The Central Asian tortoise is not a pet at all, as many believe. These reptiles, the reproduction of which in captivity is extremely rare, but in general the syndrome of poor adaptation, or maladaptation, is one of the most common causes of their death. And perhaps outwardly your turtle will look quite normal, this is not a reason to stop worrying.
In general, experts insist that the Central Asian tortoise belongs to that class of reptiles that adapt very individually. For example, some of them can drink milk with pleasure and without any consequences, while others after such a treat simply die within a day, unable to cope with attacks of acute colitis. Some reptiles of this species calmly endure hibernation in captivity for several months, while others receive severe and often incompatible pathologies of the kidneys and lungs.
Central Asian turtles live, as a rule, in a terrarium, or the owners allow them to move freely around the apartment, providing the opportunity to independently choose more suitable conditions. At first glance, the second method seems more humane, mainly because the negative effects of the relatively small and closed space of the terrarium are eliminated.
However, according to zoological scientists, there will be much more minuses from such "free" content.
I will list only a few:
- Low light;
- High concentration of dust;
- Increased allergic background;
- Risk of injury;
- Lack of ability to dig soil;
- Instead of gnawing the abrasive material necessary for her development, such an animal will be forced to collect from the floor, garbage, small objects or wool of other pets;
- The Central Asian tortoise is a reptile that simply needs to hibernate, and for this it needs to be provided with a certain place and the entire list of conditions must be created.
Agree, this is not easy enough.
So, if such a charming darling as the Central Asian turtle appeared in your house, remember the necessary list of conditions that you, as the owner, must provide her with:
1. Terrarium. For a medium-sized reptile, which is usually 7-12 cm, a 60-100 liter terrarium will be sufficient. If you have several animals at once, then the optimal length of the "house" of the turtle should be 2-3 times the length of its largest inhabitant.
2. As a heating, you can use the usual light bulb, say, a table lamp. She is quite able to provide uniform heating. Temperature range: 25-35 ° C.
3. A drinking bowl and a bathing tray. If the Central Asian tortoise lives in captivity, she can not only drink water with pleasure, but also take a bath. Both bathing and drinking use water at room temperature, although once a month it is recommended to use warm baths with temperatures up to 35 degrees, which help cleanse the intestines, and also stimulate the appearance of appetite. And do not forget to wipe your pet dry so as not to catch it from accidental drafts.
4. As a soil - a mixture of rounded pebbles and sifted earth, or river gravel. The layer thickness should not exceed 3-10 cm.
5. Shelter. As a rule, it can be constructed from an inverted box with a sawn hole for entry.
6. A feeder (plate, bowl, ditch), which is not recommended to be placed directly on the lamp, and the feed in it should be exactly as long as it lasts for 2-3 hours.
7. Spraying the animal from the spray gun is a mandatory procedure for all adult reptiles, but make sure that the soil in the terrarium is not wet and the humidity is low.
8. Food - finely chopped mixture, which includes vegetables, fruits, greens (lawn grass, clover, dandelions, coltsfoot, plantain), berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries). In winter, the nutrition problem becomes more acute, therefore it is recommended to use various kinds of supplements (mineral, vitamin, protein).
