Care of Turtles

A baby turtle will typically eat any food the size of its head or smaller. Any bigger than that, and it might not be interested.

Many turtles do mate in the water. Many, like box turtles, mate on land. There are roughly 300 members of the order Testudines, so you are going to have both occurring in multiple species.

Leave it in the water. just think about how they are in nature. Leave the turtle in but provide a basking area. if you don't know what a basking area is look it up on YouTube.

A baby turtle can go out of water for about 5 minutes. No more than that or it will suffocate. Baby turtles shouldn't be taken out a lot, only about 1-3 times a day not even!

Evelyn H says: I have had my baby aquatic turtle for eleven months. Her shell measures 2.5" x 2.5". She's grown about an inch all the way around, since I bought her. I've taken my turtle on road trips from Georgia to NYC, and from Georgia to Washington state. She fits inside of a 6" x 6" glass vase. During our time on the road, she rode with no water in the vase for many hours. I splashed a little bit of water on the gravel, and that was it. When I checked into motels for the night, I filled her vase up like normal so she could eat and defecate. She showed no signs of distress by being out of the water for hours. Her appetite was good during long trips. I feed her floating reptile sticks and juvenile turtle pellets. When she gets big enough for a tank, I will get her a rock to bask on. For now, the little critter seems content, and she's very active. I change her water twice a week. I've had other pet turtles, but she is by far my favorite one. No fuss and no frills.

This depends on the species of turtle. The lifespans vary significantly from species to species.

For example, big green sea turtles that live in the sea (obviously!) can live for 100's of years, whereas a small short-knecked Murray turtle that a lot of people have as pets (me included) can live up to around 50years.

These can depend a lot upon the health of the turtle, and other factors.

Yellow bellied sliders carry many types of diseases.

My husband for starters. Many times while trying to catch fish, a turtle will get on the line. I don't eat turtles, but I know several people who do and they say a turtle tastes like 7 different types of other meats. Also some types of carnivorous fish will eat a turtle if given the chance.

I believe so, if you are feeding one take the seeds out of the fruit if it has any and cut it up into small edible pieces.

You should have something to cover the bottom with like rocks (gravel) that's big enough so that the turtle won't swallow it. (Because turtle's try to eat the stuff on the bottom if it's small enough to swallow.) You should have a rock or log for the turtle to bask on.Also make sure to have a place for the turtle to hide, this provides a less stressful environment for them. You should have some water plants in there for them.For Example: Amazon Sword, Java Fern, Common Waterweed. But before you put these in check to make sure they are not toxic to the turtles in case they decide to have a little snack... Make sure you have a filter (the bigger the better), the cleaner your tank is there's less a chance your turtle will get sick. Also clean your tank once a week because turtle tend to carry salmonella ( don't worry you wont get it as long as after handling the turtle or the tank you wash your hands thoroughly.) Make sure you have a UVB light over the basking area, and a heat lamp over the water. Depending on how cold your house temp. is you can get a heating mat for your tank. Well this is all i know about it so hoped i helped.

OH! I almost forgot, You might need to put your turtle!(:

Ok well hope it goes well!!!(:

~Leah~

It depends which species ! Some sea-turtles can reach two metres across the shell !

This is way to vague and confusing. Please rephrase and resubmit. Be more specific.

Most full grown alligator snapping turtles can get as big as 2.5 feet and weigh as much as 200 pounds.

it depends on what kind of turtle/tortoise it is. that is what you should do first. try to find out what kind it is. take it to a local pet store to see if they can identify it. they will also probably tell you what it eats. make sure it isn't a protected species though, because it is illegal to take them from there natural habitat

potty on your face. then put some susu on it and try to eat. only then you will be able to answer our question. if you dont answer even then eat goat potty and in dessert eat rabbit potty then your mind will start working. understand..u better understand.

Yes they can! But make sure there is only a 3 inch difference length wise (from head to tail of the shell) between your smallest turtle and your largest turtle. Because if there is too much difference; the bigger one could pick on it or even kill it. But other than that; you are good to go. Just watch for awhile to make sure they wont fight! Good luck!!!

