The habits of the turtle

Group of turtles and tortoises are the "shells" for the center evolved from reptiles. Turtle was first seen in the early Triassic period, when that is fully developed carapace. Early today, the turtle may not be as general, contraction of the head and limbs into the shell. Simply put, the turtle is aquatic animals, tortoises, compared with terrestrial animals. Turtle has survived for thousands of years on Earth, and the Department of dinosaurs the same period the animals. Turtle belongs to the department's three major water turtle turtle turtle line another name for beetles, tortoises, turtles and mountain mud turtle, turtles and other flowers in the animal taxonomy under Reptilia, turtles head, turtle Branch, turtle subfamily, turtles head is the most common animals. Almost all of the distribution of turtles all over the country, but higher yield of the Yangtze River provinces; parts of Guangxi also has produced, especially in the Southeast, southern Guangxi and other places in larger quantities; abroad mainly in Japan, Brazil and Korea. Price: 5 to 10,000 yuan a.

Tortoiseshell a little flat, but can not be fixed back shell and activities, a 13 carapace length 10 cm, width 16 cm, there are three vertical uplift. Side of the head and neck with yellow linear stripes, slightly flattened limbs, fingers and toes are webbed with the whole, in addition to fifth gold hind legs, the ends of fingers and toes Jie claw. Turtles generally live in rivers, lakes, swamps, reservoirs and streams, sometimes also ashore activities. In the natural environment, the turtle with worms, snails, shrimp and small fish such as food, but also eat leaves and stems of plants. Turtle is a cold-blooded animal, in the winter, or when the temperature at a lower long-term case, the turtle goes into hibernation, a variety of different types of turtles, the temperature began to hibernate is not the same, but usually in the 10 16 ℃. This time will be long-term reduction in the turtle shell, almost no activity, while it decreased respiratory rate, body temperature decreased, blood circulation and metabolism to slow down, the consumption of nutrients is also reduced. This state and is similar to sleep, but this is a months-long deep sleep, even showing a slight paralysis. In addition, the turtle also has the following characteristics: low reproductive rate and slow growth, a 500 grams of turtle feeding after one year only about 100 grams of weight gain. But the turtle's anti-hunger ability, even if fasting is not easily starve to death a few months, also strong resistance to disease, and high survival rate. So the tortoise is easier to animals in captivity, is more welcomed by the people's pets.

Green turtles primarily use three types of habitat

　　
　　Green turtles primarily use three types of habitat: oceanic beaches (for nesting), convergence zones in the open ocean, and benthic feeding grounds in coastal areas. Adult females migrate from foraging areas to mainland or island nesting beaches and may travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers each way. After emerging from the nest, hatchlings swim to offshore areas, where they are believed to live for several years, feeding close to the surface on a variety of pelagic plants and animals. Once the juveniles reach a certain age/size range, they leave the pelagic habitat and travel to nearshore foraging grounds. Once they move to these nearshore benthic habitats, adult green turtles are almost exclusively herbivores, feeding on sea grasses and algae.
Green turtles are generally found in fairly shallow waters (except when migrating) inside reefs, bays, and inlets. The turtles are attracted to lagoons and shoals with an abundance of marine grass and algae. Open beaches with a sloping platform and minimal disturbance are required for nesting. Green turtles apparently have a strong nesting site fidelity and often make long distance migrations between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Hatchlings have been observed to seek refuge and food in Sargassum rafts.

Life and enjoy

　　
　　
　　When I started running, I had no idea what I was doing...I still don't. But when I started running, I would go as fast as I could for as long as I could (usually about a block) and then I would walk with my heart bursting out of my chest for a bit. Then when I no longer felt like I was dying, I would do it over, and over again. It was torturous and ridiculous.
In order to motivate myself I would imagine that I was an antelope leaping through the tall grasses, running away from a tiger. Never mind that antelope and tigers live on completely different continents, it worked for me and I stuck to it. So there I would go, the crazed antelope sprinting one block at a time and wondering what there was to love about running and how did some people make it look so easy?
Who knows how long I would have continued like this, but luckily family intervened and once I told them of my strategy and they were able to catch their breath from laughing at me, they explained the concept of building up my resistance slowly..... ahhh. Who would have thunk it?!
So then I started jogging slowly and found I was able to run for longer, slower periods of time without stopping and without feeling like I was about to become a cardiac patient. Before I knew it, I was running a mile, a very slow mile, but a mile none the less.
So that is why my new mantra is "slow and steady". But the truth is that I am not very steady either, so I'm sticking with slow and sweaty, both things I can do well.
As for the antelope, who knows? Maybe I'll resurrect the image if I ever decide to try to speed up. But for now, I'm sticking with the tortoise.

