Voices and sounds of turtles - all about turtles and for turtles

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Behavior, communication, everyday situations (summer, dacha, children, etc.)

The vocal cords of red-eared turtles are not developed. At the moment of threat, out of fear, they are capable of emitting a hiss or a thin squeak. You should not suddenly lower your hand on the turtle, make noise or gesticulate violently: it will mistake you for a predator and may begin to “defend” in panic: hiss, stick out its claws, try to hide in its shell, or bite. You will have an instinctive desire to recoil from the head of the angry animal and withdraw your palm.

At the same time, you should also be wary of the turtle’s hind legs - they also have sharp claws, and in a moment of danger, the animal may try to hit or push away its source using its hind limbs. This is especially dangerous when being carried or transported: if pushed, the turtle may fall to the floor and be injured. Therefore, do not trust a child who is too young to carry turtles from place to place for feeding or cleaning the terrarium.

The best way to let your pet breathe in the fresh summer air and bask in the sun is to place the terrarium outside. However, avoid direct sunlight so as not to overheat the animal, and also carefully monitor the terrarium so that it has some kind of lid or tightly closed lattice on top so that neither birds of prey nor dogs can get to the turtle. And it is better that such a “walk” takes place under your supervision.

In the warm summer, the diet of the red-eared turtle can be diversified with fresh dandelion leaves or lettuce, but only in small pieces, as a treat, without “breaking” its diet in order to avoid digestive disorders.

About turtle health and diseases

Common diseases among these creatures are various types of pneumonia, skin fungus, etc. Swamp turtles are not as hardy as red-eared turtles, and therefore require special attention, responsibility and health care. So, if the European marsh turtle is not kept at home correctly, the pet may die. This is why proper care of it is important. Are you able to create it?

A number of turtle ailments are directly related to unsanitary conditions in their territory. For example, dirty water often leads to bacterial eye diseases or infectious inflammation. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently change the liquid, clean the space, or place the pet separately in the “dining room” during feeding.

Causes

Animals often make squeaks similar to the calls of seagulls. If there are several pets, then it is difficult to identify the one making sounds. There may be different reasons why red-eared turtles squeak. This may indicate the presence of a disease, so it is necessary to examine the animal.

Negative signs include swollen eyes, nasal discharge, lingering saliva, yellow plaque, and ulcers. This may cause illness, such as pneumonia. There is no need to take independent measures. Professional help needed.

Why do red-eared turtles squeak if there are no signs of disease? Sometimes this occurs when eating juicy foods. A similar sound is made during reproduction. A pet can “call” an individual of a different sex. Puberty in males usually begins at 10 years of age, but it can occur as early as 8.

Why do red-eared turtles squeak if the breeding season has not yet begun? The cause may be an injury that needs to be addressed. Pets make sounds when being treated, for example, when receiving injections. This indicates pain.

How to choose a feeder

A feeder for a land turtle is a ceramic or plastic container where you can conveniently place chopped vegetables and herbs. Such a feeder should be shallow; it is better to choose a flat and wide model so that the turtle can climb into it entirely.

An interesting solution would be to install a feeder that imitates natural stone or driftwood - it will perform an additional decorative function in the terrarium.

Aquatic turtles are carnivores, so their meals leave behind much more biohazardous waste. Decaying pieces of protein food pollute the water of the aquaterrarium and become a source of unpleasant odor. Therefore, the feeder for red-eared turtles is usually a separate container where water is collected. The animal is moved into such a tank before feeding; after a meal, it is enough to pour out the contaminated water and rinse the walls. For feeding on land, it is recommended to install the same model as for land turtles.

IMPORTANT: If a special substrate is used for feeding, you can install an automatic feeder. Such products are sold in pet stores and are quite expensive, but they allow you to set feeding intervals and portion sizes.

An automatic feeder is indispensable when leaving for several days, when there is no one to entrust with caring for the turtle.

Automatic feeder

Optimal types of turtles for home

The most optimal types of turtles for the home are considered to be: aquatic - marsh and red-eared, land - Central Asian.

