Post by elizabeth on Sept 4, 2005 9:37:31 GMT -5
A start to a good care sheet!! Thanks Collin
Care for large aquatic turtles of the Southern United States
Introduction: The United States is privaleged to have some large and beautiful turtles. The larger turtles of the Southern United States include Painted turtles, Sliders, and Cooter turtles. Do not keep Snapping, Wood, or Pig-Nose turtles to this care sheet.
Sexing: Males: Long tails (after vent); long nails, 8-10" in carapace length
Females: Short tail (after vent); short(ER) nails, 10-14" in carapace length
Housing: Cage: At least 55-gallons of space per adult turtle (6 -14" in carapace length). For juveniles or younger (hatchling size - 6") 15 - 20-gallons of space per turtle.
Temperatures: Water: 70-75 (F)
Ambient: 70-85 (F)
Basking: 90-95 (F)
Water/Land: Best to use all water and a turtle dock/turtle ramp out of the water with large largely aquatic turtles, be sure to use a lid, or have a large area of space between freedom and as high as the turtle can get on the ramp.
Outdoor Housing: Same size rules, you can use a stock tank (plastic or metal) (sold for holding livestock feed, very cheap) to hold turtles outdoors (or indoors). CLIMATE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF IT'S TOO COLD, DON'T KEEP THEM OUTSIDE.
Food: Diet: These turtles are mainly carnivorous, and will eat anything from crickets, worms, snails, fish (other than goldfish), mice (if they're big enough), and other stuff. They will also eat dandelion heads and cometimes chopped carrots and other vegetables that catch their eye. Some may eat turtle food pellets, but should not be fed pellets soley. Turtle bites are fish-scented and also cheaply sold at your local pet store, a good source if you're out of a meat source of food.
Calcium: Sources: Calcium is very important for proper bone growth, as well as shell growth for chelonians. Cuttleone (sold for birds) is a great source of calcium, and is easily obtained at a local pet store. Also there are high-calcium vegetables and prey items available.
Supplements: With cuttlebone, just break off a piece and drop it in the water, and the turtles should gravitate to it and nibble on it as it fizzes. Best if used once every two weeks. And just feed the high-calcium foods to them as normal.
-collin
Care for large aquatic turtles of the Southern United States
Introduction: The United States is privaleged to have some large and beautiful turtles. The larger turtles of the Southern United States include Painted turtles, Sliders, and Cooter turtles. Do not keep Snapping, Wood, or Pig-Nose turtles to this care sheet.
Sexing: Males: Long tails (after vent); long nails, 8-10" in carapace length
Females: Short tail (after vent); short(ER) nails, 10-14" in carapace length
Housing: Cage: At least 55-gallons of space per adult turtle (6 -14" in carapace length). For juveniles or younger (hatchling size - 6") 15 - 20-gallons of space per turtle.
Temperatures: Water: 70-75 (F)
Ambient: 70-85 (F)
Basking: 90-95 (F)
Water/Land: Best to use all water and a turtle dock/turtle ramp out of the water with large largely aquatic turtles, be sure to use a lid, or have a large area of space between freedom and as high as the turtle can get on the ramp.
Outdoor Housing: Same size rules, you can use a stock tank (plastic or metal) (sold for holding livestock feed, very cheap) to hold turtles outdoors (or indoors). CLIMATE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF IT'S TOO COLD, DON'T KEEP THEM OUTSIDE.
Food: Diet: These turtles are mainly carnivorous, and will eat anything from crickets, worms, snails, fish (other than goldfish), mice (if they're big enough), and other stuff. They will also eat dandelion heads and cometimes chopped carrots and other vegetables that catch their eye. Some may eat turtle food pellets, but should not be fed pellets soley. Turtle bites are fish-scented and also cheaply sold at your local pet store, a good source if you're out of a meat source of food.
Calcium: Sources: Calcium is very important for proper bone growth, as well as shell growth for chelonians. Cuttleone (sold for birds) is a great source of calcium, and is easily obtained at a local pet store. Also there are high-calcium vegetables and prey items available.
Supplements: With cuttlebone, just break off a piece and drop it in the water, and the turtles should gravitate to it and nibble on it as it fizzes. Best if used once every two weeks. And just feed the high-calcium foods to them as normal.
-collin