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.

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 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.

Features of maintenance and care

You can keep several turtles in the house separately or together. When housing in a group, it is important that the animals have enough space to move freely. Turtles often get dirty in the soil that is poured on the bottom of the aquarium, and food debris sticks to their faces. You need to keep your turtles clean by regularly bathing them in warm water with baking soda added. Algae that periodically grows on the shell should be carefully cleaned off with a soft sponge.

When caring for a turtle, you need to be careful because it can bite painfully. Individuals of the same size living in the same territory usually coexist peacefully with each other. When an aquarium contains one decorative red-eared turtle, its size does not matter. But when there are several reptiles in a group, you need to remember that large ones can bite and even cripple those who are smaller than them.

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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.

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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.

Setting up a home for a turtle

In order for the new tenant to feel cozy and comfortable with you, you should first of all take care of a comfortable home. An aquaterrarium is the most suitable housing for freshwater reptiles. The red-eared turtle will feel comfortable and cozy in such a container. The size of the aquarium should be sufficient to hold 150–200 liters of water. It must be changed at least once a month, after letting it sit for five days. To keep your aquarium clean, it is advisable to purchase a water filter.

The peculiarities of the existence of a freshwater turtle require the presence of a small piece of land nearby. Artificial islands with gentle banks can be freely purchased at a pet store. It is desirable that the slope has a rough, uneven surface, then the reptile can freely get out onto land.

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The turtle loves warmth very much, so it is necessary to arrange an artificial sun for it, which will well illuminate the top of the island and warm the air at its surface to 30-31 o C. To maintain a comfortable water temperature (from 24 to 26 o C), install an adjustable incandescent lamp .

It is desirable that the container for keeping reptiles has an elongated rectangular shape. The size of an aquarium for a red-eared turtle with a shell length of 25 cm can have the following approximate indicators:

volume – 150 l;
length – 1000 mm;
width – 500 mm;
height – 900 mm;
water depth – 500 mm;
island length – 250 mm;
island width – 120 mm.

Despite their deceptive slowness, reptiles are actually very agile. Therefore, when arranging sushi, you should position it so that the distance from the top to the edge of the glass wall is at least 30–35 cm. The proposed container parameters are optimal for one adult red-eared turtle to comfortably fit in it. It is not always possible to maintain the dimensions at home due to lack of free space in the apartment. For comfortable living of two adults, you will need an aquaterrarium with a capacity of at least 180–200 liters.

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.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Land turtle

Scientists have established that turtles descended from one of the ancient extinct groups of reptiles, the code name of which is the Permian cotylosaurs. The extinct reptiles were very similar in appearance to lizards. They had short, but at the same time very powerful and wide ribs, which over millions of years of evolution turned into a shell. These were sea animals that had a rather long neck and a long tail. The ancestors of turtles were omnivores - they ate both plant and animal foods. Since their remains are now found on all continents, it is generally accepted that Permian cotylosaurs were very common at one time.

Video: Land turtle

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LGvAiAH3EwU

The most characteristic feature of all turtles is the presence of a shell, which serves as protection from enemies. It consists of two parts: abdominal and dorsal. The strength of the shell is very high, since it is able to withstand a load that significantly exceeds the weight of the animal - more than 200 times. Depending on the species, land turtles vary significantly in size and weight. Among them there are both giants, weighing almost a ton with a shell size of about 2.5 meters, and very small, even tiny turtles, whose weight is no more than 150 g, and the length of the shell is 8-10 cm.

Zoologists distinguish two suborders of turtles, which differ in the way they hide their heads under their shells:

side-necked turtles - hide their head in the direction of the left or right paw (sideways);
Hidden-cervical - fold the neck in the shape of the letter S.

