Recently, unusual pets have begun to appear in our homes more and more. The most different ones are small and large, fluffy and devoid of wool, playful and very passive. Red-eared turtles are especially popular. How long can these reptiles live without water? How to care for them at home? What to feed and what habitat to provide? Probably, such questions were repeatedly asked by those who were lucky to become the owner of this unusual creature.
This article aims to clarify the situation, as they say, in all aspects. The reader will receive all the necessary information and learn in detail not only about how many red-eared turtles live without water, but also a lot of other information about the life of these funny creatures.
General information about the representative of the world of modern fauna
From a scientific point of view, the red-eared turtle must be attributed to the family of so-called freshwater Emydidae.
Experts believe that all representatives of this species can live in any, even the most low-flowing water bodies without problems. They tolerate even relatively low temperatures without any problems, and they are unpretentious in nutrition. It is all of the above features that allowed these animals to settle far enough away from their natural habitat. Today they can be found in South and North America, Europe, Asia and even Africa.
The question of how long a red-eared turtle can live without water, as a rule, interests both home breeders and those who watch its life in the wild. We answer: unfortunately, not for long. Scientists argue that such a period should last no longer than 4-5 days, and even then in a relatively humid environment. Otherwise, the animal will die.
The history of the discovery of this species
It is believed that the first mention of these turtles should be attributed to approximately the 16th century. It was then that information about them was found in the records of the Spanish colonialists, who went to study the flora and fauna of Peru.
By the way, it is surprising that this reptile received such a name. Why is she red-eared? After all, neither her nor her relatives have what we humans could call ears. Like all reptiles, these sensory organs are represented by a tympanic membrane located in the upper part of a tiny head. By the way, it should be noted that hears this reptile well enough. Sounds with a frequency of up to 300 Hz are not a problem for him.
The very first description of the turtle was made more than 350 years ago. True, then she was mistakenly attributed to a completely different kind - Testudo. Many animals at that time were actively transported from continent to continent for study purposes. Red-eared turtles were no exception. How long can these creatures live without water, even then, many sailors checked in practice. Unfortunately, many experiments then ended in the death of the animals themselves.
Basic care rules
To date, these reptiles have become very common pets. They are actively kept in medium-sized terrariums.
One cannot but agree with the statement that if any animal today can be admired, it is a red-eared turtle. How much this creature can be without water must be known to those who are used to walking reptiles at home. The reptile may well escape, crawl into the far corner of the room and lie low. If it is not detected in time, it can easily die from a lack of moisture.
Such a pet also prefers to eat outside of land. By the way, that is why the water in her "house" will have to be changed quite often.
Content Features
For the safe keeping of the animal, novice breeders will need to construct the so-called aquaterrarium, which will be divided into two conventional zones: land and water.
By the way, it is not recommended to keep (or walk) a reptile on the floor. And there are several reasons. First of all, you can accidentally step on it and injure your pet. Secondly, the turtle may well be swallowed up of small debris. And finally, the floor is a place of drafts, and this type of reptile is very susceptible to colds.
An adult turtle will have enough of a 100-160-liter aquarium, the land area in which should be at least 25%. Like all reptiles, on an improvised shore, red-eared turtles also prefer to rest. How much these animals can live without water depends largely on their age and health. But on average, on a platform or mound of stones, they rarely linger for more than twenty minutes. After that, they are again happy to immerse themselves in their usual habitat.
