Want to buy a turtle? Here's how to go about it.

Have you always wanted to adopt a turtle? Would you like to know the process that will allow you to acquire a turtle?

You'll discover the factors to consider when acquiring and caring for a turtle. Among unconventional pets, the turtle is very popular. To thrive properly, the reptile needs only one thing: a good habitat and a suitable diet.

In this article, you will learn:

• Types of turtles that are available in the market
• The right habitat to set up for the turtles to thrive
• The Best Diet for Turtles
• The choice of species

Turtles are fascinating animals. They adapt very well as long as their habitat is optimal. They generally make excellent pets.

So let's see how we can get a turtle!

The existence of different species, turtles with diverse characteristics

Turtles are animals with a long history of evolution. These egg-laying reptilian creatures are among the first living beings to inhabit the Earth. Today, due to various human activities, turtles are threatened with extinction. Every effort is being made to protect them. However, it is possible to keep a turtle as a pet within a legal framework. There are different types of turtle species.

There are land turtles and swamp turtles. So, if you're looking to acquire a turtle for the first time, you'll have two choices. Note that swamp turtles found in America are easy to find. Price-wise, these turtle species are also very inexpensive. Moreover, they don't require any administrative documents. Let's discover these American swamp turtles.

The most common species are Trachemys Scripta , Pseudemys, and Graptemys. The Trachemys Scripta turtle has the particularity of adapting quickly. In addition, it is robust. The Pseudemys turtle is not very common but has roughly the same characteristics as Trachemys Scripta. The same is true for the Graptemys species. However, this species requires special attention that only specialists can master.

Being fully involved when owning a pet turtle

Commitment doesn't always suit a beginner's characteristics. American swamp turtles require special care. To thrive, turtles need a suitable environment. Turtles that live in water are generally around ten meters in size. The ideal environment would be a large aquaterrarium with good equipment.

A dry , heated area should also be provided. The entire area should be run through with high-performance filters to frequently clean the water that receives the turtles. Every effort should be made to avoid keeping turtles in an environment where plastic is omnipresent. Indeed, plastic poses a danger to turtles. Ingestion of plastic is one of the major causes of mortality among turtles.

However, it may happen that your turtle is larger. At this time, it is best to opt for another type of habitat. In this type of case, choose a garden pond that is surrounded by a dry area. This parameter is very important for large turtles. If you do not have the possibility of creating a pond in your garden, it is better not to take the plunge. Indeed, it happens too often that due to lack of adequate habitat for their turtles, people abandon them.

The process of purchasing turtles and their adaptation

In addition to American turtles, there are other species that can be found in various regions. This is particularly the case with Mediterranean turtles. These turtles have the particularity of being easy to reproduce.

This is particularly the case with Testudo hermanni and Testudo marginata. These Mediterranean tortoises are difficult to find. They also cost more than American tortoises. The advantage is that they are easy to manage when you have the optimal environment.

Before committing to owning this type of turtle, you must ensure the legality of the process. Purchasing these turtles must be conditional upon the issuance of a CITES certificate . This certificate attests to the turtles' originality. If you are not granted this certificate, it means you are acting illegally. You will then be subject to severe penalties.

Habitat is crucial

Turtle habitat is of crucial importance. They need large enough spaces to move around freely. They also need frequent exposure to sunlight. Particular emphasis must be placed on protecting turtles in their environment.

The fence must therefore be extremely sturdy. This will prevent them from escaping. In addition, they will be protected from dogs, cars, electric bars, and other hazards. Once these various parameters meet the standards, caring for Mediterranean tortoises is easy. These tortoises adapt very well, and their diet is very simple. In fact, they feed solely on grasses and herbaceous plants. This food ration is enough for their happiness.

In winter, turtles hibernate by spontaneously burying themselves. If winters are very harsh, turtles must be housed in a cold room. This will allow them to hibernate without the risk of freezing. Now let's look at another type of turtle that can be found in stores. This is the Russian tortoise. This variant is easily more available than Mediterranean tortoises. It is also known as Testudo horsifeldii. The Russian tortoise is often found in specialty stores .

