Red-eared turtle: description, features, photos. How many teeth does a turtle have

The red-eared or yellow-bellied turtle belongs to the family of American freshwater turtles (from the Latin Trachemys scripta - painted or streaked). This is the most common species among pet turtle lovers.

When buying such an exotic pet, many simply do not know the conditions of its maintenance, which is why most red-eared turtles are doomed to death.

The article will discuss the conditions of keeping red-eared turtles, whether turtles have teeth, as well as possible problems that every animal owner may encounter.

Appearance

The red-eared slider's ears are actually hidden under muscle and skin. This type of turtle was named red-eared because of the red stripes that are located on both sides of the head next to the eyes. It is these characteristics that make the red-eared turtle recognizable and original. In young individuals, the shell has a bright green tint.

With age, the shell will turn brown, and in older animals a pattern of yellow stripes will appear on the shell. The neck, head and limbs of the turtle are decorated with a pattern of green and white wavy spots and stripes.

The length of the shell (carapace) is 18-30 centimeters, depending on the subspecies and gender of the turtle. Females are slightly larger than males.

What kind of paws do turtles have? Red-eared turtles have claws on their feet. There may be four or five in total.

Reproduction

Red-eared turtles become sexually mature at different times. If they live in a home environment, then from the age of four, males become ready for fertilization, while females at the age of only 5 or 6 years can bear offspring. Red-eared turtles become mature in the wild only at 8 years of age. The breeding season begins in March for turtles in natural conditions. As pets, they can reproduce all year round. The mating season marks the male, who begins to attract the female. He shows himself to the female by constantly swimming nearby and showing off his fast legs. The female lays no more than 10 eggs, which in size do not exceed 4 centimeters. Masonry must take place in a specially equipped place. If she is in captivity, she needs to organize a special space.

In the wild, the female lays her eggs in a small hole on land, which she moistens with water. Incubation can last up to 150 days. In order for females to be born, the temperature of the nest must be above 30 degrees Celsius, and if the temperature is below 27, males appear. While pregnant, the female begins to change her behavior. As a rule, she begins to worry, tries to dig with her hind limbs and tries to swim out of the aquarium. Very often during pregnancy, females swim to land.

Sense organs and voice

Red-eared turtles have undeveloped vocal cords. The animal can snort, hiss with excitement and sometimes even make a sound that looks like a squeak. Hearing is very poorly developed, unlike smell and vision. Due to the fact that the ears are covered with skin, turtles feel exclusively vibration with dull sounds.

The shell senses touch because nerve endings pass through it. Turtles also have a sense of touch. Thanks to it, they can refuse tasteless food in favor of more tasty ones.

Animals do not breathe underwater. To get some air, they go ashore.

About little red-eared turtles

Almost all future owners of turtles want to get them when they are still small - cute, touching and funny. But raising such a baby to the average size of a one-year-old is not easy: the mortality rate in babies is very high. And most often - due to improper handling of them.

So what not to do?

Remove the yolk sac on the plastron from small animals yourself.
Create stressful situations.
Take the extra one at a time.

Living conditions need to be made as comfortable as possible. What to feed baby red-eared turtles? Exclusively food of animal origin: 70% small lean fish and 30% by-products, insects, squid, shrimp, etc.

A terrarium for a red-eared turtle of any age should be placed so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight or drafts. But unlike adults, babies need a different temperature regime: water - 26-27 degrees, land - 32 degrees.

Do turtles have teeth

Some breeders of red-eared turtles warn that the animal can bite. So how many teeth does a turtle have? In fact, they don't have teeth. They are replaced by incredibly durable horn plates.

The teeth of the land turtle, as well as other species, can even bite through the bones of small fish, and their bites are sometimes very powerful. If a turtle bites a person, he will feel pain and discomfort at the site of the bite. Moreover, the wound may become infected, since the turtle's mouth cannot be disinfected. The sea turtle has no teeth.

If such an unpleasant incident happens to you, the bite site should be urgently washed with a peroxide solution and treated with brilliant green or iodine. Sometimes a patch or tight bandage is required. If infection does occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Does a land turtle have teeth? In the photo you can see that they have no teeth, but only horny plates, like other representatives of this family.

What can you teach a turtle

Before you begin taming sessions, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the theory

It is very important to know what exactly can be taught to a turtle and whether it is necessary at all, especially since this process can take a lot of time. In addition, you need to have an idea of the process itself, otherwise you may not see the result of your efforts

How to teach a turtle to eat from your hands

A very primitive but impressive way is to teach turtles to take food from tweezers or from hands. This is quite easy to do. If the turtle wants to eat, then it needs to offer food from your hands or take tweezers and give it pieces with its help. Naturally, the turtle does not think at this moment which method is more acceptable for it. If you follow this path, you can train the turtle to eat at a certain time. If you constantly take part in the process of feeding it, then the turtle develops a rather strong reflex, which, as it were, binds it to the person who feeds it. Things can get to the point where the turtle starts chasing (in a good way) its breadwinner literally on his heels, like a hungry cat. Some owners, but they are very few, teach their pets to wave their paws. Unfortunately, this is not given to everyone, but you can always try.

A waterfowl turtle can be trained to feed from the shore. This is a rather positive method that will not allow excess food to clog the water again. The water will remain clean and transparent for a long time, which will only benefit it.

To do this, you do not need to throw food into the water, but put it in a certain place when it rises from the water along the ladder to the shore.

How to stop a turtle from biting

At first glance, the turtle is a peace-loving animal that cannot cause harm. In fact, this is not at all true and a turtle can bite very painfully, as evidenced by complaints from some owners. In fact, this is a very unpleasant fact. Therefore, it is advisable to wean your pet from this habit. The only question is how to do it. Firstly, you should not offend this creature, but rather take it in your arms more often. At the same time, it should be remembered that an aquatic turtle cannot be kept without water for a long time. After a certain time, the pet should get used to human hands. But this does not mean that the turtle will never bite again. The main thing is not to make sudden movements when your hands are near the animal.

