Appearance
Redhaired turtle has a rather attractive appearance. The upper side of the shell has a rounded shape of a greenish-olive color, which is decorated with black and yellow stripes. The lower side of the shell of the smooth texture with a yellowish tint and small dark spots. A distinctive red or orange strip begins in front of the redeared turtle, which stretches to the neck area. In young turtles, the color of the shell is bright green. Over the years, this color becomes faded, and the dark points on the shell are darkened. In size, they can fluctuate from 6 to 20 centimeters. However, the size is not always a sign of the age of the turtle, since with good nutrition in captivity, redeared turtles are able to reach a large size in a very short time.
Notable are the senses of this representative. Their vision sees so well that they are able to distinguish color palettes in water and under it, as well as to fix the movements of other animals up to 40 meters from them. Smell helps to find food. Hearing is developed relatively poorly compared to other senses. Turtles are able to distinguish only subtle sounds and various vibrations. They are also touched, which allows them to choose the taste of food.
At home
Before you get a redeyed turtle in the house, you should familiarize yourself with a number of requirements on how to treat this animal correctly. When buying a turtle in pet stores or markets, take it to the veterinarian. Many sellers do not care about the health of their animals, and the veterinarian will be able to identify wounds, illness or infection. Before bringing the turtle home, create it comfortable habitat.
Care and content
If possible, take the turtle with both hands, because due to the slippery shell, it can slip from your hands. Also do not forget that these animals have powerful paws with sharp claws, and they can bite you. Be sure to wash your hands after contact with the turtle. To comfort your pet, get a home aquarium. And if possible often follow its purity and freshness. Many turtles are carriers of salmonellosis. Small redeared turtles must be carefully monitored. They should eat well and be in a comfortable environment for them. Among the kids of a redwitted turtle, a high level of mortality is traced, since they are vulnerable to many diseases.
You should not stand for a long time over the aquarium, as well as knock on it, as it can scare its inhabitants. Maintain a stable temperature regime of land and water. Direct sunlight should not penetrate the aquarium.
All turtles should have access to land. Heat the land using a specialized lamp.
Content of the aquarium
Temperatures for small redeared turtles should differ from temperature for their adult individuals. For sushi it is 32 degrees Celsius, and for water no more than 26 degrees Celsius. Choose a long aquarium that will not be very wide and high. The volume of water should be at least 120 liters. Add water level in line with the proportions of the shell of the turtle. She should be able to roll over. At the edge of the aquarium, equip the coast of the sushi in the form of an island. Such an island can be purchased in pet stores, or built by yourself.
Water must be constantly cleaned. For this, special filters are sold. If your aquarium is only young turtles, then use an external filter, and if adults are already internal. An additional device can be used by an ultraviolet lamp, which must be placed up to 25 centimeters high. For heating water and sushi, incandescent lamps are suitable. Turn off all the lamps in the dark. Keep in mind that spray of water may fall into the lamps, so they should be hidden from moisture and evaporation. When the weather is good, it will be a good idea to endure the aquarium to the balcony, but no more than 5 minutes for the first time. Increase the opening time in the open space gradually, since the turtles should get used to.
Food
In the diet of young redeared turtles, animal food should prevail. It allows turtles to grow even more active. But you need to give it no more than once a day. Place various algae and other plants in the aquarium, since the turtles can eat them too. In turn, adults should eat food at least three times a day, due to their dimensions. And the diet should be compiled taking into account the needs for plant foods.
The amount of feed is determined depending on the size of the inhabitant of the aquarium. Two or three pieces of size not more than a centimeter around the perimeter are enough for small representatives, and three of these pieces are three, but three times the size of.
Make sure that the feed is the necessary room temperature, and also has a raw consistency. Do not forget that the redeared turtles of tremors are by nature, so there should be a fish that they eat in the diet, being in the wild. For a variety, add small fish to the aquarium. The turtles are happy to get involved in them. Dilute the diet with dry food and gammarus. Add calcium to the feed for turtles. To maintain the proper level of fiber, you can give vegetables.
Redhaired turtle hunt for a fish
In conditions of wildlife, various insects, small fish, snails and even crickets often become victims of redeared turtles.
Life expectancy
In a comfortable home environment, redeared turtles are able to live up to the age of more than 40 years. While in the conditions of nature, their life expectancy barely reaches 20 years.
Redhaired turtle makes a sound
Reproduction
Redeared redeared turtles become at different times. If they live in a home environment, then from the age of four, males become ready for fertilization, while females aged only 5 or 6 years can endure the offspring. Redearned turtles mature in wildlife, mature in wildlife only by 8 years of life. The propagation period begins in March in turtles in nature conditions. Being pets, they can reproduce offspring all year. The marriage season marks the male, which the female begins to attract. He shows himself to the female, constantly swimming nearby and showing his fast paws. The female puts off no more than 10 eggs that do not exceed 4 centimeters in size in size. Masonry should occur in a specially equipped place. If it is in captivity, it needs to organize a special space.
In the wild, the female lays eggs in a small hole on the land, which he moistens with water. Incubation can last up to 150 days. In order for females to be born, the temperature of the nest should be higher than 30 degrees Celsius, and if the temperature is below 27, males appear. Being pregnant, the female begins to change her behavior. As a rule, she begins to worry, try to dig with the hind limbs and seeks to swim out of the aquarium. Very often during pregnancy, females emerge on land.
Health and illness
Almost all problems of redeared turtles occur due to illiterate care and noncompliance with the rules of detention. It is vital for the health of the turtle to maintain a stable temperature of the water, as well as adhere to a number of rules for feeding and maintaining the aquarium clean.
In order to keep her health to the turtle, follow her properly. When the turtle is sick, it is necessary to increase the temperature of the content to 30 degrees Celsius. Turtle immunity is activated at this temperature. Make sure that the turtle maintains the required amount of fluid in the body. You can also see if your turtle is sick by the way it swims. If she floats only on one side, then she is subject to some kind of disease. When you understand that something is wrong with your pet, do not pull it and be sure to take him to the veterinarian!
The common diseases that are prone to a redeyed turtle:
All diseases of the turtles can lead to death, if all treatment measures are not necessary in time and do not turn to veterinarians for help from veterinarians.
Hibernation
The winter period is characterized for redeared turtles hibernation. However, this is a characteristic phenomenon for individuals that live in captivity. In the home atmosphere, this cannot be allowed. There are a number of reasons according to which hibernation is contraindicated for turtles. A number of them:
In captivity, redeared turtles burrow under the bushes and silt near the ponds with a low depth. Oxygen absorption occurs through the openings of the mouth, pharynx and cloaks. The temperature regime of the reservoir is important, as well as the presence in the water of an acceptable amount of oxygen for safe hibernation. In order to invigorate the turtle, you need to maintain a water temperature of at least 26 degrees Celsius, since low temperatures contribute to hibernation.
Aggression to relatives
The aquarium for redeared turtles is comparable to a small pond, where they are able to demonstrate an aggressive and dominant attitude to the rest of the inhabitants. They can injure other animals with their claws and teeth. Some males enter into fights with females, which often leads to bitten tails, and later on death. A new individual in the aquarium provokes aggression from old sexually mature turtles.
If you encounter such an attitude between relatives, it is best to try to increase the space of the aquarium or add barriers between animals. This behavior is acceptable in wild conditions. However, it is best to start a redeyed turtle in a separate aquarium.
