Turtles pets can be a great addition to your family and provide hours upon hours of enjoyment.  Having said that it is very important to do your homework up front before you go and buy your new turtle or turtles pets.

There are many different types of turtles which can be very different in size and or personality.  It is very similar to choosing which breed of dog or cat is right for you.

You should take into consideration the amount of time you have to devote to taking care of your turtle, the space you can provide, how old the people caring for the turtle are, how much financially you can put towards your turtle, what the laws in your state are regarding keeping captive turtles, and many other things.

I have seen a lot of people start off with a small turtle in a 5 -10 gallon aquarium only to find out that their turtle would soon outgrow this enclosure and need a bigger space.

There are some types of turtles that stay small enough to live their entire lives in a 40 gallon long aquarium but I would never go smaller than that for any types of turtles.

This is why it is essential to find out how big your turtles pets full grown adult size is before you buy it so that you can plan ahead.

A perfect example of the way not to take care of turtles and one probably familiar to most readers is in the movie Rocky.  Rocky’s wife worked at a small pet shop and Rocky had two baby turtles in a very small, round, glass fish bowl in his apartment.

They had very little water to swim in, no UVB light, no heat lamp, and way to small of an enclosure.

I won’t get into full detail of how to care for your turtles pets in this article, but if you would like to learn right away, just click the link on the right side of this page.

In most states turtles under 4″ in length are illegal to own unless you are a research facility or university.  The reason for this is that it is believed that there is a greater risk of contracting salmonella from these smaller types of turtles.

Years and years ago some small children had contracted salmonella from putting these smaller turtles in and around there mouths.  That is another reason why it is so important to have proper supervision around turtles pets.

As long as you use good judgment and wash your hands each time after handling your turtles pets or any part of your turtles habitat you should have no problems.

If you want to start off the right way and learn the basics BEFORE you buy your turtle……..or if it’s too late and you already bought it…..click the link on the right side of this page and start moving in the right direction to owning turtles pets.

If you would like to learn more about turtles and how to take care of them the proper way, check out:

Click Here For The Ultimate Turtle Guide

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Click HERE for the complete course!

Here is a great video on how to choose a pet turtle wisely.  There are many things to take into consideration and this video is a brief overview.

If you take the extra time up front to make sure that you purchase a happy and healthy turtle, your ownership will be much more enjoyable.

And less vet bills too!

I can’t tell you how many times I have gone into pretty popular pet stores and seen turtles missing toes and their shells are messed up.  I have even seen dead turtles in the tank with the others.

Your best option is to do your research and find a top quality breeder to purchase from.

I recommend going to www.kingsnake.com and then searching for turtles in the forums and classifieds to find a reputable turtle breeder.

Don’t be afraid to ask the turtle breeder questions and to e-mail you pictures up front before you purchase anything.

Also we do not provide legal advice, but make sure that the turtle you are getting is legal in your area.

Most pet turtles will grow fast so it is also a good idea to purchase the largest aquarium, cage, or pond that you can afford.

Good luck with your new turtle and if you want to find out everything there is to know about keeping a pet turtle click here!

There are many types of turtles in the world today, what is your favorite?

My favorite type of turtle  is the Argentine Side Necked Turtle.  I love the

two barbs that stick out under their mouths.  It makes them look like little

sumo wrestlers.

What is your favorite type of turtle?

Leave a comment below and let me know!

Click HERE to give your pet turtle the best captive life possible.

Great information on red eared slider water turtles.

Click Here to learn what you must do

if you want to keep one as a pet!

They park themselves on the floor of the pond, or lake, open their mouths real wide and stay incredibly still.

They have a little pink thing that looks like a fishing lure on the inside of their mouths that wiggles in the water.

Hungry fish come swimming over, think it’s food and…

WHAM!

So that’s how the snapping turtle hunts for food and does a great job at it.

If you ever see a snapping turtle in the wild, keep your distance.  Their mouths pack a powerful punch and could take a finger.

If you have a pond and are thinking about getting one.  Just be careful what other type of turtles or fish are in your pond because they could become dinner as well.

To learn more about turtles, click here to check out this guide – Turtle and Terrapin Care Guide

Small turtles might be fascinating creatures to many people, especially children. They look cute and harmless, and are consequently the prevalent alternative for pets, as opposed to the larger turtles. One of these species of mini turtles could be the bog turtle. It fits inside your palm, with its length of three to 3.5 inches and weight of 4 ounces!