How to train a turtle to play with toys

You can often hear that some turtles like to play with toys, like a ball. At first glance, this is a normal reaction of an animal to something new and unfamiliar. But, from the point of view of scientists, this may be just a game. To find out, just place a brightly colored ball-shaped toy in the aqua terrarium. The size of the ball should be such that the turtle cannot swallow it. After some time, you can see how the turtle pushes the object from side to side. It seems that she is playing with him. Although another reaction of the animal to this object is possible: she simply saw that it was on her territory and was trying to get rid of it.

There is one caveat regarding games: it is not recommended to place mirrors in the turtle's living space or make the walls of the terrarium mirrored. The animal perceives its image in the mirror as its rival, who wants to encroach on its living space. In this regard, the turtle will show aggression towards its image. As a result, the turtle may suffer injury or serious nervous shock.

The tortoise responds well to a variety of sounds as it has excellent hearing, which indicates that it can be trained to hear a sound that must be followed by an action. For example, by sound you can accustom a turtle to the process of feeding or by sound you can pick it up.

How is the sex of an individual determined?

We found out how many teeth a turtle has. Now let's move on to determining gender. Red-eared turtles grow quite quickly. Animals reach sexual maturity by about a year. It is possible to determine the sex only when the individual reaches a size of more than 10 cm. More or less accurately determining the sex is possible only by 3-4 years if it is a male, and by 4-5 years if it is a female.

Females are usually larger than males and have a shorter tail. Also, their cloaca is located closer to the base of the tail. Males will have more curved and longer claws on their paws, and the lower abdominal part is slightly concave inward, making it easier for him to mate with a female.

Health and illness

Almost all problems with red-eared turtles occur due to illiterate care and non-compliance with maintenance rules. It is vital for the turtle's health to maintain a stable water temperature, as well as adhere to a number of rules for feeding and keeping the aquarium clean.

To keep your turtle healthy, monitor it properly. When a turtle is sick, it is necessary to increase the temperature to 30 degrees Celsius. The turtle's immunity is activated at this temperature. Make sure your turtle maintains the required amount of fluid in its body. You can also tell if your turtle is sick by the way it swims. If she swims only on one side, it means she is susceptible to some kind of disease. When you realize that something is wrong with your pet, do not delay and be sure to take him to the veterinarian!

Common diseases that the red-eared slider is susceptible to:

Bacterial eye infection. The turtle's eyes become swollen and red. Sometimes she can't open them. Clean the water, check the temperature and tidy up the aquarium. As a treatment, the veterinarian prescribes antibiotic drops.
Bacterial mouth infection. The turtle is not eating and small tumors have formed in its mouth. This disease requires serious treatment. Antibiotics are prescribed by a veterinarian.
Pneumonia. Hemorrhages are visible on the shell. The turtle is weak, the shell is very soft. You should contact your veterinarian immediately.

All turtle diseases can be fatal if all necessary treatment measures are not taken in time and do not seek help from veterinarians.

Buying a red-eared turtle

Many people buy a pet without even learning about the conditions of its keeping, food and many other features. Of course, you can just go to a pet store or market and buy the first animal you come across, but professionals advise first taking the animal to the veterinarian.

The thing is that red-eared turtles are often kept in unsuitable conditions, which is why they can get sick and have wounds on their bodies.

If you already have turtles at home, it is better to keep the purchased individual in quarantine for several months. It is also forbidden to place an adult animal with young animals, as this is fraught with intentional and accidental injury to the animals. Only those individuals that are similar in conditions of detention and size can live together.

After changing its place of residence, the turtle will adapt within a couple of days. At this time, she may be overly active or, conversely, inhibited. It’s better not to touch her and don’t forget to feed her.

Common questions asked by red-eared turtle owners

How many years do red-eared turtles live?

The life expectancy of red-eared turtles at home with high-quality care and maintenance is 30-40 years. Therefore, you need to understand that you are making a friend almost for life.

How to distinguish a female from a male red-eared slider?

Determining the sex of a turtle is quite difficult. It is better to entrust this matter to a specialist. And for 100% determination, even research methods such as radiography with contrast and probing may be needed —

it will show the presence of hemipenis sacs. However, you can try to do this yourself. For example, the length of the claws on the forelimbs: in the male they are much longer and look like elongated bayonets. Or by the length of the tail: the male has a longer tail. The male also has a notch on the abdominal shell.

Do red-eared turtles hibernate?

Some scientists claim that red-eared turtles hibernate and that they need it. However, this process can only occur under certain conditions of detention, which initially prepare the turtle’s body for a state of suspended animation (hibernation): a gradual decrease in temperature, a decrease in the length of daylight hours and the amount of food.

The process of removing the animal from the state of suspended animation will also be difficult. It is quite difficult to imagine these processes at home. Therefore, it would be more logical not to create difficulties for yourself and not to cause unnecessary harm to the health of the turtle.

How to Handle Turtles

When handling a turtle, be extremely careful. They are usually slippery with water, hissing, resisting, and occasionally emptying their bowels. How many paws do turtles have? Like all animals, it has four paws, at the ends of which there are sharp claws. They can use them to defend themselves when you pick them up.

A turtle can also bite painfully. So do red-eared turtles have teeth if they bite? No, they don’t exist, but they bite with powerful blades. It is best to hold the animal with both hands. Because of awkwardness, many turtles suffer, as well as their owners.

