How to determine the type of turtle by appearance. Identifying the species of domestic turtle. Eastern long-necked turtle

There are more than 335 species of turtles that inhabit different continents. Some species are very popular and easy to buy in pet stores, some are rarer, and some species are difficult to see even in zoos.
Animal lovers in Russia most often keep the following types of turtles in their homes: freshwater red-eared turtle, freshwater marsh turtle, freshwater turtle Trionics and land Central Asian turtle. In the south of Russia the Mediterranean tortoise and the marsh tortoise are found, in the east of Russia the Far Eastern trionix is found, and in Ukraine and Belarus the marsh tortoise is found. Red-eared turtles are brought in large numbers from nurseries in Europe and Asia, and then bad people release American turtles into Russian ponds, so the chance of meeting a red-eared turtle in a river or pond is very high.

This is what the most popular types of turtles look like:

Land (lat.Agrionemys horsfieldii)

A yellow-beige turtle with dark spots on the shell, usually up to 25 cm long. The turtle is listed in the Red Book and the CITES list and is prohibited for sale without documents, which is ignored by pet stores and, of course, smugglers.

The Central Asian tortoise lives in the states of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan in steppe and semi-desert regions.

Like all land turtles, it feeds on vegetation (field plants, dried forage grasses, indoor plants, and occasionally permitted vegetables). Meat, milk, bread and white cabbage, fruits are strictly contraindicated for it. Once a week, the turtle should receive calcium and reptile vitamin powder.

For maintenance you need: terrarium from 100 l + UV lamp 10-12% UVB + incandescent lamp + soil (sawdust/hay/chips + pebbles) + house. The temperature in the terrarium should be from 25 in a cold corner to 35 in a hot corner (under a lamp).
Hibernation for turtles is optional, and also harmful and dangerous if not carried out according to the rules, so it is better to avoid it. It is recommended to bathe your turtle once a week.

Freshwater Pond slider(lat. Trachemys scripta)

This bright green (the shell becomes dark as an adult) turtle with red “ears” on its head has become very popular throughout the world in the last 25 years. The turtle can bite painfully, although it is not very aggressive.

This turtle is the most popular and the most “aquarium turtle” in our country and in many others.

The turtle lives in the USA and is brought to Russia from turtle farms. It is strictly forbidden to release it into Russian water bodies - this harms the ecosystem, and besides, the turtles themselves rarely survive the winter.

The turtle is freshwater and carnivorous (snails, feeding insects, raw freshwater low-fat fish with bones and entrails, occasionally dry food), but it also needs dry land and plant food (algae, or lettuce, dandelions).

You can read more about feeding turtles, aquariums and terrariums, and caring for turtles in the relevant sections.

It is important to know:

You cannot add new turtles to existing ones without prior quarantine.
If symptoms of disease occur or if you refuse to feed for a long time, you should contact a veterinarian-herpetologist.
If turtles in the same aquarium/terrarium are fighting or are too aggressive, they need to be separated.
Turtles should not be allowed to come into contact with other pets.
Land turtles (and sometimes aquatic ones) are kept on the floor like cats and dogs, as a result the turtles are stepped on, they are injured by other pets, they catch colds, and quickly develop rickets, vitamin deficiency, arthritis and kidney failure.
They buy a pair for the turtle so that it doesn’t get bored, but the result is fights and bitten off paws and tails. Turtles are loners! And they only need a pair for reproduction.
Feeding turtles the wrong food leads to serious problems with internal organs and even death. Just because a turtle eats something doesn’t mean it’s okay for it.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE WE HAVE TAMED!

Land and sea turtles are among the most popular pets. Not only children but also parents like them. Pet turtles are easy to care for, they are unpretentious and can take root in almost any indoor environment. Of course, in order for pets to feel as comfortable as possible, they need to be provided with proper care, nutrition and care.

Turtles are easy to care for, allowing both adults and children to keep them

Types of land reptiles

There are two types of domestic turtles that live on land - star and. To keep the remaining individuals you will have to purchase a spacious aquarium. Land turtles thrive in the air, can move freely on the floor. They are very friendly, you can calmly pick them up and pet them.

