Turtle

Turtle is a popular pet turtle species that people love more and more. However, accurately speaking, Turtle is not a species, but a general term for many species. In biological classification, there are four genera under the Turtle species, and these four

genera include many species of turtles, each with its own distinctions, making it difficult to determine.

"Turtle" comes from its appearance resembling an egg. The scientific name corresponding to this colloquial name is "Pelomedusidae", which is known for its ventral shell that can move and close. The subfamily under this family involves 2 subfamilies and 4 genera, including some subspecies of turtles. Among them, it is inevitable to mention the Musk turtle and Mud turtle. Musk turtles are named after the fragrance they emit when threatened, which was discovered by scholars with this characteristic. Mud turtles, on the other hand, are called "Mud turtles" because of their unique habit of burrowing into the mud for hibernation during summer or winter.

Chinese name: Turtle

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Emydidae

Species: Turtle

Two subfamilies:

1. Subfamily Staurotypinae: includes the genus Terrapene and the genus Staurotypus

2. Subfamily Kinosterninae: includes the genus Kinosternon and the genus Sternotherus

Four genera:

1. Genus Terrapene: Narrow-bridged Musk turtle

2. Genus Staurotypus: Central American Giant Musk turtle, Mexican Giant Musk turtle (Three-stringed Giant Musk turtle)

3. Genus Kinosternon: Common Musk turtle, Razor-backed Musk turtle, Flattened Musk turtle, Giant-headed Musk turtle, Giant-headed Musk turtle, Striped-neck Musk turtle

4. Genus Sternotherus: Eastern Mud turtle, Harlan's Mud turtle, Spotted Mud turtle, Mexican Mud turtle, Oaxaca Mud turtle, Alamo Mud turtle, Narrow-bridged Mud turtle, Wrinkle-faced Mud turtle, Harris's Mud turtle, Colombian Mud turtle, Eastern Mud turtle, Mississippi Mud turtle, Florida Mud turtle, Yellow Mud turtle, Arizona Mud turtle, Dozan Mud turtle, Northern White-lipped Mud turtle, Southern White-lipped Mud turtle, Sinaloan Mud turtle, Amazon Mud turtle, Chaco Mud turtle, White-throated Mud turtle, Red-faced Mud turtle, Mexican Wood turtle.

The Musk Turtle is found in the continental United States, with only one species extending into Canada. On the other hand, the Mud Turtle (referring to the Genus Kinosternon) has a relatively wide distribution, ranging from southern Connecticut, through the southern and central United States, as well as Mexico and Central America, all the way to northern Argentina in South America.

The Yellow Mud Turtle has a wider distribution, found in northwestern Illinois and neighboring Iowa and Missouri; from southern Nebraska through Texas, New Mexico, and southern Arizona to Sonora; it can even be found in places like Mexico and Veracruz. Its presence can even be detected in a wide area with an altitude of 6500 meters.

Suggestions for raising loved turtles, the living environment needed for turtles is more complicated. However, most turtles like deep water environments. Turtles are skilled swimmers and are not afraid of humans, so if we raise turtles in deep water, we can observe their adorable swimming side.

1. Gastroenteritis

[Cause] After turtles eat, sudden drop in environmental temperature, or putting in stale and unclean feed, or water quality deterioration can all cause turtles to get this disease. [Symptoms] Turtles with mild illness have a small amount of mucus or loose stools in their feces, which is yellow, green, or dark green in color, and they eat less. Turtles with severe illness have watery or mucous-like feces, which are brown or bloody. Turtles stop eating!

[Prevention and Treatment] For the treatment of gastroenteritis, a small amount of berberine, chloramphenicol, or other drugs for human gastroenteritis treatment can be added to the feed. If the turtle doesn't eat, it needs to be injected into the muscles, but very few individuals have this ability. The solution of the above drugs can also be used for soaking, but the efficacy is not obvious. In other words, if a turtle gets gastroenteritis, it should be treated in a timely manner. It is difficult to cure it once it stops eating, which will lead to the death of the turtle!

2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia

[Cause] Pseudomonas aeruginosa is widely present in soil and sewage. It mainly infects through the digestive tract and wounds. This bacterium is also present in feed and water sources!