Lovely small tortoise

　　We have missed our poem of the week the last few weeks, but I am trying to get my children’s lives back to normal and have our normal school routine each day. With all the phone calls, doctor’s appointments, and I’m-a-nervous-wreck going on, I needed to regroup, refocus, and recommit to nurturing them. One of those nurturing habits is our poem of the week. It brings a rhythm to our lives and bonds us together as we learn the words of a poem each week. I am reminded of my recent thoughts on how I want my home to feel…in light of this lump, I am thinking ever more seriously about how I want my home to feel…how I want my children to remember me if I am taken home before my old age (and NO, I am not saying I am thinking I am going to die…not thinking that…it’s just that as this lump is staring me in the face, I am thinking more seriously about my mothering…really about my living…but especially about my mothering).
This week’s poem is an old favorite and I think even my littlest people will be able to memorize it completely. I love the quaintness, the cadence, and the delight it gives us to recite it. The excitement and suspense builds until the last line when we all shout out, “But he didn’t catch me!”

Leopard tortoises health life

　　
　　
　　History and general information--
As you can see from the pictures above the leopard tortoise's coloring has earned it it's name. The markings on this tortoise is irregular and vibrant. Every pattern is different from the other. As the tortoises age the shell pattern begins to change. Some older specimens tend to lose their vibrant pattern. There are "two subspecies" of leopard tortoises.
Stigmochelys pardalis pardalis is the more common leopard tortoise. S. p. pardalis occupies the eastern and southern portions of Africa.

Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki has the smaller geographic distribution. It occupies only a smaller southern portion of Africa.
Many breeders and keepers will argue that there are indeed two subspecies of leopard tortoises. There are no major differences between the two subspecies. It is impossible to tell the difference based simply on physical characteristics. Many South African herpetologists find that there are no definable subspecies.
General anatomy--
The leopard tortoise is ranked either the 3rd or 4th largest tortoise in the world when full grown. From what I have come to understand the largest leopard tortoise is smaller than the largest burmese mountain tortoise but the average adult leopard tortoise is larger than the average burmese mountain tortoise. The leopard tortoise is a very high rounded tortoise. It is thought that the shell of the leopard tortoise is meant to help right an overturned tortoise.The leopard tortoise is one of a very few tortoises in which pyramiding of the shell is observed naturally. It is not sure as to what is the exact cause of pyramiding.
Indoor habitat and care--

A hatchling leopard tortoise can easily be housed in a 20L (long) aquarium for its first few years of life. At birth, hatchling leopard tortoises weigh 35-45 grams, increasing in weight by about 3 grams every two to three weeks. A well-fed hatchling can grow in excess of 5 to 6 grams every two to three weeks. A very well-maintained hatchling can grow 3 to 4 inches per year. After about two years it is necessary to upgrade the enclosure to a 75 gallon tank or larger (turtle table). After 3 to 4 years of age, the tortoise will become much too large to realistically house in an indoor enclosure, but it is still possible as long as size and habitat requirements are met. No matter the size of the cage, they need a basking side that reaches around 100°F and a cool, shaded side in the 70s. When housed indoors, it is necessary to supplement the tortoise's diet with a calcium/Vitamin D3 powder additive and ultraviolet lighting with a UVB percentage of at least 7%. The UV bulbs must be replaced yearly because the UV is lost after that time. It is best to keep track of the bulb age, because it is very easy to overlook an old, expired bulb that is still lighting the tank.
Outdoor habitat and care--
Once a leopard tortoise is of appropriate size or it is in a secure enclosure, it is best to keep them outdoors. Ultraviolet lights are good, but natural sun is best. A leopard tortoise will grow at a faster pace if it is grown outside. A 5 year-old indoor-grown leopard tortoise at our current farm only weights about 7 pounds, whereas an 8 year-old outdoor-grown weighs over 30 pounds. In the wild, it can take a sulcata almost 30 years to become full grown, but in captivity with a steady diet and habitat, they reach full size much faster. A full grown leopard tortoise needs at least a 30 foot by 30 foot outdoor enclosure (see photos in our "Farm Pictures" section). If the enclosure is any smaller, they have the capability of eating all of the grass to a point where it will not grow back. In a larger enclosure the grass can survive so the tortoise can graze at will. Most books and articles will recommend that you pull sulcatas in when the temperature drops below 65°F. Here at Premium Tortoises, we leave the adult tortoises outside in 50°F or warmer. There have even been cases where sulcata tortoises are left outside in near-freezing conditions. That is generally not recommended (and not practiced here at Premium Tortoises), but everyone eventually gets their own techniques.
Diet--
Leopard tortoises are generally herbivorous, but in the wild they have been documented eating decayed carcasses. Those cases are the exception rather than the rule. Leopard tortoises feed on a diet of grasses and leaves in the wild. A massive amount of their natural diet is composed of long-stem fibrous material with very low protein. This is why it is very uncommon to find a tortoise with pyramiding in the wild, however some natural specimens have been found with extreme pyramiding. In captivity, leopard tortoises will eat a variety of greens, other vegetables, and a few fruits (rarely). It is best to feed them at least 90% vegetables and only 10% fruit. This is the diet that we feed, but some experts recommend feeding only vegetables. Most fruits have more vitamins and minerals in them than most vegetables so we consider it a very nutritious diet for these gentle giants. In addition to the fruits and vegetables, leopard tortoises need a vitamin supplement containing Vitamin D3 and calcium. Without this supplement, leopard tortoises are more susceptible to metabolic bone disease. This happens when the tortoise cannot absorb calcium, causing soft spots on their shells.
Health--
Leopard tortoises are very hardy. Heat is the main factor. Without heat, leopard tortoises cannot digest food properly, with leads to bacterial infection and stomach rot. Once this happens it becomes very difficult to rehabilitate the tortoise. In this case, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is much easier to keep the tortoise warm than it is to treat its medical problems. Eye and nose problems are common in most tortoises. Eye problems can be prevented by supplementing with Vitamin A. Carrots are a great source of Vitamin A. A runny nose is often a sign of infection or sickness. Raising the temperature and improving diet helps fight these symptoms.
Breeding--
Leopard tortoises breed very readily in captivity. There are many different ways to achieve breeding status. For specific questions, please contact us. We will be more than happy to answer your questions.