Red-eared: active, nimble, not picky. It grows up to thirty-one centimeters and lasts up to fifty years. Swamp: easy to maintain, active. It grows up to thirty-five centimeters and lives up to thirty years.

Central Asian: hardy, loves to dig. It grows up to twenty-five centimeters and lasts up to forty to fifty years.

Less commonly purchased species of turtles are:

— painted: colorful, active, loves water. It grows up to twenty-five centimeters and lives up to fifty-five years.

-Chinese Trionix: soft-bodied, unusual in appearance, bites. It grows up to twenty-five centimeters and exists up to twenty-five years.

-matamatu (fringed): individual appearance. It grows up to forty-five centimeters and lives up to seventy-five years.

-stellate: pretty, friendly, active. It grows up to thirty-six centimeters and lives up to eighty years.

When choosing such a pet, you should familiarize yourself with at least a little information about its size. Each turtle needs special conditions. They are usually kept in terrariums where a certain temperature and light are maintained.

All turtles carry salmonella

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that many reptiles, including turtles, often carry in their intestines without being exposed to it. They periodically excrete this bacterium in their feces. In humans and other mammals such as cats and dogs, Salmonella bacteria can cause severe gastrointestinal distress such as severe nausea and diarrhea.

This is why it is very important that every person wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling a turtle, and especially turtle feces. This is especially important when it comes to children, who usually put the hands that were just holding the turtle in their mouth.

This is why turtles are not recommended as pets for families with small children.

Toys for turtle

Living next to a person, an animal should not feel unwanted or lonely. Therefore, the reptile should be entertained by talking to it, playing, picking it up, stroking its back, massaging it with a brush, sprinkling it with water in hot weather.

A land turtle can be entertained with special simulators. Reptiles are happy to “conquer” paths with obstacles and labyrinths, because in an apartment next to a person they experience a lack of movement.

New objects placed on its territory arouse the animal's interest. Noticing a ball nearby, it begins to push it with its head. Scientists studying the reactions of these reptiles are inclined to believe that these are some kind of games. Although some argue that in this situation the animal is simply protecting its territory from a “stranger.”

Objects suspended on ropes are used as toys. You just need to choose ones that the turtle cannot swallow or tear off a piece of. Trying to “drive away” the “new resident” from her territory, she will push the toy and grab it with her mouth. You can reward your pet for such actions. Having realized that no one claims its territory, the reptile will still continue to play with the hanging toys, waiting for encouragement.

You can play with the red-eared slider on land. Out of water, the amphibian can survive for up to 2 hours without harm to health. Therefore, you can take her out of the water and teach her to move through a maze or push a bright ball, treating her to seafood for correct actions (but not more than twice a week).

Important! The owner of a reptile should know that it perceives its reflection in the mirror as another animal. Therefore, you should not leave the turtle next to the mirror for a long time - it will try to defeat the “uninvited guest” and may get hurt

Games and entertainment for turtles Please

When purchasing a turtle, you should first become familiar with the conditions in which it must be kept and what it must be given as food. But that’s not all that interests a potential pet reptile owner. It is very interesting to know how to establish contact with her. Unfortunately, such contact as with a cat or dog is unlikely to happen. Despite this, the turtle can be tamed, and it will demonstrate a completely peaceful character. This will appeal not only to all family members, but also to guests or friends.

Improper care

The red-eared turtle is a cold-blooded animal; in order for it to be comfortable, the ambient temperature should be from 26 to 35 degrees.

A UV lamp is required to maintain the required temperature. You also need an incandescent lamp with a 40-watt bulb, which must be turned on for 12 hours a day.

When reptiles are cold, they not only refuse food, but also look lethargic, float on the surface and cannot dive. As soon as the ambient temperature is optimal, the animals’ appetite will normalize. If this does not happen, then it is not a case of hypothermia and the help of a veterinarian is required. It must be remembered that overheating is just as dangerous for reptiles as hypothermia.

What not to do during communication

If the owner does not want to lose contact with the pet, he should not turn it upside down.

In the wild, a reptile turns over on its back and dies unless other animals come to its aid. They are often rescued by elephants - if they are large individuals - or other turtles. The animal will not be able to assume its usual position on its own and will die of starvation.

