How many years do turtles live? Why do turtles live so long? How many years do pet turtles live?
When choosing a pet for the family, future owners must take into account many factors, ranging from lifestyle, routine and feeding habits of the animal to its life expectancy. The last question is especially of concern to people who are planning to get a turtle. These reptiles are distinguished by amazing endurance and longevity and, under favorable circumstances, can live for decades. Therefore, before you get such an animal, you need to realize that you will have to take care of its well-being for a long time.
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How many years do turtles live?
It is generally accepted that turtles can live 300 years, although in fact this opinion is erroneous. Of course, among the representatives of this species of animals there are some long-livers, but there is no reliable data that any individual lived to such a respectable age. In many ways, this impression of turtles is due to isolated cases of longevity among large species.
Life expectancy is affected by the size of the turtle - the larger the species, the longer its representatives can live:
- small turtles can live up to 50 years;
- representatives of medium-sized species live up to 80 years;
- the maximum age of large reptiles is 200 years.
Being in captivity can either extend a turtle's lifespan or shorten its years. Necessary living conditions, a balanced diet and the absence of enemies allow the animal to live long enough, but improper care or feeding with unsuitable food will lead to the rapid death of the pet.
Land
Turtles that include more than a dozen genera are called land turtles. They live in Asia, southern Europe, Africa and America. These reptiles prefer open spaces - steppes, deserts and forest-steppes, but are able to feel comfortable in humid conditions. tropical forests.
The size of animals can be either very small, not exceeding 10 cm, or quite large. Common to all land turtles are a round shell and thick legs with fused toes. Reptiles prefer to eat a plant-based diet.
In their natural habitat, such animals can live from 50 to 100 years, which is influenced by the type of particular animal, its size and external factors. European land turtles are bred in captivity more often than others. average duration whose life is 40 years.
Central Asian
Central Asian tortoise is one of the representatives of land. It differs from other varieties in its shell. This part of the body is divided into sectors and colored yellow-brown with spots.
The habitat of these animals covers countries Central Asia. There the turtle is found in the foothills, near reservoirs and in deserts. The species grows only up to 20 cm, therefore it is classified as small. In the natural environment, under favorable circumstances, they live up to 50 years; in captivity, the period is limited to thirty years.
Marine
sea turtles live in warm oceans and seas. They differ quite strongly from their land counterparts:
- the shell has an elongated shape;
- the front and hind limbs do not retract;
- the paws are more like flippers.
The body length ranges from 70 to 140 cm. Due to their impressive size, they do not live at home. In captivity they can only be seen in aquariums and large zoos. If the living conditions of sea turtles are favorable, they live up to eighty years.
Water
European water turtles or aquatic turtles live in the southern part of the African continent, in the countries of the Middle East and Asia. These freshwater reptiles are small and only grow up to 30 cm.
Aquatic turtles are distinguished from other turtles by their smooth, plain or colored shell. These are quite popular pets; in captivity they are kept in special aquariums. Life expectancy both in the wild and in captivity is 50 years.
Although aquatic turtles They are considered to be unpretentious pets; their maintenance requires the creation of certain conditions. In captivity, they live in aquaterrariums, where, in addition to aquatic environment access to the “island” and heating with varying degrees of intensity should be provided. Turtles feed on raw, boneless fish.
Red-eared
The yellow-bellied or red-eared turtle is a representative of American aquatic turtles. It can grow up to 30 cm, with females being slightly larger. Small red-eared turtles are bright green. As they get older, animals darken and acquire a brown or olive color. They have elongated patterns on their body, but the shell is almost entirely painted in one color.
Near their eyes there are spots of red or orange tint, for which reptiles got their name. Initially, red-eared animals lived only on the American continent, but then they were brought to other countries. They live in lakes and ponds with gentle banks, where it is convenient to get out onto land. Life expectancy, same as aquatic species, is 50 years.
Life expectancy at home
Reptiles live on average as long in captivity as in natural nature. This is due to a balance of unfavorable factors: in the wild, animals are threatened by predators, and at home, their lives are shortened by human carelessness.
The following can affect the lifespan of a turtle in captivity:
- 1. Balanced diet.
