How to determine the age of a red-eared turtle by its shell

It’s impossible to keep up with modern fashion - people never cease to amaze by getting more and more unusual and exotic pets, including reptiles. Against the background of such diversity, red-eared turtles look rather modest, but among their fellows they stand out for their bright appearance, individuality and charisma. In addition, they do not require complex care and large financial costs, such as crocodiles or pythons. Red-eared turtles live for quite a long time, and often have more than one owner throughout their lives. Both new owners and buyers of an adult reptile are faced with the question of how to determine the age of a red-eared slider if there is no reliable data?

Conditions for keeping different types of turtles

Mud turtles spend almost their entire lives in water and are only rarely seen on land.
Therefore, an aquarium with a capacity of 50-70 liters is suitable for them. To ensure conditions are close to natural, soil is poured onto the bottom of the aquarium and aquatic plants are planted, although this is not necessary. The main thing is that there is an object at the bottom that serves as a shelter for the turtle. It can be driftwood or a clay pot, but heat-treated for greater stability. The water temperature is maintained at +22-25ºС. It is not recommended to keep males of different ages in the same aquarium. Locked turtles value their territory and can attack smaller, older turtles. Flathead turtles are characterized by difficulties in keeping at home. Therefore, for those who are not sure that they will be able to take care of them properly, one piece of advice can be given - it is better not to acquire or torture a small animal. If you follow all the recommendations and advice, these turtles can live in captivity for quite a long time.

Flathead turtles are not resistant to infectious diseases, so it is recommended to keep them separately from other turtles. In this way, you can extend their life and also stimulate them to reproduce. But for this to happen, they need to organize hibernation with certain temperature conditions, otherwise the males will not show their interest in the females. Turtles sleep for 2 months at a temperature of no more than +10ºС. Flat turtles feed on plant foods. They love warmth very much. The water temperature should be between +15-18ºС. There should be small pebbles at the bottom of the aquarium, a layer of no more than 2 cm.

Keeping spotted turtles is complicated by the fact that they prefer animal food, so you need to think carefully about whether they can be provided with aquatic insects, tadpoles, worms of various origins, small crustaceans, etc.

Chinese three-keeled turtles are quite voracious pets. Their diet includes a standard set of turtle products of both animal and plant origin. To make sure your turtle is consuming enough nutrients, vitamin supplements should be added to the diet. This type of turtle can withstand temperature differences from +12ºС to +30ºС. But this does not mean at all that their content should be approached from these data. It is better to experiment and not expose the animal to certain risks.

How to determine the sex of a small aquatic turtle, as well as obtain information about their contents, is possible by watching the corresponding video.

It is quite interesting to have small turtles at home. But interest alone cannot give you a lot of positive emotions. To get results, you need to invest something and that something is caring for small animals. In addition to the aquarium, you will also need light, warmth, and food.

Hearing diseases

A common disease that affects the auditory organs of turtles is otitis media. Its main danger is that the disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, and as a result lead to serious health problems or death of the animal. You can suspect the presence of otitis media by the following signs:

the animal has a swollen cheek and asymmetry of the head is observed;
the turtle does not show interest in food and the surrounding reality;
the coordination of the individual’s movements is impaired.

Otitis in turtles can be unilateral or bilateral, when the swelling is visible only on one side of the head or both cheeks have increased in size. With such a disease, three scenarios are possible:

breakthrough of pus through the skin;
exit of masses through the oral cavity;
the need for surgical intervention.

In the first case, you will need to treat the wound formed after the breakthrough of pus with antimicrobial agents and healing ointments.

In the second case, when the pus does not break out on its own, you need to massage the problem area, lightly pressing on the swelling. After the purulent discharge begins to come out, it will be necessary to remove these masses from the animal’s mouth. When massages do not bring the expected result, surgery is performed, the purulent focus is opened, and the canals are washed. During the rehabilitation process after otitis, the animal will need vitamins and injections of calcium gluconate.

How to extend the life of a turtle

My turtle, as it turns out, is only about 5 years old. Just a baby. Considering that red-eared turtles can live up to 30 years, which is what I would like. Favorable living conditions are the key to a long life. The home for the turtle should be a terrarium with artificial land that holds up to 200 liters of water. A lamp must be placed above the dry island to warm the animal. You also need a UV lamp for additional lighting.

