How many years does a turtle live? How many years do turtles live in the wild and at home? How long do small pet turtles live?

Nowadays it is especially popular to have unusual pets, for example, reptiles. The red-eared slider will excellent option for keeping in an ordinary apartment, because it does not require a lot of space or any complex special care.

Before getting such a pet, many people are interested in how long red-eared turtles live. Unfortunately, it is impossible to give an exact answer to this question.

Lifespan depends on various factors:

The species to which the turtle belongs.
Conditions of detention.
Nutrition.
Health.

If you are interested in how to properly care for a red-eared turtle so that it pleases you and lives long life, continue reading this article and you will find answers to all your questions.

Turtles are cute little creatures that are very well adapted to live long lives. . Unlike other pets and all animals in general, they have a very slow metabolism. Thanks to this feature, turtles are able to for a long time do without water and food. They are also lucky to have a very developed immune system. High immunity allows their body to quickly recover from rare diseases, promotes rapid healing of wounds and provides resistance to various types of infections. All these features also make these animals unusually hardy.

Few people know, but turtles truly unique creations. Their body is able to stop the heartbeat for a while and then start it again.

The ancestor of all turtles now living on Earth is Cotylosaurus. During the course of evolution, all animals that are descendants of this dinosaur learned to live in water - both fresh and salt.

The question of how long turtles actually live is quite complex. Think for yourself, there is a turtle on Earth that has lived for more than three hundred years and is still in good health . This unusual centenarian lives in the Galapagos Islands Pacific Ocean, but scientists who turned their attention to it are convinced that the turtle is actually much younger and this is just a story from local residents to attract tourists. Such an opinion may indeed exist, because scientists have recorded that large turtles Centenarians can live no more than 180 years.

How many years does a turtle live is a question primarily addressed to people. Very often, through our actions, humanity puts these animals in danger, destroying their habitat. Many turtles have fallen victim to human greed, exterminated by poachers for their meat, skin and shells.

How long do red-eared turtles live at home?

How much is yours red-eared turtle living at home depends primarily on you. The lifespan of a pet turtle directly depends on the conditions created for it.

If the red-eared pet completely satisfied with his house, care and food, he can easily live up to thirty years, and maybe even more. Since several cases have been recorded when red-eared turtles lived for forty years at home. Of course, thanks to the efforts of the owners.

The main rule for keeping a turtle at home is to provide it with living conditions that are as close to natural as possible.

To feel good, one turtle needs an aquarium with a volume of one hundred and fifty liters. The aquarium should not only have water, but also dry land so that the pet can sometimes walk, rest and bask on a hard surface. Dry land should occupy 1/3 of the volume of water in the aquarium. Pet stores sell special islands for turtles; among them, you can choose one of a suitable size and place it in the aquarium.

Don’t try to save money and build islands yourself. It will be difficult for the turtle climb onto slippery bottoms plastic bottles and other debris representing land. This will spoil the animal’s mood and will also lead to a refusal to walk, which will certainly affect the pet’s health and well-being.

Turtles love warmth very much, so the aquarium should always be maintained at the same temperature. Special lamps for terrariums will help you with this. Drafts and cold are dangerous for handsome red-eared cats; they can catch a cold and get sick. Therefore, you need to protect them from strong temperature changes.

Periodically you will have to change the water and clean the aquarium. You don’t need to do this more than once a week, but you shouldn’t wait too long between cleaning your turtle house.

Feeding

Nutrition is a very important aspect in caring for red-eared turtles. With the right diet, your pet will live at home for at least thirty years. After all, balanced food is the key to a long life for your pet.

Feeding the turtle should be done during the day, as it is a diurnal animal. The basis of a turtle's diet at home is special dry food. It can be purchased at any veterinary pharmacy or pet supply stores.

Dry food alone will seem like too little nutrition for your turtle. In order to replenish the required amount of protein, you should diversify the animal's diet.

Products, containing proteins necessary in the diet of the red-eared slider:

Meat: chicken, beef, rabbit, turkey. It shouldn't be greasy. Boiled or raw, always thinly sliced.
Insects: bloodworms, earthworms. They are needed so that the turtle’s body perceives its diet as natural.
Fruits, vegetables, various plants.
Gamarus and snails. Gamarus are aquatic crustaceans; when alive, they are the healthiest food for a turtle. You can buy them all year round.
Seafood.

Turtles also need a variety of mineral and vitamin supplements. They replenish the lack of microelements, and also improve well-being and appearance pet.

