It can be easy for animal lovers to be charmed by an aquatic turtle at the pet store. The two most common species are the red-eared slider and the yellow-bellied slider. This small animal, lying still on an artificial rock, doesn\u2019t appear to require a great deal of attention. It seems like the perfect companion animal for someone who doesn\u2019t have much time to take care of an animal, doesn\u2019t it? Unfortunately, that\u2019s not the case. Keeping a turtle healthy in captivity is not easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The specific needs of aquatic turtles<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem is that people adopt these animals without being aware of all their specific needs. Keeping a turtle in captivity in your home is no easy task. Failing to provide the conditions vital to their well-being can seriously impact their health. An unsuitable environment, improper diet, lack of UV rays or poor hygiene can lead to a host of problems, including respiratory infections, shell softening and eye irritation (due to a high level of ammonia in the water, which can poison the animal over time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, these turtles can exceed the size of a cantaloupe. To ensure optimal well-being, they should be kept in a pond or basin, so they have enough room to swim around. At the very least, a large, 70\u2011gallon aquarium will do.. And since they aren\u2019t common domestic animals like cats and dogs, few veterinarians specialize in turtles, which can make it difficult to get them the basic care they need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to their unique needs, turtles can live 30 to 40 years. Adopting an aquatic turtle is a long-term commitment that shouldn\u2019t be made lightly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n