Types of land turtles:

Galapagos tortoise. Its mass can reach up to half a ton, and its length can reach up to meters. The size and appearance of Galapagos tortoises depend on their habitat conditions. For example, in arid areas their shell is saddle-shaped; in areas where humidity is high, the shell has the shape of a dome;
Egyptian tortoise. One of the smallest turtles. Lives in the Middle East. The shell size of males is about 12 cm, females are slightly larger;
panther tortoise. Lives in northern Africa. The length of the shell is about 80 cm, weight is 40-50 kg. The carapace is quite high, dome-shaped;
speckled cape. The smallest turtle on Earth. Lives in South Africa and Namibia. The length of its shell is no more than 9 cm, and its weight is approximately 96 - 164 g.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Habitat of red-eared turtles

Trachemys scripta's habitat is primarily southeastern America and the adjacent region of Mexico: from southwestern Virginia through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to Mexico. To the north, the habitat extends to the ends of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and to the west to Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Red-eared slider sizes

Trachemys scripta elegans predominates predominantly in the western and central parts of this range. Occupying the Mississippi Valley from Illinois through eastern New Mexico west to the Gulf of Mexico.

Trachemys scripta scripta is predominant in the eastern part of its previously described range, ranging from southeastern Virginia to northern Florida. It should be noted here that an intergradation zone of Ts elegans and Ts scripta is formed in Alabama.

Trachemys scripta troostii has the smallest range of occurrence and is found in the upper Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. From southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia through Tennessee to northeastern Alabama.

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.

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.

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.

Main characteristics of the species

These are medium sized turtles. In the shell, their length varies from 18 to 30 cm. Sexual dimorphism is manifested mainly in size - males are much smaller than females.

Juveniles are bright green, allowing them to hide among plants. As turtles mature, they acquire olive or yellow-brown hues with characteristic patterns of yellow stripes. These stripes give the reptile an elegant look, which attracts many who like to fill their home with unusual animals.

On the head, neck and limbs the patterns are especially pronounced. In an adult turtle, they are a combination of white and green wavy stripes and spots.

Turtles do not have ears.

Why then did this turtle get the name red-eared? Those who name species have their own logic and flight of fancy

Apparently, the zoologist who named this species noticed the elongated bright red spots on both sides of the head

They extend along the head from the outer edge of each eye. These red (or maybe orange or even yellow) spots are located where ears would be if they had ears. So we got a bright name for an unusual turtle.

This species has a wide range. Initially, its representatives lived only in Central America and northwestern South America.

However, humans contributed to its spread to other regions. Now these turtles live in southern Florida, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel, South Africa, Spain, Great Britain and even Australia.

This turtle is considered aquatic, but it is able to go onto land, bask in the sun and move from body of water to body of water. She prefers to live in small fresh lakes, ponds and other bodies of water with low, swampy shores. It feeds equally on animal and plant foods. However, she has not been shown to have a predilection for carrion. She needs fresh game (crustaceans, fry, tadpoles, etc.) or fresh grass, including coastal grass.

Under favorable conditions, these turtles lead an active lifestyle.

They swim well and are quite capable of catching up with a small fish at a short distance.

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.

Reproduction and sexual differences of red-eared turtles

Red-eared turtle breeding
Red-eared turtles reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 - 5 years in captivity and 6 - 7 years in the wild. Turtles living in terrariums mate without paying much attention to the season, while in nature the mating season takes place from March to July.

Males are generally smaller than females and have a long, thick tail. However, if the red-eared turtles are of different ages, then it is not always possible to determine the sex only by size , in this case the following factors must be taken into account: the male’s eye spot is more pronounced, the claws on the front legs are longer, the lower part of the shell is concave (in the female flat).

The mating process is accompanied by a mating dance. The male approaches the female's head. The female swims forward, and the male swims backward, stroking the female’s chin with his long claws. If the female is not against mating, she accepts these advances, otherwise the male is driven away, even to the point of using physical force.

Pregnancy of a red-eared turtle lasts for 2 months, but the period can be extended if the female cannot find a good place for laying.