Representatives of the star breed

The second name for the turtle is Indian. Most often found as a pet. It has a very beautiful appearance: yellow stripes around the perimeter of the black shell, tiny eyes and a long neck. The star reptile is considered one of the most beautiful species of domestic land turtles.

The Indian tortoise is a land turtle and has a beautiful appearance.

Typically, females are larger in size than males and can reach 25 cm in length. Turtles live from 30 to 80 years, so your baby won’t have to worry that his pet will soon die of old age. Living in captivity adds several more years of life to these creatures, since they do not have to defend themselves from predators and human actions. Basic content rules:

Star turtles should be fed regular plant foods. Cat and dog food, as well as human food, are not suitable for them. Additionally, you can add to your food:

cabbage;
carrot;
lettuce leaves;
dandelions;
apples;
pumpkin;
sometimes melons, watermelons and bananas.

The Indian tortoise consumes exclusively plant foods

The main thing is not to overdo it, since fruit can cause diarrhea. You also need to add calcium and vitamins.

Breeding the Central Asian species

The Central Asian turtle is highly active and likes to move throughout the apartment, so it is advisable to maintain an optimal temperature not only in the terrarium, but throughout the entire home. It tolerates cold weather quite well, but it is best to choose average temperatures.

This type of domestic turtle is small in size - from 15 to 23 cm, with females being slightly larger than males. Newborn babies reach a length of 2-3 cm. Representatives of the breed have a green or light brown carapace with dark spots along the entire perimeter. The legs and head are also brown.

The Central Asian turtle differs from other species in its increased activity

Central Asian reptiles live on average up to forty years. If there is no stress and proper feeding, they can live several years longer. They love space, so the terrarium should be as large as possible. Turtles love to dig. In summer, they can build small pens right on the street. The enclosure can be made square with sides of 2 meters. It is advisable to make the fence as deep as possible into the ground so that turtles do not have the opportunity to dig under and escape.

If it is not possible to set up an enclosure, then in the warm season the turtle can simply be carried outside in your arms and lowered to the ground (be sure to make sure that it does not run away). In the terrarium, you can cover the floor with coconut shavings or soil so that your pet has the opportunity to dig during the cold season. The layer should allow the turtle to burrow inside. In the corners you should add some flat stones on which you can sharpen your claws.

Reptiles love water, so at least once a week they need to give them a bath: immerse them up to their necks in a small bowl of water and let them stand there for about 20-30 minutes. A saucer with water or a drinking bowl should also be in the terrarium.

The Central Asian tortoise should have a saucer of water in its terrarium, as it sometimes needs to immerse its body in water

Representatives of the Central Asian breed feed mainly on grass - leaves of plantain, dandelion, coltsfoot. Vegetables and fruits should make up approximately 10% of the diet. You can include apples, pumpkin, and occasionally bananas and strawberries in your food. Pets rarely need to be fed. It is enough for adult individuals to receive food once every 2-3 days, for small ones - once a day.

European marsh turtle

The marsh reptile is one of the aquatic domestic species. It has a smooth, round shell, usually yellow-green or black in color. The head is slightly pointed, without a beak. The paws are dark, covered with light spots of yellow or white.

Adults are quite large and reach a length of 35 cm and weigh up to one and a half kilograms. On average they live 30-50 years, in some cases - up to 70-80. They are very picky about temperature and love warmth.

The lifespan of the European marsh turtle is about 50 years

The aquarium for a reptile should be deep and hold more than one hundred liters. In the warm season, it is better to release your pet into a clean pond so that it has the opportunity to swim properly. There should also be a spacious dry area next to the aquarium where the turtle can warm up and rest.

The water needs to be changed regularly because turtles litter a lot when they eat. Primer and decorative decorations are optional. Small individuals love natural sunlight, which has a beneficial effect on their growth. If possible, they should be taken outside during the warm season, even if there is no clean pond nearby.

You also need to install a heating lamp with ultraviolet rays in the aquarium. Its height should not be less than 20 cm, as there is a risk of burns. The temperature on land (under the lamp) should be 30-33 °C, the length of daylight hours should be at least twelve hours. There is no need to force a turtle into hibernation: in captivity it can be active all year round.