- 2. The size of the aquarium, its level of illumination and temperature conditions.
- 3. Timely detection and elimination of health problems.
- 4. Traumatic.
Small turtles kept at home can live from 30 to 50 years. Representatives of large species that are kept in large zoos, having created all the necessary conditions, live much longer than in the natural world. natural environment.
Age determination
The number of years lived for aquatic and land reptiles is determined differently, but the animal’s shell always serves as a guide.
There are two ways to calculate the age of land turtles:
The age of aquatic turtles is also determined by their shell:
All estimates are approximate, especially if we are talking about old large turtles. In such large reptiles, it is difficult to count the rings, since they gradually wear off and merge with each other.
The family of land turtles consists of about 60 species, varying in size, habitat and life expectancy, which depends on their species. On average, these reptiles live from 30 to 150 years. The smaller their size, the shorter their life. And, conversely, representatives of large species can live for quite a long time, thanks to a unique vital process taking place in their body. The sizes of these turtles, depending on the species, vary from 10 centimeters to a meter. The weight of a giant turtle sometimes reaches 400 kilograms.
Interesting. The oldest on Earth was the Galapagos tortoise, Greta, a land tortoise brought to Europe by Charles Darwin, who lived 250 years.
Land turtles can survive for very long periods without food or water.
Living at home, they distinguish the intonations of human speech and recognize their owners.
The shell of a turtle contains phosphorus and after being in the sun at night you can see its glow.
What affects the lifespan of land turtles
In nature, turtles always have many dangers that constantly await them. Despite the strong shell that protects the reptile, it, regardless of size, can become easy prey for predators. These are very slow animals and they cannot run away when in danger. They only hide in their shell, which is not always a reliable shelter. There is another way to protect yourself. The reptile is capable of abruptly emptying its rather capacious bladder. Sometimes a strong jet scares off the enemy. Selected species Turtles can hiss horribly. This is where all means of protection end.
The situation is further aggravated by the fact that land turtles live in open areas. These can be steppes, deserts, low mountainous areas. Here they find their main food: greens, fallen fruits. As a supplement to their diet, they can eat food of animal origin, for example, insects, small rodents, and lizards. Large turtles easily deal with snakes. Being in open space, reptiles, in turn, can become food for predators, for whose powerful jaws the shell of small species is not a hindrance. Large individuals are safe in this case.
Life in captivity and its duration
These reptiles have always attracted lovers of exotic animals. Some buy them in pet stores, others find them directly in nature. By creating ideal conditions for your pet that are familiar to him, it would seem that you can be sure that he will live longer than in nature. After all, now the turtle is not in danger of being eaten by someone. But this is not so; in captivity, amphibian turtles live less than in the natural environment. So, small species can live up to 80 years in nature, but only up to 30 in an aquarium. Large species, whose age in the natural environment sometimes reaches 150 years, become pets and live up to 40 years. And this is subject to proper care and feeding.
Determining the number of years a given reptile has lived is quite simple. The plates separating the carapace contain annual rings. During the first two years, 6 of them appear. In each subsequent year, 1 or 2 are added. The following order should be used for counting. Having counted the rings on one plate, subtract 6, divide by 1.5, add 2. Thus, if there are 20 rings, then the age is 11 years.
In nature, the age of turtles reaches 30-150 years.
The future owner of a turtle must understand that the life expectancy of a pet depends not so much on its natural characteristics, but on the quality of care. Unfortunately, there are a lot of cases where a turtle died as soon as it moved to a new home. This happens for various reasons: due to the breeder’s dishonesty and the presence of diseases in the turtle, due to incorrect transportation, due to unsuitable living conditions, contact with sick turtles, etc.
Before getting a pet, it is recommended to learn as much as possible about it and create the necessary conditions for it in advance - preferably with the support of an experienced specialist. If your turtle is happy, he will live happy life and will delight you and your family for many years.
Below we list the most popular types of land and aquatic turtles for home keeping and their average life expectancy at proper care. Take note!
How many years do pet turtles live?
Average life expectancy with proper care.
– 40-60 years.
– 20-40 years.
Impressive, right?