The most necessary elements:

Vitamin D - once a week.
Vitamin A - once every two weeks.

They should be given in oil form and added to food.

How to determine the sex of a red-eared turtle

To determine the sex of your turtle, carefully examine them from all sides. Males have thicker and longer claws on their paws than females. In turn, females are the owners of graceful thin, short tails. Males' tails, on the contrary, are long and wide at the base.

Determining the age of the red-eared slider is quite difficult. Once hatched, the turtles are just microscopic in size, and then they begin to grow quickly. By the first year of their life, they reach approximately three to four centimeters in the shell, and then, every year they add another two to four centimeters.

If the person from whom you purchased your pet does not remember or write down the date of birth of this animal, it will be impossible to find out. In such cases, you can only calculate the approximate age of your turtle using several methods.

We determine age based on average statistical indicators

Before you start determining your age You should find out the gender of your turtle, since females are slightly larger than males.

Table of average statistical indicators for determining the approximate age of a red-eared turtle based on shell size.

Two years - nine centimeters for girls, eight centimeters for boys.
Three years - fourteen centimeters for girls, ten centimeters for boys.
Four years old - seventeen centimeters for girls, twelve centimeters for boys.

Determining age by rings

There is another way to determine the age of a turtle - by the rings in the pattern on its shell. The first ring is formed before the animal reaches one year. Then two or three more rings are added annually.

But this method is very inaccurate. Patterns and rings on the shell are formed not only because of age. Their appearance depends on many factors. For example, from living conditions, nutrition, health. Even hibernation influences the formation of patterns and rings. Therefore, this method is not recommended. Using it, you can only establish the approximate age of a fairly old turtle, and even then with a large error of five or seven years.

Red-eared turtles are very cute and cute creatures. They do not require special care. This animal is a great pet for busy people or children. The turtle will be able to teach the child responsibility and care for our little brothers.

Subject to all conditions of maintenance and feeding, as well as giving the turtle care and attention, you can easily grow another long-liver who will delight another generation of your family.

Having decided to buy a pet for the family, many focus not only on how many times a day they need to be walked with and how difficult it is to maintain it, but also on its life expectancy at home. That is why they are increasingly coming out on top various types turtles. They are not picky and their maintenance is inexpensive. But before you get a pet, you need to understand the rules of care and how long turtles live at home.

Small turtles live about 20 years

Lifespan of turtles

Many people consider turtles to be the record holders for life expectancy. But this opinion is based on rare cases of old-timers belonging to large species. But in fact, the survival rate of young animals is very low, and the population is maintained by large number eggs in a clutch. In the best case, no more than 60% of them hatch, and in the worst case, no more than 5%. The remaining eggs are eaten by predators. Young animals are also a tasty morsel for most animals, as well as for people.

Very few individuals live to be 30 years old. On average, it is believed that a turtle lives no more than 20 years. And the age of old-timers largely depends on the factor of luck. The reptile cannot get out of its shell- it is fused with it.

The larger the individual, the longer its lifespan:

small ones live no more than half a century;
large ones - up to 80 years and longer.

If you raise a turtle at home, its life can be either shortened or significantly increased. The latter becomes possible thanks to comfortable living conditions and the absence of dangers.

There are 5 popular types

Species of reptiles

There are many species of turtles found in nature, each of which has its own characteristics and lifespan. But not all of them can be grown at home. The most popular are:

- this variety includes more than ten genera. Its habitat is the warm latitudes of many continents. Most often, representatives of this species can be found in the desert or steppe, but you can also see them in the forest. They are represented by large-sized individuals with thick legs and a large shell. Distinctive feature are fused fingers. They can live in natural conditions for up to 100 years. Most people do not live in households longer than 40 years.
- refers to a variety of land animals. A distinctive feature is the shell, which is divided into several sectors and has a yellow or spotted tint. This species can be found in the desert, foothills and near bodies of water. These are small individuals that live no more than 30 years in captivity. Their lifespan in nature is not precisely determined, but on average it is accepted to take 50 years.
Marine - most often found in warm waters seas and oceans. They differ from land animals not only in their legs, which look like flippers, but also in their elongated shell. The animal cannot pull its head and legs inside its shell. Most often, sea turtles can be found in large aquariums and zoos. In nature, they can live up to 80 years. But it is impossible to determine how long sea turtles live at home. They are not grown in houses and apartments, because such large individuals will not fit in any aquarium and their maintenance is associated with certain difficulties.