After handling the turtle, wash your hands with soap and water. This is especially true for children, because the animal lives in a different environment, where the bacteria are completely different. Change the water in the aquarium regularly and keep it clean, as its inhabitants can be carriers of salmonellosis.

It is best if the turtle does not have access to the kitchen or the places where you prepare food. The aquarium and its accessories should not be washed in the kitchen sink. If you take proper care of the animals, they will live 40 to 50 years.

How to choose a feeder

A feeder for a land turtle is a ceramic or plastic container where you can conveniently place chopped vegetables and herbs. Such a feeder should be shallow; it is better to choose a flat and wide model so that the turtle can climb into it entirely.

An interesting solution would be to install a feeder that imitates natural stone or driftwood - it will perform an additional decorative function in the terrarium.

Aquatic turtles are carnivores, so their meals leave behind much more biohazardous waste. Decaying pieces of protein food pollute the water of the aquaterrarium and become a source of unpleasant odor. Therefore, the feeder for red-eared turtles is usually a separate container where water is collected. The animal is moved into such a tank before feeding; after a meal, it is enough to pour out the contaminated water and rinse the walls. For feeding on land, it is recommended to install the same model as for land turtles.

IMPORTANT: If a special substrate is used for feeding, you can install an automatic feeder. Such products are sold in pet stores and are quite expensive, but they allow you to set feeding intervals and portion sizes.

An automatic feeder is indispensable when leaving for several days, when there is no one to entrust with caring for the turtle.

Automatic feeder

How to care for babies

They buy turtles when they are still babies. It is important to ensure that they eat well and are in a comfortable environment. Cubs have a high mortality rate, are exposed to various diseases and can die for no apparent reason.

If you notice something unusual on your baby turtle's shell, it could be the yolk sac, from which the hatchlings receive nutrients. You don't need to touch it. It will resolve itself after some time.

It is better not to hold babies in your arms, as they get very scared, become stressed and get sick. Also, do not knock on the glass of the aquarium; the cubs need several days to get used to the environment. It is important to maintain stable air and water temperatures during this time. The water should be at a temperature of 26-27 degrees, and the air at 32 degrees.

What not to do during communication

If the owner does not want to lose contact with the pet, he should not turn it upside down.

In the wild, a reptile turns over on its back and dies unless other animals come to its aid. They are often rescued by elephants - if they are large individuals - or other turtles. The animal will not be able to assume its usual position on its own and will die of starvation.

Therefore, the instinct of self-preservation with such a radical change in body position signals mortal danger.

A person will never be able to accustom a reptile to such a “trick” - he will only turn the creature against himself. And then it will be impossible to establish contact: the animal’s memory will always be on guard: “You can expect death from this person!”

Do not tap the shell with a fingernail or pen. For an animal, such actions are equivalent to how a person would be knocked on the head. It's unpleasant and stressful.

Content

Domestic red-eared turtles feel most comfortable in a spacious aquaterrarium with a volume of at least 100 liters. The water should be changed regularly, but at least once every 30 days.

For babies, it is better to change the water more often, because clean water is the key to the rapid growth of young animals, as well as the health of adults. Before filling the aquarium, the water must be left for five days. If you put a powerful filter in the aquarium, you can change the water less often.

In the aquaterrarium where the turtles will live, there must be an island of land, occupying a quarter of the total area of the aquarium. Animals come to land to rest and warm up. To maintain the desired temperature, install a regular incandescent lamp on top of the aquarium and point it at the island. This will warm up both the air and the water.

This island should have a textured surface so that the turtle can cling to the slope with its claws. How many paws does a turtle have and what kind of claws are on them is now clear.

If the island is plastic and smooth, the animal simply will not be able to climb onto it. After some time, your pet will learn to eat from this island, which will be very convenient when feeding. This is what the island should be like:

One side of the shore should be completely covered with water.
It should be positioned in such a way that the turtle cannot get stuck between the shore and the wall of the terrarium.
In the process of heating water, it should not release toxins.
The island should have a textured finish.
The bank must be stable, since turtles are quite strong animals and can easily turn it over.

Apart from turtles, it is not recommended to keep fish in an aquarium, as they are predators. If you don't feed them enough, they will simply hunt for fish. Do turtles have teeth so they can eat fish? They have no teeth, but with their powerful plates that replace teeth, they can easily bite the backbone of a fish.

The height of the walls in the aquarium should be at least 30 cm from the edge of the aquarium to the highest point of the island. Turtles may seem very clumsy, but this sign can be deceiving. Sometimes pets become very active both in water and on land, and often they simply crawl out of the aquarium.

If they jump out of their home, they can crawl into hard-to-reach places, get injured, and without food and water they will quickly die. Turtles can also be threatened by other pets.

So, here is a list of items needed to keep red-eared turtles:

aquaterrarium or aquarium with a volume of 100-200 liters;
100 Watt water heater;
external or internal filter;
UV lamp designed for introductory turtles with UVB 10%;
lamp;
incandescent lamp for heating the shore and water;
thermometer;
island/shore/land.

And that's just the essentials. If there is not enough of it, the animal will soon die. If you do not have the opportunity to install an incandescent lamp above the aquarium, in warm weather, place the “house” in the sun, but only so that direct sunlight does not fall inside.

Epilogue

This article discusses the general rules for keeping red-eared turtles, which are suitable for all three subspecies.

Before getting a turtle, carefully weigh the pros and cons and think about whether you can provide the necessary conditions for keeping your pet healthy and not in need of veterinary care.

Remember: it is always cheaper and easier to properly maintain an exotic pet than to treat diseases that can be extremely dangerous in reptiles, particularly turtles.

Diet of the red-eared slider

These animals are predators, despite the fact that the turtle has no teeth. Their diet must include protein foods. It is better to feed babies with small worms, for example, bloodworms. You can also gradually introduce small river crustaceans.