As for nutrition, it is, of course, better to feed a turtle with balanced food from a pet store. Regularly add plant and “live” food (worms, insects, snails) to them. In general, turtles are very comfortable pets. After a year of life, they can be fed every 1-2 days.

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.

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.

Balanced diet

In nature, red-eared turtles feed not only on plant foods, but also on animal foods. Therefore, at home it is very important to organize for them a balanced diet that corresponds to the natural composition. For active growth, turtles require a lot of protein, so they must be fed animal food once a day. Young individuals are given dry fish food, earthworms, bloodworms, woodlice, and sea crustaceans (dried or live).

An adult red-eared turtle, whose size (photo below) exceeds 10-12 cm, can eat liver, raw or boiled beef, and chicken. It is also useful to treat her to raw low-fat fish, squid, and shrimp. You can add several small fish into the aquarium so that the turtle hunts them itself. Various insects (beetles and larvae) should definitely be included in the freshwater menu. For convenience, you can prepare a mixture of several gelatin-based foods with the addition of raw chicken eggs. The finished composition can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.

As reptiles grow, plant foods should be introduced into their diet. In the aquarium, aquatic plants are bred that the turtle can eat: algae, duckweed, water hyacinth, edogonium, ludwigia and some others. Turtles happily eat fresh greens: mallow, basil, dandelions, clover, peas. For vegetables, you can give pieces of carrots, fresh cucumber, white cabbage, and lettuce. Bone meal is an essential source of calcium, which is required for skeletal growth and shell strengthening. Once a week it should be added to the turtles' food. From time to time it is useful to add a couple of drops of vitamin D oil solution to your food.

If it is not possible to create ideal living conditions for the turtle and organize proper nutrition, you should take care to introduce mineral supplements and vitamin supplements into the diet.

Feeding is carried out during the daytime, since freshwater animals are most active during this period of the day. All food for turtles is simply poured into water. Food must be given little by little so that the animals have time to eat it. Excess food will settle to the bottom and, rotting, pollute the water in the aquarium. Young animals are fed daily, but adults need to be given food 2-3 times a week.

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.

Features of reproduction

Red-eared turtles take a long time to mature, so the ability to reproduce offspring in natural conditions appears in them only after 6–8 years. In captivity, sexual maturity occurs much earlier: in males - at four years, and in females - at 5-6 years. The mating season lasts from February to May, when the reservoirs are already well warmed up. At home, with a uniform temperature regime, the periodicity is not maintained, and marriage can occur at any time of the year.

Mating games among turtles are not similar to other animals. The male, seeing the female, swims close to her muzzle and scratches her chin with his sharp claws. During mating, the partner is placed on top of the partner. Its plastron (abdominal shield) has a slight convexity. The concavity in the carapace (dorsal shield) of the female is also a specific feature of the shell that distinguishes the red-eared turtle. The size of her depression and the male's bulge match perfectly. So nature made sure that during mating there was as close contact between animals as possible.

Red-eared sliders lay eggs twice per season, from April to June. The female lays her clutch on land, digging a deep hole with her hind limbs. The equipped nest has a spherical shape. The turtle lays about a dozen eggs in it, the size of which does not exceed four centimeters. Having covered the nest with soil, the female leaves and never returns. The cubs are born after about four months. It is noteworthy that the sex of red-eared turtles depends on the level of heat during the incubation period. If the temperature does not exceed 27 o C, then only males will hatch from the eggs. In the case when the nest warms up to 30 o C and above, female individuals are born.

Article on the topic: How long can a red-eared turtle be without water, how long will it live on land

land turtle

Among other domestic turtles, land turtles are distinguished by their relative unpretentiousness and resilience. It's no wonder that reptiles are loved by children and adults around the world. As for their life expectancy in captivity, it is impossible to give an exact figure; various factors influence this.

Land turtles can be called phlegmatic - they are slow, unhurried, but they live quite a long time. In the wild, individuals live up to 100-120 years, in a terrarium - from 15 to 50 years. In order for a pet to celebrate its half-century anniversary, the owner needs to surround it with care and bring its living conditions as close as possible to natural ones:

the dwelling should be spacious - the volume of the tank should be 3-4 times the size of an adult; the turtle should receive high-quality and balanced nutrition; if required, pets should be given mineral supplements; reptiles love warmth - the air temperature should be stable - 26°-28°C; it is important to consider that land reptiles need ultraviolet rays - the home should be equipped with a UV lamp; a pet needs a house for sleep and rest; you need to monitor the cleanliness of the turtle house - the soil is cleaned every day, all drinking bowls are washed at least once a day; When choosing company for a turtle, you should not put several males in one tank - fights for territory cannot be avoided.