Depending on living conditions, a turtle can live longer

Aquatic turtle - refers to small individuals that do not grow more than 30 cm. Most often found in fresh waters South Africa, Asia and Japan. At home he feels great. This turtle lives up to 50 years both in captivity and in the natural environment.
or yellow-bellied variety is a freshwater species. Its size rarely reaches 30 cm, males are slightly smaller than females. It got its name because of the red spots on the head in the eye area. Makes sounds similar to hissing or squealing. Found in lakes and ponds with fresh water. Able to live up to 50 years.

Not all representatives of these species of reptiles can be kept at home. But still, most of them are found in captivity.

Life at home

At home, a turtle can live a very long time, compared to natural environment habitat, which is achieved by balancing risk factors.

Several conditions can affect the lifespan of a reptile:

correctness of the selected diet;
conditions of detention;
detection of diseases and their timely treatment;
possible injuries to the pet.

In this video you will find out how long turtles live:

Small individuals can live in captivity up to 30 years, larger ones - up to 50. But in a zoo, this period increases significantly. This happens due to better conditions in old age.

Rules for determining age

Many factors influence how long red-eared turtles or other species live. But many of the reptiles can become real long-livers. The exact age of an individual can be determined using carbon analysis of the shell. This is how the oldest turtles were identified. But this cannot be done on a living fauna. Therefore, scientists use more gentle methods for this purpose:

Shell length. It changes by about two centimeters per year. At birth, it is only three centimeters, and therefore it is enough to measure the shell of an adult and carry out simple calculations to get its approximate age.
Counting tree rings. This method is less accurate, but nevertheless quite informative. The scales that gradually grow on the surface of the house are counted. This is much easier to do in young individuals than in old ones. In the latter, the shell is greatly smoothed out.

But no known method can give an accurate result, because the formation of the shell is also influenced by the animal’s diet, living conditions and health.

The oldest turtle lived 177 years

The oldest turtle

Determine how long they live aquatic turtles it is possible by the annual rings on the shell, but according to sources in the world there are such individuals that have survived several eras. And this was witnessed by their owners, to whom the pets were inherited for more than one generation.

Most old turtle It is considered to be the one raised by Charles Darwin. He brought it from the Galapagos Islands, about the size of a saucer. But by the time of his death, the turtle had grown to incredible sizes. Its weight is more than half a centner. She outlived her owner by 105 years and died at the age of 177.

Another well-known long-liver is the Gigantic Tortoise, originally from Seychelles. She lived for different sources from 150 to 200 years. There is no more precise information.

The radiant turtle Tui Malila, given by Captain Cook himself to the leader of the Tongan natives, lived to be 200 years old. This fact has not been documented, but an analysis of the shell showed exactly this period.

It is impossible to determine exactly how many years turtles of one species or another live. Their ages can only be given approximately. Therefore, it is quite possible that the grandchildren will inherit a small walking table weighing up to 50-100 kg. But, in any case, the health and longevity of the turtle will depend entirely on how well its owners take care of it.

Length and growth rate of turtles

The change in the length of the turtles can be seen by the light seams between the carapace scutes. If the turtle grows quickly, then the new horny layers along the periphery of the scutes become very light, then processes of pigment cells (dermal melanophores) grow there and pigment is transferred along them, usually in the form of thin rays or dark spots. When these growth rings age, the pigmented zones will not differ from the previous ones. This is the cost of accelerated growth in captivity.(c) D.B. Vasiliev.

The growth stripes of land turtles should not be too wide, otherwise this will indicate overfeeding.

As young turtles grow, their body shape and shell color change. The shell elongates and darkens. When the turtle grows and becomes sexually mature, if it is a male, then it may develop a depression on the plastron, thicker and long tail, long claws. Eye color and nose color may also change.

Parameters of red-eared turtles born and living in nature

Parameters of land turtles, turtles born and living in nature (using the example of Testudo hermanni)

At home, the growth of a turtle depends on the size of the aquarium/terrarium, frequency of feeding, diet, and the addition of calcium to the food.

Determining the age of a turtle

For turtles living in areas with well-defined seasons, their age can be approximately determined by the number of annual rings on the horny scutes. The annual rings of the Central Asian tortoise, for example, are clearly visible and delimited by sharp impressions - marks winter seasons. The embryonic shield, with which the turtle hatches from the egg, is clearly visible due to its uneven, granular surface. Using the growth rings, you can calculate the growth rate of a given turtle, since the increase in the width of the scutes is proportional to the increase in the length of the entire shell. In some cases, a correlation is shown between the number of rings in the cross-section of long bones and the size of the shell.

