How long does a big turtle live. How long do land turtles live. How much does a turtle weigh? Turtle sizes

Many people love having pets because it's just fun. But sometimes the choice stops at exotic animals. These animals include the land tortoise.

But what do you need to know to make her feel comfortable? Consider how to properly care for a land tortoise at home.

How long do tortoises live?

It is important to understand that life expectancy directly depends on the environment. So, if the turtle lives on its own, that is, in nature, then it can live up to 50 years. In the event that she lives in a house or apartment, she will live only 15 years.

But here it is important to understand that depending on the care of the pet, life expectancy also depends. And if you do everything right, then the land turtle can live up to 30 years.

How to properly care for a land tortoise?

Caring for a land tortoise is very important. Depending on the conditions in which the pet will live, life expectancy depends.

Let's start with a terrarium. Some people who can't afford an aquarium make cardboard boxes for their pets. As for the terrarium, it must fulfill the following requirements:

• It should be at a height of 20 centimeters from the floor;
• The aquarium must have a volume of at least 80 liters.

Note!

If the aquarium meets two requirements, then it is suitable for a land turtle. Next, you need to fill it so that the pet does not walk on the glass. To do this, you can use river gravel. It will need to be washed and dried, and then calcined in the oven. Next, you need to pour the finished gravel with a thickness of 5 centimeters.

As for water, then you need to carefully prepare. You need to figure out where the turtle will drink water from, and how it will get to this place. It is also worth considering that there should not be too much water. It is best to pour in a ratio of 1/2 of the height of the shell.

What to feed a land tortoise?

People who want to get a land tortoise are wondering: "What to feed the land tortoises?". And do not panic, because the diet of turtles includes many fruits and vegetables, various greens and dandelions. In summer, they can be pampered with strawberries, but you should not give too much. Also, do not forget about earthworms, because turtles love to eat them.

It should be remembered that before you start feeding your pet, you need to finely chop the food. It is also sometimes worth adding various useful vitamins to the diet.

As for the diet itself, it depends on the age of the land turtles. So, if it is still a young individual, then it is worth feeding every day. If this turtle is already an adult, then you need to feed it after one day. At the same time, it is worth giving minced meat to eat once every week.

What are the types of tortoises?

Before you start a turtle, you need to know what types of land turtles are in general. Depending on what kind of turtle itself, life expectancy also depends, and in what conditions it should be.

Central Asian tortoise

People mostly give birth to Central Asian turtles. And all because such animals are distinguished by their unpretentious nature, and they can also quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions.

As the owners of such turtles themselves notice, they are very slow and clumsy, which is very funny. However, it is worth taking care of a good aquarium. So, it should be about 200 liters in volume. Also, inside the aquarium should always be a temperature of 30 degrees.

Egyptian tortoise

As for the Egyptian turtles, they are quite small, which is very good if the apartment is small. The size of the pet is no more than 12 centimeters.

However, it is worth knowing that this type of turtle loves open spaces, so you need a large aquarium, as for Central Asian turtles.

leopard turtle

Such turtles are distinguished by their large size. So, their weight can reach up to 50 kilograms, and the length of the shell itself is up to 70 centimeters.

Note!

In young individuals, patterns with black colors are clearly visible on the shell. Already in adults, this pattern disappears. It is recommended to start such a turtle if the housing is large enough.

Photo of a land turtle

If you wish to know how long do turtles live, then you need to decide which ones? After all, at the moment there are about 300 species of turtles. And each species has its own lifespan. For example, the 180-year-old male turtle named Jonathan is recognized as the oldest living turtle.

According to scientists, a maximum of turtles can live up to 200 years, and this is only one species of Giant tortoises from the Galapagos Islands, to which Jonathan belongs. On average, giant tortoises live 120-150 years. And not 300 as many people think. Next in longevity are sea turtles - a lifespan of about 80-100 years.

The explanation for why turtles live so long scientists have identified. It's all about that. that turtles have a very slow metabolism. They can stop their heartbeat and freeze, and then resume. Without water and food, they can live up to a year without compromising health. And the immune system fights infections so effectively that turtles practically do not get sick. Therefore, they die more often due to predators and the human factor.

How many years do domestic turtles live

Turtles include several particularly common species. European marsh can live in your home for about 25 years.

Central Asian tortoise, it is land, lives about 30 years.

Many people ask the question, how many years does he live Red-eared turtle? By far the most popular pet turtle. We can say that she will delight you with her presence for 35-40 years.

And do not confuse the Central Asian tortoise with the red-eared tortoise - these are 2 different species. But all these life spans are for turtles that have normal maintenance and feeding. If you do not properly care for them, then turtles may not live up to 15 years.