The tortoise and hippopotamus story

　　
　　This story made the rounds in January, 2005 when it first broke, but I never saw it. I couldn’t resist posting it here now.
(Text and images from an email I recently received, and assorted web sources. FYI: SNOPES says it’s mostly a true story)
…Some news accounts (including the one sped from inbox to inbox in early 2005) asserted the orphaned hippo was swept into the sea by the tsunami that devastated numerous coastal countries in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004, yet wildlife officials were alerted to the imperiled hippo before Christmas, when hoteliers in Malindi spotted the little fellow, in the company of a number of adults of his kind, foundering in the surf off the coast. By the time wildlife officials arrived, Owen was alone, having become separated from his herd. Had he not been rescued, the ocean’s waters would have done in the youngster because long immersion in salt water would have led to fatal dehydration.
The dehydrated hippo was found by wildlife rangers and taken to the Haller Park animal facility in the port city of Mombasa.

　　Pining for his lost mother, Owen quickly befriended a giant male Aldabran tortoise named Mzee – Swahili for “old man”.

　　“When we released Owen into the enclosure, he lumbered to the tortoise which has a dark grey colour similar to grown up hippos,” Sabine Baer, rehabilitation and ecosystems manager at the park, told Reuters on Thursday.

　　Haller Park ecologist Paula Kahumbu said the pair were now inseparable.
“After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together,” the ecologist added.

　　“The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother,” Kahumbu added.
“The hippo was left at a very tender age. Hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years.”

　　She said the hippo’s chances of survival in another herd were very slim, predicting that a dominant male would have killed him.
Officials are hopeful Owen will befriend a female hippo called Cleo, also a resident at the park.