By approaching the selection and maintenance of a turtle with due responsibility, you are acquiring not just an exotic pet, but a real family member and friend with whom you will share many happy years. By the way, don’t forget to see how big the turtle you choose grows to. Most likely, you will have to change your terrarium to a larger model more than once!
How old are your turtles? Tell us!
Owners never cease to lament the fact that their pets leave so early. Experiencing the death of a beloved cat, dog or guinea pig, sooner or later they get a new pet, knowing that they will still have to say goodbye to it. But there are turtles that are long-lived among domestic animals. They live for decades, even in captivity, and in the natural environment no one can compare with them in this indicator. Naturally, when purchasing such a reptile, you should rely on your own strength - you will have to take care of it for quite a long time. But the turtle will be around for many years, usually they become real members of the family. So how long do turtles live at home?
The duration of the life cycle of these reptiles cannot be compared even with humans. On average, they live from 50 years to one and a half centuries. This indicator largely depends on what species the reptile belongs to:
- Galapagos (aka elephant) tortoises in their natural environment live up to 180 years of age;
- in marine reptiles, life expectancy is 60-70 years, 75-80 year old individuals are often found;
- red-eared and swamp turtles are inferior to the above representatives - they live only up to 50 years;
- Among Balkan reptiles, 100-year-old anniversaries are often found.
As for the record holders, there are many of them among these ancient reptiles. For example, the 150-kilogram “baby” Harriet, a member of the Galapagos tortoise species, was recognized as the oldest animal in the world. The approximate date of her birth is 1830, it was then that she was born on the Galapagos Islands, and died 176-117 years later in the territory Australia Zoo. It is believed that the person who took her from the islands to Great Britain was Charles Darwin himself. Then the reptile was the size of a small plate, it was mistaken for a male and named Harry.
Another famous long-lived turtle, named Advaita, lived with the British general Robert Clive. Being a representative of the breed, the gigantic tortoise originally from the Seychelles lived, according to various sources, from 1.5 to 2.5 centuries! It's a pity, but more accurate data was not saved.
Also a celebrity in the turtle world is a reptile with the exotic name Tui Malila. She belongs to the endemic Madagascar breed of radiant tortoise and, according to widespread legend, acted as a gift from Captain Cook to the native chief of Tonga. Her lifespan was two hundred years!
As for domesticated turtles, which are found in zooterrariums and aquariums of private owners, their life expectancy is noticeably inferior. Most often they live up to 30 years, although 40-50-year-old pets are not very uncommon.
How long an armored pet will live largely depends on the owner. If he provides the pet with suitable conditions, cares for it and takes into account breed characteristics, then the cycle may be longer. Of course, the type of reptile is also important.
land turtle
Among other domestic turtles, land turtles are distinguished by their relative unpretentiousness and resilience. It's no wonder that reptiles are loved by children and adults around the world. As for their life expectancy in captivity, it is impossible to give an exact figure; various factors influence this.
Land turtles can be called phlegmatic - they are slow, unhurried, but they live quite a long time. In conditions wildlife individuals live up to 100-120 years, in a terrarium - from 15 to 50 years. In order for a pet to celebrate its half-century anniversary, the owner needs to surround it with care and bring its living conditions as close as possible to natural ones:
- the dwelling should be spacious - the volume of the tank should be 3-4 times the size of an adult;
- the turtle should receive high-quality and balanced nutrition; if required, pets should be given mineral supplements;
- reptiles love warmth - the air temperature should be stable - 26°-28°C;
- it is important to consider that land reptiles need ultraviolet rays - the home should be equipped with a UV lamp;
- a pet needs a house for sleep and rest;
- you need to monitor the cleanliness of the turtle house - the soil is cleaned every day, all drinking bowls are washed at least once a day;
- When choosing company for a turtle, you should not put several males in one tank - fights for territory cannot be avoided.
There is a relationship between the size of a reptile and the length of its life cycle. As a rule, more than major representatives kind.
Aquatic turtle
These representatives of the turtle world are unique creatures - at home their lifespan usually does not exceed 25-35 years, while in the natural environment they can live up to three hundred years! As already noted, wild females begin to give birth only after reaching 30 years of age.