They should all be male, or all female. If not they might fight over a mate...

YOU WILL NEED A HUGE CAGE! Not even a glass tank anymore. We're talking outdoor pond (for adults). They are large, active reptiles as adults and in my opinion keeping that many in a glass tank is cruel.

first reply- They will. Lettuce is one of their favorites also.

second reply -

iceberg lettuce is poisonous to them dont feed them that it has to be rocket lettuce or watercress or cress

The Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is one of two species in the genus Glyptemys, both of which are limited to North America. Until 2002, the wood turtle was placed in the genus Clemmy's but genetic analyzes revealed that the wood turtle and bog turtle formed a distinct group . The wood turtle reaches carapace lengths of 6 to 9 inches . The wood turtle is accurately named, and spends most of its time in wooded areas. It is, however, also semi-aquatic and dependent on streams, rivers, and ponds. Wood turtles can grow up to 9 inches (24 cm) long. They have a brown, sculptured carapace, with pyramidal scutes. There are two apparent phenotypes; an orange 'redlegs' morph with a yellow ringed iris (generally) and a yellow 'yellowlegs' morph with a solid black iris Schnirel, (1985). The Yellow legs phenotype seems to hail from the western part of the range. North American wood turtles have longer carapace lengths, relative to the plastron. In females the plastron is often longer than the carapace - Schnirel, (1985). This can be a guide in attempting to sex neonate Glyptemys insculpta (underlined). Adult North American Wood Turtles are more sexually dimorphic. In males, the tail is longer and the vent (cloaca) is further out on the tail. Males tend to have longer claws and a more pronounced concavity in the plastron. Young wood turtles are difficult to sex. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell until they are 4-5 inches (straight-line measurement) long - Braunlich, (2003) The distribution of the wood turtle can be separated into two main areas: the Northeast and the Great Lakes. The Northeast region extends from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, south to northern Virginia and west through Pennsylvania and eastern Ontario. The Great Lakes region is somewhat discontinuous, with populations in southeastern Ontario (around Toronto), the northern lower peninsula of Michigan and from the central upper peninsula of Michigan southwest to southern Wisconsin, and just into eastern Minnesota. There are also disjunct populations in northeastern Iowa, south central Quebec and southern Ontario. In the Midwest, within the Great Lakes region, the wood turtle is considered imperiled in every state in which it occurs. The wood turtle is Endangered in Iowa, Threatened in New Jersey, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and a species of Special Concern in Michigan. Wood turtles (like typical reptiles and unlike reptiles that have a Circulus structure) are generally solitary and create alpha-beta..rankings when forced into confined positions (Schnirel-2007). With neonates (CB hatchlings) , one must monitor feedings after food is introduced as the more dominant individuals will keep more passive individuals at bay to the detriment of the more passive individuals (Braunlich-2003). This species is considered one of the more intelligent of turtles. It is a great escape artist and climber and systematically has been seen probing fenced in areas to find a means of escape. Tinklepaugh, (1932) conducted maze experiments using Glyptemys insculpta (underlined). He found that the North American wood turtle had the learning capacity of a rat. Yerkes, (1901) conducted space reaction experiments that showed the more aquatic a turtle species, the less fear of heights was demonstrated. The North American wood turtle showed a greater fear of heights than its more aquatic cousin, the Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata {underlined}). Schnirel, (1985) conducted mirror experiments with various turtle and tortoise species in recognition and reaction to their reflected image in mirrors. Glyptemys insculpta (underlined) showed a significantly greater interest in their reflected image.

Okay

1) There isn't much you can do, the shell is PART of its body so if the shell is cracked, you're pretty much screwed.

2) LOOK HERE! : If you want to really help, go to the vet and bring all the broken shell pieces with you AS FAST AS POSSIBLE or the turtle will die. The vet will probably put some medicine and stuff on it and try to bandage it up. After that, it should be find, just don't put it in water yet. Keep it in a nice moist tank with plants and stone.

it takes 2 to 5 years for a turtle to lay eggs.

Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra Serpentina) generally do not eat lettuce. My husband found a little guy about the size of a quarter 3 1/2 years ago dehydrated on a concrete slab...nowhere near water!! My experience is by trial & error. I was told they eat lettuce (supposedly loving Romaine lettuce), but mine has never eaten anything but high protein items. I have tried just about every vegie & fruit, fresh, dehydrated, you name it...he has NEVER eaten any. It appears that they are mainly carnivorous, that means MEAT! My lil quarter-sized snapper now has a shell approx 9" long. It appears that his neck/head & his tail are approx the same length as his shell. He is quite large, healthy, hardy, & happy. What have I been feeding him? I DO NOT LIKE BUGS OR ANYTHING GROSS, SLIMY OR CRAWLY!! Therefore, I went to a local pet store and purchased dried (dead) meal worms, broke them into 1/4" pieces and used a lil stick to push it thru the water right to his face...& SNAP he ate it. All these years his diet has consisted mainly of dried mealworms, shrimp, grasshoppers, crickets,etc. He also gets (mainly as treats a few times a week), real peeled shrimp, chicken(no bones), hamburger, roast beef, turkey, pork, hot dogs, lunch meats...as well as the occasional creepy crawly my husband brings him, like live worms, crickets, flies, moths. You get the picture. And this turtle loves me! Gets to the front of 'habitat' as soon as he sees me or hears my voice. Responds to commands...YES IT IS TRUE! They are VERY smart! He knows if he wants to eat he goes to the right front corner of his home. That is where he is fed. Most of his food floats, but if I drop meat in & it sinks to the bottom of the water, I just tell him "It's on the bottom" & he will dive for it. When he is done eating I immediately get a net and clean out any food or poop debris. Along with the filters, it keeps his tank clean, with only a partial water change once a week. He knows when I thru doing that...I get a toothbrush (with rubber & regular bristles on it) and he gets his shell scrubbed up and likes his belly and legs & neck brushed. He wiggles around trying to get every inch of him scratched. He also plays peek-a-boo. Ducks his head under foliage! Loves when I sing to him, opens and closes his mouth when I'm just sitting & talking to him. Plays with a floating ball and splashes around making a mess. This guy is awesome! I have never been bitten, however, I TAKE PRECAUTIONS & keep my fingers out of his reach. Really, just use basic common sense. Don't tap on the glass with your finger...it makes it look appetizing. "Mud-Puppy" lives in a 50 gal aquarium with enough water that he can completely submerge. He has large rocks that he lays on to bask himself under a UVA/UVB Daylight bulb, or just floats to expose his back to the light. Also has a UVA/UVB Night Light. Required for a healthy shell. Regular tap water has worked just fine.

tortoise's are known to live up to 90 years, it depends on how well you look after your tortoise

edit by abaddon:

they'll eat small fish (you can go to your local pet store and buy "feeder fish" or guppies, they work well, some plants, crickets, anything with protein that isn't big enough to hurt them. fish is the best route, (~12 to 29 cents a fish) since it simulates hunting in the wild, and they get a substantial meal when they want it (you dont have to worry about feeding them, they'll feed themselves).

they will tire of the turtle pellets, so that's not generally a good option. but they do like the "zoo med's turtle treats." it is basically dried up, shredded insects.

i hope that helps. also, they need vitamin d, in the form of egg shells, or the pellets if they'll take them. you can also but pre-made supplements for them. just read up on how to get them calcium. also, it depends on the age of the turtle (younger ones are usually more aggressive and tend to enjoy hunting, while older turtles prefer vegetation.)

i think so

There is no species called red eye sliders.

Respiratory infections can cause lung and mouth pain. They need medical attention as soon as any symptoms (bubbles around nose or mouth, shallow breathing, lethargy) appear.

Box turtles are easily recognized by their box-like shells. Because of the box-like structure, the turtle is able to fit completely inside its shell.