Turtle Island

Turtle Island is actually the island of Tortuga in Haiti. This island is much more than a popular stopping point for the pirates in the famous Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean movies. As it turns out, the movies were not very far off. Tortuga (“Turtle Island”) was a major port in Caribbean piracy in the seventeenth century. Thanks to its tourist industry, it is one of the most well known areas of Haiti.

History

Turtle Island was first discovered in 1493 by Europeans and was part of Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to the New World. It was actually Columbus’s crew who named it Turtle Island (or Tortuga, for Turtle) because it has a humped shape that resembles a turtle’s shell. The island was first settled by colonists from Spain and in 1625 the English and French settlers came in. These late settlers were attacked by Don Fadrique de Toledo and his Spanish troops in 1629, and these troops succeeded in expelling the French and English settlers. Ironically, the French and English re-claimed the island in 1930 when Toledo’s troops left the island to try and eradicate another island of its non-Spanish settlers. They tried to re-claim the island in 1638 but were ultimately unsuccessful.

The major pirate population of Tortuga was made up of the French, English and Dutch settlers and they called themselves the Brethren of the Coast. This group was well established by 1640.

Another fun point in Turtle Island’s history is 1645 when, in an attempt to control the island and bring about peace, the governor brought in around sixteen hundred prostitutes who were supposed to settle down the unruly pirates.

References to Turtle Island in Fiction

Obviously the most famous contemporary reference to Tortuga is in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Of course, there are plenty of other references to the Pirate Capital in other works of fiction as well. It was a major feature of the Captain Blood series by Sabatini. In these stories, it is where the main character and his crew flee after they escape from Barbados. Tortuga’s governor sends a letter to the main character and it from then on that the island is his “home base.”

Other films that feature Tortuga or Turtle Island are Double Crossbones, The Spanish Main, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, and Pirates of Tortuga. The island has also been featured in the video games Sea Legend Tortuga—Two Treasures, Voyage Century Online, Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales and Walkmyplank.net

Turtle Island has a rich and colorful history and will always be one of the major points of interest in the Caribbean. It is a popular point of interest for pirate history buffs as well as people who are interested in the history and the development of the Caribbean islands. Turtle Island was named for its shape by the crew on Christopher Columbus’s first voyage and has held its name (Tortuga) ever since, even though it has been home to many different settlement populations.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe. Turtle Island.

Turtle Island is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

Turtle Identification for Dummies

Turtle identification is the first step in understanding how these animals live and behave. Before you can adopt a certain way of taking care of your turtle, you need to find out what type it is. Remember that living requirements will vary across different species because different types of turtles have different adaptation patterns. Just as humans have different habits, so do different species of turtles.

The pet shop
There are over three hundred species of turtles all over the world which makes turtle identification a bit of a challenge especially for beginners. However, you don’t have to be an expert in turtles to be able to find out what kind of pet you have with you. There are all sorts of ways to get started with turtle identification. If you haven’t really tried taking care of a turtle before, it’s best to start with your local pet store. You are sure to find someone there who can help you identify the turtle that you got and even obtain relevant tips on how to take care of your pet.

Research
Another way of turtle identification that you can try is through research. You will want to read further on turtles and its various species. It’s a good idea to start with literature on common pet turtles as these are the ones that you’re most probably going to end up having. Turtle identification will require further studies on each kind of common pet turtle, finding out their dominant characteristics and markings. Zoologists usually have taxonomic keys that help them identify the species of turtles but you don’t really have to go this far, although it would help if you had those.

Going online
The internet is also a good source of turtle identification information. Many websites are established to help turtle owners identify the species of the pets that they are taking care of. These sites usually created by turtle enthusiasts and experts to provide valuable information to those who are interested in taking up turtle rearing as a hobby. You can also try visiting online communities composed of many pet owners around the world. Forums are usually available to provide a venue for those who are seeking aid in turtle identification. You can post your questions on these forums and wait for them to give you answers.

The pet doctor
You can also bring your turtle to a veterinarian who can help you with turtle identification. Most doctors can actually identify common types of turtles just by observing them. Aside from turtle identification, the veterinarian can also examine your pet and make sure that it is healthy. He can also prescribe certain methods of rearing it – i.e. a specific diet plan, recommendations on the type of turtle tank and such.

Identifying marks
Aside from the many resources that can help you with turtle identification, there are also simple markings on a turtle that can give you a good idea on what type of species you have with you. Try observing the neck, appendages, the shell’s form and the size of your pet. Different species will have varied physical characteristics.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe – turtle identification.