There is a relationship between the size of a reptile and the length of its life cycle. As a rule, larger representatives of the species fall into the ranks of long-livers.

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.

Variety of aquatic small turtles

If turtles grow no more than 12-13 cm in length, then they are considered small. There are several types of them:

closing;
spotted;
flat;
Chinese-three-keel.

Locking turtles

This species of small turtle includes several subspecies, such as the mud ruby, the common musk, the mud yellowthroat, and the musk keel. In the natural environment they can be found in South and North America, as well as in the USA. All turtles have a rounded carapace with a rib-like outgrowth of the neck plate. When in danger, the turtle closes the hole, which makes it more protected. Mud turtles are characterized by having webbed feet.

The diet of turtles is dominated by animal food, but they also happily eat plant foods. The yellow-throated turtle grows to a length of about 13 cm, and the red-cheeked turtle grows no more than 11 cm in length.

Flat turtles

Their height limit is 8-9 cm. Turtles have an elongated muzzle and a proportional head size. There are small protective shields on the neck. The carapace is oval and slightly elongated forward with a slight convexity. Each paw has 4-5 toes.

Flat turtles have several subspecies:

Homopus boulengeri;
Homopus areolatus;
Homopus signatus;
Homopus femoralis;
Homopus solus.

They differ in the color of the carapace, which can be brown, olive or another shade. As a rule, females are slightly larger than males. The female can lay up to 4 eggs in one clutch.

Spotted turtles

This species of turtles belongs to the amphibians, since they feel good both in water and on land. It grows no more than 12 cm in length. For normal maintenance, turtles need to have a piece of land in the aquarium for rest.

Chinese three-keeled turtles

This type of turtle is recommended for beginners, as it is easy to care for and undemanding when it comes to food. They can grow up to 13 cm in length. To keep them, you will need an aquarium with a capacity of up to 100 liters.

What’s most interesting is that in some countries it is prohibited to keep these turtles at home.

conclusions

Before getting a yellow-bellied reptile, you need to re-read the description of the article in detail again; a red-eared turtle may die if environmental conditions do not meet its needs. Keeping turtles requires knowledge of care information and the availability of all the necessary equipment for a comfortable habitat for the red-eared representative. To keep a reptile, it is necessary to provide the aquatic environment and land surface, the proper temperature, and also take care of the cleanliness of the home when keeping it at home.

All about red-eared turtles

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

Family: American freshwater turtles.

Species: Red-eared slider.

Scientific name: Trachemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792).

Subspecies (most popular described): Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-Ear Slider); Trachemys scripta scripta (Yellow-bellied slider); Trachemys scripta troostii (Cumberland Slider).

Synonyms: Chrysemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792); Testudo scripta (Schoepff, 1792); Yellow-Belly slider turtle.

Red-eared turtles peaked in popularity in the international pet trade between 1989 and 1997, with sales of more than 52 million individuals. They are omnivores and are able to adapt to various living conditions, and this in turn allowed them to spread far beyond their native habitat.

Red-eared turtles: how to determine gender?

Main criteria:

2. The second characteristic feature is a concave peritoneum in the male and a flat abdomen in the female. It's also a gift from evolution that makes reptile mating much easier.

3. The bone cover itself is elongated and elongated in males than in females.

4. The tail of males is longer and thicker - this is necessary in order to hide the genital organ. Accordingly, females have a small and narrower tail.

5. The cloaca is located differently in male and female red-eared turtles. In males, it looks like a line and is located away from the edge of the shell, and in “girls” the cloaca resembles the shape of an asterisk and is located closer to the edge of the shell.

6. The femoral spurs of male red-eared turtles are well defined, while those of females are not.

7. The end of the plastron in males is pointed at the back and resembles a Latin V; in females it is rounded.

8. The nose of male turtles is sharper and longer in shape.

9. Females have a more developed jaw.

The procedure for determining the sex of turtles is much faster and easier if there are several individuals. However, even if this is not possible and the pet is singular, you can always use photos of turtles for comparison.