Aspects to consider for the well-being of the turtle, nothing should be neglected

As its name suggests, this reptile comes from the Russian continent. It is adapted to a climate profoundly different from the Mediterranean one. Although it can get used to living in our gardens, it is very afraid of the cold and damp . During the hibernation period, it needs a controlled environment to hibernate safely.

Before purchasing a specimen of this species, it is essential to thoroughly research its environmental needs . There are certain aspects to consider when you want to raise a turtle at home. Reptiles, in general, require basic equipment to achieve a habitat. This type of environment will allow them to grow and develop without becoming ill.

Turtles can roam the house for exercise. However, it is necessary to create a terrarium for them, either inside or outside the house, with all the comforts they need. Adult turtles thrive outside. They eat natural grasses, provided they are healthy. Therefore, the habitat must be safe.

The Basic Needs of Turtles

Before buying your turtle, you should know that it can live between 50 and 100 years. If you take good care of it, you'll be making a very long-term commitment. To start, you'll need a terrarium from which it can't escape. The bigger the better, but you can start with whatever you have available in the meantime.

The ideal size is 50 x 75 cm and 20 cm high. This space is sufficient to accommodate a shelter, a bowl of water, and your food. Keep in mind that as your turtle grows, you'll need to expand its home. Being cold- blooded animals, turtles need a heat source and a thermal gradient.

This is intended to regulate their temperature. Therefore, you should consider purchasing some form of heating for your pet. Again, the choice depends on the ambient temperature, the time of year, and the size of the terrarium you have created. On the other hand, tortoises from tropical regions will need an environmental humidifier , which can be homemade.

The right diet for turtles, prioritize fruits and vegetables

As for food, a varied herbivore diet is essential. It's ideal to be able to provide safe wild herbs, meaning they don't contain pesticides. Turtles in the wild don't have access to vegetables and fruits. Instead, they have access to grasses, clovers, herbs, roots, flowers, and fruits. From time to time, we need to add mineral and vitamin supplements to the diet throughout the turtle's life.

You can also use tortoise food as part of your diet. However, you should always provide fresh food. Although they are land animals, they all need some sort of bath where they can soak and hydrate. This encourages water consumption and also defecation. This requires a low-rimmed bowl that allows for easy entry and exit and is heavy so it won't tip over. In addition to the basic equipment, you should consider all the accessories that make the habitat a pleasant place to live.

This means hiding places , natural or synthetic plants, rocks, and a substrate adapted to the needs of the species. As you can see, the turtle is not exactly the most expensive part, but quite the opposite. If you want your pet to thrive, you must be prepared to give it everything it needs. If you want to learn more about turtle diets, visit our blog post dedicated to turtle feeding .

Successfully Adopting Turtles

To successfully adopt your turtle, it is very important to choose the right species for your environment. Turtles from tropical climates require a warm environment year-round and do not hibernate. For this reason, they cannot be kept outdoors during the winter months. However, they must be sheltered, at least for part of the year, in a suitable terrarium.

Another important factor to consider is size, especially when acquiring very young specimens. A newly hatched African spur tortoise or leopard tortoise are beautiful animals very well suited to captivity. However, since they grow to considerable sizes, they must be provided with a suitable habitat.

Most tortoises require spacious outdoor spaces to live. Therefore, if you don't have a suitable plot of land, it's best to choose another type of reptile better suited to terrarium living.

The best for a turtle, its habitat and its diet

To qualify to purchase a turtle, you must comply with a legal framework. Unlike other pets, turtles require specific care.

For your pet to thrive, you need to make sure its habitat is optimized.

Buying and caring for a turtle requires a constant commitment. It's a long process that requires attention and patience!

We hope you enjoyed our blog post, please feel free to visit our various turtle jewelry collections to support our cause!