It is no secret that children love pets and that their greatest dream is to be given a dog or a cat. Caring for these adorable animals requires a lot of responsibility and you don’t always have enough time or space at home to give them all the love and quality of life that our furry friends need.

For this reason, parents, with the aim of starting to educate our children in the responsible care of pets and not disappointing them, opted for accepting smaller pets and we believe that they are easy to care for in their day-to-day life. One of those animals is, without a doubt, the freshwater turtle. A reptile that, despite its exotic origin, is the most widespread domestic companion in Western countries. However, we must have found that no turtle is easy to care for and keep in optimal health conditions.

But do we know how many species there are, what specific care and feeding they require, their most common diseases, or how to identify the symptoms?

Water turtles: most common species and characteristics

Within the family of aquatic turtles, we can find two types, marine, and freshwater. Next, we will focus on the second type, since they are the species to which we are most accustomed. These are the most common:

turtle types

• Red-eared slider. Also known as the Florida terrapin, it is native to Central America. Its most identifying feature is the red spots on both sides of its head. It is omnivorous and can measure between 12 and 40 centimeters. In this case, the female is usually larger than the males. It is characterized by being very active during the twilight hours and by sunbathing when it gets hotter to regulate its temperature.
• Yellow-eared slider . It is a species that comes from Mexico and the United States. It is distinguished by the yellow lines on its head, legs, and tail and by the flattened shape and dark color of its shell. It usually measures between 20 and 30 centimeters long.
• Cumberland tortoise. As in the previous cases, it is a semi-aquatic turtle. It differs by having an oval carapace of olive green color and with yellow spots. This breed can reach 21 centimeters in length.

Care and feeding of the water turtle

When a water turtle enters our house, it is important to provide it with adequate food for its size and species, but also to accommodate it in an aquarium adapted to its needs. This means that their new home must meet specific food, water, and temperature conditions. The aspects that must be taken into account are the following:

• The aquarium.  It must be divided into two zones, one of water, quite wide and deep enough so that it can swim without obstacles, and another of land, for when our turtle needs to dry in the sun and rest. To facilitate access to both spaces, it is preferable that we place a ramp.
• Water.  If we do not have a water filter, it is recommended to change the water every week to keep it clean and healthy. In the event that we fill the aquarium with tap water, it is essential to eliminate all the chlorine it contains so that it does not damage its eyes or its emblematic shell. As for the ideal temperature, it should be warm and stay between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius (maximum.)
• The lighting. They must have access to direct sunlight, unfiltered by the glass. If we do not have sunlight, we will place artificial light, UVB light, so that its shell is nourished with the necessary calcium and thus, avoid, as far as possible, that it suffers from diseases. It is also important to place a special UV-B lamp and a light bulb that provides heat in the dry area.
• The feeding of the water turtle. Most aquatic turtles are carnivorous when young and evolve to an omnivorous diet as adults. Depending on their age, the frequency to feed them varies. If they are small they should eat once a day, if they are of intermediate age every two days and if they are adults they only need to feed three times a week. In captivity, the diet is based on meat, such as chicken, beef, or liver, and chopped fish such as mussels or sardines with bones, although they can be supplemented with commercial feed formulated for these species, avoiding an excess of dried shrimp (Gammarus).

Common symptoms and illnesses

When should I worry about my turtle’s health? If you notice changes in his behavior, suddenly loses his appetite, his shell changes color or appearance, if he breathes with his mouth open, suffers from diarrhea, or moves less than usual, it is time to consult your veterinarian because the safest is that our little aquatic friend has a problem and needs special care or treatment to cure it. These are the most common diseases that chelonians usually present:

• Injuries or wounds on the skin. Caused most of the time by falls, bites, or scratches.
• Soft, discolored, or fungal shell.  In these cases, it is usually due to three fundamental reasons: the first, due to a lack of sunlight and therefore calcium, the second, due to the presence of chlorine in the water, and the third due to excess light or humidity.
• eye infection  Also due to chlorine or lack of hygiene.
• constipation or diarrhea  The lack of vitamins and fiber is usually the cause in the first case and in the second, caused by the opposite, that is, the excess of vegetables and fruit in your diet.
• Colds or respiratory problems.  To avoid them, it is important to keep it away from areas with currents and to keep it at a warm temperature inside the aquarium.
• Retention of eggs inside.  It usually happens when there is a lack of vitamins, poor nutrition or because our turtle is already very old.

Tips when buying a turtle

• Adopt a turtle, so you will not support the species trade.
• Having a turtle in your care is not a simple or cheap task since they need special care.
• Turtles need more space as they grow. The idea of ​​abandoning them anywhere is not a good option since the introduction of exotic species puts the survival of native species at risk, even causing their extinction.
• Turtles, unlike cats or dogs, are not animals that like to be manipulated.
• Like other pets, turtles are not toys, they must be respected and should not be mistreated.
• Many reptiles are carriers of Salmonella even when they are healthy, so it is advisable to be extremely hygienic every time you handle them and not allow small children to handle them without being supervised by an adult.
• Before acquiring a pet tortoise, we must inform ourselves well about its care so that it enjoys good conditions that favor its health.