A reflection of the state of health and well-being of a domestic turtle is its shell. The owner of such a reptile should know this and carefully monitor changes in the turtle's "armor".

Unfortunately, many owners of such animals accept the symptoms serious illnesses for signs of natural processes- molting, shell growth or aquarium flowering. Meanwhile, for to recognize the disease in time, you just need to periodically examine your pet and know what features of the condition of the shell are the reason for going to the doctor.

When the owner of a land or freshwater turtle brings a sick animal to the veterinarian, the disease is usually caused by one of two reasons - improper maintenance or improper feeding.

The shape of the shell directly depends on the lifestyle of the animal. land turtle has a shell with a convex shape and horny growths that create its density. At freshwater representatives the shell is usually flat. At sea ​​turtles it has a teardrop shape, which allows you to move quickly in the water. Among the many species of turtles, there are soft-bodied, that is, having soft skin as a shell.

But we will not talk about these representatives of the fauna yet.

What should alert in the state of the shell?

In general, any deviation from normal state cover, integrity or color cannot be ignored. Another thing is that not every damage to the shell should be a reason to visit a veterinarian. And in order to distinguish serious problems from nonsense, it is enough to know a few simple features, and then your pet turtle will always be healthy.

Shell damage

If you have a land tortoise, then the most common thing you will have to deal with is traumatic damage to the shell. This usually happens when a pet turtle crawls into a narrow space or falls from a considerable height. In this case, it also happens that the owners are not aware of the injuries received. That's why it is necessary to regularly inspect the pet for scratches, cracks and other changes.

If you still notice damage to the shell of a turtle, then you should not delay it, immediately contact your veterinary herpetologist. Only a specialist can help restore the integrity of the shell and answer the question of what happened, because cracks are the result of not only injuries, but also serious diseases. In freshwater turtles, damage to the shell can lead to severe ulcerative dissection disease. This begins with fungus attacking the carapace, causing cracks and scratches to develop into ulcers. With such diseases, it is urgent to consult a doctor.

Shell peeling

What at land turtle the skin on the neck and paws may peel off- normal, this is a natural process of molting. However, many owners of such animals believe that the shell can also peel off for the same reason. This is not true. If light-colored scales appear on the shell, this means that the pet turtle is sick with a fungus or has a lack of vitamin A. Aquatic turtles may develop a slight peeling on the shell during molting, this is normal. This condition does not require any medical procedures. However, if an aquatic turtle is covered with large tatters of skin, and this happens for a long time, then this is already a serious reason to worry. Such symptoms are manifested in fungal diseases, which requires cleaning the terrarium and adding blue to the water.

Changing the color of the horny scutes of the carapace

Often, molting in a land tortoise is manifested by the formation of a small air bubble under the horny shield (a portion of the shell on the back) or its ebb. But if under the shield appears a large number of bubbles or it changes color, this may be evidence of the development of secondary bacterial or fungal microflora, as well as the development of unicellular algae. Such problems can lead to the destruction of the shell.

If a dark-colored liquid appears under the horny shield, resembling blood, and overflows when pressed, you should immediately consult a doctor !!! This is how kidney failure develops in a turtle. And if she is not helped, the animal will die. Pink spots with a characteristic rough surface on the shell of a freshwater turtle are a sign of the development of osteomyelitis. It appears due to a bacterial infection of the shell. If this disease is not treated, then the upper layer of the carapace may die off, which will manifest itself in the appearance of areas yellow color. As the disease progresses, it may be affected bone and even internal organs.

soft shell

The density of the shell of a land tortoise indicates the abundance of calcium in the body, accordingly, if the shell becomes soft to the touch, this is a reason for prescribing an additional calcium intake to the animal. In aquatic turtles, the softness of the shell indicates a lack of maintenance by the owner (for example, a lack of ultraviolet radiation) or a lack of vitamin D. Therefore, in such situations, it is necessary to make sure that the pet turtle lives in good conditions and introduce foods containing the missing vitamin into her diet. However, remember, in no case should turtles be given vitamins intended for dogs and cats, we recommend using Kalfos and Kalfon preparations in such situations.

