Therefore, it is not necessary to plant aquarium fish and turtles in one tank. If you think that fish are too easy for you, then start the turtles. Just remember that both fish and turtles are living things that you can not treat as toys. They need a normal habitat, care and supervision. Of course, turtles are not cats or dogs. They can not be scratched behind the ear and placed side by side. But, nevertheless, turtles also have their own merits. And if you really start this animal at home, treat it as you would treat a cat or dog: feed, look after, love.
There are several different breeds of turtles that you can safely keep at home.
One of them is the aquatic red-bellied turtles. Such a domestic pet can live at your home for at least thirty years. But, it will be only in the event that you, as a mistress, create for the animal all the necessary conditions. These aquarium turtles are water, so they can only be kept in spacious containers of water. For one such turtle it is necessary to purchase an aquarium with a volume of one hundred and fifty liters. It is worth remembering that this breed of turtles, although it is waterfowl, but, from time to time, they also want to get on land and at least walk a little. In order to provide a turtle with some kind of land, you can install a plastic island to the wall of the aquarium. But, in fact, this is not an option if you want the turtle to really feel comfortable. The fact is that it is very difficult for turtle to climb such islands. They need a gradual slope so that they can safely ascend to the land. Also, it is worthwhile to see to it that the islet coast is made of such material, for which the claws of this animal can cling. To ensure that in your aquarium was really a quality island, it is best to contact a pet store. It is there that there are special islands for turtles, which completely coincide with all the necessary requirements. When choosing what size an island should be, remember that it is obliged to occupy at least one quarter of the area of the entire aquarium. When a turtle sits exactly on such an islet, it is easy to feed.
Change the water in the aquarium at the turtle needs once a month. Before pouring fresh water into the tank, it is advisable to defend it.
It is also worth noting that turtles love warmth, so in their aquarium there must always be sources of sun and light. To do this, you can use even the most ordinary incandescent lamp, since it has a high heat output. Also, the light from such a lamp most closely resembles the sun. If such a lamp is constantly warming up the island, the water in the aquarium can already be heated, because the turtle will have a beautiful and cozy place to rest and warm up.
By the way, turtles, in spite of their notorious slowness and calmness, are really very fond of running away. Therefore, do not put an island at a level less than thirty centimeters to the edge of the aquarium. If you put closer to the edge of the aquarium, most likely, the turtles will try to escape, and if you do not pay attention to them for a long time, there is a big chance that this venture will succeed. Therefore, be careful and do not let your pets walk around the apartment unattended, especially if there are other animals nearby.
If we talk about the nutrition of such a turtle, then this too will not be a problem. Red-eared turtles eat granulated fodder, minced meat, bloodworms. But, if you do not want your pet to have problems with calcium in the body, then be sure to include in its diet boiled fish. By the way, some are afraid to give a turtle a fish with small bones. In fact, there is nothing dangerous in this and this animal can not choke with small bones. If to speak about restrictions, then such an animal should not eat fatty fish: capelin, sprat, mackerel. Also, do not turn the meat into the main ingredient of the tortoise's food. If you constantly feed the turtle with meat alone, it can develop rickets. Therefore, in the diet of the turtle, especially if it is young, there must be animal feed, and with age it is necessary to translate the turtle into vegetable feed. Until two or three years the turtle is fed every day. Then she can already give food two or three times a week. There is a special technique for feeding a turtle. First you have to pour the food right at the water's edge. When the tortoise gets accustomed to your aquarium and gets used to you, put a saucer on her islet. It must have water and feed. Also, the turtle needs to be fed with vegetable fodder, lettuce, algae from ponds and young cabbage.
Also, there are several more kinds of turtles that can live in an aquarium. This is a Central Asian turtle and a swamp turtle. The peculiarity of Central Asia is that it lives not in water, but on land, respectively, in the terrarium. Of course, you can let her walk around the apartment, but then it may happen that someone will step on the turtle or she will be in a draft and get sick. Therefore, it will be better if you still place the animal in the terrarium. Such turtles need to be fed with plant food, and their house
warm up the lamp, as in the case of waterfowl turtles.
Marsh turtles are predators. They need low aquariums with large islands, on which they can bask. Such turtles are not interested in vegetable food. They like bloodworms and snails. Never keep these turtles, as, indeed, other aquariums, in containers without sushi, since there is a risk that the turtle will drown. And yet, watch your animal and protect it. Then your turtle can live a very long and happy life.