Adults will not mind eating cockroaches, earthworms, boiled and raw meat. Several times every 7 days you can feed the animals fish, which must first be cut into small pieces and doused with boiling water.

Small bones do not need to be pulled out, since the turtle can handle them on its own. Fish suitable for turtles are cod, pollock, blue whiting, gobies and others, but not fatty ones.

But you should not feed the animal only meat. This is how a turtle can develop rickets. It is better to replace it with liver. For liver, give preference to liver, beef, and chicken heart. You can diversify your diet with mollusks, small snails, frogs, tadpoles, and squid.

Seaweed, cabbage leaves, and pieces of lettuce are suitable as additional nutrition. You can also feed them with food for aquarium fish, artificial food, live aquarium plants, and vegetables.

The young are considered omnivorous. Adults prefer plant foods. It is imperative to give the turtles additional calcium so that the shell grows and forms normally.

It doesn’t matter how many teeth a turtle has or whether it has any at all, the animals will happily eat anything they can get their hands on. They can even bite large fish, causing them to simply die.

Cleaning

The most unpleasant and difficult thing. During harvesting, the turtle must be transplanted into a specially equipped fish tank (there can be only one tank for feeding and temporary housing at the time of harvesting).

Cleaning is done once a week. In our case, a full treatment of algae and bacteria using antiseptics is required, followed by rinsing under running water. Chlorhexidine, sold at any pharmacy, is suitable as an antiseptic, or you can use a weak soap solution. During cleaning, do not forget to thoroughly treat each wall and all corners of the aquaterrarium.

Remember: provided that the aquaterrarium is thoroughly cleaned weekly, the likelihood of your turtle developing skin problems will be extremely, extremely low.

How much to feed turtles

It all depends on the age, size and type of food you feed your pet. Up to a year, it is better to feed the animals every day with artificial food designed specifically for turtles. Also, give them plant-based food every day, even if they refuse.

An older turtle can be fed every other day or two. It is advisable to give plant foods more often.

Young animals should receive 50% protein from the total diet. Most specialized foods contain only 40% protein, so supplement your babies with insects, earthworms, and small fish. The teeth of the turtle, whose photo is presented in the article, can chew everything. More precisely, turtles use powerful plates for this purpose.

For adult animals, artificial food should be reduced to 10-25%, and the rest of the diet should consist of various plants and vegetables. It doesn’t matter how many teeth a turtle has, the main thing is that it eats well, and only in this case will the individual grow healthy and active.

Dream Interpretation - Sea and turtles

Good evening, Christina! The continuation of the previous dream that was interpreted to you (about a dead friend) is clearly visible. “I’m almost crying, the sea is rough” - your subconscious, which is trying to break through the obstacles of the mind. “The coast is not very good,” the mind resists this. “I didn’t have time to buy anything with me! -no sunscreen, no suntan oil! I didn’t even have time to charge my phone. I’m annoyed to the point of tears - I understand that it’s not very good here either - and now my boyfriend will go without me in August. “- complete confusion in thoughts, uncontrollable internal dialogue and emotional state. “And the teacher gives me the same book, only thinner, I don’t take it, because I need mine. “- egoism, which comes from the fact that you have a complex and believe that those around you are putting pressure on you and imposing their will. “And my boyfriend meets me and says that he didn’t spend the night at home, and in front of my mother he says that he swallowed tires (and I’m shocked in my sleep, I think what will my mother think now” - but you yourself give others the opportunity to impose their stereotypes. That’s all because there is no spiritual core on which everything rests: reason, mind, internal and external... Save Christ! Interpretation of dreams from the Dream Book of the House of the Sun

Do red-eared turtles hibernate?

Yes, an animal can hibernate, but only under unfavorable living conditions. In nature, the red-eared turtle lives in warm areas where the air temperature warms up to 40 degrees. If you constantly maintain the same conditions in the aquarium, your pet will not hibernate.

The Russian climate is not suitable for them. Temperatures below 10 degrees are critical. Only in an aquaterrarium do individuals feel comfortable.

Also, the animal can go into hibernation due to certain diseases. If this happens, it is better to take him to the vet.

Why exactly the Central Asian turtle?

This often happens if parents are not sure that their child will be able to care for more demanding pets, but would like to give them a chance to try themselves as young naturalists.

For children, keeping animals and caring for them is very useful: the child develops responsibility and receives indelible impressions.

Turtle and child

Children are very interested in taming a turtle, winning its trust and love. The reptile can recognize family members and choose its favorite among them. He loves affection and allows himself to be petted. Her leisurely, careful movements calm the nervous system and give pleasant emotions.

Turtle's relationship with people

You can feed the turtle by hand. She communicates with a person using body movements:

Asks for food by shaking his head or raising his front paw;
She scratches with her paws, demanding to be let out for a walk.

Over time, the owner and pet understand each other perfectly without words. An animal can stretch its head when greeting a familiar person, or follow its favorite around the house or apartment.

You can pet the turtle

In the warm season (at temperatures above 20˚C), you can walk with turtles outside. It is interesting to watch how she happily plucks the grass at first.

Summer walk on the lawn

And then a reptile that has mastered itself may surprise you with its curiosity and agility.

Aggression and fighting

An aquarium should be viewed as a small pond where some individuals can exhibit dominant behavior towards others. During a fight, one individual can easily injure another with its claws or even bite.

We have already found out how many teeth the red-eared turtle has - none, but they bite not with teeth, but with plates. Males often chase the female, which can ultimately result in a serious fight with bites, a severed tail, and even death.

If you add a new one to an older individual, this can also provoke aggression. To avoid this, you can increase the space of the aquarium (buy more) or feed the turtles separately. You can also add a partition, plants, or some kind of barrier to keep the animals out of each other's sight.