Timmy the tortoise (left) with Tanya the plastic toy at the Tortoise Garden

　　
　　Timmy the tortoise (left) with Tanya the plastic toy at the Tortoise Garden sanctuary in St Austell, Cornwall. Photograph: Adam Gerrard/SWNS.COM
It is an unusual romance, to say the least. He is made of flesh, blood and shell while she is constructed entirely out of plastic.
But after years of heartache, Timmy the tortoise seems to have found some sort of comfort by teaming up with Tanya the plastic toy tortoise.
Timmy, a Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni), appears to dote on Tanya night and day since the pair were brought together by keepers at the sanctuary where he lives after he was "bullied" by other real tortoises.
The sprightly 60-year-old fetches her food (and does not seem to mind that she does not eat it) and nuzzles his head against hers. He will not go to bed unless she is put into his hut before him.
Timmy arrived at the Tortoise Garden sanctuary in St Austell, Cornwall, three years ago when his owners emigrated to New Zealand. Staff tried to introduce him to other tortoises but he did not get on with them.
　　The sanctuary's owner, Joy Bloor, said: "I tried introducing him to other tortoises but they don't seem to like him and bully and fight with him. I put the plastic toy in his pen with him and now they are inseparable.
"He nuzzles and kisses her, moves her around and pushes lettuce towards her. He plays with her every day. If I want him to go into his hut at night time I have to put Tanya in there first, otherwise he won't go."
The lack of response does not seem to bother Timmy. "Tanya's only a third of the size of him but he doesn't seem to mind," Bloor said. "He's much happier when it's just the two of them."
Over the years the sanctuary has looked after thousands of unwanted, abandoned, injured and illegally imported tortoises. Set up by Bloor and husband, Geoff, 20 years ago, it currently cares for 450 tortoises from 15 species in 60 pens.

Alligator Snapping Turtle

　

Alligator Snapping Turtle
The Alligator snapping turtle is the largest turtle that lives in fresh water in North America, and is also one of the largest turtles in the world.
Looking for all the world like a prehistoric sea monster, it boasts a spiked shell, a jaw that reminds you of a birds beak, thick scaly tale and if you didn’t know better you would believe you were looking at a dinosaur.

　　The Alligator Snapping turtle looks quite prehistoric
In fact, the Alligator Snapping Turtle is nicknamed the Dinosaur of the turtle world.
You will find Alligator snapping turtles nearly always in rivers, canals and lakes, particularly in the Southern part of the United states, mostly the eastern side, they can and have lived to be nearly 100 years old.
The males average about 2 and a half feet in shell length, and usually weigh about 150-175 although they have been known to grow to weigh more than 225 pounds.
The females are much smaller, usually weighing only about 50 pounds.

　　Most of their lives are spent in the water, with egg laying being the exception.
When she has mated in springtime, the female will emerge from the water and trudge inland about 50 yards until she finds a place that is suitable for nesting and dig, whereupon she will deposit 25-35 eggs and bury them.
Alligator snapping turtles then return to water and remain there until time to mate again. They are well suited for the water life, and can stay submerged below the water for upwards of 45 minutes before rising to the top for air.
Alligator snapping turtles use a unique means of hunting for their prey. They have a built in lure to bring the prey to them.
They have a tongue that is worm shaped, and very bright red. When lying without any movement on the bottom of a river or lake, they will flick the tongue and draw in curious fish or frogs to see what manner or worm or food this is, at which time they snatch the prey from the water.
As adults, the Alligator snapper has no real natural predator aside from human beings, who often take them for the meat (to make turtle soup) and the shell for adornments. They are also sold at times to exotic animal collectors.
They are stable but because of unregulated harvesting and sales of the Alligator snapper, and habitat loss due to humans encroachment on their turf, they are protected in most states, and in nearly all areas where they live or range.

　　A hawksbill turtle swims just above the seafloor with flippers spread like wings. Hawksbills get their name from their tapered heads, which end in a sharp point resembling a bird's beak.

I never saw a turtle until I went to Hawaii

　　Yes, it's true, I never saw a turtle until I went to Hawaii. I've been snorkelling on trips when divers in the party saw a turtle, but that's as close as I ever came (if you don't count the multitudes of stuffed turtles on sale in Okinawa). However, Hawaii totally turned the tables on this sorry situation, as you'll see.
The first place I went snorkelling in Hawaii was at Oahu's Hanauma Bay. I went on three consecutive days, and each time saw a turtle...

　　
　　This turtle's marked with a number "23" on its shell, presumably by researchers.

　　
Three turtles in three days, is pretty good going, right? 　　
　　
　　Well, how about three turtles in one snorkelling trip? That's what happened at the Big Island's Kahaluu Bay, a very small and crowded beach close to the main tourist center at Kona. And the second time I went swimming there it was even better! Almost as soon as I got into the water I saw three turtles in one place and took a photo to prove it (the water was very turbid because it was shallow and wave beaten, so I haven't put that photo on the website), then I looked around and realized that I could see five turtles all in the same place at the same time!

You to the lovely small tortoise how many know?