It is impossible to know the exact age of a turtle that has not been raised since birth, but it can be approximately determined as follows:

1. By turtle size (shell length)
2. According to the number of rings on the shell: 2-3 rings are formed in 1 year. To be more precise, you can count several flakes and then find the average value.
But we must take into account that both the size and number of rings depend on the conditions under which the turtle was kept, and whether it hibernated.
The rings appear when the turtle is not yet a year old. In very old specimens, the shell becomes especially smooth, like in newborns, and the annual rings turn pale.
When counting grooves, it should be taken into account that during the period of active growth: from a newborn to a two-year-old, the grooves determine the period of development from 3 months to six months, and then about a year.

Growth occurs by adding new portions of keratin, which leads to a gradual increase in the diameter of the shield. In turtles temperate latitudes growth occurs more rapidly in the warm season. New portions of keratin form a clearly visible ring sculpture - the so-called “growth rings”. Counting these rings requires some skill. In young turtles, and especially in those bred in captivity, during the first few years of life, keratin is deposited in the form of many thin rings (this, of course, does not correspond to the age of the turtle). In wild-caught animals, growth rings can produce more useful information. Often, by the number and quality of the “growth rings,” it is possible to determine (although not in all cases) the age of the turtle, the time when it came into captivity, the beginning chronic illness associated with impaired growth, correct conditions of detention, etc.
With age, the Malpighian layer begins to function mainly only along the periphery of the scutellum (in the so-called areoles). In the center of the scutum, the germinal layer may degenerate and lose contact with the basement membrane. A cavity is formed here and the shield may lag behind the underlying bone plate. In burrowing species, the outer layers of the stratum corneum can wear off and the carapace becomes completely smooth. In some freshwater turtles (including red-eared turtles) and especially in young animals in the phase of initial (rapid) growth, the horny scutes of the shell can be peeled off and replaced with new ones. The mechanism of this phenomenon is similar to the molting of scaly reptiles. (Vasiliev D.B. Turtles. Maintenance, diseases and treatment)

Lifespan of turtles

The loss of eggs due to nest predators is 40-95%. The survival rate of young animals is 10-55%; at the age of 10 to 15 years, 10-15% die per year. A complete change of generations occurs every 20 years, and animals aged 30 years are already rare. At home, turtles often die from infections and poor maintenance. But on average, small turtles live for 50 years, large ones for 80 years, and very large ones for 150-200 years.

Approximate data taken from observations of herpetologists in Zoos and private collections:

Central Asian - 40-50 years
red-eared - 40-50 years
Indian roofing turtle (Kachuga tecta) - 37 years old
box turtles - 50-100 years
Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) - 60 years
desert gopher (Gopherus agassizii), sea turtles - 80 years
radiant - 85 years
Balkan (Testudo hermanni) - 90 years
spur-bearing - 115 years
Galapagos, Seychelles - 150-180 years

The lifespan of a turtle depends greatly on its care. Some people have turtles that are 20-30 years old or even 40-50 years old, but many of them, due to poor maintenance, have many senile diseases and do not live long. They say that if it were not for illness and external factors, turtles would live forever. =)

Having decided to start pet, one question almost always arises - how long will it live in your home? After all, this indicator is influenced by a combination of reasons - the organization proper nutrition, a place to live, climatic features, maintaining cleanliness. Take, for example, a turtle. She is a representative of long-livers, the age of some individuals reaches one hundred years or more. Some scientists claim that with a suitable climate and healthy food, a turtle will live up to three hundred years. Living indoors significantly reduces the limits of longevity, but we can confidently say that any turtle will outlive a dog or cat.

Lifespan of turtles

The leader is the red-eared turtle, whose age reaches an average of thirty to forty years. But it is worth noting that with improperly organized care, the lifespan of an animal in an apartment can be significantly reduced. The fact is that this individual needs water and a spacious place of detention. And this should not be limited.

Bolotnaya european tortoise in captivity will live a little less - no more than twenty-five. There have been cases when an animal of this species lived to be over a hundred years old.

In third place is the Central Asian turtle, which can live from twenty to forty years. But even among them there are long-livers. An example is Marion turtles, which reach an age of up to one and a half hundred years.

The average sea turtle lives about eighty years. But many turtles do not reach such a respectable age, dying in their embryonic state from harsh temperature fluctuations. They also die in the clutches of predators when they try to get to the water’s edge after hatching.