The red-eared turtle is a wild animal, so this behavior is quite acceptable for it. If you want to avoid fighting, keep your pets alone. This type of turtle feels great even without the opposite sex. They can live their whole lives this way.

What can you teach a turtle

Before you begin taming sessions, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the theory

How to teach a turtle to eat from your hands

To do this, you do not need to throw food into the water, but put it in a certain place when it rises from the water along the ladder to the shore.

How to stop a turtle from biting

How to train a turtle to play with toys

Description and features

The name of the red-eared turtle clearly reflects its main feature - red stripes on the sides of the head in the area of the ears. In German they are called red-cheeked, and red-headed ones are sometimes included in searches. This species belongs to the family of American freshwater turtles.

She usually swims leisurely in search of food. Having eaten, it crawls ashore to bask in the sun. It lives from tropical to equatorial zones, so when the water temperature drops to 18 °C it becomes passive and lethargic.

Hibernation

The winter period is characterized by hibernation for red-eared turtles. However, this is a characteristic phenomenon for individuals that live in captivity. This should not be allowed in a home atmosphere. There are a number of reasons why hibernation is contraindicated for turtles. A number of them:

Lack of information on how to monitor and maintain a stable condition of the turtle;
Lack of suitable conditions for hibernation;
Many small and sick turtles do not survive the hibernation period.

In captivity, red-eared turtles burrow under bushes and mud near bodies of water with shallow depths. Oxygen is absorbed through the openings of the mouth, pharynx and cloaca. The temperature regime of the reservoir is important, as well as the presence of an acceptable amount of oxygen in the water for safe hibernation. In order to invigorate the turtle, you need to keep the water temperature at least 26 degrees Celsius, since low temperatures contribute to hibernation.

Mating season

Reproduction in reptiles occurs at different times. It depends on the location and type of animal. But all members of the class have similar traits. For the right to fertilize a female, males enter into battle with each other. Land turtles try to turn over or force their opponent to retreat by striking them with their shells. After the competitor leaves the battlefield, the winning male begins courtship. At the same time, he tries to ensure that the female takes the best position for mating.

To attract a mate, the male strokes her face with his limbs or sings.

Females dig holes in the sand to lay eggs. They also often use crocodile nests or their own burrows. The masonry is securely covered with soil from above, and then compacted with light blows of the shell.

The surface of the eggs is covered with a leathery membrane or shell. There are up to 190 of them in the clutch. The incubation period is 91 days. The female lays several clutches during the mating season.

Turtles are solitary reptiles. They look for a mate only during the mating period.

Introduction

Currently, pet lovers keep in their apartments not only the usual cats, dogs, parrots and hamsters, but also various other exotic animals. Various reptiles have been especially popular in recent years - snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and many others, which attract with their unusualness.

I saw a lot of different animals at the market and in the pet store. The eyes of children cannot really decide what kind of pet they should buy, with whom to spend their free time. And adults, without hesitation, buy their child everything he asks for. Although before you buy, you need to study the literature in detail. Whether or not this pet is suitable for living in captivity, that is, in indoor conditions. is very relevant now

, because in a few days, or maybe a month or a year, the pet may simply die or end up on the street, due to the fact that there is nowhere to keep it, or more food has begun to go away. Nowadays, red-eared turtles have become in demand; they simply amaze not only children, but also adults with their beauty and unusualness. Many people try to purchase it for interior decoration. Without thinking that this is a living creature that expects warmth and affection from its owner.

These amazingly beautiful turtles live in our biology classroom. They grow and delight us with their behavior and beauty. In our research work, we decided to write about their behavior and nutrition. Nowadays, this topic is of great importance and is relevant,

especially for those who want to have a pet. Whether or not this living creature will take root in your home depends on how prepared you are for the fact that it will require not only monetary expenses and careful treatment of itself, but also your erudition about who you want to buy.

Pond slider

(Chrysemys scripta elegans) is the most beautiful and striking representative of its species. This was the reason for its wide distribution among aquarists all over the world. Unfortunately, not all owners of these unique creatures have sufficient information on caring for their pets. Improper maintenance of these amphibians can lead to serious illness and even death of your charges. I hope the work material will eliminate your information gaps. The red-eared slider is one species of eight families of ornate turtles. A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of symmetrical red, orange or yellow spots located on the sides of the head, similar to ears. The shell of adult individuals reaches 25-30 cm in length. The color of turtles changes with age. Turtles are born bright green; later their colors acquire a brighter and more varied palette. The lifespan of a red-eared turtle with good maintenance can reach more than 30 years.

Homeland of the red-eared turtle

reservoirs of North and South America, as well as small reservoirs of Northeastern Mexico.
They most often come to us from special farms in the USA and Malaysia. Contrary to popular belief, turtles are quite mobile and agile.
At the same time, red-eared turtles
are faster than their land-based relatives
. Watching these amphibians is quite an interesting and exciting activity.

And therefore the goal

our work was:

Determine the dependence of the behavior of red-eared turtles on nutrition.

Object of observation:

Red-eared turtles

Subject of observation:

Behavior of the red-eared turtle indoors

We set a number of problems that we tried to solve during observations

1. Study the literature on the peculiarities of keeping red-eared turtles in captivity, get acquainted with the characteristics and lifestyle of the red-eared turtle.

2. Observe the feeding characteristics, growth, activity of red-eared turtles in a living corner of the class.

3. Generalization of observations of the turtle

Hypothesis

: The activity and health of turtles depends on the nature and frequency and diet of the turtle's feeding.

