process is much faster than in adults. Therefore, babies should be bathed a little more often - 2-3 times a week.

ATTENTION! When bathing a turtle, the air temperature in the room should not be less than 23°C. Otherwise, your pet may catch a cold.

How to properly bathe and wash a reptile

Preparing the bathing container, tools and heating the water must be done in the absence of the animal. When everything is ready, one or more turtles are placed in a bath, which should be located in a dry and warm room near a source of daylight. During the procedure, the owner must monitor the behavior of the little friend.

Turtles taking a bath contaminate the container quite heavily with their feces. In this case, it is necessary to change the water, or you can rinse your pet in clean water at the end of the procedure. Often reptiles try to drink water and blow bubbles into the water while washing. This is not a cause for concern.

If there is severe contamination on the skin and shell, you can use liquid baby soap applied to a cloth or sponge. Dirt is washed off using light, gentle movements; pressing or scraping the animal’s coat is prohibited. Dried food or dirt from the neck and head is removed with your fingers, massaging the pet’s skin. If the turtle hides in its shell and refuses hygiene procedures, you can turn on running water, which causes a reflex stretching of the neck.

At the end of bathing, it is necessary to rinse the reptile in a new portion of clean water. If soap was used to wash the turtle, or there are strong stains that are difficult to wash off, it is necessary to rinse the animal’s skin and shell under warm running water, holding the pet firmly in your hands. A clean, bathed turtle must be placed in a warm terrarium under a source of daylight. Drafts, a cold floor or the street after a warm bath can cause your little friend to become hypothermic.

Thanks to bathing, the outer covers of the Central Asian turtle are saturated with water, the work of the digestive and excretory systems is stimulated, and the tone of the animal’s body increases. Cleanliness, proper diet and optimal living conditions are the key to the health and longevity of an exotic pet.

Hibernation

The main feature of the reptile is the ability to fall into prolonged suspended animation, called hibernation. In nature, such a process is necessary because it provides:

• preservation of thyroid activity;
• support for sexual activity of males and females;
• stopping excess growth;
• supporting hormone balance.

At home, this phenomenon is very difficult due to the lack of usual sleeping conditions. Most often, hibernation occurs in winter, when the turtle becomes less active and begins to refuse to eat.

To avoid suspended animation of the animal, you should bathe it more often and artificially increase the temperature in the terrarium to 32 degrees.

The land turtle does not require excessive attention and care when keeping it at home. The most important thing for the future owner of a reptile is to provide it with a comfortable home and maintain a diet and hygiene regimen.

Types of land turtles

The most common in Russia is Central Asian. There are 37 varieties in nature. Distributed in Africa.

Central Asian

In nature they hibernate. Small in size - up to 20 cm. The carapace is rounded, yellow-brown. Diet: 90% plant based.

Mediterranean

The young of this breed do not survive well when kept at home. Choose an adult. It feeds on earthworms, snails, and plant food. Grows up to 28 cm. The carapace scutes form rings with a dark outer edge.

Communication with a reptile

Caring for a red-eared slider is completely different from caring for a dog or cat. When communicating with such an unusual pet, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Always hold the turtle using 2 hands. Because of the water, the shell is too slippery, so the pet can slip out of your hands and get hurt.
2. Grab the shell only from the tail side. This area is as far away from the head as possible, so the turtle will not be able to reach and bite the intruder of its peace.
3. Avoid close contact with the new turtle. If the pet arrived quite recently, then give it time to settle in and feel confident in the new territory.
4. Wash your hands after every contact. You can catch salmonellosis from your pet, so keep it away from the kitchen where food is being prepared.
5. Do not knock on the glass of the aquarium to attract attention. Reptiles do not like loud noises, so this behavior can frighten them and cause psychological problems.

Small turtles, vulnerable physically and psychologically, deserve special attention. You need to treat them very carefully or completely exclude communication until a certain age. Read about how you can play with a turtle in the article “Games and entertainment for turtles.”

Care Tips

In order to properly care for your red-eared pet, follow these tips:

1. Use separate dishes for different types of food and remove the feeders half an hour after the start of feeding.
2. Follow the feeding schedule. When the schedule is disrupted, reptiles do not behave in the best way. From hunger, they begin to eat their own waste.
3. Do not add salt to the water. Rubies are freshwater reptiles, so ordinary tap water is enough for them to keep them comfortable.
4. Add vitamins and minerals to your food as prescribed by your herpetologist. Independent choice of a drug can lead to vitamin deficiency or hypovitaminosis.
5. Clean all corners of the aquarium thoroughly. Rampant algae can penetrate under the shells and cause mycosis.
6. Monitor temperature conditions. Temperature is the most important indicator responsible for the health of a reptile. Do not trust your inner feelings and be sure to use measuring instruments.
7. Clean the carapace with a damp cloth to avoid heavy contamination. Repeat the procedure several times a week.
8. Do not allow races outside the aquarium. The turtle may be injured, eat a prohibited product, or get sick from a draft.

Caring for a land turtle

Purchasing equipment and setting up a terrarium is half the battle; you need to be able to create good conditions for a land turtle, provide it with healthy food at home, and care for your pet’s shell. Reptiles need periodic trimming of their nails; in the absence of solid ground, they grow to large sizes and interfere with crawling. You only need to cut off the light edge of the claws, the dark part is alive and there are blood capillaries inside it. Be sure to remove dirt and food debris from the terrarium, removing potential sources of infection.

How to wash a land turtle at home?

Keeping a land turtle at home involves periodically bathing the pet in a small bath. Reptiles under 2 years of age are given water treatments 2-3 times a week; adults are washed less often. We do not pour water into the bath to the brim, only 2/3 of the height of your smallest turtle, so that the liquid does not get into its nostrils. It is dangerous to bathe animals in the shower; sudden changes in water temperature can cause burns or hypothermia.

The optimal water temperature for swimming turtles is about 35°C. For medicinal purposes, instead of tap liquid, some lovers use chamomile infusions. Water procedures last up to 30 minutes, after which we take out the pets and carefully wipe the shell and body with a soft cloth. A land turtle at home is terribly afraid of drafts, so after finishing its bathing, we immediately transfer it to a warm terrarium.

Caring for a land turtle's shell

The main diseases of the shell are chipping, softening and peeling of the plates. This often happens due to the lack of ultraviolet lamps, without which vitamins and other elements in a terrarium closed from the sun are absorbed extremely poorly. The life of land turtles at home is measured, here they are not threatened by predators, but often the owners themselves or their children accidentally drop their pets from a height. Damage is washed with antiseptics and fixed with plaster and polymers. Fungal infections are treated with special creams that are applied to the affected areas.

What do you need for swimming?

They bathe the Central Asian turtle 1 or 2 times a week.

Turtles are very sensitive to chemicals that can cause allergies in them. So skip the shampoo. You won't need a hairdryer either.

But if your pet is very dirty, you will have to use baby or liquid hypoallergenic soap to wash the shell.

Before bathing, stock up on a basin and a brush, foam sponge or rag. When bathing, it is advisable to place a lamp near the bath to avoid colds from hypothermia.

Prepare a supply of warm water. Turtles love to use the bathtub instead of the toilet. Therefore, you will have to change the water in the basin.

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If you have hard water, add chamomile infusion to soften it.