To lay a clutch, the female needs to dig a nest on the shore of a reservoir. Interestingly, it can move long distances, up to 1.5 km, in order to find the best place for a nest. The nest has the shape of a jug up to 12 cm deep. Depending on age, red-eared turtles can make up to 6 clutches per year with a total number of 30 eggs (which is from 6 to 11 per clutch). The size of the red-eared turtle egg is about 4 cm. The incubation period lasts for 59 - 150 days, because Hatching time directly depends on temperature. So at temperatures from 22 to 30 ° C, the incubation period ranges from 55 to 80 days. The temperature in the nest directly affects the sex of turtles; females are born at temperatures of 29 °C and above, and males are born at 27 °C and below.

To get out of the egg, newborn red-eared turtles pierce the shell with an egg tooth, which falls off after an hour. All babies have a small pouch on their abdomen with the remains of incubation provisions: when it falls off, it leaves a quickly healing wound.

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.

Domestic decorative rats

Russians happily keep and breed these rodents in their homes. These smartest creatures are today regarded as human companion animals.

Recently, the selection of rats has reached a new level: many different varieties have been bred. Rat breeders have developed standards for animals, based on which exhibitions are held and the best representatives are selected.

The goal of breeders is to improve the animals’ appearance, immunity, and increase life expectancy. No one is breeding a particularly large variety of rodents.

However, adult domestic rats are still larger than their wild relatives: some males reach 650 g. They also exceed them in size, reaching 30 cm.

Rodents kept in captivity and with free access to food often become obese.

Representatives of different varieties and species differ from each other only in appearance. The size of the animals practically does not depend on the species.

The most popular varieties of decorative rats in Russia:

https://vk.com/topic-75188911_31313445https://zverek.club/razmer-i-ves-kris/https://homkin.ru/krysy/osobennosti-krys/ves-i-razmer.html

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.

What to avoid when keeping

Despite the apparent indifference to everything that surrounds it, the turtle can experience severe stress. If Central Asian land turtles live in captivity, they are sensitive to the attitude of their owners towards them. Loud sounds in the house and rude screams disturb the usual calm environment and can lead the animal to a nervous breakdown. Therefore, you should take the following postulates as a rule:

Be careful when handling the reptile, do not drop the animal or frighten it with sharp sounds. If children play with the pet, adults should supervise the process.
If you notice anything strange in your reptile's behavior or appearance, do not delay checking with a veterinarian. Refusal to eat, changes in the shape of the shell, lethargy, the appearance of tumors and ulcers are serious signals of illness.
When purchasing new armored reptiles, quarantine them for a month. At this time, the future neighbor must live separately.
Do not keep reptiles of different species in the same terrarium.
If the reptile escaped from the aquarium and cannot be found, place a bowl of water and your pet's favorite food indoors. Turtles have good eyesight and will respond quickly to treats and water.
Remember that the depth of the reservoir should allow the animal to easily stick its head out and keep it on the surface.
Install two thermometers in the aquarium: one for water, the other for air.

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.

Habitat in nature

Its historical habitat is Central America and the USA, which is why the red-eared turtle is called American.

The red-eared slider has a long lifespan in the wild. It is important to know that aquatic red-eared reptiles that live in river conditions need land no less than other land turtles; when starting a red-eared turtle at home, you should create high-quality conditions for it, similar to living in nature. The small and large red-eared turtle lives not only in water, but also on land, where it must be warm.

Article on the topic: Can a land turtle swim?

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.

Habitat and distribution

The red-eared slider owes its origin to eastern North America. Its usual habitat is shallow lakes and ponds with low muddy banks, wetlands and floodplains. Unpretentiousness and omnivorousness allowed freshwater creatures to settle in places with more severe climatic conditions: North Africa, Central and Southern Europe, Asia and Australia.

A short winter hibernation is a typical natural phenomenon that the red-eared turtle undergoes (the size of this amphibian is medium). Since these are cold-blooded animals, they fall asleep only at a temperature that is insufficient to support their vital functions: below 10 or above 40 o C.

At home, with a comfortable temperature, there is no need for natural rest, so decorative reptiles have completely adapted to do without it. Giving up hibernation did not in any way affect their ability to reproduce in captivity.