Algae on the shell (freshwater turtles)

Almost all aquatic turtles have some algae on their shells. However, if there are too many of them, this indicates that the water in the terrarium is polluted or its lighting is too bright. If there is too much algae on the pet's body, this can lead to flaking of the shields and even to the destruction of the shell. In order to avoid this, you need to clean the shell with Lugol's solution and be sure to clean the aquarium.

All of these signs should not be left without your attention. domestic turtle can be sick for a long time, slowly dying. Often people bring their pets to the clinic and are sincerely surprised that the reptile is on the verge of life and death, and sometimes doctors can no longer do anything. Therefore, remember that any changes and damage to the turtle's shell must be repaired or seriously treated, otherwise you will lose your exotic friend.

AT feng shui turtle- a symbol of wisdom, longevity, heavenly support and gradual but sure progress. This is the most respected feng shui symbol, one of the most strong talismans. Turtle is one of Heavenly Animals. There are four of them: tiger, dragon, turtle and phoenix.

The support provided by this symbol is quite multifaceted, but it is mainly directed towards protection, stability and promotion. career ladder. And the turtle can really help you a lot to achieve your goals, but only if you work for this, since this animal is also symbol of hard work which is never in vain and is always rewarded. She will not give you happy lottery ticket, will not change your life in the blink of an eye, but will direct your aspirations in the right direction, will give wisdom to make the necessary decisions, provide stability and protect against many negative factors.

First of all, the turtle helps head of the family because the well-being of the whole family depends on it. That is why it is important that he must have this symbol. It is also very important for old people, because it gives them vitality and improves well-being.

Turtle feng shui types of mascots

metal turtle

Statuette made from any metal plated with gold or silver the best option this talisman. Metal generates water, and water is the native element for the turtle. For this reason, such a talisman acquires special power and is considered most effective. The heavier such a figure is, the more weighty its support will be.

Pyramid of three turtles

Three turtles, one on top of one, are symbol of generations. Such a talisman will bring stable prosperity and wisdom to more than one generation in your family.

feng shui black turtle

Actually, the shape and material do not prevent the figures from having different colors. Therefore, it cannot be said that the black tortoise is some kind of special symbol. But black matches water element and the career zone that this symbol has a special effect on. As a result, black is simply enhances the action talisman in this zone.

Dragon turtle (turtle with dragon head)

As we have said, the dragon and the turtle are two of the four most important feng shui animals. Accordingly, such a figurine takes on the power and strength two heavenly animals and gives its owner unsurpassed strength, protection and prosperity.

Turtle on coins

With this symbol that unites coins and animal, everything is very clear: a turtle sitting on a hill of coins will help you if you are waiting for a solution to some financial issues or you need to increase your income.

live turtle

It is no longer just a symbol, but also a feng shui pet. It will bring you wisdom and protection in the same way as the figurine, but it will require attention to itself. Despite the fact that it is better to place the figurine behind your back (we will talk about this a little later), there is no place for an aquarium with an animal - water will sweep all your undertakings and efforts that you make while climbing the career ladder.

Other types of turtles

Regardless of what material the turtle will be made of - be it ceramics, wood, soft toy or even just an image - its energy will still fill your home. Therefore, you can even make such a feng shui talisman on one's own. For example, draw this animal on paper or find an image in a magazine, cut it out and hang it on the wall. You can add a triangle to the shell of blue color, symbolizing water, and your photograph.

Where to Position the Feng Shui Turtle

turtle match career zone located in the North. Logically, that's where she belongs. But since her task is to cover your rear, let her be behind you. It depends on what is located behind the back in which form it is better to choose a turtle: if the surface is flat (for example, a closet or wall), stop at the image of the animal, hanging it so that the turtle crawled up. Then it will pull up and the level of your life.