Reasons for longevity

Turtles live in aquatic environment and on land. Over the entire period of their existence, they have learned to get used to any changes environment. Turtles have reliable immunity against numerous infections, being considered one of the hardiest living creatures on the planet. They have a bone cover in the form of a shell, which is quite difficult to damage, and are distinguished by their ability to go without food for a long time or be content with little. The secret of turtles' longevity lies in the slowness of material metabolism, which caused delayed puberty and, naturally, inhibition of vital processes.

Is life possible for a turtle without water?

In an indoor space, a turtle is able to crawl into a secluded place and
"get lost" for a long time. To make it easier to find him and lure him to open space, just leave a plate of water on the floor. And although a turtle can do without water for several days, it will definitely appear for such bait.

Whatever you say, the life span of a turtle is decent. In this case, the pet will need proper care from us.

What to feed a turtle, how to organize care

The turtle food recommended in books is meat, boiled eggs and other products. But at the same time, the animal perfectly consumes dandelions, apples, cucumbers and even tomatoes. IN summer time You can take the turtle out into nature - it will enjoy the grass.

Many people keep the turtle on its own “walk”. This is not quite the right decision - the animal suffers greatly from piercing drafts, dust accumulations on the floor and dirt.

The right solution for keeping a turtle would be to equip a terrarium. A fenced-off corner in the bathroom or kitchen is also suitable if the floor is heated. Don't forget to install a lamp that will emit heat from above.

The turtle needs love and care. Give her this and she will live happily ever after at home.

There are more than 290 species of aquatic and land turtles in the world. Over the course of many centuries, these unique long-lived animals skillfully adapted and learned to survive in different conditions. They have developed immunity to many infections, becoming almost the hardiest creatures on Earth. Animals with bones are able to go without food for a long time. And their “armor” is very difficult to penetrate.

Turtles have a slow metabolism, which led to late puberty and a slowdown in all life processes. Although you shouldn’t believe the myths about turtle slowness.

Let's find out what types of turtles they live for. I think the topic will be especially close to us.

How long do land turtles live?

There is plenty of evidence that the age exceeded 100 years. The same Central Asian turtles- a vivid example of this. And detailed records of observations in the monasteries of Jerusalem say that some animals reached 120 years.

Examples of longevity have been recorded in zoos. For example, elephant turtle lived to be 150 years old, and the spur-bearing one reached 115 years of age. The Guinness Book of Records indicates an age of 152 years.

Central Asian tortoise

How long does the Central Asian representative of the armored fish live? We have already used it as an example when talking about land turtles. First let's say that this is the most common type. On average, an animal of this species lives 40 years. But there are long-lived turtles. For example, the Marions, who became famous for the fact that one of the representatives of their family reached 152 years of age. On the Galapagos Islands, giant tortoises can live for 200 years. But still in wild conditions Central Asian women live 20 - 30 years.

It is difficult to answer the question of how long pet turtles live. It all depends on the conditions of detention. If you can create favorable relationships for her natural conditions, she will delight you for the 30 years she is entitled to, or even more.

How long do aquatic turtles live?

Let's find out how long other ornamental turtles live. For example, swamps.

European marsh turtle populated the entire Eastern Hemisphere. Although initially its homeland was Europe, where, in fact, the name comes from. She only lives in fresh water. Although it was found in the wild in the salty Vityazevsky and Kizeltashsky estuaries. At home, with good care, a turtle can live up to 30 years, but in the wild there have been cases where the animal lived up to 120.

How many years does a red-eared slider live?

Like other turtles, red-eared turtles live a long time - 30 years. But an inept owner can shorten this period. Just remember, this decorative specimen loves both water and space. Don't discriminate against her in this regard.

How long do sea turtles live?

Average duration life is 80 years. But most turtles do not reach this age: some die while still in the embryo in the egg due to too low or high temperature. Some of them, when trying to reach the water after hatching, are eaten by predators. Sea turtle eaters are waiting for the rest. As a result, many of the species are on the verge of extinction.

How long do turtles live without water?

Pet turtles often get lost. They can climb into the most unexpected place and not get out of there for a long time. There is no need to talk about hibernation. Therefore, the owners begin to worry. But in vain. Your pet will never go far from water. And if you want to lure it out of its shelter as quickly as possible, place a bowl of water in a visible place; the animal will definitely appear, although it can survive without water for two or three days. This ability comes in handy when transporting turtles.