Therefore, the instinct of self-preservation with such a radical change in body position signals mortal danger.

A person will never be able to accustom a reptile to such a “trick” - he will only turn the creature against himself. And then it will be impossible to establish contact: the animal’s memory will always be on guard: “You can expect death from this person!”

Do not tap the shell with a fingernail or pen. For an animal, such actions are equivalent to how a person would be knocked on the head. It's unpleasant and stressful.

Communication with a turtle

Is it possible to pick up turtles?

This is an important point that can establish good relationships between owners and animals. At the same time, you need to be very careful, especially when doing this for the first time. A turtle can easily bite if, in addition, it makes sudden movements. If you managed to pick up the turtle without any problems, then this is a good sign indicating that contact between the owner and the animal has practically been established. Among turtles there are both peace-loving individuals and aggressive ones. If a turtle shows aggression, then it will have to be taught not to do so.

You can handle both land and aquatic turtles, but only for a short time.

At the same time, it should be noted that there are species of turtles that are best not handled. Such aggressive species include vulture turtles, snapping turtles, trionics, etc. They bite very painfully, so it is better to watch them from a distance.

Do turtles have intelligence?

Quite often, when taking part in taming a turtle, owners expect something more from what it is capable of. Unfortunately, due to their natural capabilities, these animals are simply incapable of more. The only thing they are capable of is to combine their natural instincts with new living conditions. If the animal is comfortable and cozy, then it will definitely respond to this care. But, on the other hand, their intelligence is much higher than that of other reptiles, such as lizards, for example. At the same time, this intelligence is far from the intelligence of such domestic animals as a dog or cat. Therefore, you should not count on the super abilities of such pets.

As for the development of conditioned reflexes in an animal that can influence the behavior of the animal, this is not a problem. But counting on conscious attachment is too much.

At the same time, the turtle has great potential in organizing playful forms of behavior. Construction of labyrinths, stripes with various obstacles that the turtle will be happy to overcome - this is precisely the potential that, if desired, can be developed to perfection. In addition, turtles are able to distinguish between typical and atypical objects, as well as quickly adapt to different conditions.

Before embarking on such actions, it is necessary to clearly define the purpose and need for such experiments on animals.

Breathing problems in turtles (Animals of our planet)

Respiratory diseases occur quite often in turtles, which is explained by the body structure of these animals.

A person who has contracted a pulmonary infection is able to cough up infected sputum. A turtle cannot cough even if it wants to, because it does not have a muscular diaphragm. However, even with it, the sputum would hardly reach the mouth: the turtle’s bronchi, connecting the lungs to the windpipe, are too long. Respiratory problems can be aggravated by bacterial and fungal infections that occur due to poor ventilation of the terrarium or vivarium, insufficient or excessive air humidity, too low a temperature and unsanitary conditions. Sometimes the cause of breathing problems is a virus and, in very rare cases, parasites.

Treatment is usually limited to a course of drug injections, but sometimes this is not enough.

Here are the symptoms your veterinarian should look for if a respiratory illness is suspected: + lethargy (lack of strength and energy) and immobility + refusal to eat or not eat at all + whistling and difficulty breathing through an open mouth + mixed nasal discharge + accumulation of phlegm in the lungs One of the first signs of breathing problems is unusual nasal discharge. Lethargy and refusal to eat may indicate breathing problems. Diagnosis of respiratory diseases in turtles

What can you teach a turtle

Before you begin taming sessions, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the theory

It is very important to know what exactly can be taught to a turtle and whether it is necessary at all, especially since this process can take a lot of time. In addition, you need to have an idea of the process itself, otherwise you may not see the result of your efforts

How to teach a turtle to eat from your hands

A very primitive but impressive way is to teach turtles to take food from tweezers or from hands. This is quite easy to do. If the turtle wants to eat, then it needs to offer food from your hands or take tweezers and give it pieces with its help. Naturally, the turtle does not think at this moment which method is more acceptable for it. If you follow this path, you can train the turtle to eat at a certain time. If you constantly take part in the process of feeding it, then the turtle develops a rather strong reflex, which, as it were, binds it to the person who feeds it. Things can get to the point where the turtle starts chasing (in a good way) its breadwinner literally on his heels, like a hungry cat. Some owners, but they are very few, teach their pets to wave their paws. Unfortunately, this is not given to everyone, but you can always try.

