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Turtles and Tortoises
Turtles and tortoises are part of the family, Testudines. Tortoises are diurnal and land-dwelling, while turtles spend most of their lives in the water. These two reptiles also have other cousins named terrapins. They can live up to 300 years, but sadly are the most highly endangered species. Unfortunately, they are poached excessively for use of food, cosmetics, and medicine.
4,517 Questions
What does snapping turtle look like?
Snapping turtles have a large head with a sharp, hooked beak, a long tail with jagged ridges, and webbed feet with long claws. They have a dark-colored shell, known as a carapace, which can range from brown to black in color. Adult snapping turtles can grow up to 18 inches in shell length.
Tortoises have lungs and breathe air just like other animals. They expand and contract their lungs by moving their muscles to inhale and exhale. Tortoises can also absorb oxygen through their skin and the lining of their mouth when they are underwater or in low-oxygen environments.
Can you put turtles in the same cage together if one is bigger than the other turtle?
yes, you can. i have a very large turtle and a smaller turtle in the same tank and they get along fine. if you see the large one chasing the other, it may have food in its mouth so feed them at opposite ends of the aquarium. or, if your big turtle is a male, he might want to mate. to detract them from chasing each other have a hiding place for the small one and give feeder fish to keep the turtles busy. and i suggest each turtle having their own basking rock. my turtles get along fine.
What is the average weight of a snapping turtle?
The average weight of a snapping turtle is 175 lb (80 kg).
Do baby desert tortoises hibernate?
Baby desert tortoises do not hibernate. They have a more active lifestyle compared to adult desert tortoises and do not require hibernation to survive the colder temperatures. Instead, they regulate their body temperature by moving to warmer or cooler areas in their habitat.
What kind of tortoises are in the Mojave Desert?
The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is the kind of tortoise found in the Mojave Desert. This species is native to the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. The desert tortoise is a protected species due to its vulnerable status in the wild.
How does a Hawksbill turtle protects itself?
Hawksbill turtles protect themselves through their hard and bony shells, which provide physical armor against predators. They can also use their sharp, curved beak to defend themselves if necessary. Additionally, their camouflaged coloring helps them blend in with their environment, making them less visible to predators.
You can purchase a pet turtle at any local pet store. The supplies for the turtle can be bought in the store as well. Be sure to buy all the supplies before you buy the turtle. This will ensure that you have everything you need beforehand.
None of the turtles I've felt were scaly, their shell was smooth and kind of glossy. It might be a bit rough, especially if they have an injury that is healing, but other than that, not scaly. Unless they were real dirty and then it was grity, or muddy, but not scaly, like a fish or snake rubbed against their grain.
Is an alligator turtle in the same family as an alligator?
No, an alligator snapping turtle is not in the same family as an alligator. Alligator snapping turtles belong to the Chelydridae family, while common alligators belong to the Alligatoridae family. They are different species with distinct characteristics and habitats.
How do turtles protect themselves from their enemies?
Turtles protect themselves from predators by retreating into their hard shells, which offer physical protection. Some turtles can also use their sharp beaks or strong claws to defend themselves. Additionally, turtles can camouflage themselves in their environment to avoid being detected by predators.
Turtles adapt in various ways to their environments. Some species have modified shells for protection, while others have webbed feet for swimming. They can also adjust their body temperature by basking in the sun or seeking shade.
Longnecks, also known as giraffes, primarily eat leaves, shoots, fruits, and flowers from trees and shrubs. Their long necks enable them to reach tall branches that other animals cannot access, allowing them to feed on a variety of vegetation in their habitat. They are herbivores and spend most of their time browsing and foraging for food.
Turtles travel by walking on the land using their strong legs and claws. In water, they swim by using their flippers to propel themselves forward. Some marine turtles can travel long distances in the ocean by riding ocean currents.
How do you tell the age of a tortoise?
you tell how old a tortoise by counting the square like things on its shell.
Correction: - The above information is incorrect, it is an old wives tale. In short, unless you know when a tortoise was born it is almost impossible to determine it's age.
