That's Not My Turtle...

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Baby turtles are harder to identify down to species level. You can’t use their size to identify them. Unfortunately, adult size is a crucial component for nailing down some turtle species. Some turtles are so small as adults that they can be mistaken for a baby! If your animals are kept outside, pay attention to night-time temperatures towards autumn. If they drop too low your animals may try to hibernate – and, you guessed it – refuse to eat. If you want them to hibernate this is fine, but if they are a species that does not naturally do so you must bring them inside before temperatures dip. Something that always makes me cringe is when I see a tiny baby turtle being kept in a huge tank, with 2 ft (60 cm) deep water.

I have 2 small red eared sliders. I have had them over a year and they have always been good eaters. In September they stopped eating. They haven’t eaten in 4 months. They are strong, they bask, they are indoors in a 30 gallon aquarium. Range: Mojave and Sonoran deserts of the southwestern United States. East of the Colorado River. Texas Tortoise ( Gopherus berlandieri) Did you know that a turtle wouldn’t survive without its shell?! A turtle’s shell is imperative for its survival and identification. These magnificent creatures come in all shapes and sizes and live in a number of different environments. They all belong to a group of reptiles called Testudines, which includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Tortoises and box turtles have dome-shaped shells. Most tortoises have fixed shells that don’t move or close. Box turtles have hinged shells that they can hide inside.

Tortoises are curious by nature and can be tempted by brightly coloured or strong-smelling fruit. For a sulky tortoise, red watermelon is my go-to, though it is high in sugar and should not be given too often. The biologists at DiscoverLife.org have developed a handy visual quiz for identifying turtle species. This quiz is based mainly on shell characteristics. Identifying a Freshwater Aquatic Turtle Species Most North American turtles are considered freshwater aquatic turtles. This group includes many prevalent species, such as: Christine Gail Sinclair on Travels with my Ancestors #13: Thomas Eather, Kentish man & Elizabeth Lee, Lancashire lass: pt 2

While their metabolisms may be running at a much lower rate during these periods, it does show that Chelonians are able to survive extreme variations in food intake.Denise Newton on Travels with my Ancestors #13: Thomas Eather, Kentish man & Elizabeth Lee, Lancashire lass: pt 2