9 Things to Know Before Adopting a Turtle
“...1. Not All Turtles Swim
...Some turtles... need access to water to stay hydrated but spend most of their time living on dry land...Turtles, who mostly swim in water, typically have webbed feet...many turtles are omnivores...
2. Turtles Are Long Lived
Many turtles, when housed at the right temperature & humidity, exposed to ultraviolet light, & fed a species-appropriate diet, can live for decades...
3. All Turtles Carry Salmonella
Salmonella is a species of bacteria that many reptiles, but especially turtles, can carry normally in their intestinal tracts & are unaffected by it...
4. You Can Tell Boy & Girl Turtles Apart... males have longer tails, & their rectal opening — called the vent — is further down the length of their tail than in females. In girl turtles, the vent is much closer to the shell.
5. Females Can Lay Eggs Without Males
...female turtles can lay eggs without a male turtle being around to fertilize them — although these infertile eggs won’t hatch...
6. Aquatic Turtles Still Need Dry Land
Turtles typically live in rectangular tanks filled with water, as they spend most of their time swimming... all turtles should have a basking area in their tanks — typically a large rock — where they can climb up & hang out...
7. Even Tiny Turtles Need Big Spaces
... turtle tanks need to be 5 times the length of an adult turtle & contain water that is 2 1/2 times as deep as the turtle is long...
8. Turtles Need Veggies, Too
Turtles have a high requirement for vitamin A in their diets as they do not store this vitamin in their bodies. As a result, they need to get it from their food...dietary sources of vitamin A... include dark leafy green vegetables & red, orange or yellow veggies, such as bell peppers & squash...
9. Turtles Know Their Owners!
...many turtles recognize the sight & sounds of their owners! In fact, many owners comment how their pets swim right up to the water surface to greet them when they walk in the room...”
Dr. Laurie Hess (Vetstreet.com)
May 28/2016
care2.com
Cute Critter Pic
Weekly Chuckle
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