To confirm the hypothesis, we will conduct a series of observations and an experiment. Based on the results, we can draw conclusions: Turtles that have become accustomed to captivity cease to “lock themselves up” in their shell. They, according to experts, are “beggars” - they don’t remember their owner, and we saw the same thing during the observation, but they know feeding time well and are not late for dinner. Feeding turtles is not difficult - the main thing is that the supply of a variety of feeds includes the main components. And although aquatic turtles are carnivorous, they are not averse to diversifying their “menu” with vegetarian “dishes,” especially “for old age.” In general, red-eared turtles are unpretentious: in the absence of algae, they willingly eat cabbage, carrot tops, and raw meat. It is also advisable to give both fruits and plant foods.

Description of subspecies
Appearance

Pond slider

(Chrysemys scripta elegans) is the most beautiful and striking representative of its species. This was the reason for its wide distribution among aquarists all over the world.

Medium sized turtle. The length of the carapace is from 18 to 30 cm, depending on the sex of the turtle and the subspecies. Males are noticeably smaller than females.

A young turtle's carapace is bright green; with age it becomes olive or yellow-brown, decorated with patterns of yellow stripes. On the head, neck and limbs the turtle is decorated with a pattern of white and green wavy stripes and spots. The turtle got its name because of two elongated bright red spots next to its eyes. This spot can be orange, bright yellow in the subspecies Cumberland turtle, or Trust's turtle) or yellow in the subspecies yellow-bellied turtle. The plastron is oval, usually dark in color with yellow lines and a yellow edging around the edge.

1.2. Voice and senses

The turtle's vocal cords are not developed. He can only hiss (for protection purposes) and snort with excitement. The red-eared turtle has well-developed vision (the structure of a turtle's eye is similar to the structure of a bird's eye) and sense of smell. In contrast to vision, hearing is poorly developed. However, red-eared turtles are very good at navigating by hearing and hide in the water at any rustle. It not only hisses, but also makes a sound similar to a short squeak.

1.3. Anatomy and physiology of the red-eared slider

We conducted research and found out that the largest turtle crawled 80 cm in 6 seconds, and the smallest in 4 seconds

Basic knowledge of turtle anatomy and physiology is essential for

in order to properly organize the maintenance and care of these animals.

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans or Pseudemys scripta) is a member of the genus Trachemys, which is part of the freshwater turtle family (Emydidae).

The natural habitat of red-eared turtles is the eastern part of North America. Most often they live in ponds and small lakes with swampy shores, as well as in swamps and floodplains. These animals feed on both plant and animal foods. The turtles themselves and their eggs are consumed by the local population.

In recent years, due to their high adaptability, red-eared turtles have appeared in the waters of South Africa, Southeast Asia, Southern and Central Europe.

Red-eared turtles are very beautiful. They have a green shell decorated with a pattern of rings in darker or lighter shades of green. The lower part of the shell is yellow, with a dark pattern. On the head, neck, and limbs of red-eared turtles there is a bright pattern of yellow stripes and spots, which become darker with age (some males become completely black in old age).

Albino red-eared turtles bred at home are extremely rare.

The red-eared slider was named because of the two red spots on its head, behind the eyes. With age they become less bright. It should be noted that the spots can be not only red, but also yellow or orange. The spots behind the eyes are a distinctive feature of the red-eared slider.

Despite the fact that the red-eared turtle does not have ears, like all other turtle species, representatives of this species hear almost as well as cats.

The main distinguishing feature of a turtle is its shell, which serves not only for passive protection, but also to retain body heat, protects against injury and gives the turtle’s skeleton greater strength. In different species of turtles, the shell may have different shapes and consist of different tissues, but it is always there.

In the red-eared turtle, like in all species of turtles, with the exception of the leatherback sea turtle, the shell consists of two scutes - the dorsal and ventral. The dorsal shield is called the carapace, and the ventral shield is called the plastron.

The carapace consists of bony plates formed by the skin, which grow together with the ribs and processes of the vertebrae. On top of the bone plates there are usually horny plates, often with a pattern on the surface. Additional strength to the shell is given by the fact that the seams between the horny and bone plates are located differently. Fig. 2

There are holes in the front and back of the shell into which the turtle can remove its limbs and head in case of danger. The outer side of the paws of turtles is covered with hard scales, and the head is protected by bony plates. Thus, having hidden in the shell in case of danger, the animal finds itself surrounded on all sides by armor. The shell is one of the most advanced means of protection, which allowed such ancient animals as turtles to survive to this day.

The shape of the shell depends on the lifestyle that the animal leads: sea turtles have a teardrop-shaped, streamlined shell, which allows them to move quickly; in freshwater it is low, smooth, almost flat; in land animals it is tall, dome-shaped, often covered with horny growths that increase its strength.

The carapace and plastron are connected to each other movably, using a tendon ligament, or immobile, using a bone bridge.

Sometimes in turtles during their life the type of connection between the scutes changes - the bone bridge is replaced by a tendon bridge, which makes the shell lighter. The ventral shield of the red-eared turtle (plastron) has a characteristic pattern

In case of danger, the turtle hides its head in its shell

The shape of the shell, even among representatives of the same species of turtles living in different conditions, can be different. In newborn red-eared turtles, its length is approximately 3 cm, in adults - about 30 cm. The shell grows by 1 cm per year, and in young individuals it grows faster than in older ones. The turtle's spine consists of 5 sections - cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal. The cervical region includes eight vertebrae, two of which form a movable joint. The thoracic and sacral sections are formed by the vertebrae to which the ribs are attached. The long thoracic vertebrae are attached to the sternum and form the rib cage.

Like all freshwater turtles, red-eared turtles have a low shell

On the vertebrae of the sacral spine there are transverse outgrowths to which the pelvic bones are attached.

The numerous vertebrae of the caudal region become increasingly smaller and smoother as they move away from the front of the spine.