Other signs

There are other methods for distinguishing a female from a male red-eared slider. For example, this can be done by looking at the iris of the eye—individuals of different sexes have different eye colors. Females have a yellow nose. In males it is pointed and small. The male usually has a larger head and a brighter red stripe. During reproduction, it acquires a rich scarlet color. In females, the color of the head is paler, and the red stripe is not as prominent.

A rare method to find out gender is a blood test and x-ray. This technique cannot be used until the age of seven, because the testes of males have not yet matured, and the ovaries of females have not yet matured.

A blood test will not help determine the gender of a turtle until it is under seven years old.

When the age of puberty is reached, the sex can be determined by testing the reptile's blood.
There is also a method for determining gender using ultrasound.

The differences are especially visible if you compare several animals. Sometimes individual signs are similar in several individuals, so it is better to check the gender based on all factors at once. If the animal has improper living conditions, the reptile may experience hormonal imbalance. Then only an experienced veterinarian can determine the sex of the animal.

Determining the age of a turtle

It is impossible to know the exact age of a turtle that has not been raised since birth, but it can be approximately determined as follows:

1. By the size of the turtle (length of the shell) 2. By the number of rings on the shell: 2-3 rings are formed in 1 year. To be more precise, you can count several flakes and then find the average value. But we must take into account that both the size and number of rings depend on the living conditions of the turtle, as well as whether it hibernated. The rings appear when the turtle is not yet a year old. In very old specimens, the shell becomes especially smooth, like in newborns, and the annual rings turn pale. When counting grooves, it should be taken into account that during the period of active growth: from a newborn to a two-year-old, the grooves determine the period of development from 3 months to six months, and then about a year.

Written beauty

The literal translation of the name Trachemys scripta from Latin is “lined” or “painted”. The unique beauty of the pattern of the shell, which extends to the head and limbs, attracts the eye of the red-eared turtle. At first glance, its size seems small and makes you want to immediately pick up and place the animal at home.

Indeed, the turtle outfit looks bright and colorful: red oblong spots in the ear area and an intricate pattern of rings on the shell. Some subspecies have yellow or orange spots. The outfit of young individuals is distinguished by rich shades of green, yellow, and brown. With age, the colors of turtles change, losing their original variegation and richness of colors. In old age, a bright pattern may lose its outline and merge into one dark brown or black color.

How to find out the gender of a rubella turtle by its behavior

There are different ways to determine who is who among the red-eared turtles, but it is best to take into account all the signs together to avoid mistakes. For example, male turtles reach sexual maturity a year and a half earlier, the size of the animal also depends on age, and the claws of male terrarium turtles sometimes wear off and may well be shorter than the claws of the female.

If it appears in the house, of course, the new owners usually find out first of all. Determining the sex of these animals is not such an important task, but it will not be superfluous, for example, in order to adequately perceive the corresponding physiological changes in the reptile, and simply to give the pet the correct name.

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.

Getting ready to make a new friend

Before you buy a new tenant, you should think carefully about whether a red-eared turtle is really needed in the house. How big does the animal grow, how much food does it eat, how long does it live? You need to know the exact answer to these and many other questions. It should be understood that the turtle requires special attention and great patience. In the wrong hands, an animal can simply die. Red-eared turtles love affection and are responsive and peaceful. You should not buy a reptile from strangers: attachment to the previous owners can cause melancholy and illness in animals. For choice and advice, it is better to contact specialized stores. There you can get competent advice on keeping and caring for turtles.

If you decide to purchase young animals that are several months old, then remember that at this age they are very susceptible to various diseases. From the first day a young turtle appears, you need to provide it with proper nutrition and vitamin supplements.

Third way

Another evidence of the years the turtle has lived is the intensity of the color of the shell and the structure of its body. The younger the turtle, the lighter and brighter its color.

Only at four years old does the animal’s shell begin to darken. During this period, the age rings that appear on the shell are the same color as the previous ones, but the old ones become increasingly darker. Over time, they almost turn black, which is why older reptiles also become almost black.

In addition, in mature turtles, the shell acquires a regular oval shape over the years, loses its surface roughness, becoming almost smooth with grooves barely perceptible to the touch.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the age of any animal is indicated primarily by its behavior - young individuals of all types of earthly fauna are curious, active, and have a large supply of energy; mature age reminds itself of its poise, sometimes fatigue and a sedentary lifestyle. Turtles are no exception in this regard.

