Post by Karen R Quinn on Jul 18, 2009 11:17:39 GMT -7
Over the years, the captive care of turtles has undergone many changes. As more people enter the hobby, the demand for research on the care and keeping of our shelled companions increases. The hope is that one day the understanding of the needs and husbandry of turtles in captivity will be as thorough and commonplace as those of dogs and cats today.
Things you'll need:
Information
Heating
Lighting
Suitable Aquarium Or Home
Proper Food & Vitamins
Refrigeration For Fresh Vegetables, Meats, and Fruits
Caring for your turtle is relatively easy once the basics are established. Dispel the thoughts of getting a turtle and putting it in a bowl of water with a rock. Those little "Turtle Ponds" you can still find in pet stores, are completely inadequate and have even been dubbed by experienced keepers as "Death Bowls". Turtles require more than a small, simple container to ensure proper health and longevity. Heating, lighting, temperature control, filtration - all play an important role in the health and happiness of your turtle. Even a large aquarium, filled to the top with water is not meeting their needs, as they need an area to get out of the water and get completely dry.
Also toss out the ideas that turtles can survive on hot dogs, cat food and shrimp treats. Their diets are a highly evolved science, of which we are only beginning to unlock and understand. Various species have specific feeding needs, so the exact dietary requirement of your turtle will need to be researched (Care Sheets are a great assistance in determining what is needed). There are numerous prepared foods on the market, but not all are quality. You don't need to be a nutritionist to understand what is required, but you do need to understand what to look for. Sounds sophisticated, but it's all simple once you understand the reasons why and why not to put things on the menu.
The lamp on the desk or the overhead light in the room is not going to meet the requirements of your turtle. They need special lighting which will allow them to perform bodily functions that regular lighting does not do. Room temperature ok? Guess again. Turtles are ectothermic, what used to be called "cold blooded". This means that they do not generate their own body heat. They rely on the sun to get warm and the water to cool down. You will need to ensure that their air temps, basking temps and water temps are within the acceptable guidelines. This will not only ensure their health, but will give them a more natural feeling about their habitat and allow them to act naturally.
Turtles are not like dogs and cats - they do NOT enjoy going for walks and being handled. It is key to remember this as some keepers allow their turtles to walk around on their floors, they take them outside for walks or they hold them and carry them around and some even take them to the pet stores as they would their dog. This is not something your turtle will enjoy, nor is it good for them. This causes unnecessary stress and could well eventually lead to health problems. Leave them in their habitat and watch them swim, eat, bask and move about in their home which you have provided. They will be much happier and so will you.
Feeding your turtles seems to be the most complex aspect of keeping them healthy and active. A simple task yet requiring some planning and structure, based on the species that you are keeping. Turtles are usually opportunistic feeders. In other words, they grab it when they can because they really aren't sure when they might get the chance to eat again. Do not be fooled---turtles will learn to recognize you and any food containers you have. They will quickly have you trained! Overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes in captive care. Keep in mind that they are not always hungry...but they are always looking for a meal because it's how they survive in the wild. They don't know that you are going to feed them routinely, so keep a regular schedule and try not to veer from it.
As far as a diet goes, you want something high in calcium yet low in phosphorus. Stay away from fatty foods and those with a high carbohydrate and protein content unless the turtle is a strict carnivore. Don't over-feed or under-feed anything; even if it is good for their diet. Not enough is dangerous and too much isn't much better.
Mazuri Mazuri, a company of Purina, offers the highest quality turtle food on the market. They offer a line for Aquatic Turtles and also for Tortoises. The Aquatic Diet has a higher protein content, while the Tortoise Diet is geared more for the herbivore. The Aquatic food is small and bite sized (smaller than a pea), whereas the Tortoise Diet is much larger (marble-sized).
AquaMax 500 Also put out by Purina, AquaMax seems to have the same content as the Mazuri Aquatic Diet. The same size as the Mazuri, it costs less than half the price.
Rep-Cal Arguably in the running for the spot as the best, quality, prepared turtle food on the market, Rep-Cal carries with it a long history of high quality. For years, Rep-Cal has been one of the top choices for food supplementation for captive turtles. Their foods come in a variety of diets, ranging from the carnivorous to the herbivorous. The pellets also range in size, from those under the size of a pea to those a little larger than a pea.
ReptoMin Once the leading brand of pelleted turtle food, ReptoMin still remains a high quality diet for aquatic turtles. It comes in the form of a thin stick, and can be purchased in various sized containers and also at different lengths - full-sized (about 1/4") and hatchling size (about 1/8"). Both lengths have the same thickness. ReptoMin is often the preferred food for hatchlings as it get soft in water and baby turtles can nibble and take small, hatchling-sized bites out of the stick, whereas the Mazuri are more difficult for baby turtles and it takes longer for the Mazuri to become mushy and manageable for them.