Turtle Identification

Turtle Identification for Dummies is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

Turtle Identification Made Easy

Whether you are looking to purchase a turtle for a pet or you just want to be able to identify a turtle you meet in the wild, turtle identification is not as difficult as one would imagine.

There are certain characteristics that are unique to specific species of turtles and once you have a basic understanding about what those characteristics are, you will be well on your way to making a correct turtle identification.

Protein: There are many sources of protein that are safe to feed turtles: small amounts of cooked fish, turkey or chicken are okay; boiled eggs are okay; mealworms, waxworms, earthworms and silkworms are okay; slugs are fine, as are shrimp, snails and crickets. Don’t give them raw meat, though because it can contain a lot of fat and could become contaminated by the time the turtle decides to eat it.

Looking at the Shell
The shell can tell you a lot about what kind of turtle you are looking at. This is one of the first turtle identification indicators for which you can look. Softshell turtles have leather-like skin that is soft to the touch. Box turtles typically have a shell that is high and domed. You will find them on land and they are the most common turtle in the pet trade.

A turtle with a flat shell may have markings of black, yellow, red or orange hues, often indicates that it comes from the species called Chrysemys. These are water turtles and include painted turtles and sliders. Another water turtle identification clue is if the turtle you come across has three ridges on its carapace or shell of a black or brown hue combined with skin color of black or olive, you may be looking at a Reeves turtle. Spotted turtles will have plenty of yellow spots on their shell and they too are of the aquatic species.

Snapping Turtle Characteristics
Turtle identification of the snapping variety is fairly simple. The first thing you may notice is that their jaws are hooked. Their shells are typically a dark color. His head will be large and his neck is long. The plastron or underbelly seems when viewed from below that the shell is too small for him. The snapping turtle typically has back feet that are webbed and the front feet are clawed.

Using the Toes for Turtle Identification
Semi-aquatic and aquatic turtles can be identified by looking at their rear feet to see if they have webbing between their toes. Land turtles will not have webbing on their toes and should never be put in water because most will not be able to swim. If you happen to be strolling along the beach and come across a turtle with front legs that appear to be flippers, you are lucky enough to have found a sea turtle and should report your findings immediately to a wildlife organization.

Correct turtle identification can make a walk in the woods or a visit to the pond more interesting as you will be able to approximate what type of turtle you are looking at. Kids will love being able to look at the clues to make a proper turtle identification.

Being able to identify a turtle is important if you are planning on adding one to your menagerie. Knowing their habitat and food requirements will ensure that your pet turtle will be part of your family for many years to come.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe – turtle identification.

Turtle Identification

Turtle Identification Made Easy is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

Turtle Eggs

Turtle eggs have many natural predators. In many countries, turtle eggs are considered a delicacy and the eggs become the victim of nest poaching by humans. Besides humans, many animals pose a threat to turtle eggs, and they are also dependent upon fair weather for their incubation period. For some turtle species, the temperature of the nest itself will determine the sex of the turtle growing inside the egg. Sometimes turtle eggs simply get dug up by other turtles (this can happen intentionally as well as unintentionally).

Here is how to care for turtle eggs, should you find yourself in possession of one.

First, if you see a turtle digging a nest, keep your distance. You can retrieve the eggs later as turtles to not care for their young—they simply lay the eggs, cover them up and leave. If the female leaves a hole uncovered then she will not lay her eggs there. Make sure, when you go to retrieve the eggs that you make a note of the day the eggs were laid. Obviously turtle eggs vary, depending on the species of turtle that laid them. For the purposes of this article, the turtle eggs were laid by turtles from areas that are rainy and have moist soil.

Before retrieving the eggs, make a tray to hold them. Deli containers work well for this. Punch small holes in the top of the container to encourage air circulation. Mix together a soil solution in which to place the eggs. Sometimes you can use earth from the nest itself and other times you can make your own. Here is a sample recipe: one part peat moss, one part sphagnum and one part vermiculite. Soak the mixture and then squeeze out the excess water. Fill the container with your moistened mixture and make depressions in which to place the eggs. It is best to make extra containers just in case. Make sure your container is ready before you go to the nest.

When you are retrieving your turtle eggs dig carefully as the eggs are very fragile. Uncover the eggs completely before you move them. Use a black felt marker to place a tiny mark on the top of each egg and make sure that the egg is placed top side up into the container. When you put the turtle eggs in the container bury them mostly, but do not completely cover them. This will allow you to see if the eggs need moisture.

