For those who have watched the first episode of the beginner’s turtle-keeping guide, you should now be ready with a suitable turtle tank, and the water should be in the maintenance stage. Next, you are eager to buy a turtle. It is now late April, and soon it will be May. The temperature in most parts of the country is starting to warm up. If the average temperature in your area reaches above 20 degrees Celsius, that would be a suitable time to buy a turtle.
Remember, do not buy turtles in the fall or winter. The temperature during this period is very low. Turtles are ectothermic animals. They are prone to problems in low temperatures or when there is a large temperature difference. Moreover, many turtle vendors are from the southern regions, and there is a significant temperature difference between the north and the south. Even some experienced turtle keepers would not easily buy turtles in the fall or winter.
The most suitable time to get a turtle is in May, June, and July each year. The temperature is relatively warm at this time, which is very suitable for turtles to live. When you are keeping a turtle for the first time, I suggest you can choose our national turtle – the Chinese Three-striped Turtle.
Firstly, the price of the Three-striped Turtle is relatively cheap. The seedlings on the market may be around two dollars each. The Three-striped Turtle has a wide distribution in our country and is easy to raise. At the same time, the Three-striped Turtle is also a very charming national turtle. The more you raise it, the more durable it becomes, and the more spiritual it becomes. When the male Three-striped Turtle reaches sexual maturity, it will become melanized and turn into a real “black” turtle, which is very magical. Even if you really don’t want to keep it one day, you can release them into the wild without affecting the ecological balance like the red-eared slider, which is an invasive species.
As for the size of the turtle, I suggest buying five to six centimeter sub-adults raised in outdoor ponds. This size has better adaptability and physical quality. Remember, never buy greenhouse turtles, as their physique is too weak. Of course, we can also wait until June to buy some dry seedlings. The so-called dry seedlings are just-hatched Three-striped Turtle seedlings that have not been in the water yet. These seedlings can quickly adapt to the water quality and environment after arriving home. Generally, when I buy seedlings, I also choose to buy dry seedlings, which are easier to raise.
Many of the painted turtles sold on the market are strongly opposed to and should not be purchased. If you are currently raising a painted turtle, please leave a comment in the section below. As for other breeds of turtles, I think you can buy them according to your preferences after you have gained some experience in turtle keeping. In the early stage, do not casually buy those expensive turtles.
Let’s summarize the knowledge points we discussed today. For the first time keeping a turtle, the best time to buy a turtle is in May, June, and July, with the temperature being above 20 degrees Celsius. The recommended breeds for keeping are five to six centimeter outdoor pond Three-striped Turtles, or just-hatched seedlings. Well, that’s it for today. Friends who like it, please continue to pay attention to the series of beginner’s turtle-keeping guides. Welcome to like, follow, and share. See you next time, goodbye.
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/beginners-guide-turtle-keeping-time-breeds-buy-turtles