ZooMed As with everything ZooMed produces, this is a high quality food. Some experienced keepers and breeders vary between ZooMed's Hatchling Food and "Baby" ReptoMin. ZooMed's turtle food are much smaller than the Mazuri pellets and are more manageable for baby turtles to eat. ZooMed also makes an adult diet which has the same content as their Hatchling Food.
Pretty Pets This is not only a quality food item, but it is bright, colorful and smells like a fruit cereal. They offer an aquatic diet as well as a tortoise diet. The pellets are about he size of the Mazuri pellets but become mushy fairly quickly to allow baby turtles to eat freely and easily.
Wardley's Reptile Pellets Wardley's is one of the most available turtle foods in pet stores. Sadly, it lacks a lot of the content that the other foods on this list provide. While a decent diet, it does require more supplementation to ensure that your turtles are getting the vitamins and minerals that they need. These pellets are the same size, shape and consistency as the ReptoMin turtle food.
In regards to ensuring the quality of your turtle's diet, we mentioned fresh foods. Here are some of the preferred foods to offer (in no particular order): Romaine Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuce, Green Leaf Lettuce, Kale, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, Strawberries, Duckweed, Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Anacharis, Meal worms, Earthworms, Blood worms, Beef heart, Crayfish, Ghost Shrimp, Frozen Fish, Minnows, Snails, Slugs, Wax Worms, and Mosquito Larvae.
Wikipedia Information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle
e-How Information: www.ehow.com/articles_4912-pet-turtles.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_cat
Tips & Warnings:
To ensure that they are getting a sufficient amount of calcium, there are also supplements on the market as well. A good way of doing this is to grind or crush these up into a powder form (if not a powder already) and sprinkle it onto the food. For aquatic feeders, this poses a problem as the powder will wash off into the water. To get around this problem, you can take their food, moisten it, place it into a plastic bag with this calcium supplement, and shake it around. The calcium will stick to the moist food. Let the coated food dry. This will help it stay together and not disperse into the water as fast once you start feeding.
Do your homework before getting any pet, including a turtle. There are many varieties available, and one may be better suited to your lifestyle than another.
Do not get a turtle just as a pet for your children, expecting that they will be able to properly care for the pet by themselves. Turtles do require a fair amount of care, as does any pet....so don't disregard that fact when considering a purchase.
Things you'll need:
Information
Heating
Lighting
Suitable Aquarium Or Home
Proper Food & Vitamins
Refrigeration For Fresh Vegetables, Meats, and Fruits
Caring for your turtle is relatively easy once the basics are established. Dispel the thoughts of getting a turtle and putting it in a bowl of water with a rock. Those little "Turtle Ponds" you can still find in pet stores, are completely inadequate and have even been dubbed by experienced keepers as "Death Bowls". Turtles require more than a small, simple container to ensure proper health and longevity. Heating, lighting, temperature control, filtration - all play an important role in the health and happiness of your turtle. Even a large aquarium, filled to the top with water is not meeting their needs, as they need an area to get out of the water and get completely dry.
Also toss out the ideas that turtles can survive on hot dogs, cat food and shrimp treats. Their diets are a highly evolved science, of which we are only beginning to unlock and understand. Various species have specific feeding needs, so the exact dietary requirement of your turtle will need to be researched (Care Sheets are a great assistance in determining what is needed). There are numerous prepared foods on the market, but not all are quality. You don't need to be a nutritionist to understand what is required, but you do need to understand what to look for. Sounds sophisticated, but it's all simple once you understand the reasons why and why not to put things on the menu.
The lamp on the desk or the overhead light in the room is not going to meet the requirements of your turtle. They need special lighting which will allow them to perform bodily functions that regular lighting does not do. Room temperature ok? Guess again. Turtles are ectothermic, what used to be called "cold blooded". This means that they do not generate their own body heat. They rely on the sun to get warm and the water to cool down. You will need to ensure that their air temps, basking temps and water temps are within the acceptable guidelines. This will not only ensure their health, but will give them a more natural feeling about their habitat and allow them to act naturally.
Turtles are not like dogs and cats - they do NOT enjoy going for walks and being handled. It is key to remember this as some keepers allow their turtles to walk around on their floors, they take them outside for walks or they hold them and carry them around and some even take them to the pet stores as they would their dog. This is not something your turtle will enjoy, nor is it good for them. This causes unnecessary stress and could well eventually lead to health problems. Leave them in their habitat and watch them swim, eat, bask and move about in their home which you have provided. They will be much happier and so will you.
