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TurtlesTurtles

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Turtles, terrapins and tortoises have existed for around 280 million years. These reptiles have long out-lived some of their relatives, for example the mighty dinosaurs. They are famous for their unhurried way of moving on land and their

protective shells which they disappear into when hiding from danger. Aquatic species, in particular, are extremely adept, active and lively. Interesting observations and enlightening behavioural stu-dies have been carried out on swamp-water and freshwater terrapins.

That said, keeping these creatures is not completely straight-forward. Before selecting your pets you will need to get specific advice and be familiar with the requirements and habits of the various species. This guide will answer basic questions and describe general care and dietary requirements. It is not intended to replace advice and information obtained from your pet shop or breeder, but will help you to avoid making mistakes and encourage your pets to be healthy and full of life. German legislation also, for example, sets obligatory minimum standards for keeping reptiles.

Turtles

Interesting behavioural studies have been carried out on swamp-water and freshwater terrapins.

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The most popular turtles, for example, pseudemys, graptemys and chinemys reevesii, are kept in an aquaterrarium.

An aquaterrarium is nothing more than a standard aquarium that has both a section of water and a section of dry land. Water is an essential element for these creatures, but they also need a dry area in which to have a rest, sun themselves and lay eggs. When designing this dry area it is important to make it flat enough so that the turtles can climb onto it easily from the water. If you are using stones or suitable pieces of wood in your construction to give your turtles hiding places or climbing features, you need

to make sure that these are positioned so they are not at risk of toppling or sliding.

A good combination of light and heat can be obtained for the land section by choosing suitable lamps from your pet retailer. To remain healthy, turtles need a vast amount of light which has the same spectrum as natural sunlight, including UV. You should, however, make sure that there is a sufficient gap between the lamp and your turtles so your pets are not burned. Plants have a difficult time of it when used near these creatures – they are either seen as a tasty snack or get trampled. If you do have any plants on dry land, these

Habitat

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Aquaterrariums should be designed in a way that best suits its inhabitants’ needs.

should be extremely tough and protected from crushing, for example, by stone barriers.

Depending on the species, you may need to use a heater to warm up the water in your aquaterrarium. The heater needs to be positioned in a place where it won’t be damaged by your pets. A high-performance filter may be necessary depending on stocking, feeding and cleaning intervals, but is, in any case, recommended.

Experienced turtle keepers use, for example, Tetratec EX filters because of their large filtering capacities and ease of use.

Many turtles are excellent swimmers and need a lot of room. An aquaterrarium can never be too big, but it can easily be too small. A large body of water is another basic requirement for a suitable living space and to ensure manageable maintenance. In Germany, for example, guidelines on reptile keeping use the following rule of thumb for working out an aquaterrarium’s size: length – at least five times the shell length of the largest animal; width – at least half the length. It should be noted that these dimensions only apply to a

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single animal. If turtles are kept in a group, at least an extra 10% to 20% should be added for each additional animal. The recommended water depth varies from species to species. Active swimmers only feel at home in depths of at least twice their shell length.

In the summer, many turtles can be kept outside in large, naturally arranged enclosures since sunlight promotes the health and wellbeing of your pets. If you do this, make absolutely sure that your pets cannot escape. It is not advisable, however, to keep turtles and fish together as the fish will be seen as potential prey.

In the wild, some varieties respond to seasonal climatic changes by hibernating over the winter; during this time they will be less active, retreat into a den and will not eat. Get information about the needs of your species at an early stage so that you can offer your well-conditioned pets the best hibernation care.

Tetra tipBefore setting up your aquaterrarium, to place a suitable mat on top of its stand. This will balance out unevennesses and avoid point loads that lead to stress in the glass.

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Besides proper care, high-quality food is essential for healthy turtles. Through a combination of specially selected raw ingredients, careful preparation and specialised production processes, Tetra researchers

have succeeded in developinga range of turtle feeds that meets these reptiles’ varied dietary requirements.

A balanced diet is crucial for a turtle to live a healthy life. Turtles are ‘omnivores.’ Depending on their age and species, some prefer plants while others prefer meat. Tetra feeds are excellent as a regular and complete diet for your turtles. To give your animals some variety, these

What do turtles eat?

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should be supplemented, for instance, with worms, insects and freshwater fish as well as suitable plants and fruits, as appropriate for your particular type of turtle. Young turtles need to be fed every day while older ones have fasting periods.

By feeding your turtles Tetra ReptoMin you are giving them healthy, tasty food that ensures they are getting the proper nourishment they need. The floating food sticks contain a perfect mixture of nutrients, trace elements and vitamins, are rich in calcium and so encourage turtles to develop healthy bones and shells.

Young turtles can be fed with Tetra ReptoMin Baby. This all-round diet in mini stick form is especially designed to meet the dietary requirements of young turtles. The high calcium content ensures healthy development in the critical growth phase.