The head of red-eared turtles, like other species, is located on a long, fairly mobile neck, the length of which in some species can reach 2/3 of the length of the body. Usually the turtle's head can be completely retracted under the shell, with the exception of some species of freshwater and sea turtles with very large skulls.

The skull of these animals often has a thickened bone base; sometimes there are horny scutes on the head that protect it from damage.

Turtles have no teeth; they are replaced by sharp, horny edges of the jaws. The jaw muscles of turtles, especially large ones, are very powerful. The muscles are attached to the skull in a special way, due to which the force of compression of the jaws is very high.

The turtle's long neck allows for head mobility

The oral cavity contains a thick, fleshy tongue. The wide pharynx passes into the esophagus, and then into the stomach with thick walls. The stomach is separated from the intestines by an annular ridge. The gall bladder and bilobed liver of turtles are quite large in size compared to other reptiles. Two anal bladders extend from the back wall of the intestine and fill with water. In some aquatic species, these bladders are used as an additional respiratory organ during prolonged immobile stay under water, since their walls are penetrated by a dense network of blood vessels. In addition, females of some species use water from the bladders to soften sand or soil when digging nests. Some freshwater species of turtles have developed another additional respiratory organ - ciliated outgrowths on the mucous membrane of the pharynx. When a turtle lies quietly at the bottom of a reservoir for a long time, for example, waiting for prey, it draws in and pushes out water from its throat, providing a constant flow of oxygen to the cilia.

The brain of turtles is rather poorly developed, in contrast to the spinal cord, which has a fairly large mass and thickness.
The skull of these animals is ossified. It consists of two sections - cerebral and visceral. In turtles, the number of bones that make up the skull is greater than in amphibians. The turtle's brain includes the anterior, middle, intermediate and oblongata sections, as well as the cerebellum. Fig 7 At home, red-eared turtles can reach impressive sizes for their species.
The forebrain consists of two cerebral hemispheres, and two olfactory lobes extend from it. The diencephalon is located between the forebrain and the midbrain. The diencephalon contains the parietal organ, which registers seasonal changes in light conditions and day length. The anterior part of the parietal organ looks like the lens of the eye, and on the posterior goblet there are sensitive pigment cells. In the lower part of the diencephalon there is a funnel with the pituitary gland adjacent to it, as well as the optic nerves.

The turtle's midbrain contains the optic lobes. The medulla oblongata is responsible for basic autonomic functions - breathing, digestion, blood circulation, etc., as well as for unconditioned motor reflexes.

The turtle's cerebellum looks like a semicircular fold covering the anterior part of the medulla oblongata. The cerebellum in turtles and other reptiles provides good coordination of movements.

The eyes of turtles are quite developed, have two movable eyelids and a transparent nictitating membrane. These animals have sharp eyesight, but their hearing is not very good. Freshwater turtles, including red-eared turtles, have the most acute hearing, which often, upon hearing a frightening sound, rush to take refuge in the water. Turtles do not have auricles or even auditory canals; they are replaced by an eardrum located on the head.

The sense of smell in turtles is very well developed, as well as taste and touch. Despite the thickness of the shell, they acutely feel pain, so you should touch the shell carefully.

The limb muscles of turtles are very strong and well developed. The muscles of the body, on the contrary, are practically atrophied, since turtles do not have to use it. The muscles of turtles have changed during evolution because, unlike the muscles of other vertebrates, they do not surround the bones of the internal skeleton. The muscle tissue located under the shell is significantly weakened or reduced.

Red-eared turtles have well-developed vision, hearing and sense of smell.

Despite their apparent invulnerability, turtles have many enemies. Many of them, such as the red-eared turtle's closest relative, the Colombian red-eared turtle, are listed in the Red Book.

The structure of the cardiovascular system of turtles is similar to other cold-blooded animals. The heart of these reptiles is three-chambered, consisting of two atria and a ventricle with an incomplete septum. From the right part of the ventricle, which contains venous blood, the pulmonary artery departs, from the middle part with mixed blood - the right aortic arch, and from the left, which contains arterial blood - the left aortic arch.

The right and left aortic arches join at the dorsum and form the dorsal aorta.

Large veins and arteries in turtles are united, so mixed blood circulates through the vessels, less saturated with oxygen than in warm-blooded animals with separated venous and arterial blood.

The supply of mixed blood to tissues does not allow the metabolism to operate sufficiently actively, so the animal loses strength faster compared to mammals.

The reproductive organs of females are represented by a pair of grape-shaped ovaries, and of males by an unpaired copulatory organ, which is located in the cloaca and protrudes only during mating. Males can be distinguished from females by several characteristics. Thus, the male’s plastron most often has a somewhat concave shape, so that it is more convenient for him to stay on the female’s shell during mating. Additionally, the vast majority of species have significantly smaller males, with the exception of snapping turtles, which have larger males. In some species, males have other differences, for example, male red-eared turtles have longer claws on their front paws. Males most often have a thinner and longer tail than females, since the oviduct is located in the cloaca of the latter. Fig. 9

Sexual dimorphism in red-eared turtles is pronounced, males and females differ greatly in size.

Female red-eared turtles are larger than males. Their jaws are more developed, which allows them to feed on rough animal feed. In nature, red-eared turtles reach sexual maturity at the age of 6–8 years, and in captivity, their ability to reproduce occurs much earlier (at 4 years for males and 5–6 years for females).

Under natural conditions, red-eared turtles mate in February-May, when kept at home - at almost any time of the year, but usually in March-April. Their mating games are very interesting. During the process of courtship (which, like mating, occurs in water), the male swims in front of the female, with his muzzle facing her, that is, backwards. At the same time, the male stretches out his front paws and carefully touches her muzzle with long claws, as if stroking her.