You should know that in the wild, turtles live almost 2 times longer than in captivity. Therefore, if you decide to have a pet, take care of its care and maintenance in advance. Try to create optimal conditions for their comfortable life.

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Having decided to buy a pet for the family, many are guided not only by how many times a day they need to walk with him and how difficult it is to maintain him, but also by his life expectancy at home. That is why various types of turtles are increasingly coming to the fore. They are not picky, their content is inexpensive. But before you get a pet, you need to understand the rules of care and how long turtles live at home.

Land tortoise care consists of three things: hygiene, habitat arrangement and feeding

Turtle life span

Many people consider turtles to be the world's longest-lived turtles. But this opinion is based on rare cases of old-timers belonging to large species. But in fact, the survival rate of the young is very low, and the population is maintained by a large number of eggs in the clutch. In the best case, no more than 60% of them hatch, and in the worst case, no more than 5%. The rest of the eggs are eaten by predators. The young are also a tasty morsel for most animals as well as humans.

Very few individuals live up to 30 years. On average, it is considered that the turtle lives no more than 20 years. And the age of the old-timers largely depends on the factor of luck. Reptiles can't get out of their shells- it is spliced ​​with him.

The larger the individual, the longer its lifespan:

• small live no more than half a century;
• large - up to 80 years and longer.

If you grow a turtle at home, then its life can be both shortened and significantly increased. The latter becomes possible due to comfortable conditions of detention and the absence of dangers.

With enough control over proper care, a turtle can live a fairly long life.

Varieties of reptiles

In nature, there are many types of turtles, each of which has its own characteristics and lifespan. But not all of them can be grown at home. The most popular are:

1. Land turtle - this variety collects more than ten genera. The habitat is the warm latitudes of many continents. Most often, representatives of this species can be found in the desert or steppe, but you can also see them in the forest. Represented by individuals of large size with thick legs, large carapace. Spliced ​​fingers are a distinctive feature. They can live in natural conditions up to 100 years. At home, they mostly do not live longer than 40 years.
2. Central Asian - refers to a variety of land. A distinctive feature is the shell, which is divided into several sectors and has a yellow or spotted hue. You can meet this species in the desert, foothills and near water bodies. These are small individuals that live no more than 30 years in captivity. Their life expectancy in nature is not exactly defined, but on average it is customary to take 50 years.
3. Marine - most often found in the warm waters of the seas and oceans. They differ from land individuals not only in their legs, which look like flippers, but also in an elongated shell. The animal cannot retract its head and legs into the shell. Most often, sea turtles can be found in large aquariums and zoos. In nature, they can live up to 80 years. But how many sea turtles live at home is impossible to determine. They are not grown in houses and apartments, because such large individuals will not fit in any aquarium and their maintenance is associated with certain difficulties.
4. Water turtle - refers to small individuals that do not grow more than 30 cm. They are most often found in the fresh waters of South Africa, Asia and Japan. Feels great at home. This turtle lives up to 50 years both in captivity and in the natural environment.
5. The red-eared or yellow-bellied variety belongs to freshwater individuals. Its size rarely reaches 30 cm, males are somewhat smaller than females. It got its name because of the red spots on the head in the eye area. Makes sounds like hissing or screeching. Found in lakes and ponds with fresh water. Able to live up to 50 years.

Not all representatives of these species of reptiles can be kept at home. However, most of them are found in captivity.

Life at home

Do not give turtles citrus and fruit fruits, nuts, tomatoes

At home, a turtle can live a very long time compared to its natural habitat, which is achieved by balancing risk factors.

Several conditions can affect the lifespan of a reptile:

• the correctness of the selected diet;
• conditions of detention;
• detection of diseases and their timely treatment;
• possible injury to your pet.

Small individuals can live in captivity for up to 30 years, larger ones - up to 50. But in a zoo, this period increases significantly. This is due to better conditions in old age.

Rules for determining age

Many factors influence how many years red-eared turtles or other species live. But many of the reptiles can become real centenarians. The exact age of an individual can be determined using carapace carbon analysis. This is how the oldest turtles were identified. But this cannot be done on a living representative of the fauna. Therefore, scientists use more gentle methods for this purpose:

1. Shell length. It changes by about two centimeters a year. At birth, it is only three centimeters, and therefore it is enough to measure the shell of an adult individual and make simple calculations to get its approximate age.
2. Counting annual rings. This method is less accurate, but still quite informative. Scales are considered, which gradually grow on the surface of the house. It is much easier to do this in young individuals than in old ones. In the latter, the shell is strongly smoothed out.