Reliable determination of a pet's age

It is not difficult for a specialist to determine its age just by looking at a reptile. But what should inexperienced owners do when they get such an unusual pet? You can use several methods - measure the length of the carapace, evaluate the nature of its pattern, the shape and color of the shield.

Method I

It's not 100% correct, but it's still worth a look because it's fairly easy to do.

Initially, it is important to find out whether the turtle is male or female, which is not so easy to do, especially if we are talking about a young individual. And only after this can you measure the diameter of the reptile’s shell and compare the data obtained with basic information:

in the first year of life, the size of the carapace in red whales is 6 cm, regardless of gender;
in the second year of life, the diameter of the armored shield of females increases to 9 cm, of males - to 8 cm;
by the 3rd year, the carapace of females grows to 13-14 cm, and in males its length does not exceed 10 cm;
in the 4th year, the size of the shell of males and females increases on average by 2 cm;
in 5-year-old individuals, the length of the carapace is 18 cm in the case of a female, and 14 cm in males;
at 6 years, the female’s shield increases by 2 cm, the male’s by 3 cm.

When a reptile reaches 6 years of age, its shell grows to its maximum size, and subsequently its diameter remains practically unchanged. Even if this happens, the increase is insignificant, and gradually the growth stops completely. The size of the carapace of a red-eared turtle is associated with the following factors:

variety of diet;
the size of the aquaterrarium;
living conditions;
the absence of hibernation or the presence of this period.

If you take into account such nuances, it is easy to understand that errors, often quite significant, cannot be avoided in calculations. Having obtained data in this way, you can correct the result using another technique - the most reliable.

II method

This method is based on determining the age of a reptile from the image on its carapace. Experts consider a turtle's shell to be its individual identifier, comparing it to a human fingerprint.

If the turtle eats well and lives in suitable conditions, then the shield pattern will be unique. But when a reptile lives in an unsuitable environment, is injured, becomes dry, or experiences other difficulties, its scutes can become deformed and peel off, which negatively affects the pattern.

There are a number of concentric rings on the shell that indicate its age. They appear in individuals after the first year of life, and then become intense during the 2nd and 3rd years. Every 6 months there are 2-3 more rings, after which the process slows down, and then only one ring appears per year.

If you count the number of rings, it is easy to find out how old the four-legged swimming pet is. Even if he came to a new home already as a large, adult individual. To get an accurate figure, you need to count the rings and take the average result. And in this case, some discrepancy with reality is possible.

III method

This method is based on assessing the color of the carapace - the intensity of the shade changes with age. The younger the individual, the lighter and calmer the color of its shell. After 4 years his tone becomes darker. Older red-eared turtles have an almost black shield, and this also applies to the rings.

As the reptile matures, the carapace becomes regular, oval in shape, and its surface becomes smooth, which is not the case in young animals. Young turtles are more active, energetic and inquisitive, they move more and climb everywhere. Old individuals are sedentary and phlegmatic; they can often be found resting. But such signs are observed not only in turtles, but also in other creatures - old age manifests itself in the same way in almost everyone.

It is worth noting that if the pet was purchased when it was still small, then there is no particular need to calculate its exact age. The main thing is to distinguish between the needs of young, adult and elderly reptiles and provide suitable food and amenities. But, regardless of age, the red ear needs clean water, ultraviolet rays, warmth and maintaining certain parameters of both water and air. This is the key to a healthy, long and fulfilling life for your pet.

Many animal lovers have problems when it comes to determining the gender of a pet, but if the differences in the structure of primary sexual characteristics in cats and dogs are more or less clear to all of us, then the task of finding out whether a red-eared slider is male or female can baffle anyone.

Fortunately, in reality everything is not as difficult as it seems.

Interesting facts about turtles

The largest turtle is considered to be the leatherback turtle. This reptile can reach a length of up to 3 meters and a weight of over 900 kg. The animal lives in the ocean, and a collision between such a turtle and a boat can be very dangerous for its passengers. The Galapagos elephant turtle is considered the largest of the land turtles. The adult length is about 1.8 m and the weight is approximately 400 kg.

