Are you thinking about bringing home a new pet? You’ve probably already considered adopting a turtle, especially if you have children. Since you want to take care of one but don’t know how to start, this article explains the characteristics of turtles and the most common species. We’ll also tell you interesting and important information about these cute animals.
What are the most common species of turtles?
Turtles are divided into two types: aquatic and terrestrial. Although they have similar characteristics, specific care must be taken for each of them to have a good quality of life, especially regarding housing and food.
There are currently around 240 species of aquatic and terrestrial turtles. Below, we will mention the characteristics of turtles and which are the most common in the Iberian Peninsula.
Most common land turtle species
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– Box Turtle
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– Mediterranean Turtle
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– Blackberry Turtle
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– Russian tortoise
Most common water turtle species
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Red-eared turtle
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Yellow-eared turtle
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Cumberland Tortoise
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Basic care of a turtle
Turtles are very independent pets and can live for many decades if they are cared for correctly. In this sense, life expectancy depends mainly on the species and its maximum age, which varies between 20 and 100 years.
Therefore, a suitable living space with the correct lighting and temperature will be more than enough to keep your pet comfortable. Therefore, if it is not possible to locate the aquarium or turtle tank in a place with direct sunlight, it is necessary to place special ultraviolet light bulbs. Turtles need to receive between two and three hours of light to have a strong and healthy shell.
Therefore, water quality is another important aspect of the longevity of turtles, as it must be well-oxygenated and free of organic remains. To do this, you can use a siphon filter that keeps the water clean by removing debris and impurities. The characteristics of turtles require that you take these precautions.
What do turtles eat?
As far as food is concerned, land turtles are mostly vegetarian and their diet should have a high content of fiber, vegetables, fruits, and in some cases insects.
In turn, water turtles have a very versatile diet and can eat almost anything. Even so, it is necessary to offer a balanced and complete diet. In such a way that it provides them with the nutrients and vitamins they need for their development.
Why is it important to have a calcium supplement?
Turtles that grow in the wild obtain calcium naturally through their diet or from the water. This situation changes with turtles that we have at home, which is why we need to include a calcium supplement in their habitat.
