A Detailed Guide to Ornamental Turtle Species, What They Eat, and How to Keep Them at Home

Ornamental turtles are the oldest group among reptiles today, and the term mainly refers to all members of the order Testudines. Most ornamental turtles are carnivorous animals, usually fed mainly on small fish, small shrimp, and small crawling insects, and occasionally they also eat the stems and leaves of some plants. So what kinds of ornamental turtles are there? What do ornamental turtles eat?

I. Kinds of ornamental turtles

1. Golden coin turtle

The golden coin turtle is also called the red-eared turtle, broken-plate turtle, red-bellied turtle, and so on, and is a rare member of the ornamental turtle varieties. The golden coin turtle has high medicinal and food value, and many farmers raise it. The golden coin turtle is concentrated in China's coastal cities, such as Guangdong, Hong Kong, China, and Hainan. As food, the golden coin turtle can improve human immunity and has a good auxiliary effect on gastritis and mouth ulcers; many people recovering after surgery will first choose the golden coin turtle to build up their health. Artificial breeding of the golden coin turtle is now already very widespread, and pond-based professional breeding is generally chosen, as it is more suitable for the golden coin turtle's growth.

Note: The golden coin turtle is a national second-class key protected animal, so whether for food or medicine, it must be used within the scope of the law.

2. Greek tortoise

Unlike ordinary carnivorous ornamental turtles, the Greek tortoise is mainly herbivorous and has a relatively long lifespan. The Greek tortoise has a round shell, and the colors on the shell vary greatly, ranging from yellow and black to dark brown or gray. The Greek tortoise also has a very small tail and a medium-sized head, making it very beautiful as an ornamental turtle. The Greek tortoise is a turtle that lives entirely on land and only goes to places with water when it needs to drink. So if you want to keep a Greek tortoise, be sure not to let it fall into deep water, as this may cause drowning. The Greek tortoise is not picky about feeding, and vegetables such as carrots and vegetable leaves can all be fed to it, and artificial feed can also be bought on the market.

3. Alligator snapping turtle and snapping turtle

The alligator snapping turtle is also called the true snapping turtle. It has very strong survival ability, and as one of the largest water turtles in the world, it has long been one of the targets of illegal hunting by humans. Its numbers are now decreasing, and it is on the verge of extinction. The alligator snapping turtle is rather ferocious, especially after reaching adulthood, when it will actively attack people. If you want to keep it as a pet, there will be some difficulty in the early stage, as it is relatively hard to tame. It is more suitable for experienced and capable keepers to care for.

The snapping turtle is the king of freshwater animals, also called the common snapping turtle. Its limbs are very strong, and unlike the Greek tortoise, the snapping turtle has a very long tail and a relatively small lower shell. The snapping turtle mainly eats small fish, small shrimp, ducks, and some fruits. If artificially bred, the snapping turtle can live up to 40 years, and in a wild release environment it can also reach about 25 years, so its lifespan is relatively long.

4. Red-eared slider

The red-eared slider is also called the elegant painted turtle, Brazilian painted turtle, mahjong turtle, Brazilian red-eared turtle, and so on. The red-eared slider also has both medicinal and food uses, but its price is relatively low, and it is easy to keep, making it a relatively common turtle that we encounter in daily life. Male and female red-eared sliders do not differ much in appearance, but their weight difference is easy to distinguish. Female red-eared sliders weigh as much as 1-2 kg, while male red-eared sliders do not exceed 0.5 kg in weight. Red-eared slider breeding is relatively common, with two types, professional breeding and home keeping, and generally professional breeding has higher requirements for ponds and feed.

II. What do ornamental turtles eat?

As we mentioned, there are many categories of ornamental turtles, so the food they eat must also be divided according to the type of turtle. Some carnivorous turtles focus mainly on small fish, small shrimp, small crawling insects, and leaves; while herbivorous turtles mainly eat food stems and leaves as well as fruits in the water.

Note: When keeping ornamental turtles, ask clearly at the market where you buy them, and do not feed them according to your own wishes, as this can easily cause the ornamental turtles to die.

III. Can ornamental turtles be kept at home?

Ornamental turtles can be kept at home, and the specific keeping method can be determined according to the type of turtle you are keeping by consulting your local turtle market.

The above is the summary of ornamental turtle species compiled for you by Tuliu.com, and we hope it is helpful to you.