Close the containers and place them in an incubator at eighty four degrees. Typically eggs will hatch within fifty days if they are kept at an eighty four degree temperature. Make sure to move the container to a cool place if the outside temperature reaches the 90s so the eggs won’t spoil.

Make sure to check the containers once a week or so and wipe away any traces of mold with a cotton swab. After fifty days, start checking for hatchlings. Often, even though a turtle egg has hatched, the turtle will stay in the egg to absorb the rest of the yolk sack.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe – turtle eggs.

Turtle Eggs is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

Turtle Breeders and Becoming One of Them

Turtle breeding, for many people, is more than just a hobby. Turtle breeders, for the most part, spend a lot of time learning more about the different species of turtles and how to rear them properly. To be successful in breeding a certain type of turtles, you will need to allot time and effort into the whole activity. Turtle breeders spend most of their time researching on the behavior of various species and how they adapt to captivity. They usually develop new and more effective ways of rearing turtles through technological innovations. For some breeders, each segment of their research is a discovery in as much as it’s a learning curve. The more enthusiastic group of turtle breeders even take each discovery as something that is essential to their pursuit no matter how small it happens to be.

It goes without saying that being one of the many turtle breeders around the world will take hard work. A breeder is different from an individual who merely keeps turtles for pets. Turtle breeders always aim to understand these reptiles clearly by spending a lot of time with them. If you want to start breeding turtles, however, research is just one of the many things that you have to do.

For beginners, it is important to select a strong and alert pair of specimens from your chosen species. You will also want to make sure that you get a completely unrelated pair that did not come from the second generation because this will sacrifice the quality of the gene pool that you want to preserve by yielding deformed hatchlings. Turtle breeders are also known to keep a close watch on the pair’s health and diet during the mating season because the act in itself can be stressful and tiresome especially for the female which has to produce the eggs. Another advice that turtle breeders usually follow is helping the female set up a place to lay their eggs. You will want to provide a space that has a lot of soft soil. It’s also important to allot ample space where the turtles can hide and bask and that there are rocks and logs that will make it easier for the turtle to hide her eggs. According to most turtle breeders, the soil should be at least nine inches deep because turtles tend to lay as many as five eggs at a time. Because the eggs are naturally fragile and soft, it’s important that they are buried into the soil properly. During this time, turtle breeders are careful not to move the eggs out of their holes. To protect the area, they also set up mesh screens that will keep dogs and other creatures away from the eggs.

The work of the breeder doesn’t end there. After ninety days, which is usually how long it takes for the young turtles to come out of their shells, the wire mesh should be kept up to make sure that the hatchlings do not wander away. Another set of responsibilities awaits the turtle breeders as it is important to pay close attention to the baby turtles’ health and diet during this crucial time.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe – turtle breeders.

Turtle Breeders

Turtle Breeders and Becoming One of Them is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

Turtle Beach

While sea turtles spend much of their lives in the water, many of them will crawl up onto a beach or a warm rock and sun themselves. They do this to regulate their body temperatures. If lying in the sun is your idea of a great vacation you might be tempted to visit one of the very popular Turtle Beach resorts. The top two turtle beach vacation spots are the Turtle Beach resort in Barbados and the Turtle Beach resort in Siesta Key, Florida.

Turtle Beach: Barbados

The Turtle Beach Resort in Barbados is a four star resort and it is modeled in the tradition of most island getaways. The resort has junior suites as well as one bedroom suites. There are tennis courts, extra large swimming pools and a great many water sports to take part in. This Turtle Beach vacation also has Children’s programs and baby-sitting if you and your spouse need some time to yourselves. There is a gourmet restaurant and a variety of open air eateries to choose from.

This resort gets its name from the actual Turtle Beach, where sea turtles come to lay their eggs during their nesting season and while you are there, you can take advantage of the fifteen hundred foot white sand beach, either of the free formed freshwater pools, the fitness center and even beach concierge service. There are certain spa services, duty free shopping trips into Bridgetown, and lush tropical gardens to explore. You can even arrange a tour of Barbados through the concierge’s office or through an on site tour operator.

Turtle Beach: Florida

This Turtle Beach resort is located on the Gulf of Mexico and guests at the Florida Turtle Beach resort can choose from either sunrise or sunset views when they decide on which kind of room they want. According to the resort’s official website, this resort has often been called “the hidden jewel of Siesta Key.” Guests at Turtle Beach have complete privacy and can choose from a wide variety of activities to fill their vacation days.

