6 Common Mistakes in Turtle Keeping That Shorten Their Lives!

Many people choose to keep turtles, thinking they are easy to care for and less trouble than cats and dogs. However, some of our unintentional small actions can actually be harmful to them. Below, let’s talk about the behaviors that can shorten your “little turtle’s” life. Come and see if you are guilty of any!

Overeating

Because a turtle’s digestive capacity is limited, sudden overeating is not good for its body. Moreover, if there is too much food residue in the water, it can easily lead to the deterioration of water quality. This is bad for the turtle’s health and may also cause deformities due to excessively rapid growth.

Excessive Handling

A newly purchased small turtle needs to rest quietly after arriving home. Excessive handling can cause the turtle to be stressed for a long time, leading to a decrease in its resistance, making it more susceptible to illness. It can even cause the turtle to refuse food for an extended period, ultimately leading to death.

Frequent Water Changes

When keeping turtles, the cleaner the water, the better is not necessarily true; it is more important to focus on the stability of the water quality. Don’t change the water as soon as it gets dirty. Without a filtration system, you can change the water once every 2 – 3 days. Do not replace it all at once; it’s better to leave about 1 / 3 of the old water each time. Additionally, the temperature difference between the old and new water should not be too large. If a filtration system is used, the frequency of water changes can be extended.

Lack of Attention

It’s best to observe your turtle’s condition every day. If you find the turtle breathing with its mouth open, it could be a sign of pneumonia. Once you notice any abnormalities, you should seek medical help immediately or take appropriate measures. Don’t wait until the illness becomes severe, as it will be too late for regrets.

Lack of Sunlight

A moderate amount of sunbathing helps them synthesize Vitamin D and supplement calcium to promote growth. Don’t always keep them in dark corners.

Incorrect Temperature

Turtles are cold-blooded animals and are very sensitive to temperature. Maintaining a suitable and stable temperature is very important. Being too hot or too cold will affect the turtle’s health, and a large temperature difference can easily cause it to ‘Gā Guī’ (slang for death).

In summary: If you keep a turtle, you must take good care of it. In the process of caring for your turtle, you should avoid the behaviors mentioned above that can shorten its life. Additionally, in daily turtle care, pay attention to feeding, sunlight, temperature, and so on. During the cold winter, it is better to let the turtle hibernate, as this can reduce energy consumption and extend its lifespan.