As its name suggests, the bottom component in the shell (known as the plastron) of a yellowish belly turtle is predominantly yellow, highlighted with green specks along the edges.

It is fascinating to note that this species has the capacity to interbreed with other species, for example Red Eared Sliders. Mating can take position in spring, fall, and summer. The female Yellow Bellied Sliders are normally larger than the males.

Bog turtles are so named due to the fact these are found in bogs, (acidic wetlands) fens, (neutral or alkaline wetlands) freshwater wetlands, and wet meadows in Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, Massachusetts, and North and South Carolina. Their heads have distinctive orange or yellow-colored patches, located just at the back in the ear membrane. The scutes of its carapace are either brown or black, with a reddish or yellowish core. Their plastron, on the other hand, is brownish-black, having a mahogany or light yellowish center.

The Yellow Turtle will, however, require additional space as it grows older. You should also ensure that that their housing is huge enough to allot an area where the turtles can wander around, bask, and dry off absolutely right after they have finished swimming. Even though direct sunlight is constantly the top alternative for their lighting needs, you can improvise if needed by placing a UV-B heat lamp in their tank so as to preserve an average temperature of 89-95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make positive to construct a place which will be safe to the female to lay her eggs on, and for that eggs to hatch.

They lie dormant throughout winter. A three to four year old bog turtle hibernates underwater, in an estimated 6 to 18 inches of mud. They are omnivorous, and adore to consume smaller animals and plants. They feast on live insects, snails, beetles, and worms, and also carrion. They can also consume different plants, along with seeds and berries. This little turtle achieves sexual maturity in between the ages of five to eight, and their regular breeding period is late spring or early summer. Female bog turtles lay two to 3 eggs, which hatch from the late third quarter or early fourth quarter from the year.

Yellow Belly Turtles, like others in their family, naturally generate many waste. You should, therefore, invest in the very best filter you’ll be able to afford, which need to maintain the water clean and obvious for the longest time possible. Perhaps it are going to be best, then, to steer obvious of these decorations.

You might wish to research additional info at this site dealing with How Long Do Turtles Live.

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This really is a phase when your pet turtles enter into a condition exactly where their metabolisms and body temperatures drop.

It has been well-researched that hibernation is just a organic way for feral turtles to save power during times of low availability of food and harsh weather conditions.

I actually adore my modest pet turtles. But I later found out they have specific requirements that have to be met to maintain them content and healthy.

However, further research into the subject of turtle hibernation has revealed the overall well being positive aspects into the turtle. Hibernation is believed to be crucial on the turtle’s usual function of its thyroid gland.

Evidence also shows that this state helps boost and preserve the turtles’ immune system. Healthy turtles develop fatty deposits from the months preceding to hibernation; if they do not hibernate, they run the risk of getting obese.

So lets discuss some of the items which might be needed to hold these smaller reptiles healthy so they are able to live a long and happy life.

1) The initial and most significant point is that they should need to have clean water to swim in. Turtles expend a lot of time from the water, so make certain you have a very great filter. Dirty water is among the key motives that a turtle will come to be ill.

Turtles in the wild respond to environmental signals around them to know when to commence their hibernation. Shorter days, cooler temperatures, and much less available prey are indications that the turtle heeds to begin the long period of rest.

Turtle owners can support their pets slip into hibernation in ways that would be comfortable and ideal for them. For turtles that would hibernate outdoors, you are able to dig a burrow or even a pit inside their pen.

Piling up leaves on huge plastic containers may also be utilised to create the region more suitable for hibernation.

The turtle’s hibernation period of time can also be a bit misleading.

It may seem to you that your pets are displaying activities you take as indicators of their easing into hibernation, when in reality they could be experiencing some health issues.

Prior to hibernation, turtles wind down and eat a smaller amount than usual.

As an owner, you ought to be careful to take note if your turtle has a runny nose, is underweight, or appears injured, distinguishing these indicators as indicators of ill health, rather than preparation for hibernation.

I could also recommend you read more articles to do with How Long Do Turtles Live.

If you would like to learn more about Turtles and how to keep them thriving for years, check out:

Click Here To Check Out The Ultimate Guide To Pet Turtle Care

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Types Of Turtles

There are two main categories when it comes to types of turtles and they are water turtles, and box and wood turtles.  Under the water turtles category, there are turtles that come from all over the world including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

When we talk about box and wood turtles most species are from North America and Asia.