The snapping turtle is considered to be the most dangerous turtle in the world. During the mating season, a male reptile may mistake a bathing person for a female turtle and drown him. Also, these reptiles bite quite strongly and can cripple a person. Another most dangerous species of turtles are vultures. This type of reptile can easily snatch a person's finger with its powerful and razor-sharp jaws.

Animals can cause serious poisoning in humans. The fact is that some reptiles feed on poisonous species of mushrooms or jellyfish, and toxic substances can accumulate in their meat (see Mushroom poisoning). A person who eats turtle meat can easily become poisoned.

Turtles can go without food for about 5 years! The animal can also hold its breath for as long as 10 hours. The animal simply falls into a state of suspended animation and, after favorable conditions appear, wakes up and leads its usual way of life.

Turtles appeared on the planet more than 220 million years ago and continue to exist on Earth. Archelon is considered the largest individual to ever live on earth. This reptile was up to 5 meters and weighed over 2 tons.

Reptiles are long-lived and can live for over 150 years. Reptiles live almost everywhere, except in Antarctica.

Read how the symptoms of a jellyfish sting appear. Giving help.

Find out if a tarantula bite is dangerous. When a spider can attack a person.

All about scorpion stings: symptoms, help, treatment.

Conclusion

Red-eared turtles are quite kind and cheerful pets. To avoid being bitten by a red-eared turtle, a child must follow safety rules when handling it, and also be sure to monitor hand hygiene after interacting with turtles. Proper care and treatment of an animal will give a person the joy of communicating with their pet for many years.

Life expectancy at home

Reptiles live on average as long in captivity as in the wild. This is due to a balance of unfavorable factors: in the wild, animals are threatened by predators, and at home, their lives are shortened by human carelessness.

The following can affect the lifespan of a turtle in captivity:

1. Balanced diet.
2. The size of the aquarium, its level of illumination and temperature conditions.
3. Timely detection and elimination of health problems.
4. Traumatic.

Small turtles kept at home can live from 30 to 50 years. Representatives of large species that are kept in large zoos, having created all the necessary conditions, live much longer than in the natural environment.

Habitat

In nature, the turtle lives in Central, southern North and northern South America. These waterfowl turtles love bodies of water with sun-warmed, near-stagnant water and gently sloping banks.

Due to their extreme prevalence as pets, bodies of water with suitable climates have been colonized throughout the planet. They adapt well to anything from slightly salty water to life in city canals. They also learned to winter in cold conditions - they were repeatedly observed even in the Moscow region.

IMPORTANT: To date, the number of red-eared turtles introduced into the ecosystem of many countries has increased so much that it threatens its balance. They quite actively eat local plants, fry, fish and frog eggs and insect larvae. This has already become so widespread that in many regions the import of these animals is prohibited by law. In the photo, blue indicates the original habitat of the red-eared turtle, red indicates the current habitat.

Relationship between age and red spots

The most likely place to purchase a turtle for a home pond is a pet store, where the seller, among other data, must tell you the age of the reptile being purchased.

However, you, as the future owner, also need to navigate this issue, since reptiles of different ages feed differently and require different care, and having at least basic information about the future pet will be very useful.

So, the red-eared turtle is called due to the presence of red spots behind its eyes, which, in general, are in no way connected with the hearing organs.

Over the course of a turtle's life, as it grows, these spots change their color saturation from scarlet to burgundy.

The green carapace of the red-eared reptile with stains and stripes at a younger age becomes darker and duller as it ages.

An important indication of the age of a red-eared turtle can be the size of its carapace. But here it should be taken into account that in comfortable conditions a pet can grow at an accelerated pace, and there are many subspecies of red-eared reptiles, and not all of them have the same shell length/age ratio.

So how can you determine the age of your red-eared pet as reliably as possible?

The most accessible to a non-specialist for determining the age of red-eared reptiles are several methods - by the length of the carapace and the pattern on it, by its color and shape.

How to determine the age of a red turtle

It is important to know the age of a turtle, since young and old individuals feed differently. Your pet's health largely depends on nutrition.

There are three indicators by which you can determine how old a turtle is:

spots near the eyes;
the size of the hard part of the shell - the carapace;
shell drawing.

Red turtles have these spots near their eyes. That's why they were probably nicknamed red-eared.