For a varied and appropriate diet, Tetra ReptoMin Menu is the ideal feed. It contains protein and other essential nutrients to promote growth, whole shrimps and fibre for excellent food conversion rates as well as an optimum calcium to phosphorous ratio for strong shells and bones.

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An excellent supplement is Tetra ReptoMin Energy which has a krill and shrimp content of over 55%, and is therefore rich in unsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3), and also contains all-important fibre. It increases the well-being and vitality of your pets and strengthens their ability to fight off disease.

If you are looking for tasty titbits, Tetra ReptoDelica Shrimps are the perfect treat. It contains 100% shrimp and is particularly tasty and rich in minerals for healthy development of bones and shells.

Tetra Gammarus is another delicious snack. Sun-dried gammarus is a favourite among the gastronomes in your aquaterrarium. Served here in its natural state, it also contains important nutrients and fibre.

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If you mainly feed your turtles fish or meat, it is particularly important that you provide them with additional vitamins, minerals and trace elements. That is why Tetra offers a range of dietary supplements: Tetra ReptoSol, Tetra ReptoCal and Tetra ReptoLife.

Tetra ReptoSol – a premium vitamin preparation for all reptiles in liquid form; droplets can be added straight onto food using the handy pipette.

Tetra ReptoCal – a balanced mix of essential minerals, such as calcium and phosphorous, and vitamin D3. It encourages strong bone and shell formation and prevents deficiencies.

Tetra ReptoLife – a concentrate with vitamins, trace elements and plant nutrients, it promotes resistance and vitality.

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How do you look after turtles?Every animal needs excellent care for its development and well-being. In the case of turtles, hygiene is extremely important in order to prevent illness. Reptiles are very good at getting the most out of food and their waste will pollute the water. For this reason, a partial water change should be performed several times a week if necessary (depending

on an aquaterrarium’s technical equipment). Fundamentally, the whole aquaterrarium has to be kept very clean and complete water changes and general cleaning should be undertaken regularly as a matter of course.

A very useful tool, here, is the Tetratec GC Gravel Cleaner. It sucks up the water while at

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the same time removing dirt. The CV4 Check Valve means that there is no risk of getting tank water in your mouth, something that is always a possibility with standard water changing methods that use the suction technique.

An essential product for conditioning tap water is Tetra ReptoSafe. It instantly turns tap water into naturally safe aquarium water for turtles. Harmful waterborne substances, such as chlorine and heavy metals (e.g. copper and zinc), are neutralised.

Tetra ReptoSafe – makes tap water safe for turtles.

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Sensitive colloids protect turtles’ skin and reduce the risk of skin diseases.Another ongoing job is checking the health of your pets. Turtles are robust and hardy animals if kept in appropriate conditions, looked

after properly and given an excellent diet.

The Tetratec DecoFilter can be effortlessly placed in a corner of an aquaterrarium and is ideal for shallow water

Tetra tipSigns of a healthy turtle:• Appearance: clear eyes; firm, undamaged shell; no nasal discharge; no breathing difficulties; skin in good condition• Behaviour: vitality; normal swimming and walking behaviour; retreats into shell when disturbed

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Tetra Bactozym encourages the growth of beneficial filter bacteria after every partial water change

10 – 15 cm high. The three-stage filtering process cleans water and removes unpleasant odours and clouding. In short, Tetratec DecoFilter is an innovative filter/decoration combo.

Technical details

Aquarium size Water flow rate Power con- sumption (watts)

20-200 l 300 3,5

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Species protectionToday, many species of animal are threatened with extinction. Species and wildlife protection legislation aims firstly to protect threatened species from extinction and secondly to protect native habitats and environments from the introduction of non-native species. When purchasing turtles you should therefore take account of EU and international regulations, such as the Washington Convention, in addition to national requirements and laws. Importers, breeders, retailers and terrarium keepers are obliged to observe regulations relating to animal and wildlife protection. That’s why you should only buy pets from specialist retailers or

breeders. These will give you expert and comprehensive advice and will guarantee that you have bought healthy animals and are compliant with species protection rules. Further information on keeping certain species and protection regulations can be obtained, for example, from DGHT (German Society for Herpetology and Terrarium Keeping).

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Special careChildren, especially, love turtles. Yet it should never be forgotten that turtles and any other pets are not toys. Being fond of animals is not enough. Care and responsibility are absolutely essential. Talk to your children about the fact that turtles are not for petting and can bite hard on occasion. When handling these reptiles you should take

normal hygiene measures. If your turtles show any signs of health problems or symptoms of illness, please contact a vet immediately.

Tetra GmbH Herrenteich 78 D-49324 Melle

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Tetra TortoiseA healthy, balanced, complete diet for meeting tortoises’ complex dietary requirements.

Tetra IguanaA special feed that is designed to meet the dietary requirements of green iguanas.

Cobs – the new form for food Cobs are wholesome and healthy morsels.Tests have shown that tortoises and green iguanas alike have a clear preference for this new form of Tetra Tortoise and Iguana.

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