It’s not just a turtle. It’s your tiny turtle.
What are you going to name him?
Where is he hiding in the tank?
Does he have any favourite toys yet?
It sounds like you’re already becoming pretty close friends with this little guy!
Turtles are some of the most popular pets for people who want an animal that needs less attention than a dog or cat would.
Many people think they’ve heard all there is to know about turtles, but truthfully, we don’t know much at all because every single one has different habits and preferences.
So read on if you’re looking for some advice when it comes to caring for your new pet!
The tiny turtle is the smallest of all sea turtles.
It’s covered in rigid but flexible plates which serve as protection against predators.
Tiny turtles can grow up to about 4 inches long.
They eat seagrass, sea sponges and small fish.
The tiny turtle is found primarily on the West Atlantic but used to be found in the East Atlantic.
It’s a scarce species, and there are only around 100 left in the wild.
It’s an endangered animal.
That’s why it’s illegal to hunt, kill or keep them as pets in the US.
What will my tiny turtle need?
Turtles are pretty low-maintenance creatures, but they still need a few things to survive. First of all, they need a place to live.
A tiny turtle enclosure should include a land area and an area for the water, with both regions being as much as you can provide.
Baby turtles are called hatchlings and they can’t swim on their own for up to a year.
That means your tiny turtle will need a place where he can swim around and climb on things.
He’ll also need a way to get out of the water.
Here are some things you should include in your turtle’s tank:
A basking area, which is a place where he can get out of the water and warm up to dry off
Land areas for him to climb on or swim around in (but not both at once)
Shallow pools that he can swim in and get exercise.
A hiding place for him to sleep or feel safe. Hiding places should be big enough for him to fit in completely.
He might prefer a cave-like structure or something that looks like part of an underwater landscape.
Land areas, which are not too high, don’t fall off them but still give him a place to climb on.
Wooden logs for him to swim around in and get exercise
A water filter so the turtle can have clean water
Plants that he can hide among or eat if you believe it’s safe to feed him some
A large area of sand where he can dig a hole and bury his waste (you’ll probably need to empty it every once in a while)
Heat lamps or aquarium lights, depending on your type of enclosure, so the water stays warm enough for him and filters appropriately.
Keep in mind that turtles don’t have body heat like mammals do!
They use sunlight or bulbs to keep themselves warm.
Turtle bowls and basking spots should be submerged in water, but the rest of your turtle’s tank should not.
The land area and hiding places are for him, but the shallow pools give him exercise and fun!
If he gets into the deep parts of his tank regularly, you’ll have a hard time watching him.
They have an amazing sense of smell that helps them find food.
Their sense of smell is also what makes them good at finding their way home when they get lost.
You’ll need to take care not to block off the area around his nose with your hand or something.
Clean his water weekly by changing the entire thing and scrubbing it with a small scrubber.
It would be best if you also cleaned the basking area once or twice a week.
Feed your tiny turtle some plants (if you’re sure they’re safe for turtles) and meaty foods like earthworms, bloodworms, mussels, clams, and shrimp.
Turtles will eat pretty much anything you give them, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
He’ll need to bask every day, or he won’t soak up enough heat to keep him warm.
Basking also helps him digest his food better.
Also, turtles can live for a very long time (a hundred years or more in some cases!), so you’ll have to do the work of taking care of them for a long time.
He might need new water filters every year or two, which will be very expensive to replace.
If your turtle gets sick, take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible!
They use their flippers to move around on land, but sometimes they need help from humans or other animals.
Turtles can get stuck on land or under your turtle tank, or even in their water filters.
If they fall into the sand, bury them up to their necks and let them dig themselves out.
If you think they’ve ingested something that shouldn’t be in there (like a toy), just take them to the vet right away!
Feeding your turtle will be tricky at first.
Turtles have a long, hard shell called a carapace, protecting them from predators (like other animals).
Their plastron is the part of their body on the bottom that they use to swim and walk around with. They’ve also got flippers to help them move on land.
Turtles have a very long life span, like up to 100 or 200 years.
They use their smell to find food, and then they swallow it!
If you’re ever unsure if something is safe for turtles, wash your turtle’s food well before giving it to him.
Most turtles only need water in their tank to keep the water clean, but some turtles like mud and dirt and plants.
You’ll have to do a lot of research (like, even more than this whole post!) to see what kind of turtle you have before you decide whether or not it needs land in its tank.
One thing you should never do with a turtle is touch its shell – it will get scared and may go into shock.
It would help if you never held a turtle-like you would keep a puppy.
Your hands are too big, and they’ll be scared, so let them walk around instead!
Remember that turtles can live for a very long time, from 50 to 100 years!
They need a lot of care and attention.
You will probably want to buy a turtle tank.
Turtle tanks usually come with land for the turtles to walk on, but you can buy a tank without a lid for your turtle (as long as there are no predators around!) or a smaller tank that doesn’t have any room for him to swim in.
Since turtles aren’t mammals like people, they don’t need to drink water.
Instead, they get all the water they need from their food!
If you don’t take care of your turtle right, he could get very sick and die!
You will probably want to buy a book or look online for taking care of your kind of turtle – you must get good information!
Turtles can feel cold and hot, just like we do.
It would be best if you kept them in the water around 80 degrees at all times – this will help them stay healthy.
They eat a lot of food, and they love to bask under heat lamps for hours every day to maintain their body heat.
Turtles can live in salt water or fresh water, but some species only live in one type of environment.
To keep them healthy, you’ll have to do a lot of research before getting them!
Most species live for about 50 or 60 years.
Some even longer – 100 years or more is possible in some cases!
They don’t need much care, but they can get sick quickly if you aren’t careful.
Some types of turtles don’t have a shell, and they only live for about 40 years.
They need a lot more care than turtles with shells.
Turtles come in all shapes, sizes and colours!
You might want to visit the library or do some research online before you get your turtle so that he will be healthy and happy for many years.
It takes a lot of work to keep turtles alive and healthy, making sure that you are ready before starting caring for your turtle!
They can be very destructive, but they’re cute and funny, just like dogs or other pets.
Just be prepared to spend a lot of time on research!
Conclusion
All turtles are amazing creatures, and we hope you enjoyed learning about some of the most well-known types.
It’s important to remember that they must be treated with care because their shells can get scared if touched too hard or quickly.