If there is a shelf or a window at the back, you can put a figurine. This should be done so that the turtle looked out the window. In this way, you will allow it to neutralize the harmful Sha energy coming from the outside. It can be factory pipes outside the window, dirt, a sharp corner of a neighboring building, etc. Direct her gaze to such objects - and she will absorb their destructive energy. But no way turtle should not look into the room otherwise she will take vitality those living in the house.

Do not forget that the principle "the more the better" is not appropriate in the case of a turtle: she loves loneliness, so the figurine should be only one. This talisman does not need any special activation, but you can increase its influence by placing a container with water or some plant(except cactus) - what is natural environment turtle habitat.

Although the best place for the turtle in the career zone, pay attention to material from which the figurine is made. A ceramic or metal turtle will take root in its rightful place. But wooden better put on South or East. Stone let the figurine stand on balcony, a pyramid of three turtles- on the northeast, in the family zone (this symbol is appropriate if all three generations live in the house at the same time). Just like the feng shui horse, the turtle should not be placed in the bedroom.

Many feng shui talismans can be depicted on other talismans so that they reinforce each other's action. As we already understood thanks to the Dragon Turtle, our today's symbol is no exception. Just draw a turtle on any other symbol or stick it on it and you will get double talisman interaction.

The Orthodox Church is categorically against feng shui!

The European marsh turtle (lat. Emys orbicularis) is a very common species of aquatic turtle, which is often kept at home. They live throughout Europe, as well as in the Middle East and even in North Africa.

We will tell you about its habitat in nature, the maintenance and care of the marsh turtle at home.

As already mentioned, the European marsh turtle lives in a wide range, covering not only Europe, but also Africa and Asia. Accordingly, it is not listed in the Red Book.

She lives in various reservoirs: ponds, canals, swamps, streams, rivers, even large puddles. Bog turtles live in the water, but they love to bask very much and get out on stones, snags, various garbage to lie under the sun.

Even on cool and overcast days, they attempt to bask in the sun that breaks through the clouds. Like most aquatic turtles in nature, marsh turtles instantly flop into the water at the sight of a person or animal.

Their powerful paws with long claws allow them to swim through thickets with ease and even burrow into muddy ground or under leaf layers. They love aquatic vegetation and hide in it at the slightest opportunity.

Description

The European bog turtle has an oval or rounded carapace, smooth, usually black or yellow-green in color. It is dotted with many small yellow or white spots, sometimes forming rays or lines.

The carapace is smooth when wet and glistens in the sun, becoming more opaque as it dries. The head is large, slightly pointed, without a beak. The skin on the head is dark, often black, with small patches of yellow or white color. Paws are dark, also with light spots on them.

Emys orbicularis has several subspecies that differ in coloration, size, or detail, but most often in range. For example, the Sicilian marsh turtle (Emys (orbicularis) trinacris) with a catchy yellow-green carapace and the same skin color. And Emys orbicularis orbicularis living in Russia and Ukraine is almost completely black.

Adult marsh turtles reach a carapace size of up to 35 cm and a weight of up to 1.5 kg. Although, when kept at home, they are usually smaller, despite the fact that the subspecies living in Russia is one of the largest.

European bog turtle is very similar to the American marsh turtle(Emydoidea blandingii), after appearance and habits. They were even assigned to the genus Emys for a long time. However, further study led to the fact that these two species were divided according to differences in the structure of the internal skeleton.

There is no consensus on how long the marsh turtle lives. But, the fact that she is a long-liver, everyone agrees. According to various opinions, life expectancy ranges from 30 to 100.

Availability

The bog turtle can be found for sale, or caught in nature, during warm months. But, with normal maintenance, owners with zero experience in breeding turtles, offspring are successfully obtained. All individuals kept in captivity are unpretentious and easy to care for.

However, it is important to note that in order to keep a bog turtle, you need to create fairly accurate conditions. And just to bring and put her in a basin will not work. If you caught a turtle in nature, and you only need it for fun, then leave it where you took it. Believe me, this way you will simplify your life and not destroy the animal.