A tortoise adapts to its environment by having a hard shell for protection, a slow metabolism to conserve energy, and the ability to burrow into the ground to escape extreme temperatures. Their unique adaptations help them survive in a variety of habitats, from deserts to forests.
Are turtles cold blooded or warm blooded?
Like all reptiles alive today, green sea turtles are cold blooded.
How does turtle shell rot heal naturally?
If your turtle/tortoise is in fresh and clean water water then there are more chances for shell rot to heal.
in most of the cases it does not heal naturally. it needs proper medicines.
if it heals automatically then your turtle have xtraordinary healing power because in most of the cases, as studied and analysed, pet turtles need proper aid of medicines...
if it heals automatically then it's good but if not then...
Here is the solution:
if shell rot just started now:
This type of minor shell damage is common among wild semi-aquatic turtles. When the shell of an older individual is examined, one sees many small pits from old lesions. During times of cloudy, wet weather and little sun, a variety of pathogens can take hold and damage the outer layer of the shell. When the turtle finally gets a chance to bask in the sun, the condition will usually clear up, leaving a small pit, but otherwise causing no long-term harm. With captive animals, the problem can become long term, because of incorrect care. The few individuals with which I am familiar who had the lesions cultured had evidence of bacterial infection, not fungal. But there are many different pathogens that could be associated with these minor, shallow infections.
TREATMENT:
Step 1: Correct the cause of the problem. For turtles who live in captivity, poor conditions will cause shell rot. Dirty water, and lack of appropriate basking area and light are the most likely culprits. If your turtle has developed shell rot in your care, the first step is to correct your husbandry. Extensive information is available on correct care of a wide variety of species, on the internet and in books. Once you have corrected your turtle's housing, you may turn you attention to the shell condition.
Step 2: Clean the turtle's shell. Using a soft toothbrush and mild soap, clean off any dirt, algae and damaged pieces of the outer layers of the scutes. After the bath, dry the turtle off as thoroughly as possible. Gently peel off anything that will come off easily. Try to scrape out the white pits. If they do not come out easily, leave them in place. Further treatment will loosen them up. The small white spots often come out easily when the turtle is completely dry, even if they stay stubbornly in place while wet. Scrape them with the edge of a clean, old credit card or some other plastic utensil. Do not use a knife. The infected material needs to be removed so that the treatment can reach the tissue below it. Large areas and deep infections should only be cleaned by an experienced veterinarian. Extensive debriding is incredibly painful for the animal and should be done under anesthesia.
Step 3: Disinfect the shell with a general antiseptic. In years past, antiseptics such as hydrogen peroxide or Betadine (povidone-iodine) or antibiotic ointments have been used. These will generally kill the pathogens successfully, however recent research indicates that these things actually slow the healing process by preventing the regrowth of the epithelial cells over the damaged area. The antiseptic of choice is often Nolvasan (chlorhexidine) which is available from veterinary clinics (non-prescription), some pet stores and herp supply stores on the internet. Healing is noticably quicker with Nolvasan, so it is worth the effort to find some and use it. Nolvasan liquid solution is generally made with one part Nolvasan, 100 parts water. (Read the directions on the bottle.) If you cannot find chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine can be used successfully, even it it takes a little bit longer to heal completely. If there are just a few discolored areas, swab those areas with the weak antiseptic solution. Reapply the solution every ten minutes or so for about a half-hour. If there are a large number of tiny discolored areas, it might work better to soak the turtle. If you choose to soak, make the liquid shallow enough for the turtle to easily hold its head up out of the water, because any antiseptic, even Nolvasan, can cause some minor eye irritation. A follow-up application of silver sulfadiazine cream can be beneficial, however SSD cream is available by prescription only in the US.
Step 4: Air! Place the turtle in a dry container for at least 2 hours. Some turtles are not overly stressed if left in the dry container overnight (in complete darkness), returning it to the aquarium for at least a portion of the day. Air is the enemy of shell rot pathogens, so it is important to keep the animal dry for a lengthy period of time. But dehydration and excessive stress must also be prevented. So the turtle MUST spend some time each day in water.
