sabato 23 gennaio 2010

Can turtles be Good Pets?

By Mark Thomas

Turtles fall under the class reptiles. Turtles have a total of 313 species and 200 subspecies. Though turtles can't hear, the have other forms of defense like their shell that helps in thermoregulation. The turtles mostly live in hot and sultry areas, and many of them are close to becoming extinct.

Is a terrestrial turtle a better pet than the aquatic turtle? Many people take the decision depending on the cost. But that isn't a good yardstick. It's after their first experience that they understood their mistake. But many among them preferred the aquatic turtle as pet over the land turtle. Some turtles can be better pets than dogs. They can really bond with their owner - Just what you expect from your pet.

It takes expert knowledge to discern the male from the female turtle. The shape of the shell of the male differs from that of the female in that it is convex, but that of the female is concave. The sex can also be identified by looking at their claws. The male has relatively longer claws than the female and the female has curved claws unlike the male which has curved claws.

The turtles need the right temperature inside the aquarium to feel comfortable. During the summer season, a temperature of 5 to 10 degree Celsius during the night and 30 to 32 degree during the day are considered optimum temperatures. Using sun beds can also be a good option.

The turtles should get the kind of food they find in their real habitats. Plants like the water hyacinth and watercress are good for them because they are high on Calcium and Phosphorous. You can also include insects, land snails and shrimp in their diet. Crushed egg shells are also a good source for nutrition for the turtles.

The turtles are capable of staying under the sun for long hours and then cooling off in the water. This is because their body temperature is much lower than normal human body temperature. This is why their energy requirement is much less than ours. So you don't need to offer them food every single day. With good care, the turtles can be great pets.

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