If we want to have a land turtle as a pet, we must know the basic care of these animals. This care refers to aspects such as housing, feeding and hydration, and it is essential to know all the details in order to include our turtle in the best conditions.
Land turtles need, for example, a comfortable fish tank, with a specific temperature and luminosity, as well as a specific diet. That’s why we tell you everything about caring for the land turtle step by step.
What does a turtle eats
Land turtles are reptiles that are primarily vegetarian since their diet is based on the intake of food of plant origin. These turtles generally receive a diet consisting of a mixture of leafy vegetables with other vegetables, as well as fruits. However, land turtles are not completely vegetarian, as they also need protein in their diet from the creatures’ food.
Within the protein supply, we see several options, for example, providing them with insects, mollusks, or various worms and worms. Almost anything depends on the availability of the various products, as well as the preferences and nutritional requirements of each creature and specimen.
In the same way, it is also quite essential to keep in mind that for the correct improvement of their shells and skeleton, it is key to provide them with a good source of calcium. For this, we can resort to prepared mixtures, processed eggshells or cuttlefish bones.
How often does a land tortoise eat
The feeding frequency of the land turtle depends mainly on our preferences and time availability. What is essential in this regard is to promise that the food provided will meet their nutritional needs correctly.
In this way, while there are owners who prefer to distribute the food throughout the day, there are others who cannot or prefer to do everything in a more abundant demand and let the turtle feed itself. In the same way, it is fundamental to follow the advice of the veterinarians, so if our doctor recommends a schedule, it is essential to follow it to the maximum.
How to watering a land turtle
Land turtles need to include a source of fresh, clean water that they can easily access at all times. Some turtles do not drink enough; in these records, a vegetable-based diet with a water-rich composition is generally used to compensate for the shortage. However, they should drink from a container or source that is cleaned daily, renewing the water as generally as possible.
Soil substrate of turtles
Another of the basic cares of the terrestrial turtles is the substrate. When choosing a substrate for our land turtle’s home, we must choose from the various options available. On the one hand, there are the native substrates, which would be those like sand, foliage or soil. On the other hand, there are alternatives such as newspapers. In all records, it is strongly recommended to choose a substrate composed of non-toxic, non-irritating materials that will not cause harm if ingested by the turtle.
Whatever substrate we choose, it should be changed regularly. Only in this way can we maintain the proper hygienic conditions to promise that our turtle will stay in the best possible health.
Terrarium for turtles
Among the care of the land tortoise, we cannot forget its accommodation: the terrarium. The terrarium of the tortoise should be large enough to allow it to move freely and to allow it to do some activity. It is also advisable to set up the terrarium as close as possible to the native sources of light and heat, for example, a window or gallery, to promise that the temperature will not drop and that they will receive the native light.
Equally essential are the constants, for example, the temperature, humidity and brightness of the terrarium. To control these parameters, particular full-spectrum lamps are usually used, as these allow the turtles to include the approximately 10–12 hours of light they need daily, also helping to maintain a correct temperature. This temperature should be between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius, 5–10 degrees less at night, otherwise the turtle(s) will begin to show signs of lethargy and flattening that are common in hibernation.
In addition, it is generally beneficial for turtles to include an aquatic space, which in addition to serving them to drink and stay hydrated, serves especially in the case of certain creatures that eat to soak in water.
