Turtles are cute! They are the oldest reptiles found on earth, some species existed 250 million years ago. These slow and lazy creature are a great attraction to children. Imagine a huge
turtle at your home and your kids climbing up and down its shell all throughout the day. Its playful nature has made many people adopt
turtles as pets. However, not all species make good pets. There are some aggressive species that are extremely difficult to tame and rearing such species in not advisable. So what are the species? Read on to know the types and some useful information about them.
Pet Turtle InformationPet turtle species identification is not a very difficult task if you know their features exactly. You can easily distinguish them according to their build, color, fins, etc. Simultaneously,
care for pet turtles is utmost essential for their survival. You need to build a niche for them providing all the necessary conditions. Their artificial habitat should mimic the natural so they enjoy the privilege of being a pet at your home. Here goes the list for species.
Box TurtleAs the name suggests, these turtles have a big dome shaped shell, resembling a box. They are strong and sturdy, growing up to 6 inches long. They are mostly terrestrial and are seldom found in water. Box turtles are omnivore creatures and are very territorial. They form ideal pets if your house has empty landscapes, allowing them to wander. They love to crawl out during the summer and spring season. Box turtles are better adapted to hot, humid and mossy climate and are quite friendly.
Painted TurtlePainted turtles are one of the most beautiful species among the turtle family and are a native to North America. Their shells have beautiful color patterns, as if painted delicately. This attribute makes for easy identification of this particular species. Painted turtles grow approximately 10 inches long. They are aquatic turtles and should be brought up inside a tank. The tank will be their habitat, having all the conditions required for its survival. However, you will still have to provide an open area where the turtle can bask in the sun. You can also arrange for artificial source of lights like heat lamps and UV lights.
Red Eared SliderMost popular among species, is the
red eared slider turtle. They are most widely sold in the US market as they can easily adapt to land and water, both. Although they prefer staying inside water most of the time, the red eared slider loves to bathe in the sunshine. For this, you can arrange for an UV light near their tank. Sliders love to move around in muddy and swampy areas, feeding on worms and goldfish. The tank should be big enough to support their growth. They grow approximately to 11 inches.
Mud TurtlesIf you want the smallest species, just bring home a mud turtle. They are land dwellers, spending most of their time digging mud. Their small size doesn't mean they are happy to get a small tank. Muddy turtles demand large tanks where they can take dips inside mud. Amongst the
aquatic pet turtles, they are the most gentle. They resemble box turtles, although some features differ.
So which
type of pet turtle are you going to rear? A muddy or the slider? The list of species mentioned in the content above are playful and timid, unlike the aggressive ones. However, there are certain facts that should be kept in mind before purchasing. Make sure the turtle is free from disease. Salmonella infections are mostly associated with turtles that might spread to your children. Get the details from the seller about the habitat and growth conditions required for that species. Make all the desired arrangements beforehand and then bring the cute little one home.