Young turtles have scarlet spots, old turtles have burgundy ones. In this case, it is difficult to determine the average age of the animal. The size of the carapace is also not a completely reliable sign. At home, turtles grow faster than in the wild. But you can tell a lot from the design of the shell. After all, each turtle has its own, unique one. Age is determined using this method by the rings on the shell. They appear approximately every year. Up to 3 years, 2-3 rings are added every six months. Then - one ring per year. In addition, the color of the shell begins to darken by the age of 4, and by old age it becomes almost black.

Features of handling a pet

Red-eared turtles should not be allowed on the floor. They can bite, hiss and show aggression; you should handle it carefully when picking it up; it is recommended to hold the reptile with both hands; the shell can be quite slippery. After contact with pets, hands must be washed with soap; a large number of pathogenic bacteria accumulate on the shell.

Living in their natural environment, turtles independently obtain all the vitamins and minerals necessary for health. In a home environment, the owner must independently add important elements to the feed.

Mandatory list of useful substances:

All additives must be added strictly following the instructions and recommendations; any overdose is dangerous for the life of the individual.

Walks

A red-eared turtle kept at home needs walks in the summer. Thus, it becomes possible to get a dose of ultraviolet rays, eat healthy grass, and breathe fresh air. The place for a walk should be clean, away from the road, with lawn grass.

The temperature in the shade should not exceed 20 degrees, and the walking time should not exceed half an hour. When walking, there should be water in a visible, accessible place. In order not to lose your pet among the green grass, it is recommended to attach a bright mark, for example, orange, to the shell, it can be a sticker or a flag.

Care and hygiene

It is recommended to arrange water treatments for pets at least once a week. Waterfowl turtles need more frequent bathing or a bathing container in their terrarium. Water for bathing should be warm, but not more than 32 degrees, boiled if possible. The fluid level must be comfortable for standing with your head retracted.

During the first bath, you should carefully monitor the procedure to avoid frightening the animal. If the reptile does not feel well in the water and refuses to bathe, it is recommended to limit itself to spraying the shell and skin. If the bathing container is freely accessible inside the terrarium, the liquid must be changed every day.

Article on the topic: How do turtles swim in water (video)?

It is recommended to use a cloth or sponge for washing; they must be soft. The use of chemicals is prohibited. For preventive measures against fungus, methylene purchased at a pet store is used. After each contact with water, the turtle should have the opportunity to dry and warm up under an ultraviolet lamp. She cannot tolerate temperature changes in the aquarium, which increases the risk of colds.

How are red spots related to the age of a turtle?

If a reptile is purchased at a pet store, then you should definitely ask the seller how old it is. This will help you decide on nutrition, since the diet of young animals and adults is significantly different. If this is not possible, you can take a closer look at the individual, since red whales undergo some changes in appearance with age:

spots located behind the eyes (due to which the representatives of the breed got their name) are scarlet in young turtles, but as they grow older they acquire a richer, burgundy color;
in young animals the carapace is green with streaks, but during further growth and maturation of the individual it becomes dull and dark.

Such signs can tell you whether a reptile is young or not, but they do not allow you to know its exact age. Another option is to measure the reptile's shell. Again, inaccuracies are possible here - a turtle living in better conditions, a more spacious tank and receiving balanced nutrition will increase in size much faster than its wild relatives or domestic ones, which are less fortunate with their owners.

In addition, there are several varieties of red-eared turtles that have different carapace sizes during certain periods of growth.

Determination by shell color

During the process of growth and development, the color of the reptile changes along with its size. At a younger age, it has a more delicate and lighter color. At about four years of age, the shell begins to darken.

By this age, the rings have the same color, and when the shell begins to darken, the rings begin to darken along with it. In an “aged” turtle, both the shell and the rings are almost black.

As it grows and develops, the shell becomes more regularly rounded and smoother. The same cannot be said about a young turtle. The reptile’s honorable years can also be indicated by its way of life. Adults are calmer than young animals.

Bottom line

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.

How to find out how old a land turtle is

How to find out how old a red-eared turtle is

How to find out the gender of an aquatic red-eared turtle, the distinctive features of males and females

What you need to keep an aquatic red-eared turtle

As a rule, pet owners want to know everything about them. Age, character traits, and other important little things. All this helps you figure out how to properly care for the creature that has settled in your home (find out all the details about keeping turtles at home)

Well, today we decided to tell you, our readers, about how to learn to determine the age of turtles, and why it is so important.