Turtle Time
Small turtles have grown as a popular pet choice for families in recent years. Watching them swim around or simply looking at their colorful shells can offer hours of entertainment. As with any other pet, caring for a pet turtle is a full-time job. It’s important to pay close attention to their diet, their living environment and their overall health.
Turtles can typically be purchased from your local pet store. Most pet stores sell species of box turtles and red eared slider turtles. Box turtles come in four varieties: Eastern box turtle, Three-toed box turtle, Gulf Coast box turtle and Ornate box turtle.
If you own a box turtle, their diet should consist of grubs, worms, insects, weeds, berries and mushrooms. Since box turtles live near streams and in wooded areas, these things are consistent with what they would eat in the wild. A red eared slider typically eats shrimp, earthworms, crickets, snails, mealworms and small fish. It is important to introduce certain types of plant into the diet of a red slider as they age. Acceptable vegetation includes carrot tops, water lettuce and kale.
Box turtles prefer to live in an open area outdoors. If kept in an aquarium, a box turtle can become stressed and hide in its shell or claw at the walls. This can be avoided through setting up a turtle pen outside. Variety is an important ingredient in recreating a turtle’s natural environment. A box turtle habitat should include non-poisonous plants, clean water, rocks and basking areas. Water levels should be kept low and the basking area should be set up with a UV heat lamp to keep the temperature at a consistent 90 degrees in that area.
Red eared slider turtles can be kept indoors in an aquarium. The tank capacity must equal a minimum of 40 gallons. This leaves enough space to create both a water area and a land area in the aquarium. Whatever aquarium you set up should be equipped with a water filter to keep the turtle’s water clean and should include a large flat rock for it to bask on. Use a submersible heat lamp to keep the water at a minimum temperature of 75 degrees at all times. Keeping the aquarium warm is important to a red eared slider’s health. Turtles are cold blooded animals and their body temperature can vary with the outside temperature.
Limit your handling of pet turtles. Removing them from their controlled environment can cause fluctuations in body temperature that make them vulnerable to illness. If you need to handle them, be sure to wash and sanitize your hands when you are done. Turtles carry Salmonella bacteria on their bodies and can transfer it to humans when held or picked up.
Erica Simone currently writes for Viamedic.com, an online facilitator for Viagra, Cialis and Levitra online. Erica uses her research scientist skills to cover and uncover big pharma news she shares on the Viamedic Health Articles Section.
