Pet Turtle

COMMON NAME: Turtle, tortoise and Terrapin

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Testudo, Pseudemmys and other genera

DISTRIBUTION: Throughout the tropics, sub-tropics andtemperate parts of the world

HABITAT: Grasslands, semi-arid deserts, edges of forests andalong waterways

ADULT SIZE: 15 cm-1.8 m (6 in-6 ft)

GENERAL: Not long ago tortoises were cheap to buy from yourlocal pet shop. Colossal numbers were imported in dreadful condi-tions that caused huge losses. It is now illegal to import manyspecies, and those that are available are very expensive, and alicence from the Department of the Environment is necessary tosell them. As a result, nowadays, they are only kept by enthusiastswith specialist knowledge and experience who do their best tobreed from their stock. Some pet shops now sell box tortoisesfrom America, but if you are offered one and told that you keep itin the same way as a tortoise, take no notice, for although they arecalled box tortoises they are in fact terrapins which are altogether different. Tortoises live entirely on the land and are almost entirely vegetarian, whereas terrapins are pretty aquatic and are carnivo-rous.

Taking on a chelonian (turtle or terrapin) is quite a commitment as they are long-lived animals. One turtle that lived for over 116 years. Never drill a hole through a tortoise's shell - it is the equivalentof drilling through one of your ribs. Neither should you ever buythe tiny terrapins that are offered for sale each year They looklovely but they are far too small and will probably die. Some species of chelonian need to hibernate, and they should be allowed to do this somewhere completely frost-free, and when they wake in the spring they must be given a good drink and a soak ina shallow dish of tepid water before having their first feed. In acold climate, tortoises only have a short season to recover from along hibernation before they have to start building up a fat storefor the next one.

FOOD: Tortoises should be fed a variety of chopped fruit andvegetables supplemented with a few mealworms, a little canneddog food plus a multivitamin liquid. Fresh water should always beavailable. Terrapins need meat, but do not put it in their water as itwill pollute it. Young animals are best started on Tubifex and otheraquatic livefood, but older animals will take anything of suitablesize and some may take chopped raw meat or fish.

HOUSING: Tropical species need a large tank heated with aceramic bulb heater to between 26-32°C (80-90F). Light bulbsshould only be used for lighting the tank as there is evidence that constant light may be harmful. Ultraviolet light (in small doses) isessential. For tortoises a suitable substrate could be peat but forterrapins gravel is better. They need a considerable pond in theirtank and peat would soon pollute it. Heaters should be placed atone end of the tank so that an animal can move into a coolerspot. Mediterranean species can be kept in a secure well-plantedgarden but must be taken indoors well before the first frost.

BREEDING: Tortoises will breed if given the right conditions, andevery year captive-bred specimens are offered for sale. The eggswill need to be incubated.