Often a situation arises when you need to transfer your turtle. Whether it's moving, or simply transporting your beloved pet. Even just getting a turtle from the store (where you bought it) home also needs to be done somehow.
Today we have prepared for you a number of simple rules for the correct transportation of our reptiles. After all, if they are transported incorrectly, this can greatly affect your health. You will learn how to transport a turtle, whether it is possible to transport turtles at all, and how to transport turtles on a plane, by car, or on a train.
At the very end I will give you an example of how I transported a red-eared turtle. I think you will find it useful and interesting.
Let's start with the fact that it is better, of course, to transport a turtle in the warm season. In summer, when the average air temperature is above +20 ° C, a shoe box is quite suitable for transporting a turtle. Just don’t take it too big, otherwise, as a result of road shaking, your turtle will “dangle” throughout the box, and this can lead to injury.
The box, by the way, must be quite strong and close well so that the turtle cannot get out of it on its own. Don't forget to make several ventilation holes in the lid. At the bottom of the box you will need to pour a layer of sawdust, put crumpled toilet paper or dry towels.
If you have to transport several animals, you will have to make such containers for each one separately. In addition to cardboard boxes, you can also use a suitable sized plastic container or a special carrier (sold in pet stores) to transport your turtle.
Red-eared, Central Asian, and swamp turtles are transported this way. Fully aquatic reptiles, such as Trionics, should be placed in plastic containers and covered with damp towels when traveling short distances. If there is a long journey ahead, then the turtle must be placed in a container of water.
Features of transporting turtles in the cold
- Land turtles. Can be transported for no more than 3 days. Transportation is carried out without a feeder or drinking bowl.
- Amphibians (red-eared, swamp). Can be transported for no more than 2 days. Transportation is carried out without a feeder and without a drinking bowl.
- Aquatic turtles (Trionix). Can be transported for no more than 1 day. It is imperative to use napkins or towels soaked in water. Transportation without a feeder and drinking bowl is allowed.
- In a special container. An excellent container option is a plastic tray with a transparent lid. An atmospheric thermometer must be attached to the lid. The walls of the tray should have holes for good ventilation. The base of the container needs to be lined with a towel.
- Bosom. You need to wrap your pet in a towel and place it upside down in the inner pocket. Please note that the storage pocket must be ventilated, especially if the reptile is transported for 10 minutes or longer.
- Inside the car. If you transport a turtle in the winter inside a car, you can use a tray without a lid. It is better to cover the bottom of the container with a towel.
Preparation for transportation
If the turtle will be transported for 3 hours or more, then a day before transporting the pet you need to stop feeding and drinking. If the turtle is transported for a day or more, then a week before the trip the pet should be put on a diet (feed a little at a time), and the pet should not be fed or watered at all the day before transportation.
If turtles are being transported, you can use the following as a heating pad:
- A medical heating pad with hot water, enough heat for 1-3 hours
- An ordinary plastic bottle with hot water, enough heat for 1 hour
- A heating pad with a supersaturated saline solution (salt heating pad), the heat will last for 3-8 hours
Transportation methods
During winter weather, you need to provide the turtle with a warm atmosphere. You can use your own body, a heating pad, or a car interior heater as a heat source. Transportation of turtles should be carried out at temperatures from +18° (C) and above. It is undesirable to allow the atmosphere to cool below +15° (C).
The heating pad must be wrapped in a towel. It is better not to allow the turtle to overheat. It is necessary to create conditions so that the turtle itself gets to the heating pad at the distance it needs.
Before transporting turtles, it is better to clean the pets.
It is better to transport each turtle in a separate tray.
Brief instructions
- Prepare the turtle for transportation. Limit food without denying water. Transporting a turtle on an empty stomach will be much smoother.
- Prepare a container suitable to become a temporary home for the turtle. It’s better to use a plastic container, since a cardboard box can get wet and tear due to the reptile’s constant attempts to break free.
- Cover the bottom of the container with a thick layer of paper or sawdust. In cool weather, it is advisable to place a heating pad in the container. Hypothermia has consequences for the turtle's health.
- Place the reptile in the prepared container, fill the remaining empty volume with soft paper to avoid hitting the walls. Cover with a lid to allow air access.
- If you transport sea turtles over long distances, be sure to transport them in containers with water!
Note!
- Hypothermia and drafts are unacceptable.
- A turtle can be kept without food and liquid for no more than 2 days. If the journey is longer, provide access to water.
- If several animals need to be transferred, it is advisable to place them in separate containers.
- If the animal is transported by public transport outside the region, be sure to stock up on a certificate, which can be obtained at any state veterinary hospital.
- To transport reptiles across the border, you must obtain a special permit.
Transport your beloved pets carefully and do not forget that we are responsible for those we have tamed. Don't forget how to transport turtles correctly.
Kawabanga, friends!
Transportation of red-eared turtles in the warm season
In summer, any container of suitable size will be suitable for transporting red-eared turtles. You can use a fairly strong box (for example, a shoe box), at the bottom of which it is recommended to put fabric, sawdust, or crumpled toilet paper. Air access must be ensured in such an improvised temporary housing. To do this, make several coin-sized holes in the box. To prevent the red-eared cat from chattering on the road, it is recommended to place crumpled sheets of paper around it. In the case of transporting several individuals, it is better to prepare such a “temporary house” for each of them. Turtles can be transported in a box if the trip lasts no more than a day. Although the reptile spends most of its life in an aquatic environment, it is able to do without its usual habitat for some time.
You can find carriers for turtles in pet stores. They are made of plastic, so cleaning such a carrier after a trip will not be difficult. If you often have to transport turtles, it makes sense to purchase such a carrier.