A waterfowl turtle can be trained to feed from the shore. This is a rather positive method that will not allow excess food to clog the water again. The water will remain clean and transparent for a long time, which will only benefit it.

To do this, you do not need to throw food into the water, but put it in a certain place when it rises from the water along the ladder to the shore.

How to stop a turtle from biting

At first glance, the turtle is a peace-loving animal that cannot cause harm. In fact, this is not at all true and a turtle can bite very painfully, as evidenced by complaints from some owners. In fact, this is a very unpleasant fact. Therefore, it is advisable to wean your pet from this habit. The only question is how to do it. Firstly, you should not offend this creature, but rather take it in your arms more often. At the same time, it should be remembered that an aquatic turtle cannot be kept without water for a long time. After a certain time, the pet should get used to human hands. But this does not mean that the turtle will never bite again. The main thing is not to make sudden movements when your hands are near the animal.

How to train a turtle to play with toys

You can often hear that some turtles like to play with toys, like a ball. At first glance, this is a normal reaction of an animal to something new and unfamiliar. But, from the point of view of scientists, this may be just a game. To find out, just place a brightly colored ball-shaped toy in the aqua terrarium. The size of the ball should be such that the turtle cannot swallow it. After some time, you can see how the turtle pushes the object from side to side. It seems that she is playing with him. Although another reaction of the animal to this object is possible: she simply saw that it was on her territory and was trying to get rid of it.

There is one caveat regarding games: it is not recommended to place mirrors in the turtle's living space or make the walls of the terrarium mirrored. The animal perceives its image in the mirror as its rival, who wants to encroach on its living space. In this regard, the turtle will show aggression towards its image. As a result, the turtle may suffer injury or serious nervous shock.

The tortoise responds well to a variety of sounds as it has excellent hearing, which indicates that it can be trained to hear a sound that must be followed by an action. For example, by sound you can accustom a turtle to the process of feeding or by sound you can pick it up.

Stress

A stressful situation for an exotic pet can be a banal change of habitat, rearranging the aquarium, introducing new neighbors into it, mating games, sharp noises and sounds, new food, careless handling, falling from a height, injuries and annoying attention from the owners. Under stress, the reptile becomes inactive, does not eat anything, reacts weakly to touch and constantly sleeps

What to do if your exotic pet is stressed?

The best treatment in such a situation is to create a calm, quiet environment and optimal living conditions. As the animal gets used to it, it will recover from stress and begin to eat without the use of medications.

Dream Interpretation - Sea and turtles

Good evening, Christina! The continuation of the previous dream that was interpreted to you (about a dead friend) is clearly visible. “I’m almost crying, the sea is rough” - your subconscious, which is trying to break through the obstacles of the mind. “The coast is not very good,” the mind resists this. “I didn’t have time to buy anything with me! -no sunscreen, no suntan oil! I didn’t even have time to charge my phone. I’m annoyed to the point of tears - I understand that it’s not very good here either - and now my boyfriend will go without me in August. “- complete confusion in thoughts, uncontrollable internal dialogue and emotional state. “And the teacher gives me the same book, only thinner, I don’t take it, because I need mine. “- egoism, which comes from the fact that you have a complex and believe that those around you are putting pressure on you and imposing their will. “And my boyfriend meets me and says that he didn’t spend the night at home, and in front of my mother he says that he swallowed tires (and I’m shocked in my sleep, I think what will my mother think now” - but you yourself give others the opportunity to impose their stereotypes. That’s all because there is no spiritual core on which everything rests: reason, mind, internal and external... Save Christ! Interpretation of dreams from the Dream Book of the House of the Sun

Training

It is impossible to teach a turtle special tricks. The reptilian brain is not ready for this. Therefore, the turtle training program includes training to:

responded (went out) in her own name;
approached the bowl at a certain sound;
took food from hands;
pulled the bell string, asking for food;
pushed the ball at the sound command.