In order to bring the reptile’s living conditions as close as possible to natural ones and thereby increase the duration of the pet’s life cycle, the owner should take care of the following:
- varied diet– aquatic reptiles are predators, and 80% of their diet should consist of animal food;
- vitamin supplements– they are given to individuals expecting offspring, actively growing young animals, sick reptiles and in other cases;
- spacious home– the volume of the aquaterrarium should be calculated based on the fact that one individual requires at least 150 liters;
- ultraviolet source– these should not be direct sunlight, but a UV lamp installed according to all the rules;
- drier – aquatic turtles they don’t spend all their time in the water, they need an island on which they can rest and bask, it takes up on average 1/3 of the total volume of the container;
- water purity– it is necessary to change the water weekly by 40-50%, it can be regular, from the tap, but it must be settled.
How to determine the age of a turtle
If we evaluate the lifespan of these reptiles, it is not surprising that they often wander from one owner to another. Not everyone can realistically assess their strength and give away a boring animal. In addition, keeping turtles requires compliance with certain conditions, and many owners find this uninteresting or burdensome.
How can one determine the age of a pet that has found itself in a new home as a far from tiny turtle? There are 2 ways to do this:
- By shell size– in a newborn baby its diameter is 3 cm, every year it grows by 2 cm. Therefore, the age of the reptile can be calculated using the formula: (a–b): c, where: a is the available length of the carapace, b is 3 cm (the size of the turtle’s shell at birth), c – annual growth (average 2 cm).
- Along the rings on the carapace– in the first couple of years, 6 rings are formed on the shell of land reptiles, and 3 of aquatic reptiles. Then no more than 1-2 rings appear per year. To determine the approximate age of your pet, you need to count the number of rings on one plate. 6 is subtracted from the resulting number (rings that appeared in the first 2 years). The result obtained is divided by 1.5, and 2 is added to it - the first 2 years of life.
The older the reptile, the more difficult it is to find out its true age, since in older turtles the rings wear out or may merge into one. The owner ensures the life expectancy of his pet, prolongs it through care and concern. And if a turtle lived its 30, or even 50 years in captivity, this is a huge credit to its owner.
When choosing a pet for the family, people take into account many factors: the presence of allergies, the size of the home, lifestyle and daily routine, financial capabilities, and readiness for difficulties. One of the important indicators is the potential lifespan of a pet - not everyone is ready to take an animal that will live long enough to become practically a member of the family; for some, three years in the company of a hamster is quite enough. Therefore, before getting, for example, a decorative turtle, it is worth finding out how long they live.
Although turtles are considered record holders for longevity, this opinion is largely based on isolated cases among large species. The survival statistics of young animals, for example, are very low - the population increases due to large quantity eggs in a clutch, at best 60% of the eggs hatch, at worst - about 5%, the rest are eaten by predators. Babies are also a tasty prey: about half of the babies are eaten.
Only a few live to be thirty; it is believed that the generation cycle of a turtle is on average 20 years. How many years a particular individual lives depends largely on the factor of luck.
Did you know? Contrary to popular belief, a turtle cannot get out of its shell - the main part of its spine is fused with it.
The larger the species, the longer its representatives live: small ones - about half a century, medium ones - 80 years, the age of large tortoises (for example, Galapagos and Seychelles) can reach two hundred years.
Land
Land turtles- collective name for more than ten genera. The habitat is wide, distributed in the warm latitudes of Asia, America, Africa and southern Europe. Mostly found on open spaces(steppes, forest-steppes, deserts), but can also live in forests (humid/tropical).
Animals range in size from small (about ten centimeters) to very large (found on island archipelagos), characteristic features are thick legs, a rounded shell, and fused toes. The diet is predominantly plant-based.
They live from 50 to 100 years, exactly how long depends on the specific species and external factors. Land turtles are quite popular pets (mainly European land turtles). At home, their life expectancy is on average 40 years.
Central Asian
Central Asian tortoise belongs to the Land family, genus European. Characteristic sign- a spotted shell of yellow and brown shades, divided into sectors.
Found in Central Asia, in deserts, foothills, and near water bodies. It is small in size - about 20 centimeters long. They live about 50 years, in captivity - about 30.