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.

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.

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.

Hibernation

The natural habitat of the red-eared turtle is from the equatorial to the tropical zone. Living conditions at a temperature of about +35 degrees Celsius do not force it to hibernate. But at the same time, the widespread artificial distribution of these turtles in many countries has changed their biorhythms. In October, when the air temperature drops below 10 °C, they become inactive, sink to the bottom of reservoirs and overwinter there. They do not eat or defecate, their breathing rate drops, and their heart rate decreases. Therefore, the question of whether pet turtles need to hibernate is controversial among scientists. But not every owner is able to correctly prepare a pet for hibernation, provide him with suitable conditions throughout its entire duration, and then competently bring him out of this state.

Therefore, red-eared turtles living at home hibernate quite rarely. But if this does happen, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Reduce water level. The turtle burrows into the ground, where it sleeps without rising to the surface, receiving air using special membranes in the mouth and cloaca.
Turn off backlighting and filtering. The movement of water contributes to the destruction of the thermal layer around the animal.
Naturally, do not try to feed the turtle or touch it at all.
Monitor her well-being. If she doesn’t wake up in February, she needs to be woken up.

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.

Important to know before purchasing

Caring for a red-eared turtle at home is not difficult; it is enough to follow the rules and create appropriate conditions for keeping the red-eared reptile. The yellow-bellied turtle is suitable for beginners.

In winter, the turtle does not hibernate. The red-eared reptile spends a large period of time in water, so you should carefully monitor its cleanliness and maintain the required temperature.

It is important to consider that pets are very active and can be aggressive.

When buying small red-eared turtles 2 centimeters in size, you must remember that the size of red-eared turtles can reach the palm of a person, so the aquarium for them must be of an appropriate size.

Often sellers deceive buyers and misrepresent the gender of the turtle, so be sure to check this before purchasing.

Aquarium turtles in an artificial environment can live on average 30 years. This feature of the red-eared individual obliges the breeder to take the purchase seriously.

Distinctive features of the red-eared slider

A distinctive feature of the American individual is its red stripe. The juvenile has a brighter stripe than the adult red-eared slider. The shell is smooth and round in shape. The color of the turtle's shell is green with black and yellow lines. The older the freshwater individual, the darker it is.

The length of the shell is not an indicator of age, since the red-eared reptile grows quite quickly when kept at home. The achieved sizes depend on environmental conditions, quality of care and health of the pet. The temperature of the water in the terrarium depends on the age and time of year. The temperature should be highest in summer and autumn. For young representatives, the water should always be warm.

For small representatives, the basis of nutrition is a completely plant-based diet. Upon reaching a size of 10 centimeters, animal food is proportionally added to the diet. In old age, the diet of an individual again becomes predominantly of plant origin. Read more about what to feed your red-eared slider in a separate article.

Dimensions

The size of red-eared turtles is measured using a ruler; to determine the length, the shell is measured, its irregularities are not taken into account. Newborns are born about 3 centimeters in length. The average size of a sea turtle is 20 centimeters. The duration of growth and maximum size depends on living conditions. As practice shows, the better the living conditions, the better the individuals grow.

In good home conditions, a red-eared slider not only grows quickly, but can also grow several centimeters more; how much will also depend on environmental conditions.

Life expectancy varies; a domestic specimen, if well maintained, will live longer than other representatives. On average - about 30 years.

How many years a pet will live at home, and to what size a red-eared turtle will grow, depends on its breeder.

Do you need neighbors?

The reptile does not have a friendly disposition. Often turtles kept in the same container at home start fights, this behavior is especially observed in adulthood. It is recommended to keep representatives of the same species separately from each other. If it is not possible to move pets into different terrariums, the space can be divided using partitions.

Article on the topic: Is a turtle a mammal?

Recommendations for breeding reptiles in one terrarium:

the size of the individuals must be the same;
there should not be more than one male in the group;
individuals must be of equal age.

Frogs, toads, lizards and snakes and other similar individuals are perceived by turtles exclusively as food.