The European marsh turtle loves warmth very much, so the temperature in the terrarium should be from +20°C to +33°C

The European breed is considered a carnivore, not a herbivore. Under natural conditions, its representatives feed on fish, shrimp, frogs, and worms. In captivity, it is better to include fresh fish in your pet’s diet; sometimes you can even put live fish directly into the aquarium so that the turtle has the opportunity to hunt.

Small individuals feed every day, adults - once every 2-3 days. European turtles eat themselves very quickly and do not control the amount of feed. They need an ultraviolet lamp to absorb calcium in the body.

Large matamata predator

To understand what pet turtles are like, it’s worth meeting a representative of the Matamata breed. It reaches 45 cm in length and has a rather bright and unusual appearance. The upper part of the shell has a pyramidal shape, the head is flat and triangular, at its end there is a flexible nasal process. On average, a reptile lives 50-60 years.

The matamata turtle has a unique appearance

Matamata is an omnivore; it prefers food of animal origin. He loves mollies, goldfish, earthworms, and guppies. Does not disdain even small mice and birds. It is best to feed it by introducing several fish into the aquarium: this way the turtle will have a choice, and it will not lose its hunting skills.

Since the turtle grows quite large, the aquarium should not interfere with its development as it should. Matamata is not as active as the European marsh turtle, but it is better to choose larger containers for it. Main characteristics of an aquarium for a matamata turtle:

Matamata does not like to be disturbed. She regards any contact with a person as a stressful situation. The turtle should be handled only to wash it or move it to another aquarium. It is not suitable for families with children who have pets to play with - the matamata does not tolerate such communication.

Cayman tortilla

The caiman reptile is a large and unpretentious individual with sharp teeth. Quite aggressive. The advantages include the fact that the turtle eats almost any food and tolerates cold and temperature changes well.

Cayman tortilla is quite aggressive, so you should handle it carefully

They grow quite large, which is why many owners try to get rid of them as quickly as possible and hand them over to the zoo. When getting a snapping turtle, you need to be prepared for difficulties so that the animal does not suffer later, no matter how dangerous it may be.

The snapping turtle comes in a variety of colors, from soft cream to jet black. She has a large head and a powerful shell with numerous bumps and depressions. It has very powerful jaws, the sight of which immediately makes you want to disappear as quickly as possible.

The average weight of such a turtle reaches 15 kg, length - 45 cm, life expectancy - at least twenty years.

Snapping turtles grow to very large sizes, which should be taken into account in advance.

In nature, such reptiles are absolutely omnivorous and eat everything they can catch. In captivity, small fish, worms, crayfish, and crabs are perfect food for them. You can add granulated feed, as well as plant foods. Adults are fed once every 1-2 days, small ones - once a day.

Since the turtle reaches a large size, it is better to keep it in a large aquarium or a whole pond. However, the climate in Russia is quite harsh (especially in the cold season), so the snapping turtle, accustomed to warm waters, can live in the pond only in summer and late spring.

If it is possible to release a turtle into a pond, there should be no other living creatures in it, otherwise everything will go to feed the new pet. And you will have to forget about decorative fish, frogs and other creatures - the snapping turtle will eat everything that it finds next to itself (even other turtles, no matter what size they are).

This video shows how to properly care for snapping turtles:

The snapping turtle is indifferent to the decor of the aquarium, the acidity of the water and other things that are important for other individuals. The main thing is that she feels as comfortable as possible. Powerful water filtration is sufficient for this, since large turtles eat often and defecate just as often. If you do not change the contents of the aquarium in time, the remaining food will begin to rot, which is why the turtle may develop serious illnesses.

Snapping turtles love to climb the walls of the aquarium. They also need a small area of land, although reptiles rarely come to the surface. In addition, you need a standard lamp to heat the aquarium and an ultraviolet lamp to improve calcium absorption.

Turtles (lat. Testudines) are representatives of one of the four orders of modern reptiles belonging to the phylum Chordata. The age of fossil remains of turtles is 200-220 million years. is 200-220 million years.

Description of the turtle

According to most scientists, the appearance and structure of turtles have remained virtually unchanged over the past 150 million years.

