Turtles are usually represented as lazy, slow, dull animals, although this is not at all the case. Healthy turtles are quite active, mobile, especially during the breeding season. Most land turtles travel great distances in nature. And according to their ingenuity, turtles will give shape to many rodents. When choosing a turtle, be careful - some unscrupulous sellers may slip you a sick animal. Here are some tips to find the healthiest turtles on offer.
Instructions
Step 1
First of all, examine the skin of the animal for the presence of ectoparasites (mites). Look at the dental needles - they should be the same length. There should be no horny outgrowths on the front of the head, as they prevent the turtle from eating.
Step 2
Examine the carapace. If a turtle does not feed properly, its shell may deform or simply become weaker. In adult turtles, the shell, both the abdominal (plastron) and the dorsal (carapace), is hard and motionless. The cornea in these animals is attached to the skeleton. It must be free of scratches and / or other damage. It is absent in leatherback turtles. In its place, the animal has smooth skin.
Step 3
Examine your eyes. They don't have to be glued together. There should be no cloudy or transparent discharge. There should be no edema on the eyelid.
Step 4
The mucous membrane of the mouth and nasal openings should be free of secretions and deposits. If there are foam bubbles in your mouth or nasal openings, it may be pneumonia.
Step 5
When sick, the turtle is often unable to reflexively hide its head. Sea turtles and water turtles may float or behave strangely when they are sick (this often happens with pneumonia). Also, an abnormal position in turtles can be observed after swallowing a foreign body (for example, a large stone).
Step 6
Also observe the noises that the animal makes. The breathing of healthy individuals is silent, although in an unusual situation they can snort. Extraneous sounds, breathing noises may indicate a disease.