Juvenile bog turtles should be kept indoors, while older ones can be released into home ponds for the summer. For 1-2 turtles, an aquaterrarium with a volume of 100 liters or more is needed, and as they grow, twice as much. For a couple of turtles, you need a 150 x 60 x 50 aquarium, plus land for heating. Since they spend a lot of time in water, the larger the volume, the better.

However, it is important to keep the water clean and change it regularly, plus use a powerful filter. While eating, turtles litter a lot, and there is a lot of waste from it.

All this instantly spoils the water, and dirty water leads to various diseases in aquatic turtles, from bacterial eye diseases to sepsis. To reduce pollution during feeding, the turtle can be planted in a separate container.

Decor and soil can be omitted, since the turtle does not particularly need it, and it is much more difficult to clean up with it in the aquarium.

Approximately ⅓ in the aquarium should be land, to which the turtle must have access. They regularly come out on land to bask, and so that they can do this without access to the sun, a heating lamp is placed above the land.

Heating

Natural sunlight is best, and small turtles should preferably be exposed to the sun's rays in summer months. However, there is not always such an opportunity and an analogue sunlight must be created artificially.

To do this, in the aquaterrarium, above the land, they place an incandescent lamp and a special lamp with UV rays - an ultraviolet lamp for reptiles (10% UVB). Moreover, the height must be at least 20 cm so that the animal does not get burned. The temperature on land, under the lamp should be 30-32C, and the length daylight hours at least 12 hours.

In nature, they hibernate, hibernate, but in captivity they do not do this and you do not need to force them! Home conditions quite allow her to be active throughout the year, this is not winter when there is nothing to eat.

Feeding

What to feed a marsh turtle? The main thing is not what, but how. While feeding, bog turtles are very aggressive!

It feeds on fish, shrimps, beef heart, liver, chicken heart, frogs, worms, crickets, mice, artificial food, snails. The best food is fish, for example, you can run live fish, guppies directly into the aquarium. Juveniles are fed every day, and adult turtles are fed every two to three days. They are very hungry for food and overeat easily.

For normal development turtles need vitamins and calcium. Usually artificial foods contain everything a turtle needs, so adding food from a pet store to the diet is not superfluous. And yes, they need sunlight to absorb calcium and produce vitamin B3. So do not forget about special lamps and heating.

Appeal

Very smart, they quickly understand that the owner feeds them and will rush to you in the hope of feeding. However, at this moment they are aggressive and you need to be careful. Like all turtles, they are treacherous and can bite, and quite painfully.

They need to be handled with care and generally touched less often. It is better not to give to children, as they carry each other a mutual danger.

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The turtle is a symbol of wisdom and longevity, because this amphibian lives for three hundred years, which means it has time to learn a lot in its life. Exists popular belief that the turtle moves so slowly, because her life is long and she has nowhere to hurry.

The image of a turtle evoked by your subconscious in a dream is most likely an implementation of such well-known folk expressions as “Crawl like a turtle” or “Hide your head in a shell like a turtle.”

Everyone knows that the first expression is used for people who are slow, slow-witted, and the second - for cowardly, dependent people.

So, the image of a turtle that appeared in a dream can mean procrastination in a dream, an obstacle in business, and also personify a person who does not have time to do everything that is entrusted to him, lazy or simply not wanting to do anything.

Watching in a dream how a turtle hides its head in a shell is a sign that there is a dependent person in your environment who not only interferes with the implementation of your plans, but also has a bad effect on you.

To dream of a turtle hiding in a shell is a sign that you will have a calm and happy life. Harmony will reign in your house, relations with your loved one and children will be normalized.

Watching in a dream a turtle that grabs the paws of a bird to learn how to fly - such a dream indicates that you are a very arrogant person and do not listen to the practical advice of other people at all, not even suspecting that you are making it worse for yourself.

Watching a slowly crawling turtle in a dream means that in reality you are a very slow person and therefore it is difficult for you to adapt to the changes that are happening around you.

Perhaps such a dream suggests that your work companion, due to his slowness in making decisions, slows down your affairs, and you will not be able to influence the course of events in any way and, despite all your efforts, you will not achieve anything new.