Appearance

The main distinguishing feature of a turtle is the presence of a shell, represented by a very complex bone-leathery formation that covers the reptile’s body from all sides and protects the animal from the attacks of numerous predators. The inner part of the shell is characterized by the presence of bone plates, and the outer part is characterized by leathery scutes. This shell has a dorsal and abdominal part. The first part, called the carapace, is distinguished by a convex shape, and the plastron, or abdominal part, is always flat.

This is interesting! The turtle body has a strong fusion with the shell part, from which the head, tail and limbs protrude between the plastron and carapace. When any danger arises, turtles are able to completely hide inside their shell.

The turtle has no teeth, but has a beak, pointed at the edges and quite strong, allowing the animal to easily bite off pieces of food. Turtles, along with some snakes and crocodiles, lay leathery eggs, but the reptiles most often do not care for their hatched offspring, so they almost immediately leave the laying site.

Turtles of different species differ greatly in their size and weight. For example, the length of a land spider turtle does not exceed 100 mm with a weight in the range of 90-100 g, and the size of an adult sea leatherback turtle reaches 250 cm and weighs more than half a ton. Among the currently known land tortoises, the category of giants includes the Galapagos elephant tortoises, whose shell length exceeds a meter and can weigh four hundredweight.

The color of turtles, as a rule, is very modest, allowing the reptile to easily camouflage itself with objects in the environment. However, there are also several types that are distinguished by a very bright and contrasting pattern. For example, the radiated tortoise in the central part of the shells has a characteristic dark background with bright yellow spots and numerous outgoing rays located on it. The head and neck area of the red-eared slider is decorated with a pattern of wavy lines and stripes, and behind the eyes there are spots of bright red color.

Character and lifestyle

Even despite the insufficient level of brain development, as a result of testing it was possible to determine that the turtle’s intelligence shows fairly high results. It should be noted that not only land turtles, but also many freshwater species of turtles, including European marsh and Caspian turtles, took part in such experiments.

Turtles are reptiles that lead a solitary lifestyle, but such animals need the company of their own kind with the onset of the mating season. Sometimes turtles gather for the wintering period in not too numerous groups. Some freshwater species, including toad-headed turtles (Phrynops geoffroanus), are characterized by an aggressive reaction to the presence of their relatives, even outside the mating season.

How long do turtles live?

Almost all existing species of turtles deservedly belong to the category of long-lived record holders among numerous vertebrates.

This is interesting! The well-known Radiant Tortoise of Madagascar, named Tui Malila, managed to live for almost two hundred years.

The age of such a reptile often exceeds a century. According to scientists, a turtle can live even two hundred years or more.

turtle shell

The turtle's carapace is distinguished by a convex shape, represented by a bone base and a horny covering. The bony base of the carapace consists of eight presacral vertebrae, as well as the dorsal costal sections. Typical turtles have fifty plates of mixed origin.

The shape and number of such scutes are a very important feature that allows us to determine the species of a turtle:

land species usually have a high, convex and very thick upper armored shield, which is associated with general intestinal volume indicators. The dome-shaped shape provides significant internal space, facilitating the digestion of plant roughage;
burrowing land species have a more flattened, elongated carapace, which helps the reptile easily move inside the burrow;
Various freshwater and sea turtles are most often characterized by the presence of a flattened, smooth and streamlined carapace, which has an oval, ovoid or teardrop shape, but the bone base may well be reduced;
soft-bodied species of turtles are distinguished by a very flat carapace, the bone base of which is always quite strongly reduced in the absence of horny scutes and the presence of a leathery covering on the shell;
The carapace in leatherback turtles does not have any fusion with the axial part of the skeleton, therefore it is formed by a mosaic of small bones united with each other, which are covered by the skin;
Some turtles are distinguished by a carapace in the presence of a well-formed semi-movable joint of the synarthrosis type with cartilaginous tissue at the joints of the plates.

The border of the armored horny scutes can be imprinted on the superficial part of the bony carapace, and the horny carapace, or horny type scutes, have names similar to the located bony plates.

Types of turtles

Currently, more than three hundred species of turtles belonging to fourteen families are known. Some of these peculiar reptiles lead an exclusively land-based lifestyle, while another part is characterized by excellent adaptation to the aquatic environment.

