Feeding and care of land turtles

Although land turtles prefer dry habitats, they need to have access to water at all times so they can cool off. They are not good swimmers, but they still depend on this fundamental liquid to survive.

Land turtles are one of the most fascinating reptiles that exist, as they have a rather imposing appearance thanks to their hard and heavy shell. Contrary to popular belief, their care in captivity can become challenging. Therefore, they are not considered as a good pet for beginners.

It is true that chelonians are quite striking specimens to the naked eye, but their basic needs are not always available to everyone. If you want to know what are the care that land turtles have in captivity, keep reading this space.

What are land turtles like?

Land turtles are part of the Testudinidae family, which is characterized by a rough shell, columnar legs and well-differentiated fingers. Thanks to these traits, chelonians living on land are able to move without difficulty and defend themselves from their predators.

The size and length of each specimen depend on the species. However, these terrestrial reptiles measure on average 83 centimeters in diameter and weigh almost 99 kilos. Its largest representatives are the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands, who possess a shell measuring more than 1 meter in length and weighing up to 300 kilograms.

In general, all turtles have a long-life expectancy, as some species are able to exceed 100 years. Therefore, if you are looking to keep one of these curious specimens in captivity, you better prepare yourself to have to take care of it for a long time.

Most common species as pets

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica website, there are about 15 genera and 49 different species of land turtles.

Among all of them, the specimens that are most often used as pets are the following:

• Marginalized turtle (Testudo marginata).
• Russian turtle (Testudo horsfieldii).
• Moorish turtles (Testudo graeca).
• Mediterranean turtle (Testudo hermanni).
• Tortugas sulcata (Centrochelys sulcata).

Care of land turtles

Reptiles are one of the most difficult exotic pets to care for, because their skin and metabolism require certain conditions in order to maintain their health. This also applies to land turtles. However, most tutors are not aware of this and many of the specimens die in their first years of life.

Before acquiring any type of pet, it is important to research their basic needs. Otherwise, you could be caused a number of long-term problems that harm your health and quality of life.

As far as land turtles are concerned, some of their requirements are as follows.

1. Terrarium

The terrariums of turtles should be quite long so that they do not have problems as they grow. While they are small it is possible to keep them in a small space such as an aquarium, but in a short time you will need to change them from place to a larger one. Therefore, several tutors use part of their yard to condition a type of corral, which gives them freedom and simulates a little their natural habitat.

Once you have decided what space the turtle will occupy, it is necessary to pay attention to the characteristics of the terrarium.

The following 4 points are essential to your life in captivity:

• Humidity:  Although the habits of these turtles are terrestrial, they still need to have humidity in the environment. Ideally, it should be kept between 40 and 50%, but some species may require up to 80%. You can place a container with water inside the terrarium and evaporation will increase moisture levels.
• Temperature:  Reptiles are ectothermic animals that need heat to perform their vital functions. Therefore, the temperature must be maintained between 25 and 32 degrees
• Celsius.  It is also good to divide the habitat into 2 parts, one cold and one warmer so that the turtle can cool down when needed.
• Lighting:  In addition to heat, chelonians use UV rays from natural light to metabolize certain proteins involved in the calcification of their bones and shells. For this reason, they need at least 10 hours of solar lighting daily for their body to work normally. In case the location of the terrarium is not conducive to receiving sunlight, special LED lights can be used for reptiles that emit the UV radiation they need.
• Substrate:  The background of the turtle's habitat should be made up of natural soil or sand. This will serve as a reservoir of heat and allow your pet to feel as if he is free. In addition, there are certain alternative substrates such as newspaper that allow to reduce the cost and work of cleaning.

2. Food

Most land turtles are herbivores, so their diet is based on different vegetables, fruits, leaves, seedlings and seeds. However, they also need a small contribution of proteins found in feed, insects, worms or earthworms. Thus, a good diet includes both food of animal origin and various vegetables.

Keep in mind that the shell of turtles is kept in constant growth and repair, so you need calcium supplements. These are usually added to your food in powder form and don't carry any extra problems with your diet. In general, each specimen should be offered satiety food between two and three times a week.

3. Health

Reptiles are one of the most complicated animals to diagnose, because their ailments do not become evident unless they have already advanced too far. Because of this, it is essential to check every day the state of the pet's habitat, its appearance, its behavior and the possible symptoms that appear. At the slightest hint that something strange exists, go to your veterinarian immediately.

One of the most frequent problems in chelonians are airway conditions. To avoid them, keep a close eye on the parameters of the terrarium and do not let there be sudden changes in temperature. Also, consider taking your pet for a check-up at least once a year to ensure he is in good health.

4. Reproduction

The reproduction of land turtles is usually carried out between the months of May and September. However, the weather conditions are what regulate the exact moment of mating. Once they have been fertilized, the females look for an area to dig their nest and lay up to 16 eggs. The substrate (soil or sand) will serve as a heat reservoir and incubate the young for between 2 and 4 months.

It is not recommended to carry out the reproduction of land turtles if you do not have professional training for it. This is because eggs need special care and the use of incubators, which makes it impossible for a tutor to do it on their own.

Laying also represents a great burden on the female's body. Therefore, her life is at risk during this process and in some cases she and all her offspring may die. In fact, even if the eggs manage to leave the mother's body, most of them will die soon after birth without proper care.

As you can see, caring for land turtles is not an easy task. It entails a great sacrifice and a deep commitment to the health of the pet, so not everyone is prepared to have it. Although they may not seem like it, these reptiles are one of the most difficult animals to keep in captivity. So, think carefully about the options before deciding on these chelonians.

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