But no known method can give an accurate result, because the formation of the shell is also influenced by the diet of the animal, living conditions and health.

Finding out how many turtles live at home is not easy. It all depends on the conditions of detention and nutrition.

The oldest turtle

You can determine how long aquatic turtles live by the annual rings on the shell, but according to sources in the world, there are individuals who have survived several eras. And this was witnessed by their owners, to whom pets were inherited for more than one generation.

The oldest turtle is considered to be the one raised by Charles Darwin. He brought her from the Galapagos Islands the size of a saucer. But by the time of his death, the turtle had grown to an incredible size. Its weight is more than half a centner. She outlived her master by 105 years and died at the age of 177.

Another well-known centenarian is considered to be the Giant tortoise, originally from the Seychelles. According to various sources, she lived from 150 to 200 years. There is no more precise information.

The radiant tortoise Tui Malila, presented by Captain Cook himself to the leader of the natives of Tonga, lived to be 200 years old. This fact is not documented, but the analysis of the shell showed exactly this period.

It is impossible to determine exactly how many years turtles of one species or another live. Their age can only be given approximately. Therefore, it is quite possible that the grandchildren will inherit a small walking table weighing up to 50-100 kg. But, in any case, the health and longevity of the turtle will depend entirely on how well the owners take care of it.

When choosing a pet, a person tries to take into account all the nuances: lifestyle, daily routine, allergies, material opportunities. An important indicator in this case is the life span of the pet. Many are afraid of becoming too attached to an animal that will live for quite a long time. A hamster living no more than 3 years is enough for them. Therefore, it is so important to know how many turtles live.

How long do turtles live in nature?

It is generally accepted that turtles are the main long-livers among animals. In fact, this opinion appeared on the basis of isolated cases, most often in large species. According to statistics, the survival of young animals in natural conditions is small. A large number of eggs laid can increase the population, but only a maximum of 60% of this number can be born into the world, while the rest become food for predators. However, the kids are also a delicacy for them, half of the hatched ones are also eaten. By the age of 30, only a few of the population survive.

On average, the life span of a turtle is about 20 years. How long they live in nature depends on many factors and the type of individual. The larger the individual, the longer its life. The life expectancy of small sizes does not exceed 50 years, and medium - 85. Large ones, such as Seychelles, can live up to 200.

Lifespan of turtles by species

Land or Central Asian

More than 10 varieties are considered terrestrial. Their habitat is wide: they are found in Asia, America, Africa and even in southern Europe. Most often they live in open spaces: in deserts, steppes and forest-steppes. They can also live in forests, both tropical and humid.

Land turtles are both small, not exceeding 10 cm in size, and very large. Their main characteristic is a round shell, thick legs, the toes of which are fused. They belong to herbivores. Life expectancy is different, 50-100 years. It directly depends on the type of reptile and external conditions. They are very popular as pets in houses and apartments. Most often, people choose European individuals. They can live at home for up to 40 years or more.

Of the land, the Central Asian ones are separately distinguished. Those are distinguished by a spotted shell, which is divided into many sectors. Its color can be both brownish and yellow. They live in Central Asia, in places where there are reservoirs and deserts. Individuals are considered small. The length of the shell does not exceed 20 cm.
Life expectancy depends on living conditions. In the natural environment, they can live up to 50 years, and at home - 30.

Sea and water

The habitat of sea turtles is warm seas and oceans. They are very different in appearance from their land counterparts. Their limbs resemble flippers, and the shell has an elongated shape. They do not know how to retract their paws and heads. The length of the animal can be 70-150 centimeters.
How long they can live at home is hard to say, this kind is usually not kept in apartments and houses. In captivity, they can be seen in huge oceanariums and aquariums. Life expectancy usually does not exceed 80 years.

Aquatic turtles are Asian freshwater. Their habitat is the Middle East, Japan, South Africa, Vietnam and China. They are small in size, the maximum length is 30 centimeters. Distinctive features - a smooth shell. Its color can be both colorful and plain.
Aquatic turtles are popular pets. They are kept in an equipped aquarium with heating lamps, a water filter and the ability to get out on land. The diet of the animal should consist of boneless fish. Meat should only be raw.
Their life span can reach 50 years. In nature, they live as much as at home.

How many years do red-eared turtles live?

Another species of freshwater turtle is the red-eared turtle. Its name indicates the features of the color. In terms of size, the maximum length of the shell of the male is 20 cm, and that of the female is 30 cm. When they are small, they have a bright green color. With age, the individual becomes darker. The shade can be from brown to olive. Red or yellow spots form on the body. The shell has an oval shape and a single color. Animals can make sounds. They hiss, squeal and squeak.