Some pets can wave their paws when asking for food.

Like all other animals, reptiles are trained by repeating the same action when accompanied by a certain sound (vocal, musical, ringing, knocking, clapping), securing the result with encouragement in the form of a tasty treat or stroking. A strong connection must be formed in the animal’s brain between the action performed and the pleasure received.

Important! Punishment for turtles in any form is unacceptable. You need to train a red-eared turtle at home by following the rules described above - avoiding punishment, screaming, and sudden movements.

Basic rule: use natural instinct

You need to train a red-eared turtle at home by following the rules described above - avoiding punishment, screaming, and sudden movements. Basic rule: use natural instinct.

If you constantly use a bell before feeding, the animal will begin to approach the bowl itself, even if it is empty, in anticipation of food. Your pet's lunch should always be at the same time. Before putting food in the bowl, you should call the turtle by name. By repeating these actions over and over again, the owner will form a strong conditioned reflex in the pet: call, nickname, food.

The amphibian can be fed on land by placing food on a specially secured raft. Then, when the ringing rings, the reptile will climb into its “dining room,” which will amuse the audience.

And this skill will be beneficial for the pet itself: the water in the aquarium will remain clean longer, since food debris will not contaminate it.

If you repeat the name of the turtle while massaging the carapace with a toothbrush, it, having heard the call, will rush to the owner to get its portion of pleasure, especially knowing that after the procedure it will be treated to a piece of juicy apple.

How long does a marsh turtle live?

Proper care will allow a turtle to live in captivity for up to 30-50 years, and, according to some scientists, a turtle can outlive a person.

Reptile breeding

In the spring, the breeding season begins in the natural environment. Males and females over 6 years old, whose shell reaches more than 9 cm, are able to move far from a river or swamp, but the act of mating, one way or another, occurs near water. What’s surprising is this: the inseminating liquid is stored in the reptile’s body for a whole year or more, which often leads to “unexpected” laying of eggs after several months of the petiole being at home with the new owner.

Egg laying usually occurs from late spring to mid-summer. Three times, turtles lay eggs in holes dug in the ground, at a depth of up to 10 cm. The eggs look like this: the shell is white, oblong, weight up to 8 g. From 8-19 eggs, small turtles will hatch in 2-3 months.

If you are breeding pets at home and want to influence the sex of a marsh turtle, carefully monitor the temperature throughout the incubation period. When the thermometer is below 27 degrees, male turtles are born; at 30 degrees or more, female turtles are born. In intermediate indicators, it is possible to obtain cubs of both sexes.

So, you have learned how to care for a swamp turtle if you become its owner, what to feed it and how often to do it, how to create a comfortable environment and breed reptiles, what ways to protect yourself from aggression and how to take care of your pet’s health. The better you take care of your girlfriend, the longer and better her life will be. If you are not sure that you are able to strictly follow all the advice, simply do not get such an unusual and capricious pet. And if you have already decided, then be responsible.

Hibernation

Under natural conditions, when cold weather or unbearable heat sets in, free-living reptiles hibernate, during which metabolism slows down, sexual cycles in males and females are synchronized, and hormonal regulation is normalized. Thanks to this physiological feature, turtles can go without food for a long time in winter and summer.

Domestic red-eared turtles do not need to hibernate; they are kept in comfortable conditions all year round and receive sufficient food. But for some individuals in the fall, due to a decrease in daylight hours, lack of central heating, or as a result of instincts, life processes slow down, the animal stops eating dry or natural food, becomes lethargic, looks for a dill corner, and tries to hide. If a turtle is not active in October-November, hardly swims, often lies on land and has not eaten for 2 weeks, the animal is most likely hibernating.

What should you do if your red-eared turtle hibernates and stops eating?

A sleeping reptile must be placed in a small aquarium with a minimum amount of water; the bottom must be covered with soil at least 10 cm thick. An adult animal will hibernate for 4-5 months, the optimal hibernation temperature is +6-8C. First, turn off the lighting lamps and keep the animal for 3-5 days at room temperature. Then, over the course of 10 days, it is necessary to gradually lower the temperature to +6C; with a sharp decrease, the animal can die instantly. The reptile is brought out of hibernation by gradually increasing the temperature and bringing it to optimal values as the animal wakes up.