[Symptoms] Diseased turtles have no appetite, eat less, vomit, and have yellow or brown, pus-like stool! [Prevention and Treatment] Prevention is better than treatment, so paying attention to the cleanliness of the turtle's environment and feed and water is important to avoid bacterial infection. Once the disease occurs, mixing erythromycin into the feed or soaking in erythromycin solution can be used.

3. Scabies

[Cause] It mostly occurs in aquatic turtles and semi-aquatic turtles. The pathogen is a subspecies of Aeromonas hydrophila. It often exists in water and various parts of the turtle's body, such as the skin and intestines. When the water environment is good, the turtle is a carrier of the bacteria. Once the environment is polluted or the body surface is injured, the bacteria proliferate rapidly, causing the turtle to get sick!

[Symptoms] There are several white sores the size of soybeans on the neck and limbs, and squeezing the surrounding area will produce yellow or white bean-like contents. In the early stage of the disease, the diseased turtle can still eat, but the appetite gradually decreases. Severe cases will stop eating and have sluggish response. Generally, the diseased turtle can die within 2-3 weeks.

[Prevention and Treatment] First, isolate the diseased turtle for breeding. Squeeze out all the contents of the sores, apply iodine on the affected area, and apply terramycin powder. Then put the diseased turtle into shallow water, and for turtles that stop eating, force-feeding should be done with feed mixed with antibiotics!

4. Necrotic Dermatitis

[Cause] Caused by infection with Bacillus monocytogenes. When the skin is injured due to other reasons, this bacterial infection takes advantage of the opportunity and causes necrosis of the skin tissue at the site of injury.

[Symptoms] The diseased part of the turtle can be seen to be ulcerated, with the epidermis turning white.

[Prevention and Treatment] First remove the rotten epidermis and dead skin from the affected area, and then apply tetracycline eye ointment to the affected area, and add oral antibiotic drugs to the feed for treatment.

5. White Eye Disease

[Cause] Increased farming density and excessive alkaline water quality can cause this disease. This disease mostly occurs in young turtles. [Symptoms] The eyes of diseased turtles become congested and inflamed, the eyes become swollen, the cornea and nasal mucosa become ulcerated due to inflammation, the outside of the eyeball is covered with white secretions, and the eyes cannot be opened. Diseased turtles often rub their eyes with their front limbs, move slowly, and severe cases will stop eating, ultimately leading to death due to weakness and other complications. This disease often occurs in spring and autumn.

[Prevention and Treatment] For turtles with mild symptoms (able to open their eyes), furan can be used.

In the breeding of turtles, the control of water quality should be paid attention to first. Turtles are highly aquatic turtles, so the control of water quality is important. Secondly, the role of light is important, and the light requirements of turtles are similar to those of other turtles. Finally, the selection of food is important, which is related to the health of turtles.

First, the control of water quality

The tank of turtles is recommended to be filtered, especially the up filter effect is the best. It can keep the water quality stable for a long time. However, it is still necessary to develop the habit of removing large feces and feed residues immediately when you see them in the tank. This can prevent the water from deteriorating and affecting the health of the turtles. As I keep them at a constant temperature all year round, I need to add 1/3 of water every week to make up for the evaporation and keep the water fresh and clean.

Turtles breathe with their lungs. As long as the filtration system is in place, it doesn't matter if the water in the tank is not changed for a long time.

Second, the selection of food

Next, let's talk about the food for turtles. You can mainly feed turtle food, and occasionally feed some blocks of shrimp. In the recipe, you can also add feed fish and bran shrimp as the main feed. (Feed fish can be fed after being thawed for more than 48 hours) After a period of practice, it can be found that this can indeed make the turtles stronger, so it is completely feasible. In addition, you can put small calcium tablets broken into small pieces in the fish meat and feed them together with the turtles. This is also an effective method of calcium supplementation.

Third, the requirements for light

Turtles do need sunlight. If the sunlight conditions are not very good, you can use UVB for irradiation, and one hour in the morning and evening can also be effective. Also, try to avoid dehydration and sunburn in turtles. So as not to forget the time and cause unnecessary tragedy.