Feeding your turtles seems to be the most complex aspect of keeping them healthy and active. A simple task yet requiring some planning and structure, based on the species that you are keeping. Turtles are usually opportunistic feeders. In other words, they grab it when they can because they really aren't sure when they might get the chance to eat again. Do not be fooled---turtles will learn to recognize you and any food containers you have. They will quickly have you trained! Overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes in captive care. Keep in mind that they are not always hungry...but they are always looking for a meal because it's how they survive in the wild. They don't know that you are going to feed them routinely, so keep a regular schedule and try not to veer from it.
As far as a diet goes, you want something high in calcium yet low in phosphorus. Stay away from fatty foods and those with a high carbohydrate and protein content unless the turtle is a strict carnivore. Don't over-feed or under-feed anything; even if it is good for their diet. Not enough is dangerous and too much isn't much better.
Mazuri Mazuri, a company of Purina, offers the highest quality turtle food on the market. They offer a line for Aquatic Turtles and also for Tortoises. The Aquatic Diet has a higher protein content, while the Tortoise Diet is geared more for the herbivore. The Aquatic food is small and bite sized (smaller than a pea), whereas the Tortoise Diet is much larger (marble-sized).
AquaMax 500 Also put out by Purina, AquaMax seems to have the same content as the Mazuri Aquatic Diet. The same size as the Mazuri, it costs less than half the price.
Rep-Cal Arguably in the running for the spot as the best, quality, prepared turtle food on the market, Rep-Cal carries with it a long history of high quality. For years, Rep-Cal has been one of the top choices for food supplementation for captive turtles. Their foods come in a variety of diets, ranging from the carnivorous to the herbivorous. The pellets also range in size, from those under the size of a pea to those a little larger than a pea.
ReptoMin Once the leading brand of pelleted turtle food, ReptoMin still remains a high quality diet for aquatic turtles. It comes in the form of a thin stick, and can be purchased in various sized containers and also at different lengths - full-sized (about 1/4") and hatchling size (about 1/8"). Both lengths have the same thickness. ReptoMin is often the preferred food for hatchlings as it get soft in water and baby turtles can nibble and take small, hatchling-sized bites out of the stick, whereas the Mazuri are more difficult for baby turtles and it takes longer for the Mazuri to become mushy and manageable for them.
ZooMed As with everything ZooMed produces, this is a high quality food. Some experienced keepers and breeders vary between ZooMed's Hatchling Food and "Baby" ReptoMin. ZooMed's turtle food are much smaller than the Mazuri pellets and are more manageable for baby turtles to eat. ZooMed also makes an adult diet which has the same content as their Hatchling Food.
Pretty Pets This is not only a quality food item, but it is bright, colorful and smells like a fruit cereal. They offer an aquatic diet as well as a tortoise diet. The pellets are about he size of the Mazuri pellets but become mushy fairly quickly to allow baby turtles to eat freely and easily.
Wardley's Reptile Pellets Wardley's is one of the most available turtle foods in pet stores. Sadly, it lacks a lot of the content that the other foods on this list provide. While a decent diet, it does require more supplementation to ensure that your turtles are getting the vitamins and minerals that they need. These pellets are the same size, shape and consistency as the ReptoMin turtle food.
In regards to ensuring the quality of your turtle's diet, we mentioned fresh foods. Here are some of the preferred foods to offer (in no particular order): Romaine Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuce, Green Leaf Lettuce, Kale, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, Strawberries, Duckweed, Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Anacharis, Meal worms, Earthworms, Blood worms, Beef heart, Crayfish, Ghost Shrimp, Frozen Fish, Minnows, Snails, Slugs, Wax Worms, and Mosquito Larvae.
Wikipedia Information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle
e-How Information: www.ehow.com/articles_4912-pet-turtles.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_cat
Tips & Warnings:
To ensure that they are getting a sufficient amount of calcium, there are also supplements on the market as well. A good way of doing this is to grind or crush these up into a powder form (if not a powder already) and sprinkle it onto the food. For aquatic feeders, this poses a problem as the powder will wash off into the water. To get around this problem, you can take their food, moisten it, place it into a plastic bag with this calcium supplement, and shake it around. The calcium will stick to the moist food. Let the coated food dry. This will help it stay together and not disperse into the water as fast once you start feeding.
Do your homework before getting any pet, including a turtle. There are many varieties available, and one may be better suited to your lifestyle than another.
Do not get a turtle just as a pet for your children, expecting that they will be able to properly care for the pet by themselves. Turtles do require a fair amount of care, as does any pet....so don't disregard that fact when considering a purchase.