The following species live in our country:

loggerhead turtles, or carriage turtles, or (lat. Caretta caretta) - reaching a length of 75-95 cm with an average weight in the range of 80-200 kg. The species has a heart-shaped carapace, brownish, red-brown or olive in color. The plastron and bony bridge may be cream or yellowish in color. There are ten costal scutes in the back area, and large scutes also cover the massive head. The front flippers are equipped with a pair of claws;
leatherback turtles, or loot(lat. Dermoshelys coriacea) is the only modern species belonging to the family Leatherback turtles (Dermoshelyidae). Representatives are the largest modern turtles, having a body length of 260 cm with a front flipper span of 250 cm and a body weight of up to 890-915 kg;
Far Eastern turtles, or Chinese Trionics(lat. Pelodiscus sinensis) - freshwater turtles, which are a representative of the family Three-clawed soft-bodied turtles. In Asian countries, meat is widely consumed as food, so the reptile is considered an object for industrial breeding. The length of the carapace of an adult individual, as a rule, does not exceed a quarter of a meter, and the average weight is 4.0-4.5 kg;
European marsh turtles(lat. Emys orbiсularis) - freshwater turtles with an oval, low and slightly convex, smooth carapace, which has a movable connection with the plastron through a narrow and elastic ligament. The length of an adult individual of this species is 12-35 cm with a body weight of about one and a half kilograms;
Caspian turtles(lat. Mauremys caspica) - reptiles belonging to the genus Aquatic turtles and the family of Asian freshwater turtles. The species is represented by three subspecies. An adult specimen is characterized by a length of 28-30 cm and an oval-shaped carapace. Juveniles of this species are distinguished by a keeled carapace. Adult males have an elongated carapace with a slightly concave plastron;
Mediterranean, or Greek, or Caucasian tortoise(lat. Testudo græsa) is a species that has a tall and oval, slightly jagged carapace, 33-35 cm long, light olive or yellowish-brown in color with black spots. The front feet have four or five claws. The back of the thighs is equipped with a horny tubercle. Often a turtle of this species has an unpaired supra-tail shield, the plastron of which is light in color and has dark spots.

The Central Asian or steppe tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii) is often found on the territory of Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia. The species is characterized by a low, round, yellowish-brown carapace with vague, dark-colored spots. The carapace is divided by thirteen horny scutes, and the plastron is divided into sixteen scutes. The grooves present on the scutes make it easy to determine the number of years the turtle has lived. The average length of a turtle does not exceed 15-20 cm, and females of this species, as a rule, are noticeably larger than males.

Range, habitats

The range and habitats of different species of turtles are very diverse:

Elephant turtle (Сhelonoidis elephantorus) – Galapagos Islands;
Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) – northern part of Africa and the Middle East;
(Testudo (Agrionemys) horsfielddii) – Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Lebanon and Syria, northeastern Iran, northwestern India and Pakistan;
or ( Geochelone pardalis) – African countries;
Speckled cape tortoise (Homophorus Signatus) – South Africa and the southern part of Namibia;
Painted or decorated turtle (Сhrysemys pista) – Canada and USA;
(Emys orbiсularis) – countries of Europe and Asia, the territory of the Caucasus;
or ( Trachemys scripta) – USA and Canada, northwestern South America, including northern Colombia and Venezuela;
(Сhelydra serpentina) – USA and southeastern Canada.

The inhabitants of the seas and oceans include Real carriage (Eretmoshelys imbricata), (Dermochelys coriacea), Green soup turtle (Сhelonia mydas). Freshwater reptiles live in rivers, lakes and swamps of the temperate Eurasian zone, and also inhabit reservoirs in Africa, South America, Europe and Asia.

Turtle diet

The food preferences of turtles directly depend on the species characteristics and habitat of such a reptile. The basis of the diet of land turtles is represented by plant foods, including young branches of various trees, vegetable and fruit crops, grass and mushrooms, and to replenish the amount of protein, such animals eat snails, slugs or worms. The need for water is often satisfied by eating the succulent parts of plants.

Freshwater and sea turtles can be classified as typical predators, feeding on small fish, frogs, snails and crustaceans, bird eggs, insects, various mollusks and arthropods. Plant foods are eaten in small quantities. Herbivorous individuals are also characterized by eating animal food. There are also species of freshwater turtles that switch to plant foods as they grow older. Omnivorous sea turtles have also been well studied.