At first, the red-eared species lived in America, but man spread it around the globe, in particular in Russia. They can be found in ponds and lakes. They love gentle shores, because there you can bask in the sun.

Red-eared turtles live as long as is typical for almost all small species. Regardless of the habitat, the life span does not exceed 50 years. In care, they are not whimsical, the only thing that is important is the presence of a warm area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe coast.

Turtle lifespan at home

Most often, these cold-blooded animals at home live as long as in nature. This is due to the fact that the level of risk in different conditions is approximately the same. In the wild, they are regularly attacked by predators, and in an apartment a person can be careless about caring for and creating the necessary conditions.

Life expectancy can be affected by:

1. Improper nutrition, which is not characteristic of animals in nature.
2. Air temperature, lighting, size and volume of the terrarium or aquarium.
3. Inattentive attitude to health, lack of treatment or incorrect diagnosis.
4. Risk of injury when interacting with other pets or falling.

Medium-sized individuals rarely live to 50. Most often, their age lasts a maximum of 30 years. In good conditions, they will live longer than in the natural environment. In the zoo, elderly animals are properly cared for. Taking care of them prolongs life.

How to find out the age of turtles?

Radiocarbon analysis of the shell allows you to most accurately determine the number of years. It was this method that made it possible to confirm the age of the most ancient turtles in the world. Of course, such a study cannot be carried out during one's lifetime, but there is a more humane method.

Ways to determine age:

1. Along the length of the shell. It tends to change evenly. Every year he adds 2 centimeters. It is not so difficult to measure and count if you know the initial length. The size of newborns is only 3 cm.
   Calculating age is easy. For example, the length of the shell is 30 cm. If you subtract the initial size from the final one, 30 - 3 \u003d 27, you get the number by which the turtle has grown in its entire life. Dividing it by 2 (the number of centimeters per year), you get the age of 13.5 years.
2. Ring counting. This method is less accurate because it requires careful observation. Do not confuse the method with determining the age of a tree; no one needs to be cut. You need to count the rings by the scales on the shell. A more accurate result can be obtained on young animals. This is because in old individuals they are smoothed out. Turtle 1 - 2 years old, if the scales are less than 6. In one year, 2-3 rings are added.

Whichever method is chosen, none gives 100% accuracy of calculations. This is due to the fact that the growth and formation of the shell depends on the health of the animal, its diet and living conditions.

Famous centenarians among turtles

The world-famous long-lived turtle belongs to Charles Darwin. Her name was Harriet. She was brought as a baby from the Galapagos Islands. In those days, she was considered a male. Her name was Harry. Its size at that time did not exceed the diameter of the saucer.
She spent the last years of her life in Australia. Its weight exceeded 1.5 centners. At the time of her death, she was 177. The animal outlived its owner by 105 years.

Harriet is not the only turtle to be considered a legend. Another, named Advaita, according to various sources, lived 150-250 years. She belonged to the species of Giant tortoises. The British general, Robert Clywood, brought it from the Seychelles.

A radiant tortoise named Tui Malila broke all records. She lived to be almost 200 years old. There are legends that once it was presented to the leader of the natives.

Before you start a small turtle at home, you should understand whether it will be possible to create all the conditions for a long and comfortable life for it. You need to be prepared for the fact that you have to pay attention to your pet. It is also recommended to study the features of the content and consult with experts before buying.

When we are going to get a pet, not the last question is how much time our pet will spend with us. turtles today is considered the longest, in some individuals its life reaches the mark of 150 years or more. Recently, it has become very popular to keep them at home.

Turtle Features

Their appearance is so peculiar that these reptiles cannot be confused with anyone. They differ from other animals in the presence of a shell, which serves as a kind of shield located on the top. The shell is a bone covered with keratinized plates.

The body of the turtle is fused with the shell, and is a single whole with the entire skeletal system. The shell is equipped with holes through which the animal can easily retract its limbs. Its shape and structural structure can be different and are largely determined by the habitat of the turtle. For example, marine reptiles have a flat shell, while land-based counterparts have a thicker and convex one.

How long do turtles live?

The question of how long the life expectancy of turtles is is particularly acute when they are carried away by lovers of exotic pets at home. The answer is obvious: it all depends on the proper care of reptiles.

Today, there are about 300 species of turtles all over the world, while only 7 are found in Russia. Animals of any kind are very tenacious and hardy. They have good immunity, which helps to overcome many infections and promotes the rapid healing of injuries.