When you start to find out more about the different types of turtles that there are, you will learn that turtles from the same region can have different care guidelines.

Although you can’t use this as a rule of thumb, most of the time they live in similar environments with similar temperature and weather patterns.

If you are interested in a particular type of turtle it is very important that you learn it’s preferences and care guidelines before you decide to keep any turtles as pets.

I have included below some of the types of turtles from around the world.

Africa:

• Madigascar Big Headed Side Necked Turtle

• African Helmeted Turtle
• West African Side Necked Turtle

Asia:

• Asian Leaf Turtle
• Chinese Golden Thread Turtle
• Kwangtung River Turtle
• Pink Belly Side Necked Turtle
• Pink Belly Snapper
• Reeves Turtle
• Reimanns Snake Necked Turtle
• Siebenrocks Side Necked Turtle
• Spotted Pond Turtle
• Vietnamese Pond Turtle

Australia:

• MacLeay River Turtle

Europe:

• Caspian Pond Turtle
• European Pond Turtle

North America:

• Peninsula Cooter

• Cagles Map Turtle
• Mississippi Map Turtle
• Northern Black Knobbed Map Turtle
• Ouachita Map Turtle
• Pearl River Map Turtle
• Southern Black Knobbed Map Turtle – This turtle has a very cool shell.
• Texas Map Turtle
• Yellow Blotched Map Turtle

• Chiapas Giant Musk Turtle
• Mexican Giant Musk Turtle
• Mississippi Red Bellied Mud Turtle
• Narrow Bridged Musk Turtle
• Razorback Musk Turtle
• Stinkpot Musk Turtle – Musk turtles love to hang out in caves underwater or on secluded ledges and stay fairly small.
• Striped Mud Turtle
• White Lipped Mud Turtle
• Yellow Mud Turtle

• Blandings Turtle
• Eastern Chicken Turtle
• Florida Chicken Turtle
• Spotted Turtle

• Eastern Painted Turtle – Great starter turtle that stays fairly small.
• Midland Painted Turtle
• Southern Painted Turtle
• Western Painted Turtle

• Florida Red Bellied Turtle
• Northern Red Bellied Turtle

I hope you enjoyed the list of types of turtles from around the world, and maybe found some different types of turtles that you had never heard of before.  Always check your local and national regulations on keeping certain types of turtles, before you decide to keep any turtles as pets.

For A Complete Guide On Caring For Turtles Check Out:

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related article: Loggerhead Sea Turtle Size

Because their head’s size is not proportional with the bodies, the name Loggerhead Sea Turtles were given. These sea turtles are usually found in the tropical areas of three major oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian.

– did-you-know: What is the Deepest Ocean?

They can either be found deep into the sea or in other bodies of water like wide rivers and lagoons, bays, creeks and salt marshes. These turtles are often seen along coral reefs and rocky areas even shipwrecks when they are feeding.

Physical Attributes of Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Beside its unproportional large head, which holds a very strong jaw that have very strong biting power that can bite into tough-shelled victim like whelks, they has other distinguishing marks on its body.

Its top shell looks like a heart and mixed colored red and brown. Its skin on the other hand is mix-colored yellow and brown. A mature loggerhead turtle can reach up to three hundred sixty-four kilograms and is about three and a half feet long.

Nesting and Mating

Loggerhead Sea Turtles reaching their sexual peak at age 35. The matting season started between March and June – usually for the one found in the SE regions of the United States – and they begin to nest somewhere between April and September.

Loggerheads typically nest during nighttime and they can nest up to seven times in one season with intervals of approximately fourteen days apart. The average incubation time is between forty-five to ninety-five days. the present temperature at the time of incubation will determine this.

The baby loggerheads do not take on the colors of the adults and hence, their appearances may also vary ranging from light brown to dark brown; gray to black. Their average size is about forty-five millimeters long and they are only about twenty grams light.

Struggling to Survive

Loggerhead sea turtles are faced with threats to their daily survival mainly from being caught in a fisherman’s net, trawls, traps, and dredges. Another great survival risk that these loveable loggerheads are facing are direct hunts for them usually within Central America.

Although they are not yet an endangered species, these threats have caused their numbers to go down, particularly in the regions of the Bahamas, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Japan and Greece. For this reason, conservation efforts have been implemented to protect them from extinction as well as to look out for their well-being.

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Find Out The Top Things Required To Keep Your Turtle Healthy And Happy For Life:

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