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Taking care of pet turtles is all about providing the proper diet, habitat and hygiene, depending on the species. Discover facts about a variety of pet turtles and how to care for box turtles, aquatic turtles, desert tortoises and more with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video series on turtle care.
There are 23 videos in this series:
Learning information about turtles can help pet owners keep their reptile friends from developing deformities. Discover facts about turtles, such as how to identify bone diseases, with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
The foods that turtles eat vary depending on the species. Find out facts about turtle food, such as the land tortoise's preference of wild crickets and earthworms, with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Box turtles like to eat mixed greens, while tortoises prefer wild grasses, cacti and flowers. Learn about turtle eating habits and supplementing a pet turtle's diet with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Some symptoms of turtle diseases include bubbles coming out of the nostrils and diarrhea. Look out for symptoms of turtle diseases, such as upper respiratory infections, with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Pet turtles often start depending on their owner for food and recognizing their owner's scheduling. Learn about turtle behaviors and personality traits from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
The reasons for turtles refusing to eat include confusion about the season and upper respiratory infection. Find out why a pet turtle isn't eating with advice from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Field guides and reference books are the best resources for identifying turtle breeds. Discover the differences between desert tortoises and other turtles with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
When taking care of turtles, remember that different species require different cage setups. Create a good environment for a pet turtle and feed it properly with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
A turtle tank setup should include heat lamps, rocks, cacti and a basking area. Set up a turtle tank and try to recreate its natural habitat with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Turtle tanks need to be cleaned thoroughly, including changing out sand and filtration pumps. Clean a turtle tank by scrubbing out algae and using a bleach mixture with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Most of the aquatic turtles that people keep as pets are mud turtles or red ear sliders. Set up an aquatic turtle's habitat by buying a properly-sized tank with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Algae should be scrubbed off of a turtle's shell so that it doesn't stay permanently attached. Clean turtle shells of green algae and scutes with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
The sex of red-eared slider turtles can be determined by looking at the length of their nails and their chest cavities. Look for long claws and chest indentations in male turtles with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Quick signs of a turtle's death include smell, sunken eyes and no movement. Determine if a pet turtle has passed away, despite a possible lack of warning signs, with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Box turtles pull all of their body into their shell when they are scared to protect from predators. Take care of box turtles by giving them a lot of room and providing a moist environment with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Land turtles should be taken outside on occasion because heat lamps can't simulate UV rays. Take care of land turtles by providing an area that simulates their natural habitat with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Mini turtles don't need a large habitat, but they may require a good combination of mixed greens. Find out about the differences in mini-turtles from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
The diet of a turtle varies depending on the species. Discover why desert tortoises prefer cactus and how lettuce lacks nutritional value with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
After getting a wild turtle, the first thing a pet owner should do is take it to the veterinarian to be dewormed. Take care of a wild turtle by simulating its natural habitat with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Snapping turtles are dangerous and should always be grabbed by the back of their tail and held away from the body. Take care of snapping turtles by providing a proper diet with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Painted turtles require a 20-gallon tank filtration system, heat lamps and a rock or log. Take care of a painted turtle using proper hygiene with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Freshwater turtles eat fish, minnows, plants, leeches and many other foods. Learn about the diet of freshwater turtles, and why pet owners should feed them vegetables, with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
A desert tortoise's environment should have a mixture of sand, some rocks to climb on and heat lamps. Take care of desert tortoises and provided a proper diet with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video on turtle care.
Turtles might not be the high-energy pets that cats and dogs are, but they require just as much care in their environment and diet. Turtles are among the oldest reptile species, and when cared for properly, a turtle can have a very long lifespan. With their cute little heads, colorful shells and calm disposition, turtles are a great pet for the individual that likes to see nature at its calmest. However, don't assume that all turtles are docile! Some turtles, such as the snapping turtle, are carnivorous and can have quite a bite. There are many different species of turtles, and all of them have unique characteristics and needs. So, before rushing to a pet store or adopting a wild turtle, make sure to do proper research. In this free video series, the owner of a reptile rescue service provides information on taking care of pet turtles. Discover facts about turtles, turtle eating habits, turtle disease symptoms and identifying turtle breeds. Examine turtle behavior, such as why a turtle won't eat, how turtles react to different environments and how to tell if a turtle has passed away. With this pet care information, any turtle owner will become a better turtle owner.
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