These cute reptiles are absolutely picky in food, they can remain without food for a long time, and at the same time they feel good.

The life expectancy of turtles of different species is different from each other. For example, a case is known when a turtle named Marion is 152 years old and is still alive. Under favorable conditions, it is quite capable of reaching 200 and even 300 years. This is how long the giant tortoises that live on the Galapagos Islands live. Turtles of large sizes are recognized as long-lived among this class of animals. Obviously, this is due to a slow metabolism. Most species of turtles are 20-30 years old. A popular species of red-eared, for example, lives for 30 years when favorable conditions are created.

Why do turtles live so long?

This animal is able to do for a long time not only without food, but also without water. There are cases when turtles did without food for a long time, measured in several years. This amazing fact of their behavior was recorded quite a long time ago. Turtles move very slowly all their long lives and have wrinkled skin. For these reasons, age-related changes and aging are very difficult to notice in them. The same applies to internal organs.

Scientists have long been looking for an answer to what determines the life expectancy of turtles, studying their genetic characteristics. The natural death of these reptiles overtakes very rarely. The cause of death is often disease or death from predators and people.

If these cases were excluded, then the life of turtles would last much longer. They have another amazing feature - to control the heartbeat: stop it for a while, and then start it again. When the heart stops, the turtle freezes and does not move at all.

Turtles - long-livers of the planet

Studies have shown that they live on earth for more than two hundred million years. There is a suspicion that they mastered the earth before the dinosaurs. For such a long time, turtles have not changed at all, as if evolutionary changes have not touched them.

This has not happened to any animal on the planet. This quality of adapting to any external conditions explains such a long life of turtles.

Lifespan of pet turtles

Under favorable conditions, the age of wild turtles can exceed the duration of human life several times.

If we consider the issue of the lifespan of domestic reptiles, then here the indicators are more modest. And yet, compared to other pets, such as cats and dogs, they live much longer.

Popular types of turtles at home have the following life expectancy:

• red-eared - 30 years;
• European marsh - 20-25 years;
• Central Asian - 20-30 years.

When looking at these indicators, the conclusion suggests itself that when you get a turtle at home, you must be ready to live a significant part of your life with it and provide worthy care and attention to this amazing silent inhabitant.

Land turtle sizes

The size of a land reptile is largely influenced by its appearance. The largest land individual is the elephant. The sizes of turtles sometimes reach 1.8 meters, and weight - 300 kilograms. It is impossible to keep such a giant at home.

Land turtles that are recommended for keeping at home are usually about 40 centimeters long. This is due to the small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe living quarters and the limited housing of the turtle. If she lives in a spacious place that does not restrict movement, then she develops much more actively. If the turtle, upon reaching a certain size, slows down in growth, it means that it has become crowded in the enclosure and, accordingly, it is difficult to move around in it. In order for a reptile to grow much larger than its relatives, it is necessary to provide it with a spacious abode.

The largest turtles in the marine environment are huge reptiles, they are also called leatherbacks. They got their name because of the shell, which consists of small lamellar bones connected to each other, but separated from the skeleton. Due to this structure, the turtle is unable to retract and hide its head inside.

The length of the reptiles reaches two and a half meters, and the weight is about six hundred kilograms. They are inhabitants of any southern warm sea. Despite the fact that there are many such turtles in the world, it is extremely rare to see them.
Due to caution, the leathery ones swim close to the shore and emerge from the sea only at night, when there are fewer dangers on land.

The main delicacy of these turtles are molluscs, as well as small fish, crustaceans, jellyfish, scallops. The meat of the reptiles themselves of this species is quite suitable for eating, despite the fact that there are cases of poisoning by the toxins contained in it. For a turtle, toxins that enter the body with food are not dangerous, but for humans, such meat is dangerous.

Among the inhabitants of marine reptiles, the so-called green ones are also considered large. They are also called soup. The habitat of these animals is the subtropics and tropics of the oceans. In size, they reach one and a half meters in length, and their weight is close to two hundred kilograms. There are single individuals that have a weight of half a ton, and a length of up to two meters.

The red-eared tortoise is ideal for those who have not previously domesticated reptiles.

Such a pet is quite hardy and can adapt to different habitats. Still, the owner needs money and time to keep such a friend in good health. In general, it perfectly tolerates cohabitation with a person, even despite its shyness in the wild. From food, domesticated reptiles prefer special food. The life cycle of this exotic animal is from 50 to 70 years.

If you are serious about finding a pet with whom you want to live a long and happy life side by side, buying a turtle will undoubtedly be the right choice.