Reproduction and offspring

With the onset of the mating season, adult male turtles organize traditional tournament fights and fights among themselves for the right to mate with the female. At such times, land turtles chase their opponent and try to turn him over by biting or hitting him with the front part of his shell. In fights, aquatic species prefer biting and chasing their opponents. Subsequent courtship allows the female to take the most comfortable position for mating.

Males belonging to some species are capable of making rather primitive sounds during the mating process. All known species of modern turtles are oviparous animals, so females lay eggs inside a pitcher-shaped hole dug with their hind legs and moistened with fluid secreted by the cloaca.

The hole with white spherical or elliptical eggs is filled up, and the soil is compacted using plastron blows. Sea turtles and some side-necked turtles lay eggs covered with a soft, leathery shell. The number of eggs varies among representatives of different species and can range from 1 to 200 pieces.

This is interesting! Giant tortoises (Megalochelys gigantea) have behavioral mechanisms that regulate population size by the number of eggs laid annually.

Many turtles lay several clutches during one season, and the incubation period, as a rule, lasts from two months to six months. An exception that takes care of its offspring is the brown turtle (Manouria emys), the females of which guard the nest with oviposition until the babies are born. Also interesting is the behavior of the Bahamian ornamented turtle (Pseudemys malonei), which digs up the oviposition and facilitates the release of the young.

Domestic turtles, the species of which are very diverse, are very popular among lovers of living corners. Although these reptiles are completely wild and are virtually incapable of being kept in captivity as adults, the demand for them is steadily increasing. If you take a turtle very small, it will get used to you, will take food from your hands, and will certainly delight you with its fun games. To provide proper care for your pet, you definitely need to know.

All turtles are divided into two large types: aquatic and land. Aquatic turtle species are much more diverse than land turtle species. This article will answer your question, what types of turtles are suitable for home keeping, and which reptiles are the most popular.

Variety of species

There is no point in listing all types of land turtles or their aquatic relatives. The variety of reptile species is simply amazing. Currently, scientists believe that there are more than 300 types of reptiles. Each species is necessarily different in some way, be it the structure of the shell or the animal itself, coloring, habitat. Animal lovers often choose species of aquatic turtles to keep.

Pond slider

Perhaps the red-eared slider is the most popular reptile chosen for captivity. This turtle has a red spot located near the ears - this is how it earned its name. The red-eared turtle is an aquatic reptile, so keeping it requires a spacious aquarium. However, we should not forget about setting up a small island on which the animal will periodically go to rest.

On average, the length of the red-eared turtle is no more than 30 cm. The reptile feeds on animal food: fish fry, small fish with bones, shrimp, small crustaceans. You can give your pet insect larvae and small frogs. To diversify your diet, it’s a good idea to add plants to it. With proper care, the red-eared slider will be very active. If you plan to keep several individuals at once, then you are guaranteed to enjoy the fun games of your pets.

The types of land turtles are quite diverse. One of their representatives is the Central Asian tortoise. This reptile is distinguished by its slowness. The color of the turtle is beige-yellow, with black inclusions in places. The length of the animal’s shell is 20-25 cm. At the moment, this species of reptile is in the Red Book, but to this day it remains the most popular species of land turtles.

To maintain a home, prepare an enclosure for the Central Asian tortoise with a volume of at least 100 liters. There must be soil in it. It is advisable to pour a fairly large amount of sand or pebbles - land turtles love to dig holes. The reptile's diet should consist entirely of plant foods. You should not give meat to your pet. Only occasionally, as an exception, can you pamper him with insect larvae in minimal quantities.

This type of turtle, the Chinese Trionix, is becoming increasingly popular. The main distinguishing feature of the reptile is its shell. Trionics Chinese belongs to the order of soft-bodied turtles. There are no horn plates on the carapace; it is covered with leather. However, the soft shell does not in any way prevent the reptile from showing its aggressive character.

Trionix Chinese has very powerful jaws. Although a turtle's teeth are replaced by horny plates, the bite of such a reptile can be very noticeable and lead to injury. That is why it is recommended to purchase a pet at a young age. Trionics Chinese is in the Red Book, but many pet stores ignore this and continue to sell this type of reptile.