If you dreamed of a turtle crawling to race with any animal, then in real life You will not be able to compete with your business partner: you are too weak and slow to do this.

To dream of a turtle lying on its shell is a sign that there is a very wise, influential person in your environment who will think several times before doing anything. Heed his advice.

Walking in a dream with a turtle - such a dream portends a long and happy life. If in a dream you saw one of your close friends walking with a turtle, then this person will live a long life.

If in a dream you buy a turtle, it means that soon a person will appear in your environment who will only interfere with you, although his task will be to help you in your work. Demand a replacement from the authorities, do not waste your strength on this slow person, there will be no sense.

Watch for aquatic turtles that swim in the aquarium - you need to be patient, because you will have a period of painful waiting.

Feeding a turtle in a dream - you are not supporting the person who needs your help, but the parasite who has found strings in your soul that you can play and get what you want from you.

Interpretation of dreams from the Ancient dream book

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A dream about a turtle portends some interesting event in your life. Its consequences will undoubtedly strengthen your character and affect your work.

If in a dream you ate turtle soup, you have dubious entertainment ahead of you.

Riding in a dream sea ​​turtle- in recent times you are very worried about something. You cannot get rid of this anxiety and instill anxiety in the people around you. Look at the world more optimistically, there is no reason for such a gloomy mood.

If you dreamed that the turtle did not want to “come out” of its shell, then you tend to blame anyone but yourself for all your problems. Think about the fact that you yourself are not perfect, and stop ruining relationships with people.

They watched a crawling turtle - a disease is possible, and the reason for it lies in your overly quick-tempered character.

Interpretation of dreams from

The shell of a fairly adult tortoise is usually wrinkled. Its length depends on a certain subspecies and, as a rule, reaches 28 centimeters. has a small spot near the eyes. The peculiarity is that their colors are diverse and tend to change over the years. Thus, in youth they have a green color, and in old age they are completely black. The ventral shield of the shell has a bright yellow color with darkish round spots. The turtle grows as follows: for the first year and a half of their life, their growth reaches 7.5 cm, then the pace becomes slower and it increases by only 1.25 cm per year. In two years, growth can be more than 20 cm, that is, it is a mistake to consider it dwarf. And do not listen to sellers who convince otherwise.

The length of the species Scripta Scripta reaches approximately 27 cm. This turtle has a bright yellow postorbital spot. Her plastron is a deep yellow.

Another subspecies - Elegant, has a length of 28 centimeters. A reddish postorbital stripe is located on the head, and there are narrow stripes on the chin. The ventral shield of the carapace has large spots on all shields.

The third species of tortoise, Scripta Troostii, has the shortest length of all - about 21 centimeters. On the head there is a narrow postorbital strip of yellowish color, and on the chin there are wide stripes. And its plastron consists of unusual drawings in the form of "eyes", and sometimes from ordinary small black spots.

Habitat

Turtles live in shallow lakes with swampy low shores. You can find them in the USA in Florida, Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and also in Mexico, throughout Central America, in northern Colombia.

What to feed the red-eared turtle

As for young turtles, they need for the active life growth of the body animal food. In this regard, it should be given once a day, but no more. Also, the aquarium should have a variety of algae and any other plants that are edible for turtles.

Adult turtles are individuals that are much larger than 12 centimeters. They must eat food once every two or three days, and half of their diet must necessarily be some kind of vegetation. The aquaterrarium should contain any edible plants so that turtles can eat them between meals of animal food.

The amount of food given is determined based on the size of the turtle. For babies, the norm is two or three pieces of one cubic centimeter, and for older turtles, two or three pieces are several times larger.

It is necessary to ensure that the food is at a suitable room temperature and must be of a raw consistency. It is important to remember that young turtles are primarily predators. Their main food is fish. You can add live fish to the aquarium, which they will not be able to eat. It is necessary to diversify the given diet and not feed only gammarus and dry food. Adult turtles are omnivores. They eat both animal and vegetable food.

