Husbandry
Depending on the type of turtle/tortoise you have will determine the diet. There are herbivorous, omnivorous, and carnivorous turtles/tortoises. Aldabra, Desert, Gopher, Hermann’s, and Spur-thighed tortoises, which are all herbivorous, eat vegetation such as grass, alfalfa, clover, mulberry leaves, grape leaves, and hibiscus flowers. Alligator snapping turtles, which are carnivorous, eat things such as fish, insects, worms, slugs, and snails. The omnivorous Box turtle eats vegetables, fruits, flowers, insects, worms, slugs, snails, and fish. Other omnivorous turtles such as the Map, Mud, Painted, Pond, Red-eared slider, and Snapping turtles eat fish, insects, worms, slugs, snails, and water plants.
The type of enclosure you use to house your turtle again depends on the type of turtle you have. You can use glass/Plexiglas aquariums or galvanized livestock pen or wire caging. In some cases you could even use a fenced in outdoor enclosure as long as the temperature and humidity requirements are met. Temperature ranges vary from 67-80°F for terrestrial species, 75-83°F for semi-aquatic species and 67-72°F for aquatic species. Humidity levels range from 10-50% for terrestrial species and 60-80% for semi-aquatic and aquatic species. It is important to have a dry, heated area that is easily accessible for the turtle when they aren’t basking in the water. You can use heat strips or pads under or on one side of the enclosure for the entire cage and an overhead ultraviolet sunlamp for their basking area. The enclosure should be easy to clean and should have a filtration system in the water to help keep it clean. It is also recommended to have a thermostatically controlled water heater in the water so that you can provide the preferred temperature. It is important to have full spectrum lighting. Sunlight is the best recommendation. You should also provide some sort of cover for them so that they have a place to hide. You can use aquarium plants as long as they are easy to clean. To cover the bottom of the cage you can use newspaper, alfalfa pellets, or large gravel.
Restraint
A quiet, warm room will aid in the restraint process. Small turtles/tortoises that don’t bite can be held by placing both hands over the shell just cranial to the hind limbs. For Box turtles you can place your index fingers under the carapace in front of the hind limbs. This will not allow the turtle to close the shell. Anesthesia may be required. Once you have the head exposed place your finger and thumb behind the occipital condyles while tipping the turtle/tortoise forward. Another way to expose the head, as well as the forelimbs, is to force the hind limbs into the inguinal fossae.
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