How to transport a turtle in transport
Owners of turtles often face the problem of transporting the animal. This could be moving to another city, country, or simply delivering the reptile home. Of course, it is better to transport the turtle in a special carrier, which can be purchased at almost any pet store. This article contains information on how to transport a turtle by any type of transport and at any time of the year.
Why do baby turtles die?
Like any other creature on the planet, the turtle
may die.
This happens due to illness, improper maintenance, old age. Death from old age is extremely rare, especially when maintaining a home. turtle
reaches adulthood, a number of diseases accumulate and make themselves felt.
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How to transport a turtle in winter or cold season
Turtles are cold-blooded animals, so they need an external heat source to keep warm. Turtles do not tolerate cold weather well, so the first step is to provide it with warmth. The optimal air temperature for transportation is +18-20°C. If transport is carried out at temperatures below +15°C, your pet may catch a cold or even die.
To prevent this from happening, you can use some tricks:
Important! Be sure to wrap the heating pad or bottle in a towel and never place the turtle on top. Overheating a reptile is no safer than hypothermia.
The best way to transport a turtle in winter is a spacious cardboard or plastic box containing a salt warmer wrapped in a thin towel. You can lay soft toilet paper or sawdust at the bottom of the “house”. This will provide the turtle with comfort and allow him to lie down in a way that is comfortable for him without freezing. The lid of the container should close tightly, and the box itself should be well ventilated.
How to transport a turtle on a train
To transport a turtle on a train you need very little.
Is it possible to carry turtles on a train?
First, check whether animals can be transported on the train at all. Most often, the answer is “yes”, if the pet does not interfere with other passengers and cannot provoke allergies. If necessary, buy a ticket for the animal; they are usually inexpensive.
Secondly, find out what the weather will be like during transportation and take care of the animal's comfort.
Of course, you can try to transport your pet without notifying the staff, but this may result in a fine if you encounter an intractable conductor.
How to transport a turtle on a plane
Transporting turtles by plane is somewhat more difficult than transporting them by train.
Before the flight, you need to find out whether it is possible to carry a turtle on the plane and obtain written permission from the airline. Many airlines require you to receive it at least 36 hours before departure.
Is it possible to carry a turtle on a plane?
After contacting the service provider, you will not only receive permission, but also a list of documents that you must have to fly with your turtle. Your pet may need to have vaccinations and additional permits. Therefore, you need to think about moving the turtle in advance.
Read the experience of our Instagram subscribers - how to transport turtles on a plane.
And, of course, you should prepare a shipping container that meets airline requirements:
• there must be markings indicating the type and number of individuals in the container;
• have the minimum required dimensions for the animal;
• the bottom of the box should be filled with shavings or foam rubber to reduce the likelihood of injury to the animal and stabilize the air temperature inside;
• presence of ventilation holes.
Important! Do not attempt to smuggle a turtle in a shoebox without notifying staff. The minimum that will happen if you are noticed is that you will be asked to leave the animal at the airport; the maximum will be that you will be issued a fine or brought to another type of liability if the animal is listed in the Red Book and is prohibited for transportation.
What to pay attention to when transporting a turtle
Before planning your move, be sure to evaluate the following criteria:
- Condition of the animal - transporting a sick, pregnant, old turtle or small turtles less than a month old is risky.
- Availability of a transport container for transportation - keep in mind that the turtle also needs to maintain comfortable living conditions while on the road. If the trip takes place in the cold season, the container will need to be heated; in the hot season, on the contrary, you will need to avoid overheating. You will need to monitor humidity, temperature, and light. It is also worth considering that along the way the turtle will eat, drink and go to the toilet. About the peculiarities of keeping turtles.
- Travel time – If you decide to travel around the world, taking a turtle with you is not the best decision. If a turtle can put up with certain inconveniences (they should be avoided as much as possible) for several hours, then long-term transportation in uncomfortable conditions can simply destroy it.
How to transport a red-eared turtle
If transportation takes a short amount of time, the pet can be transported in a regular container. It can survive no more than a day in an unnatural habitat.
If you have a long journey ahead, then it makes sense to think about purchasing a portable aquarium for freshwater turtles made of impact-resistant glass. You need to place a small island of sushi in it to make the animal feel comfortable. If this is not possible, periodically hold the animal in your arms.
To empty the intestines, it is not recommended to feed the animal for a day before the trip. The temperature in the aquarium cannot be lowered.
Be prepared for the fact that after arriving at a new place, the turtle may refuse to eat and not react to you in any way. This is how the process of addiction takes place, which lasts no longer than a couple of days.
Filling the aquaterrarium
The larger the area of the turtle's home, the more opportunities for creating beautiful decor.
Stones are usually placed at the bottom of the aquarium; you can buy colored stones for aquariums - but be sure to choose all of them that are smaller in size than your pet’s head, so that he does not swallow them and choke. Sturdy shells without sharp edges also look great. Turtles love to dig and dig, turn over and drag everything that gets into their aquarium. Even plastic algae, usually sold with a base, can be easily peeled off. Therefore, it will not be possible to arrange a beautiful, neat landscape - the turtle will quickly arrange everything the way it likes.
In this regard, it is better to place on the bottom either something that can be easily moved and that changing places will not affect the overall appearance - for example, stones, shells and pieces of glass, or large objects that cannot be moved. These can be special driftwood, inside of which, by the way, you can hide a heater, or ceramic elements. You should not buy hollow snags and caves; the turtle can climb into them while it is small, however, it is just as likely to get stuck there.
You can glue photo wallpaper to the back of the aquarium. It is useless to plant algae near turtles; very soon they will be torn out and most likely eaten. However, in general, placing them in the aquarium is a good idea, but they are specifically edible and tasty for the turtle to enjoy. Those that float on the surface are most suitable.
