Meet: pet of the Central Asian turtle

Central Asian turtle - not a pet at all, as many believe. These are wild reptiles whose reproduction in captivity is extremely rare, and in general the syndrome of poor adaptation, or disadaptation, is one of the most common causes of their death. And maybe outwardly your turtle will look quite normal, this is not a reason to stop worrying.

In general, experts insist that the Central Asian turtle refers to that class of reptiles that adapt very individually. For example, some of them with pleasure and without any consequences can drink milk, and others after such a treat simply die within a day, not having coped with attacks of acute colitis. Some reptiles of this species tolerate several months of hibernation in captivity, while others receive severe and often incompatible pathologies of the kidneys and lungs.

Central Asian turtles live, as a rule, in the terrarium, or the owners allow them to move freely around the apartment, providing the opportunity to independently choose more suitable conditions. At first glance, the second method seems more humane, mainly because the negative impacts of a relatively small terrestrial and enclosed space are excluded.

However, according to zoologists, the minuses from such "free" content will be much greater.

I will list only a few:

• Insufficient illumination;
• High concentration of dust;
• Increased allergic background;
• Risk of injury;
• Lack of digging;
• Instead of gnawing the abrasive material necessary for development , such an animal will be compelled to collect from the floor, garbage, small objects or the fur of other domestic pets;
• The Central Asian turtle is a reptile, which simply needs to fall into a hibernation, and for this it needs to be given a certain place and create a whole list of conditions.

Agree, this is not easy enough.

So, if you have such a charming pet in your house, like the Central Asian turtle, remember the necessary list of conditions that you, as the owner, are obliged to provide to it:

1. The Terrarium . For a medium-sized reptile, which is usually 7-12 cm, it will be enough to have a terrarium of 60-100 liters. If you live at once several animals, then the optimal length of the "house" of the turtle should be 2-3 times the length of its largest inhabitant.

2. As a heating, you can use the usual electric bulb, say, a desktop light. It is able to provide even heating. Temperature range: 25-35 ° С.

3. A drinking bowl and a bathing tray . If the Central Asian turtle lives in captivity, it can enjoy not only drinking water, but also taking a bath. Both bathing and drinking water use room temperature water, although once a month it is recommended to use warm baths with a temperature of up to 35 degrees, which help to cleanse the intestines, and also stimulate the appearance of appetite. And do not forget to wipe your pet dry, so as not to catch a cold from accidental drafts.

4. As a soil - a mixture of rounded pebbles and sifted land, or river gravel. The thickness of the layer should not exceed 3-10 cm.

5. Shelter . As a rule, it can be constructed from an inverted box with a saw hole for entry.

6. Feeder (plate, bowl, cuvette), which is not recommended to place directly on the lamp, and feed in it should be exactly as long as it lasts for 2-3 hours.

7. Spraying the animal from the spray gun is a mandatory procedure for all adult reptiles, but make sure that the soil in the terrarium is not soaked and the humidity is low.

8. Food - finely chopped mixture, including vegetables, fruits, greens (lawn grass, clover, dandelions, mother-stepmother, plantain), berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries). In winter, the problem with food becomes more acute, therefore it is recommended to use various kinds of supplements (mineral, vitamin, protein).