Continue to clean, disinfect and air dry the turtle each day for a 5 to 7 days. By that time, all the white pits will have loosened and been removed. If not, continue treatment.You will need to remove all the whitened material to get to the healthy shell underneath, so that it can heal and grow normally. If there are discolored areas remaining after 2 weeks, consult a veterinarian.
When the turtle has been returned to the aquarium full time, it is vital that you maintain conditions that will prevent a recurrence. Keep the water clean. Provide a dry area with a warming light for basking. Natural healing will continue until the damaged areas are filled in (or nearly) with new epithial cells.
For a filtration system that is easy to maintain and produces excellent quality water, visit this link: One effective setup for aquatic turtles in small tanks
This Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) was turned over to a pet store when the owner grew tired of it. An aquatic species, it had been kept in dry conditions for an extended period of time and had a flaking shell condition common to that species. The flaking shell allowed bacteria to move in under several damaged laminae. When the animal was returned to an aquarium, the pathogens flourished and mild "dry shell rot" was the result. Treated with the above method, the larger white area loosened and fell out after 3 days. Numerous other small pits cleared out after one day. Complete healing (new epithelial cells filling in the pits) took about six months.
This Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata) was also abandoned at a pet store, which subsequently turned it over to me for treatment. There were 2 crusty patches on the plastron and numerous small ones on the carapace. The white pits on the carapace were shallow and easily removeable, but the plastron pits were quite deep. This is an ongoing case, and I expect it will require treatment for many months. There is no odor or pus, so I expect this turtle will respond well to consistent treatment with Nolvasan and dry tanking. C. dentata is an environmentally sensitive species that prefers cool, very clean, slightly acidic water. This turtle's condition was likely caused by extensive time spent in dirty and/or alkaline conditions. In other species, excessively cool, or excessively warm, water temperatures can contribute to shell rot. Another frequent causative factor is the lack of suitably warm and dry basking facilities. It is important to know the specific requirement of any species of turtle in your care, so that shell lesions can be prevented.
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What can you do to prevent turtles from eating plastic bags?
Well, if you have a turtle as a house pet, then before allowing your pet to wonder around the house, check for any plastic materials that are out where he can reach it and put them away... duh. And if you are talking about a random turtle that u saw eating plastic, then you can't really do anything except for pick up the plastic. Can't really tell a turtle not to eat something, it won't exactly listen. -.-
What can you do to prevent turtles eating plastic bags?
To prevent turtles from eating plastic bags, we can help by reducing our use of single-use plastic bags, properly disposing of plastic waste, participating in beach clean-ups, and supporting legislation for plastic bag bans or regulations. Educating others about the harm plastic bags cause to turtles and marine life is also crucial in raising awareness and fostering change.
Yes. Turtles, like all vertebrates, have bilateral symmetry. This means they have symmetry across one plane (known as the sagittal plane, and directly down the centre of their body), which means one side of their body approximately mirrors the other side.
How old do African Spurred Tortoise get?
African Spurred Tortoises typically live for 50-80 years in captivity, but they can live up to 100 years or more with proper care and conditions.
When to Let baby snapping turtle go?
Baby snapping turtles should be released back into their natural habitat once they are strong enough to survive on their own, typically when they are about 4-5 inches in length. It is important to release them in a suitable environment with water, proper food sources, and shelter to ensure their survival. Make sure to check local regulations before releasing them, and avoid releasing them in areas with heavy pollution or high predator populations.
Should you keep a baby snapping turtle if you find it?
Absolutely not! If you find one, put it in a swampy damp and cool area, and leave it alone!
Of course keep it away from predators (i.e. Hungry puppies and hawks), and if it looks thirty give it some water. Its best not to touch it or play with it too much!
Painted turtles are omnivores, feeding on a variety of plant and animal matter. They consume aquatic plants, algae, insects, small fish, and invertebrates. Their predators include raccoons, otters, birds of prey, and larger fish. They are also vulnerable to habitat destruction and pollution.
