Turtle Care, Red Eared Slider
For those that are interested in keeping a turtle as a pet, there are several species to chose from. Some of which can live in dry habitats and others that will need a wet environment. Which ever turtle you chose, know that turtle care can be a delicate and time consuming process but is a rewarding experience.
The first big decision you need to make when choosing a turtle is whether you are interested in a aquatic turtle or one that lives in a dry habitat. If you pick an aquatic turtle do the research into the type of equipment you will need in your home to properly care for the turtle. Aquatic turtles typically have shells that are light in color and softer than those that live on land. This is thought to help them stay in water without sinking and enable them to swim faster with greater agility. The colors and markings on the aquatic turtles shell help identify the type and from what region they come from.
Land dwelling or semi-aquatic turtles also make amazing pets for your home. As with the aquatic turtle care, research into this variety is crucial. One of the areas that is essential in a semi-aquatic turtles care is to ensure that you have a adequate environment for them that includes an area to swim, a basking area like a basking rock and plenty of sunshine or a UV lamp. The water should be regulated at a cooler temperature than the rest of environment you have set up.
As with other pets some turtles are prone to diseases so keep note of any changes in behavior which could indicate a health issue. Differences in the Condition of the their shell is also a great indicator of their health. Providing your turtle with plenty of fresh vegetables and water at all times is crucial in keeping your turtle healthy.
Keep in mind that turtles that are kept as pets, have a long life expectancy some of which can reach decades while others can live 100 years and more.
Turtle care can seem daunting and time consuming but keeping a turtle as pet can be a fulfilling new experience in pet care. Remember that this article is only meant to give you an introduction into the world of pet turtles so continue to search out answers to questions you may have, either through the internet, books or your veterinarian.
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The following checklist should only be used as a guide as to what to look for in a healthy turtle. If you’re in doubt about any health issues your pet turtle might have you should always check with your veterinarian.
The Shell
Young turtles which are about the ⅓ of the size of an adult turtle their Shell should be firm and elastic, like a human fingernail.
For adult turtles the shell is hard and firm, all plates (scutes) should be firm and in place. The underside of your turtle should also be checked for firmness. Some algae growth on an adult turtle shell is acceptable but will need to be kept in check so it does not hide any injuries on the shell.
Eyes
A turtles eyes should be bright, clear and wide open. The eyes themselves should not be clouded or swollen; the lids should be free of any mucus or crust. The obvious cause for some of these symptoms would be an injury or some type of foreign object in the eye. In Aquatic turtles a lack of vitamin A can cause an excess of cells to clump in the eyelids causing them to bulge like a frogs.
Skin
Apart from the scales on the legs and neck area of some turtles the skin should have an elastic, leathery texture and be soft to the touch. Depending on the turtle the skin should not be dry and cracked. Turtles should not have any parasites like mites or ticks on their skin. Skin ailments can be contributed to the lack of proper diet, fungus or bacterial infections either way the problem will need to be addressed by you or your veterinarian.
Nose and Respiratory tract
The nose should be clear of bubbles or mucus. No wheezing, rasping or snoring noise should be heard when your turtle breathes. When your turtle cranes its neck while basking the mouth should be kept close unless it is a water turtle in which case it is normal. Causes can vary from gas in the stomach to lung infection and even constipation.
Movement
When a turtle swims it should not tilt to one side or the other, if this happens it could indicate lung damage or disease. On land a turtle should use all legs in forward movement not dragging its rear legs or any legs for that matter.
Responsiveness
In general when a turtle is picked up they move frantically in defense or they pull into their shell. When a healthy turtle is placed on its shell it will be able to right them self back onto the legs.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post this healthy turtle checklist should be used as a general guide in determining your turtles overall health. You can always check out my resource page for books, ebooks, videos and web pages that I recommend that can provide you with a wealth of information.
One last thing if you have anything that you would include or even would not of included in this checklist I would like to hear from you, I’m always interested in hearing what others have learned about turtle care and how they keep their pet turtle(s) healthy.
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