What is the difference between a golden thread turtle and a grass turtle? A quick guide to telling them apart

The golden thread turtle is a kind of turtle. It is expensive but easy to keep alive, and it is very popular. So what is the difference between a golden thread turtle and a grass turtle?

1. What is the difference between a golden thread turtle and a grass turtle?

There is no difference between a golden thread turtle and a grass turtle. They are the same kind of turtle, just called by different names. The golden thread turtle is a grass turtle whose shell plates are joined by golden lines on the carapace. It is very easy to keep alive and is suitable for beginners to raise.

2. How do you keep a golden thread turtle?

1. When keeping a turtle, never use tap water. If you must use tap water, leave it in the sun for 2—3 days, or let the tap water settle and then use the upper layer of water to feed it. If you find that too much trouble, you can buy it mineral water (that is what I do now).

2. For the turtle tank, the more it restores a natural state, the better. Buy a large tank so you do not have to change it all the time, and the turtles also feel free to move around. Make the tank walls a bit higher to prevent them from climbing out. Have both water and land. The best water depth is 3 times the thickness of the turtle's shell. You can spread sand and pebbles on the bottom and plant a few water plants. Then keep a few small fish. Then make a land area. If you buy a turtle tank, it will have a ramp and a land area. If it is an ordinary fish tank, just place a large stone in it. Put it in a place where sunlight can reach. This is the simplest setup. If conditions allow, you can buy a UV lamp and place it 30 cm above the turtle tank to shine on it for 15—20 minutes a day. When the weather is cold and the temperature is low, buy a heater. A temperature of 25 degrees is suitable.

3. Water quality: if you are diligent, it is best to change the water every day, and wash the sand too. If you are lazy, buy a filtration system. Even then, change the water once a week. Frequent water changes are very important for turtles. Add a little salt to the newly changed water. It must not be too cold, otherwise they will get many diseases.

4. Food: turtles are omnivorous animals. When young, they like to eat meat. You can feed them small fish, small shrimp, pig liver, bloodworms, cockroaches, and so on. Turtles generally eat in the water. When turtles get older, they like to eat vegetarian food. They will nibble on water plants. You can feed them some washed vegetables. If you cannot be bothered with all that messy stuff, just buy a box of turtle food and let them eat it slowly. High-quality turtle food is rich in calcium, protein, fiber, fat, vitamin A, B12, C, D3, and E. Nutritious things are definitely not very tasty. The turtles surely think so too. Feed them an appropriate amount. A turtle's digestive system is not very good. If the turtle is too small and you feed it too-large shrimp, you can help by cutting it into pieces. After they finish eating, scoop out the leftover food.

5. Sunbathing: when it is warm, you can put it in the sun for about 15 minutes. Note that it must not be exposed to strong direct sun! The sunlight at around 9 or 10 in the morning and 3 or 4 in the afternoon is best. Frequent sunbathing can supplement calcium and also kill bacteria in the cracks of its shell.

6. Safety: if you also keep cats, dogs, and so on at home, add wire mesh to the turtle tank. Many turtles die under the claws and teeth of cats and dogs. The turtle tank must be high enough that they cannot climb out. Note that they also cannot climb out from the stone land area in the tank. If you keep them separately, remember to give them a bath every day. Prevent them from dying of dryness. When they climb to high places, be careful not to let them fall. Especially friends who keep turtles on a balcony, do not let them climb out and fall downstairs! It is very dangerous!

7. Hibernation: hibernation is very important for turtles. When the temperature is below about 12 degrees, they begin to hibernate. In the north, this is roughly from the end of October to March of the following year. Newborn turtles had best not hibernate in their first year, and weak or sick turtles had best not hibernate.

8. Not hibernating: young turtles, weak turtles, and turtles bought during the hibernation period should not be allowed to hibernate. This is because they have not done the pre-hibernation work of clearing their intestines.