Did you know? Two representatives of this species were cosmonauts in 1968 - they flew around the Moon on board a Soviet probe.
Marine
sea turtles- a superfamily that lives in the warm waters of seas and oceans. Externally, they are quite different from their land relatives - the legs are very similar to flippers, the shell is more elongated, the limbs and head do not retract. The length varies from 70 to 140 centimeters. They are not kept at home; in captivity they are found mainly in large zoos or aquariums. They live about 80 years.
Water
water, They are also European water turtles and belong to Asian freshwater turtles. They live in the Middle East, southern Africa, and are found in Japan, China, and Vietnam. They are not large, growing to a maximum of 30 centimeters.
Feature- smooth plain or colorful shell. Very popular as pets, often kept in aquariums. These turtles live for about 50 years (in captivity about the same as in natural conditions).
Important! Despite the apparent undemandingness, special conditions must be created for these pets: a spacious aquaterrarium with the possibility of access to land, a filter and a heating lamp, sufficient maintenance high temperature air and water, the presence of ultraviolet radiation. The diet should consist of raw, boneless fish. You cannot let such a turtle walk on the floor.
red-eared
red-eared or yellow-bellied (the names already indicate the colors) belongs to the American freshwater species. Sizes vary from 20 to 30 centimeters, which is typical - males are smaller. In childhood, babies are bright green, darkening to brown or olive with age. Spots on a lighter background form oblong patterns on the body, the shell is oval and almost monochromatic.
The reptile received its main name due to the red (sometimes, however, yellow or orange) spots located next to the eyes. Can make sounds similar to hissing, squeaking and squealing.
Initially they lived in the Americas, but were brought by humans to other continents, and were even seen in Russia. They live in lakes and ponds, prefer flat banks, as they often bask in the sun.
Red-eared turtles live for about 50 years (both in nature and at home). This is about the same as aquatic ones. This life expectancy is generally typical for small species.
Important! The conditions for keeping them as pets are similar to those for aquatic turtles, however, in addition to an artificial reservoir, the red-eared turtle also needs a significant area of improvised shore.
How long do turtles live at home?
Oddly enough, at home these reptiles live about the same amount of time as in the wild. This is due to the balance of risk factors: in nature they are threatened by predators, in humans - by neglect of the rules of care.
Their lifespan is affected by:
- diet compliance;
- conditions (lighting, temperature, aquarium volume);
- timely detection and treatment of diseases and other problems;
- risk of injury (for example, falling from a height or injury caused by another pet).
How to determine the age of a land turtle
The most accurate way to find out how old a turtle is is to radiocarbon date its shell. This is how the titles of “the world’s oldest turtles” were confirmed. Obviously, such a procedure cannot be carried out on a living reptile, so less accurate but safe methods are usually used.
- The first is to focus on the length of the shell. It changes quite evenly, growing about two centimeters per year. Knowing the initial length (at birth it is 3 centimeters with an insignificant error), it is worth making simple measurements and calculations - and the answer is obvious. Let's give an example: a turtle 30 centimeters long. During her life, her shell increased by 30-3=27. We divide the resulting 27 by 2 and find that the measured individual lived for approximately 13.5 years.
- Another, less accurate and requiring more observation method is counting tree rings. Since this is not a log, there is no need to saw it. We will count the rings on the scales of the shell. It is worth considering that this method gives a more accurate result on young individuals; in older individuals, the shell is smoothed out. If there are six or fewer rings, the age is 1-2 years. Then every year 2-3 additional rings are formed. Therefore, age is calculated using the formula: (x-6): 1.5+2, where x is the number of rings. For a more accurate result, x can be derived from the arithmetic average of several scales.
Long-lived turtle
One of the most famous long-lived tortoises, Harriet, belonged to Charles Darwin himself. He brought her from the Galapagos Islands when she was just a baby (then believed to be a boy named Harry, she was the size of a saucer). At the time of her death, this rather grown-up traveler ( last years she spent in Australia) weighed one and a half centners. Her life expectancy was approximately 177 years. The turtle outlived its first owner by 105 years.
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