The species of aquatic turtles suitable for home keeping are supplemented by another representative of the animal world - the European marsh turtle. Its main distinguishing feature is that both the shell and the body of the animal are painted black. Only in places you can find yellow stripes or dots, but they are very inconspicuous.

It attracts reptile lovers for several reasons. Firstly, it is rightfully considered a small representative of turtles. The length of its shell does not exceed 14 cm. Secondly, the reptile has a very interesting appearance, which is striking in its originality.

All of these are domestic turtles, the species of which are very diverse. In fact, you can keep absolutely any reptile at home, the main thing is to create suitable conditions. However, the turtles listed above are the most popular.

The types of aquatic turtles and the types of land turtles are very diverse. The world of reptiles is very interesting. If you study it, you can learn a lot of new information. For example, you might be amazed by the size of the smallest turtle. The appearance of some reptiles will also not leave you indifferent. If you want to have such a wonderful pet as a turtle, take an interest in the life of reptiles.

Choosing a pet is quite a difficult task, especially for people accustomed to a certain pace and lifestyle. Cats shed, dogs need to be walked, rodents can ruin furniture, and birds are too noisy. If all these characteristics of animals are unacceptable, turtles will be the best choice as a pet - domestic species of these reptiles are relatively simple and unpretentious in terms of keeping. In addition, they live a very long time and, contrary to popular prejudices, are cute, funny and curious creatures.

Types of turtles to keep at home

There are more than 300 species of sun-lovers that can live in captivity and feel comfortable around humans. Depending on their preferred habitat, they are divided into 2 large groups - land and. Despite the name, the latter type of reptile needs periodic walks on land with mandatory sunbathing, otherwise the pet may get sick due to a lack of ultraviolet radiation.

Which turtle is better to choose? It depends on the temperament and characteristics of its future owner. Land reptiles are extremely sociable and calm, they willingly make contact with humans. Aquatic species of reptiles are self-sufficient, but more graceful; watching them in an aquarium is a pleasure.

Popular types of land turtles

In the pet store you can most often find the following reptiles that prefer land:

1. Central Asian (steppe) tortoise:

feature: slowness and clumsiness;
sizes: up to 25 cm;
food: lettuce, clover, dandelions, plantain and other herbs, sometimes you can pamper your pet with juicy vegetables and fruits;
conditions of detention: terrarium, enclosure with high sides (at least 30 cm) and a small pool for swimming, there must be holes, places for the turtle to hide, the ability to dig;
life expectancy: more than 40 years.

2. Star (Indian) tortoise:

feature: very beautiful dark-colored shell with yellow star-shaped stripes;
dimensions: about 25 cm;
food: dandelions, alfalfa, lettuce and other plants, vegetables and fruits - carrots, apples, zucchini, pumpkin;
conditions of detention: large warm terrarium;
life expectancy: up to 80 years.

Types of aquatic pet turtles

There is a slightly larger selection of swimming reptiles, although they are less popular. The fact is that keeping such pets requires spacious rooms with continuous filtration and heating of water, special lighting, temperature and humidity control, and the purchase of the necessary equipment will significantly “hit your pocket.” This is especially true for marine species of domestic turtles. They need to create conditions that are ideally similar to being in their natural habitat. So, even a small reptile will need a huge aquarium of about 200-250 liters.

If the desire to have a waterfowl pet is strong, you can choose from the following types:

1. Pond slider:

feature: a small elongated red spot next to the ears;
dimensions: no more than 30 cm;
food: small fish, including fry, crustaceans and shrimp, sometimes a turtle does not mind diversifying its diet with greens and sea plants;
keeping conditions: an aquarium of about 200 liters with an island of land occupying at least 25% of the area, turtles get along well together;
Life expectancy: 20-40 years.

2. Chinese Trionix:

feature: soft-bodied, the Trionix shell is devoid of horny plates and covered with skin, easily injured;
sizes: up to 40 cm;
food: fish, worms, bloodworms, snails, mussels, shrimp;
keeping conditions: large aquarium (200-250 l minimum) with a small shore or island, Trionics prefer solitude.
Life expectancy: approximately 45 years.

It is better to get very young turtles or tame them immediately after birth.

3. Swamp (American, European) turtle: