Trachemys: size, photo. The maximum size the red-eared terrapins

Trachemys – the most well-known and popular aquatic animals that are kept in home aquariums. But before you find yourself a little friend, should learn all about the features, habits, and conditions of reptiles. Besides, it is necessary to find out exactly what size reaches trachemys few years of living in captivity. Some sellers, when faced with a naive buyer might try to convince him that the dwarf is an animal that remains small throughout life. The disappointment comes after a year when you find that the size of trachemys turtles intensively increase. To avoid becoming a victim of unscrupulous people and with full responsibility approach to the purchase of a pet, offer to get acquainted with this amazing creature.

A Written beauty

The Literal translation of the name Trachemys scripta Latin sounds like ‘lined” or “painted”. The unique beauty of the pattern of the shell, rolling on the head and limbs, attracts the eye trachemys. The size of it at first glance seems small and makes you want immediately to take up and settle the animal at home.

Indeed, the turtle outfit looks bright and colorful: red oblong spots, the ears and the intricate pattern of rings on the shell. Some subspecies there are spots of yellow or orange. Outfit young individuals differs rich shades of green, yellow, brown. With age the coloration of turtles varies, losing the original diversity and richness of paint. In old age a vivid picture may lose their shape and merge into one dark brown or black color.

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Anatomy

The Shell supports the skeleton and protects the reptile from shock and the attacks of enemies. Under the natural armor is stored, the normal level of heat, which feels comfortable trachemys. The size and shape of the shell depends on lifestyle and feature a teardrop shape that promotes the rapid movement in the water and on land.

Front and rear vents protective armor is the turtle hides its head and legs in case of danger. The outside of the legs covered with thick scales, and on his head are bony plates.

Habitat and distribution

Trachemys owes its origin to Eastern North America. The usual environment of its habitat-shallow lakes and ponds with low muddy shores, wetlands and floodplains. The ruggedness and omnivorous freshwater allowed the creatures to settle in areas with more severe climatic conditions: North Africa, Central and southern Europe, Asia and Australia.

A Short hibernation-a typical phenomenon in natural conditions is exposed to trachemys (the size of this amphibious medium). As a cold-blooded animals, they fall asleep only at a temperature insufficient to sustain their life: below 10 or above 40 ^OC.

At home with a comfortable temperature eliminates the need of natural rest, so decorative reptile completely adapted to do without it. Waiver of dormancy did not affect their ability to breed in captivity.

Trachemys. The size in the home

At birth, all babies look the same: tiny green lumps with a bright shell and bright spots on the head. The size slider turtles at birth of about three inches.

Males and females grow and develop with the same speed, at first they are difficult to distinguish. Intensive growth during the first two years of life – this is a phenomenon typical underwater creatures called trachemys. Size in captivity during this period reach 7-10 cm During the extension, a prerequisite is a complete and balanced diet. Otherwise, the turtles will lag behind in development from their relatives living in the wild.

Further growth in reptiles slows, but not stops. They continuously grow during the first ten or twelve years of his life. The maximum size of slider turtles may reach 50 cm, But these "giants" – is not a typical phenomenon, they live exclusively in the wild. Normal size adult pond slider turtles is about 25–32 cm in length, depending on subspecies. And the male always looks smaller than the female. Already in the third year of life the rate of growth they begin to differ. Adult males are usually smaller than their girlfriends for 4–5 cm, body Mass of females exceeds the males can weigh in the 2–3 times. Jaw they, too, are more developed, so the females eat gross animal food.

Organize a home for turtles

To the new tenant was cozy and comfortable you should care primarily about convenient home. Vivariums – the most suitable accommodation for freshwater reptiles. In this capacity will be comfortable and cozy feel trachemys. The size of the aquariumshould be sufficient to accommodate 150–200 litres of water. To change it is necessary not less than once per month, giving pre-soak for five days. To maintain cleanliness in the aquarium it is advisable to purchase a water filter.

Features of the existence of freshwater turtles require the presence of a small plot of land. Artificial Islands with gently sloping beaches can be easily obtained at a pet store. It is desirable that the slope was very rough uneven surface, then the reptile will be able to get out on the land.

The Turtle loves the heat, so be sure to give her an artificial sun that will be okay to cover the top of the islet and warm the air near the surface to 30 to 31 ^oC. in order To maintain a comfortable water temperature (24 to 26 ^OC) set the adjustable incandescent light bulb.

It is Desirable that the capacity for keeping reptiles had an elongated rectangular shape. Aquarium size for turtles turtles with a carapace length of 25 cm may have the following approximate characteristics:

• Volume – 150 l;
• Length – 1000 mm;
• Width – 500mm;
• Height – 900 mm;
• Water depth-500 mm;
• The length of the island – 250 mm;
• The width of the island – 120 mm.

Despite being slow, reptiles, in fact, very agile. Therefore, when the device of the sushi should be placed so that the distance from the apex to the edges of the glass walls was at least 30–35 see Proposed capacity optimal in order to comfortably accommodate one adult trachemys. The dimensions in the home may not always be possible to sustain due to lack of space in the apartment. For comfortable stay of two adults will need an aquaterrarium with a capacity of at least 180–200 l

Reproduction

The Red-eared terrapins for a long time growing up, so the ability to reproduce offspring in natural conditions appear only after 6–8 years. In captivity sexual maturity comes much earlier for males in four years, and of females – 5–6 years. The mating season lasts from February to may, when water is already well heated. At home with uniform temperature regime the frequency is not maintained, and marriage can occur at any time of the year.

Mating in turtles is not like other animals. The male saw the female, swims up close to her face and his sharp claws scratches her chin. When mating, the partner is placed on top of the female partner. His plastron (ventral shield) has a small bulge. Concavity in carapace (dorsal shield) in females is also a specific feature of the shell, which differs trachemys. The size of recesses and bulges of the male is a perfect match. So nature has taken care to ensure that mating occurred maximally close contact between animals.

The Red-eared terrapins lay eggs twice a season, from April to June. A laying female suits on land, digging out the rear of a deep hole. A socket has a spherical shape. The turtle lays about a dozen eggs, the size of which does not exceed four inches. Throwing the nest with soil, the female leaves and does not come back. Cubs are born approximately four months. It is noteworthy that sexual identity trachemys turtles depend on the level of heat in the incubation period. If the temperature does not exceed 27 ^OC, the eggs hatch only males. In the case when the socket is heated to 30^O And above, appear female.

Nutrition

The nature of the red-eared terrapins eat not only plant but also animal food. So at home it is very important to provide them with a balanced diet that corresponds to the natural composition. For the active growing turtles require a lot of protein, so once a day they must be fed animal food. Young individuals are given a dry feed fish, earthworms, bloodworms, clam, marine shrimp (dried or alive).

Adult trachemys, dimensions (photos below) which exceed 10-12 cm, can eat liver, raw or boiled beef, chicken. It is also useful to treat it raw lean fish, squid, shrimp. You can run the aquarium with several small fish that the turtle itself was hunting them. Menu of freshwater are required to enter various insects (beetles and larvae). For convenience, you can prepare a mixture of several feeds based on gelatin with the addition of raw eggs. Ready long time can be stored in the refrigerator.

As of extension in the diet of reptiles should introduce a plant-based diet. In the aquarium bred aquatic plants that can eat the turtle: algae, duckweed, water hyacinth, idahonian, Ludwig and a few others. Turtles are happy to eat fresh herbs: mallow, Basil, dandelions, clover, peas. Vegetables you can give slices of carrots, cucumber,cabbage, lettuce. Bone meal – an indispensable source of calcium, which is required for growth of the skeleton and strengthen the shell. Once a week should be added to food of turtles. Periodically, it is useful to add in food a couple of drops of oil solution of vitamin D.

If there is no possibility to create for turtles ideal living conditions and to organize adequate nutrition, you should care about how to enter into the diet of mineral fertilizer and vitamin supplements.

Feeding is carried out in the daytime as freshwater in this period of the day are most active. All the food for the turtles just poured into the water. The food you give gradually, so the animals have time to eat it. Surplus food will settle to the bottom, and Peregrina, pollute the water in the aquarium. Young animals are fed daily, and adults need to give food 2–3 times a week.

Maintenance and care

Kept in the house several turtles can be separately or together. In group settlement, it is important that animals have enough space for free movement. Turtles often get dirty in the soil, which is poured in the bottom of the aquarium, food residue sticking to their faces. The cleanliness of the turtles need to monitor regularly bathing them in warm water with added baking soda. Algae that periodically grow on the shell, carefully clean off with a soft sponge.

Caring for a turtle, you need to be careful because it can hurt to bite. Individuals of the same size residing in the same area, usually peacefully coexist among themselves. When the aquarium contains one decorative trachemys, its sizes do not matter. But when a group of several reptiles, you need to remember that big can bite and even hurt someone less than them.

Preparing for the acquisition of a new friend

Before you buy a new tenant, you should think twice if the trachemys. What size the animal grows, a lot of the feed it eats, how long he lives? For these and many other questions need to know the exact answer. It should be understood that the tortoise requires special attention and a lot of patience. In unskilled hands, the animal may simply die. The red-eared terrapins love affection and are responsive and peacefulness. Do not buy a reptile from strangers: the attachment to former owners can cause in animals depression and disease. The choice and advice is better to seek specialized shops. There you can get competent advice on feeding and care of turtles.

If you decide to buy young animals, which are several months old, remember that they are at this age are very susceptible to various diseases. From the first day of appearance of the young turtles have to make sure she gets proper nutrition and vitamin supplements.

How to choose

The Most suitable season for buying the red-eared terrapins ­– spring. The animal will be easier to settle at the new place and adapt to the conditions of existence. Buying a tortoise in the fall, you run the risk of her health. This is due to the fact that the adaptation period in the cold season may be delayed too. In winter, reptiles eat very little, so fragile the body can be exposed to different diseases.

Choosing a turtle, pay attention to its appearance. Explore your pet's skin for ticks – they are often hiding in the many folds of the neck, the tail, around the eyes. Sometimes you can even find a leech. Healthy turtles skin should be smooth, without cracks and dark spots.

Pay attention to the integrity and hardness of the shell. It should be no deformations, scratches and soft spots. Healthy turtles eyes have no edema and secretions. If the eyes are sunken, and around them formed dark circles, it indicates severe dehydration reptiles. The mouth and the area around it must be clean, without discharge or sores.

In addition to the physical integrity of the note on the behavior of the turtles. A healthy individual has a calm regularity and normal coordination of movements. If you take a turtle in hand, it will actively resist moving their limbs and turning head. At the time of initiation of the animal defecates, so not to get dirty, better to keep his head to himself.

When the house is already have tortoises, the beginner should hold for about two months in a separate terrarium. All this time you should regularly inspect the reptile, monitor its behavior and state. To plant a new tenant to relatives only after successful completion of quarantine.