Many owners of red-eared turtles are anxious if their pet hibernates. In fact, red-eared turtles do not need seasonal hibernation at all, and prolonged sleep may be a consequence of illness.
In nature, the red-eared turtle behaves actively at high air temperatures. Up to + 40- + 42 degrees, she feels comfortable, basking in the sun, sticking her head and legs out of the shell. With the onset of cooler weather, the turtle becomes lethargic, stops eating, and when the air temperature drops to -10 degrees, it buries itself in sand or muddy soil and hibernates. But keeping turtles in captivity is different from living in the natural environment.
Where to keep red-eared turtles
For a comfortable existence at home, a red-eared turtle is quite suitable for a fairly spacious terrarium aquarium with clean water at room temperature. The aquaterrarium should be equipped with a small island of land for the turtle to climb. As a rule, in pet stores there are plastic "islands" with suction cups, which are attached to the walls of the container.
To maintain the required water temperature, a thermostat is installed in the aquarium. Also, the turtle's dwelling is equipped with a lamp to create a level of illumination and warmth. The water in the aquaterrarium must be changed at least once every two weeks. It should be warm and settled. The most suitable water temperature for a turtle is + 25- + 28 degrees.
What to feed red-eared turtles
The diet of turtles is quite extensive. At a young age, they can be fed with mixtures of dried crustaceans purchased from the pet store (dried hemarus). Also, with pleasure, a resident of a home terrarium will eat earthworms, bloodworms, minced meat and beef liver.
In the diet of an adult turtle, "vegetable dishes" must be present. Lettuce greens, leaves of carrot or beet tops, pieces of vegetables and fruits - these products are simply necessary for the turtle.
How to tell if a turtle is sick or hibernating
As a rule, turtles, which are kept in apartments, do not need to hibernate for a long time. With the onset of seasonal cold weather, in October-November, the inhabitant of the aquarium may slightly change her behavior. Her appetite disappears, the duration of sleep increases. But she is unlikely to go into hibernation, since the apartment is warm and light enough, and her own "house" is also additionally highlighted.
On the other hand, the behavior of a turtle, which its owners regard as hibernation, can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. Therefore, if the apartment is warm, and the turtle is sleeping and does not move, you should sound the alarm. The first step is to touch it: if the head and limbs are stretched out and do not respond to touch, it is likely that the pet has died. A live turtle, when it gets into warm water, will definitely start moving its legs and try to swim. Another surefire way to tell if a turtle is alive is to test the corneal reflex. If the eye does not respond to the touch of an object, then the turtle is dead.