Types of food

From fish it is useful for turtles to eat pollock, gobies, cod, blue whiting and any other, but not fatty. Liver can be beef, and you can also give liver, chicken heart. From insects and crustaceans: not dry gammarus, earthworms, daphnia crustaceans, crickets without legs, beetles. You can also diversify the food they serve with the help of small snails, mollusks, squids, frogs, small tadpoles, seafood you should not get carried away, as any turtle itself is a sea turtle. Water plants are not prohibited from plant food: duckweed, hyacinth and others. In addition, it can be dandelion, daisies and any non-poisonous meadow flowers and plants. And vegetables, except for carrots and lettuce, are undesirable.

It is strictly forbidden to give turtles meat to eat: any minced meat, sausages, beef, sausage, lamb, chicken, pork and more. Forbidden oily fish, cheese, fruit and bread. It is best to avoid dry food.

If the aquarium is well equipped, has ultraviolet lighting, appropriate temperature conditions, then vitamins can not be included in the diet. But, in the case when the conditions are far from ideal, then it is necessary to remember about the vitamin-mineral basis. Especially for this, vitamins are already included in the feed.

reproduction

Puberty occurs in females and males in different ways, and this is also influenced by their lifestyle. If they are in captivity, then this period begins at 4 years for males and from 5-6 years for females. And in the wild, they reach maturity by about 8 years. The mating season begins in spring: in March - April. Their process is as follows: the male crawls very close to the female, sticks his muzzle into her and tickles her chin with long claws.

The eggs laid do not exceed 4 cm in size. They are laid on land, and not in water. But the place for the eggs must be wet, so the female wets it with water from the anal bladders and then pulls out a small hole. Female turtles lay no more than 10 eggs in their nests, which are subsequently buried. The incubation period is up to 150 days. Interesting feature with temperature. If the temperature remains above 30 degrees, then females hatch, and if below 27 - males.

What should be the aquarium for the red-eared turtle

It should be quite long, but at the same time narrow and low. By volume not less than 120 liters. The water level must match the proportions of your turtle's shell so that it can roll over. The aquarium should be equipped with a small shore. Maintain water temperature within 25 degrees, on land - 31 - 33 degrees. To keep the temperature at the level, a special heater must be provided.

Water must be changed and cleaned depending on the degree of contamination. But you can use a special filter. For young turtles, the external one is preferred, while for adults, only the internal one. An ultraviolet lamp will not hurt either, but it should not be low, the approximate height is 25 cm, so that the turtle does not get an eye burn. Another option for arranging an aquaterrarium is an incandescent lamp with the same requirements. They both need to be turned off at night.

If the window is good warm weather, then try to take out the turtles to bask more often. But remember that the first time you do not need to keep it in the sun for more than 5 minutes. And it is important to increase the time spent in the fresh air gradually. They also need a dark place where they can periodically hide from the sun, as they are prone to overheating.

So, for the remaining two turtles from January to March, the temperature should be 18 degrees, and the lighting duration should be 8 hours, April - 21/8, where 21 is the temperature, and 8 is the duration of lighting, May - 24/10, June - 27 /13, July - 28/13, August - 28/11, September - 25/10, October - 22/8, November and December - 18/8.

And for Trachemys scripta troostii requirements are as follows: January - March - 18/8, April - 20/8, May - 21/10, June - 23/13, July - 26/13, August - 25/11, September - 20/10, October - December - 18/8.

Falling into hibernation

Some scientists claim that Trachemys scripta hibernates and that they need it. But it is quite difficult to imagine this process at home. It would be more logical not to create difficulties for yourself and not cause unnecessary harm to the health of the turtle by organizing hibernation.

Up to 45 years, and European swamps can stretch up to 80.

Many fishermen use their eggs to lure fish.

Be careful, as turtles can bite not only their own kind, but also a person! But if they are accustomed to hands, then there is nothing to be afraid of.

And do not forget that a balanced diet is the key to the active growth of the turtle and its longevity!

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