Red-eared turtles lay their eggs on land between April and June. Most often there are two clutches per year, with an average of about 10 eggs each. The eggs of the red-eared turtle do not exceed 4 cm in length.

Laying turtle eggsFig10

Before laying eggs, the female digs a round nest in the sand or soil, wetting the selected place with water from the anal bladders. The place for the nest is most often chosen in the shade. The offspring are born at the end of July - August.

1.4. Spreading

The red-eared turtle is widespread. Its range covers the United States from southern Virginia to northern Florida and Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in the west, Mexico, all of Central America, northwestern South America (northern Colombia and Venezuela).

The species is introduced to the south of Florida, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel, some European countries (in particular, Spain) and South Africa. Introduction is the process of introducing alien species into a certain ecosystem. An introduced or alien species (in biology) (from the English Introduced species) is a non-indigenous species, unusual for a given territory, intentionally or accidentally introduced to a new place as a result of human activity.

1.5. Lifestyle

Inhabits small lakes, ponds and other bodies of water with low, swampy shores.

Leads a relatively sedentary lifestyle. Extremely curious. If the turtle is full, it crawls ashore and basks in the sun. If hungry, it swims slowly in search of food. When the water temperature is below +18 °C, the turtle becomes lethargic and loses its appetite. The turtle is able to notice danger at a distance of 30-40 m, after which it slides into the water with lightning speed (for which it received the name “Slider”)

1.6.Reproduction

Young red-eared turtle

In nature, turtles become sexually mature at 6-8 years of age, and in captivity at 4 (males) and 5-6 (females). Mating in nature occurs from late February to May. The male, having met the female, is located directly in front of her head, and very close. The female swims forward and the male swims backward, tickling the female’s chin with his long claws.

To lay eggs, the female leaves the pond and comes to land. Having found a suitable place, she heavily wets the ground with water from the anal bladders. After this, it begins to dig a hole with its hind legs - a nest. The nest of the red-eared slider looks like a ball with a diameter of 7 to 25 cm. Females lay from 5 to 22 (usually 6-10) eggs with a diameter of no more than 4 cm in the nests, which are then buried. Turtles do not have the instinct to care for their offspring; after laying eggs, they leave the nest and never return to it. The incubation period lasts 103-150 days at temperatures from 21 °C to 30 °C. At incubation temperatures below 27 °C, males hatch, and at temperatures above 30 °C, only females hatch. Young turtles are born with a shell length of about 3 cm. (2)

Habitat

In nature, the turtle lives in Central, southern North and northern South America. These waterfowl turtles love bodies of water with sun-warmed, near-stagnant water and gently sloping banks.

Due to their extreme prevalence as pets, bodies of water with suitable climates have been colonized throughout the planet. They adapt well to anything from slightly salty water to life in city canals. They also learned to winter in cold conditions - they were repeatedly observed even in the Moscow region.

IMPORTANT: To date, the number of red-eared turtles introduced into the ecosystem of many countries has increased so much that it threatens its balance. They quite actively eat local plants, fry, fish and frog eggs and insect larvae. This has already become so widespread that in many regions the import of these animals is prohibited by law. In the photo, blue indicates the original habitat of the red-eared turtle, red indicates the current habitat.

Natural enemies

Thanks to its thick shell and relatively large size, the red-eared turtle faces few threats, with the exception of alligators and crocodiles. Plus, they quickly slide into the water at the slightest sign of a threat from the shore.

But there are a lot of predators hunting for young turtles:

foxes,
skunks,
raccoons,
various wading birds.

Mammals on this list also dig up their eggs. In general, in their natural habitats, red-eared turtles are an important element of the food chain, both as prey and as a predator. And in urban reservoirs they become a source of food mainly for stray dogs and cats.

Young turtles have an interesting type of defense against being eaten by fish. If a fish swallows them, they begin to chew the mucous membrane from the inside until the fish spits them out. The turtles are brightly colored, and the fish quickly remember that they cannot be eaten.

The meaning of sound in the life of a reptile

Charles Darwin believed turtles were deaf, which was wrong. But acute vision and the ability to distinguish colors play a greater role in their lives. Their sense of smell, with the help of which they find relatives, determine their location, and look for food, does not fail them.

But hearing also helps animals in nature. They sense danger or the approach of someone thanks to vibrations in the ground. During the mating season, some species make sounds to attract an individual of the opposite sex.

Opinions about aquatic representatives of this family differ: some consider them hard of hearing, while others attribute to them acute hearing. Some representatives are credited with the ability to hear, like cats. The story is retold of how the turtles came out of the water to mournful singing.

Note: Having the ability to smell and see the world around them, these animals have developed a “compass sense” that helps them navigate in space.

The role of sound

Indoor turtles can hear people. They pick up on intonations: if you speak loudly and harshly, they hide their heads in their shell, and gentle, affectionate words make them stretch their necks and listen. Turtle ears can sense:

Steps;
loud bass;
the sound of a falling object;
perceive classical music.

Opinions also differ about music: some believe that turtles like classics and freeze, stretching their necks.

Others suggest that they react to loud music, but in nature such sounds can be a signal of danger and the animal experiences stress.

Advice: You can and should talk to an animal, but only in a low voice. Your pet will get used to listening to you and will wait for communication by craning its head and listening. It is important that the “dialogue” occurs at approximately the same time.

Turtles can be ruthless predators

Look

One of the fierce species is the snapping turtle. It can reach a length of up to 1.5 meters and weigh up to 60 kilograms. She has powerful jaws, a hooked beak, huge bear claws and a powerful tail. It lures its victims (sometimes it can even be other turtles) by moving its tongue, which is very reminiscent of a large seductive worm.