What can you teach a turtle

Before you begin taming sessions, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the theory

How to teach a turtle to eat from your hands

To do this, you do not need to throw food into the water, but put it in a certain place when it rises from the water along the ladder to the shore.

How to stop a turtle from biting

How to train a turtle to play with toys

Pneumonia

The answer to the question - why the turtle does not open its eyes may lie in the presence of a cold in the turtle, namely the presence of pneumonia in the reptile. With this disease, in addition to eye problems, other unpleasant symptoms may also be present - frequent coughing, the turtle practically does not eat, it can swim on one side, and also cannot dive.

Pneumonia in amphibians is quite common. The most important thing is not to let this disease progress; in the initial stages it can be cured at home. In these cases, inhalations and warm baths with medicinal herbs will help.

It is important to follow the following useful recommendations when carrying out these treatment procedures:

Pour dry chamomile into a deep saucepan, add hot water and boil for a while;
The resulting decoction can be used for inhalation, which must be carried out in the same way as for humans. The turtle can be held suspended on your hand. If the pet is too heavy, then it can be placed on a sieve. Never use a colander made of a metal base, because the animal may receive severe burns;
After inhalation, the infusion of chamomile can be diluted with water. The prepared solution can be used as a medicinal bath. But it is advisable to cool it to 40-45 0 C;
It is recommended to bathe your pet for 20-25 minutes, but at the same time monitor the temperature of the liquid. It should not fall below 30 0 C;
Next, close the turtle in a dry container and warm it there at a temperature not lower than 35 0 C.

It is recommended to continue these procedures until the amphibian animal gets better and makes a full recovery. On average, treatment takes about a week. However, in advanced cases, treatment therapy can last a long period.

Why exactly the Central Asian turtle?

This often happens if parents are not sure that their child will be able to care for more demanding pets, but would like to give them a chance to try themselves as young naturalists.

For children, keeping animals and caring for them is very useful: the child develops responsibility and receives indelible impressions.

Turtle and child

Children are very interested in taming a turtle, winning its trust and love. The reptile can recognize family members and choose its favorite among them. He loves affection and allows himself to be petted. Her leisurely, careful movements calm the nervous system and give pleasant emotions.

Turtle's relationship with people

You can feed the turtle by hand. She communicates with a person using body movements:

Asks for food by shaking his head or raising his front paw;
She scratches with her paws, demanding to be let out for a walk.

Over time, the owner and pet understand each other perfectly without words. An animal can stretch its head when greeting a familiar person, or follow its favorite around the house or apartment.

You can pet the turtle

In the warm season (at temperatures above 20˚C), you can walk with turtles outside. It is interesting to watch how she happily plucks the grass at first.

Summer walk on the lawn

And then a reptile that has mastered itself may surprise you with its curiosity and agility.

Not all turtles swim

Land turtles, unlike sea turtles, live on land, as their name implies. However, did you know that not all sea turtles live in the water? Some species of sea turtles require access to water to keep their bodies hydrated, but they spend most of their time on land. Many people believe that sea turtles and land turtles are not much different. But in fact, the differences between them are striking. Sea turtles most often have webbed feet, while land turtles have separate toes. Also, many sea turtles are omnivores, that is, they eat both plant and animal foods, while land turtles are herbivores.

Content Rules

After purchase, the turtle must be placed in an aquarium with clean water that has been standing for a day. It is advisable to install a pump filter, as this will help the turtle grow faster. There may be aquarium fish with her, but only when the animal becomes a little larger.

A suitable bridge to land should be installed. It is advisable to choose a product with a rough surface, as it is more convenient to climb on. But glass or plastic products are not suitable, as they are slippery. The bridge should be placed less than 30 cm from the wall of the aquarium.

Warmth is important for a turtle, and room temperature is not always comfortable for it. Above the 10 cm island, you need to install a lighting fixture with a 40-watt incandescent light bulb. This temperature will be favorable for her.