The resort offers fantastic fishing, many opportunities for wildlife observation (including bald eagles, pelicans, wild parrots, blue heron, dolphins and manatees), and more relaxation than you can probably handle. This resort is also pet friendly! The actual “turtle beach” for which the resort is named is a beach that has a Caribbean flavor that is only a few minutes away from the resort. A quick walk around a beautiful lagoon will take you there. Turtle Beach is located close to many restaurants, venues for fine and performing arts, movie theaters, shopping, a national museum and Myakka State Park.

Turtle Beach resorts are just two fantastic beach vacations that await you this year when you are figuring out just where to go on your annual getaway. Whether you want to relax on the Gulf of Mexico or on a tropical island, you will find everything you are looking for at either of these Turtle Beach vacation spots.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe – turtle beach.

Turtle Beach is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

Turtles are just like any other pet animals – they need a home that is set up like their natural habitats. Setting up your turtle aquariums is one of the essential preparations that you need to carry out before acquiring your first pets. Since different species of turtles have different requirements, there are different turtle aquariums that will suit each type.

Material
Turtle aquariums are usually made of plastic. A ten-gallon tank will do just fine if you have only one turtle to take care of. Naturally, you will want to get a bigger tank if you’re thinking of getting two or more pets at the same time. Remember that turtles will want ample space to move around in. Turtle aquariums should not be completely filled with water either. One portion of the tank should be used as a basking area where the turtle can take a break from swimming around every once in a while. About a third of the floor space is usually provided for this purpose. In most cases, the floor surface of the turtle aquariums are inclined to keep water on one side of the tank. You will also want to avoid placing aquarium gravel on your tank’s floor as your pets can accidentally eat it and grow sick.

Another alternative for a basking area can come in the form of a large rock that your turtles can climb onto. It’s important to make sure that the basking area in your turtle aquariums is kept dry so always check on the tank’s water level.
Maintenance
You will need to make sure that your turtle aquariums are cleaned regularly. Water must be filtered so you can easily maintain it. Many turtle enthusiasts use canister filters or those that are normally used for tropical fish aquariums. However, don’t rely too much on your filters to keep your turtle aquariums clean. You will still need to allot some time once a week to clean the whole tank and the filters.

You will also want to use dechlorinated water or natural spring water in your tank. Avoid placing tap water as this can lead to various health problems due to its chlorine component.

Temperature and light

If you have to put your turtle aquariums indoors, make sure to install them in an area where the lighting doesn’t change a lot. You may need to invest on a sun lamp so your pets can comfortably bask in the heat that is important for the development of their shells. A word of caution: make sure not to leave the UV lamp on the turtle aquariums for too long as the water can get too hot.

The temperature in the turtle aquariums should also be regulated. Remember that turtles are cold-blooded animals and their body temperature is dependent on their environment. During the day, your tank’s temperature should be eighty degrees Fahrenheit on the average. Aquarium thermometers are available at the local pet store so you can easily monitor temperature changes in your turtle aquariums.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.

Setting Up Turtle Aquariums for Beginners is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

When it comes to the care of your pet turtle or terrapin are you sure you know what you’re doing? Or perhaps you’ve read up on it a little but find you keep forgetting important things, like changing its water every three days or so? Turtles actually need a pretty well thought-out environment to live happily in, as well as a lot more care and attention than people realize. Probably one of the best ways to keep reminding yourself of how to care for your pet is to pin a ‘care sheet’ somewhere really obvious, like above the turtle’s tank for instance. This care sheet can be one you print out from a good website (like www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/turtles or www.popularpets.net/turtles/care-sheets.php) or one you create yourself using information from different sources. In any case, the more research you do, the better.

One of the most important aspects to turtle care is, obviously enough, what you feed them. What are less obvious are the subtle differences between turtle types in terms of what to feed them and at what age. A general rule of thumb is if it’s a baby turtle you feed it meat (cooked or fat-free) and as it gets older you start adding more and more leafy greens to its diet. Older turtles will be almost entirely herbivorous but a balanced diet is still essential.

But does a slider eat the same thing as a painted turtle? And what precisely does a terrapin eat? (A terrapin, by the way, is usually just the term used for pet turtle in the United Kingdom so you need to figure out what kind of ‘terrapin’ you have before finding the right care sheet for it.) Further, what on earth is the right environment for a box turtle? (Also known as a tortoise, the box turtle is a fully terrestrial reptile so do not put it in water, it will drown. And die.)

Then again, you’ve got details like nutrition supplements and ambient temperature to think about. There are mineral and vitamin supplements you can add to your turtle’s diet about once a week or so but how much is right for your pet? What kind of turtle needs what kind of supplement? It is generally advisable to put a calcium block in the turtle’s dry habitat for them to snack on occasionally. That helps to ensure good shell health, as do daily doses of unfiltered, natural sunlight.

In any case, a turtle care sheet that you create and keep updating regularly as you learn more about your turtle can make all the difference. If you are away on a trip, for instance, or your turtle out-lives you (some grow to be a hundred years old!), then the care sheet will ensure that your pet continues to be cared for in the best possible way.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.

Turtle and Terrapin Care Sheets is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

If you are planning on buying a tortoise for a pet, there are some things you need to know about tortoise food to keep them healthy and happy and thriving. They are herbivores, though they may eat a slug on occasion, but not often. If you feed them a plant diet that is well balanced, your tortoise will have no need for any animal protein in their diet.

What No Teeth?
Tortoises don’t possess any teeth. Instead their jaws which are horn covered are used to tear their food into bite sized pieces making it easy to swallow. Besides feeding them their favorite tortoise food, you are also recommended to supplement their diet with either brown bread that has been soaked in milk or bran cereal. To give them their calcium, you can provide a cuttlefish.

Favorite Greens for Your Tortoise
These types of tortoise food should compromise at least 90% of their diet. They enjoy mixed hays and grasses that are coarse. They also like collard, mustard and dandelion greens that can often be purchased at your local grocery store. When you buy a fresh bunch of carrots, save the tops and chop them finely and serve to your tortoise. Endive is another favorite as is the heads of flowers and other natural occurring fodder plants.

Foods in this category that should be served in limited portions are cabbage, kale and parsley. This type of tortoise food can easily be found in the produce aisle of your local market.

Fruits and Vegetables
Tortoise food in this category should be fed sparingly and make up only about 10% of their diet. The reason is because if they eat too much it will cause a high level of sugar in their intestines and may result in your tortoise developing colic. It is strange to hear the condition of colic in tortoises, but just like human babies, they too can get a tummy ache from eating too many sweets.

Some of the foods in this group are green beans, parsnips and peas. They may also enjoy noshing on green or red sweet peppers, apples without seeds, grapes and cantaloupes. Winter squash and sweet potatoes are also recommended along with mango slices without the pits.

What a Tortoise Wants, a Tortoise Gets

Tortoises are unique individuals and often exhibit a preference for a particular food. Though you may indulge your tortoise’s preferences, be sure that they are eating a well balanced diet in order to stay in peak condition. Fresh water is also a must and an environment that is free of stress is highly recommended for your turtle to stay healthy and happy. All tortoise food should be bought fresh and chopped into small pieces so that ingesting it is not difficult. By providing your tortoise a peaceful environment and providing it with the proper nutrition and clean, fresh water, your tortoise may live for many years. A happy and healthy tortoise is one that will live a long and contented life.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.

Tortoise Food Favorites is a post from: Pet Turtle Care

When you bring home a turtle to have as a pet, you need to have some knowledge of turtles and how to care for them properly. There are many different breeds of pet turtle and each one has its own specific needs and special care.

Here are five tips that can, regardless of its type, help you provide your pet with the best care and help make sure that it lives a long and healthy life:

Providing the right environment – it is extremely important that you provide a suitable environment for your turtle. Turtles have different environmental needs depending on their type; some will need a wet environment, some a dry environment and others may need both. You need to provide your pet with a proper aquarium or habitat and make sure you always regulate its temperature carefully; the wet and the dry regions of the habitat must be kept at an appropriate temperature. This is key to your pet staying healthy.

Proper diet – make sure that you are feeding your pet turtle with what it needs to sustain its life and be healthy. Most kinds of turtles need fresh vegetables such as lettuce to stay healthy. However, you should do a bit of research to find out the specific dietary requirements of your pet.

Types of groupings – knowing what your turtle prefers in its living conditions is important. Some kinds of pet turtles prefer to live in groups while others like it solitary. For those breeds that do groups, you should be careful to make sure that they are all the same size and similar proportion.

Proper care and maintenance – like any other kind of pet, turtles need to be cared for daily and you need to be aware of any changes in behavior and health your turtle might be presenting. A change that your turtle is experiencing in order to know if something could be wrong or not. Spend enough time around your turtle to be able to notice any changes.

Be committed – pet turtles have a long life expectancy. In many cases it can be between thirty to fifty years, occasionally up to a hundred years, so you need to make sure that you are going to be committed to the care and nurturing of your pet turtle for many years to come.

Turtles can make wonderful pets as long as you are aware of the needs and care that they require.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.

Top Five Turtle Care Tips is a post from: Pet Turtle Care