Data sheet sea turtle
German name:
waterturtle
Scientific name:
trachemys
Origin:
USA
Body length:
12cm – 27cm
age expectation:
over 50 years
Behave
Lining:
carnivorous
Behave:
calm, agile
Number:
single keeping
Difficulty level:
Beginner Wilfried Berns, Gelbw-schmuckschildkroete-03, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE
In the European attitude are mainly those originating from the USA Yellow-crested Turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) and the Red-Eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).
The species have splendid colors and can reach a body length of up to 15 cm. Their carapace is a capsule of bone fragments and ossified skin. The front and rear areas have openings for the head, neck, tail and legs. There are growth rings on the shell that indicate the growth spurts of the animal. The skin is leathery and impermeable to water. It protects the turtle from dehydration and injury. Since the skin has no sweat glands, it cannot tolerate strong sun or heat. The head is oval and broad. Although the mouth has no teeth, the strong upper and lower jaws are sufficient to eat plant-based food.
The cold-blooded reptiles are sun worshipers and like to sit rigidly in a warm place for a long time. Sunbathing is used by the animals to increase their body temperature.
acquisition and maintenance
Aquatic turtles will do best individually held. If the wrong species or too many animals are in a tank, the consequences can be stress, aggressiveness and eating disorders.
The animal always stays with you, even in captivity wild animal . Although it is not hand tame, but can very trusting become. It swims rather little, but climbs, runs or sits on a sunny spot.
A species-appropriate aqua terrarium should be available for purchase. This must be nature-related and contain the right equipment and technology.
Aqua terrarium requirements
The edge length of the pool for an adult animal is at least 150 cm and the water level is 40 cm. The best way to find the right size is by using a practical rule of thumb determine. The pelvis is at least 5 times as long and 2.5 times as wide as the length of the turtle’s shell. It is to be adapted to the respective animal size.
Since the aquatic turtle lives both in the water and on land, it needs a mixture of aquarium and terrarium (aqua-terrarium). However, it spends the largest part in the water area, which is why the predominant part is the land area. This should be easily accessible for the resident.
To for Variety In the aqua tarrarium there are not only swimming areas and sunbathing areas, but also hiding places. Decor includes islands, rocks and pieces of wood, and non-toxic plants. Since the tank has to be cleaned frequently, easy-care and robust plants such as sword plants are best suited. The substrate consists of sand, lava or gravel.
A powerful, dimensioned external filter ensures clean water and saves frequent water changes. However, the water should be changed 25% every two weeks. A bubbler also improves it water quality.
The temperatures in the water are 25° Celsius in summer and 15 to 20° Celsius in spring and autumn. Temperatures of 40 to 45° Celsius develop under the sun lamp. In addition to warming up, sunbathing is used to produce vitamin D3. This is enriched by the UV-B rays in the turtles’ skin. An additional heater (heating element) increases the temperatures. An installed HQI lamp spends about 7 hours in spring, 12 hours in summer and 10 to 3 hours in autumn. Special fluorescent tubes are also heat sources and provide brightness at the same time.
The suitable one Location for the aqua terrarium is quiet, not too sunny, not directly on the heater and dark at night.
gender differences
The females grow larger than the males. Males have a longer tail and long claws on their front legs.
the common body orifice for intestinal, urinary and genital organs (cloaca) is located in the female within the outer edge of the carapace. On the other hand, it lies outside in the male.
feed and nutrition
A healthy aquatic turtle mainly eats animal food. But as she gets older, she tends to eat more plant-based foods.
is to be selected live food eg woodlice, flies, shrimp, crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, mosquito larvae, earthworms, cockroaches, snails, dewworms, water snails and water fleas. Live food promotes the natural hunting instinct, especially in young turtles.
The vegetable food consists of aquatic plants such as frog bite, dandelion, pond liverwort, duckweed and water lettuce.
In order to prevent a lack of food, vitamins and calcium are offered daily. Cuttlebones are used to supply calcium and ensure a healthy shell.
acclimatization and handling
Trachemys needs time to get used to the new environment. As soon as she has settled in, she shows herself and looks for a place in the sun. Fresh live food lures them out of hiding.
The animals can be housed in one from December to February hibernation or fall into a hibernation. The correct temperatures in the aqua-terrarium are then 5 to 8° Celsius. In preparation for the phase, the temperatures should already be between 10 and 15° Celsius in the previous month.
With species-appropriate husbandry and care, it has a life expectancy of 60 years.