　　We are frequently asked here at the Turtle Club about which species are the best for beginners to keep. This can be a difficult question to answer; one must consider that turtle ownership is not a short lived hobby but more of a long term commitment. Most turtles live a very long time and many species will definitely outlive their owners. In consideration of this one must not only plan for the long term they often must plan beyond that and consider who will care from them after they're gone. That said turtles are very easy to care for if you provide them with the right stuff. The right stuff depends on which species you have.
There are many good sites out there on the internet that provide excellent care sheets once you know which species you have. At this time the Seattle Turtle and Tortoise Club does not provide individual care sheets, but we hope to aid in your identification of your animal by showing some of the more commonly kept (or member kept) species here. Beside each example we will provide a score of 1 to 5 relating to the difficultly of keeping each species. This scale is our own and one we have developed over time from the amount of calls we get asking for assistance.

The tortoise legendary myth

　　
　　By Annette Hinkle
　　It’s a familiar temptation on a hot summer day — a lovely pond filled with clear, cool water surrounded by shade trees. Just the spot for a quick dip.
　　Then someone happens to mention the inevitable.
　　“There are snapping turtles in that pond.”
　　And with that simple phrase, many a would-be swimmer foregoes the idea altogether as he or she conjures up visions of veritable monsters lurking in the deep below the water’s surface.
　　This Saturday, the South Fork Natural History Museum (SoFo) will offer “Snapping Turtles: Prehistoric Monster Hunt” a program ideal for those interested in learning more about the species. In advance of the outing, one of SoFo’s naturalists, Jim Ash, was happy to sort fact from fiction and offer up the truth about snappers.
　　“Snapping turtles are the biggest land locked turtles here,” explains Ash. “The record size is 70 pounds. But the biggest around here is about 35 or 40 pounds.”
　　One good look at a snapping turtle out of the water will explain why these creatures have developed such a fearsome reputation. With their thick, powerful beak capable of inflicting serious damage, a saw-tooth edged shell and a long spiky tale, these fresh water turtles would be well cast in a remake of “Jurassic Park.” In fact, they’ve been around for millions of years and would have been right at home alongside T-Rex.
　　“The snapping turtle looks the part,” concedes Ash. “It’s very prehistoric with spines on the tail and the scallop shell.”
　　But that’s just part of the story. Those who understand the true nature of snapping turtles wouldn’t hesitate to dive into a pond full of them.
　　“They’re abundant and the common turtle here,” adds Ash. “The baymen called them ‘terrups’ and used to trap them and sell them for turtle soup.”
　　Snapping turtles are actually quite illusive and can stay underwater for 30 or 40 minutes at a time. They only come face to face with people when they’re on dry land, and they only go on dry land when there’s a good reason to.
　　“They don’t come out of the water unless the pond dries out or the females come out to lay eggs,” explains Ash. “Most of the ones you come across are females and they’re looking for a dry sandy spot to lay their eggs.”
　　If you do come across a snapping turtle on dry land, Ash says there’s a good chance they’ll live up to their reputation.
　　“The snapping turtle is so named because it hisses and snaps,” notes Ash. “It only does that on land. The reason is, if you turn it over and look at the bottom shell, you’ll see that the plastron — as opposed to the carapace which is the top shell — is tiny.”
　　“This turtle is unable to withdrawal into its shell when threatened,” he adds. “So it hisses and snaps on land when out of it’s element.”
　　But what about when it’s in its element? What, exactly, would happen if a swimmer were to confront one in a pond?
　　“If you were to step on one in the water it would just swim away,” says Ash. “That part of it is so over blown.”
　　“But I do always recommend, when people see one in the road that they don’t attempt to pick it up,” he adds. “It has a long neck and can reach around and get your hand. The safest way to move a snapping turtle is to grab the tail and drag it across the road.”
　　Snapping turtles are often blamed for the deaths of aquatic birds. While Ash notes that fish, birds and small mammals are part of their diet, the turtles are not the killers they’re reputed to be.
　　“People say they kill million of ducks and pull them down,” he says. “It’s not a regular occurrence. Black crowned night herons kill way more. Fifty percent or more of the turtles’ diet is the vegetation and algae in the muck on the bottom of the pond.”
　　“They are an aquatic species,” he adds. “They‘ll lay motionless in the mud. If a frog or fish swims close by, the rapidity with which they can reach out and catch it is faster than the eye can follow. They’ll also eat dead fish or dead animals.”
　　Though they occasionally can be found in brackish water, and can even survive a swim across the bay, Ash notes that snapping turtles much prefer fresh water. He recalls one incident in recent years in which some baby turtles hatched at Sagg Main Beach. A family of beach goers were trying to be good samaritans and help the newly hatched turtles by tossing them into the surf.
　　“But we don’t have sea turtles that lay eggs here,” says Ash. “Some snapper had wandered out and laid her eggs on the open beach. These people were throwing these baby turtles into the surf and they kept coming back on shore.”