| Turtle age-just how old is my turtle anyway? | | | | Turtles produce a layer of these lines as they grow |
| Perhaps you have asked yourself this question, and | | | | and mature. It is important to add that turtles kept in |
| wondered if there is a way to determine the exact | | | | a good environment during captivity, with a sufficient |
| age of your beloved pet. | | | | supply of healthy food, may grow faster and |
| Turtles have been called living fossils. This is a very | | | | therefore show more than one ring per year. |
| fitting name for these astonishing animals, as they | | | | In some class or species, turtle age can also be |
| have been around for centuries! In fact, studies show | | | | determined by the darkness of the turtle's shell. |
| that the first turtles appeared on the planet two | | | | Red-Eared Turtles and Reeves Turtles, for instance, |
| million years ago. Turtles can have lifespans that are | | | | have shells that darken as they mature. Another |
| longer than their human owners, and in many families, | | | | point to consider when determining turtle age is that |
| a pet turtle will be passed from one generation to | | | | younger turtles would normally have more distinct or |
| the next! | | | | pronounced lines on their shells. The scutes of older |
| The average lifespan of domesticated turtles ranges | | | | turtles may seem faint or dissipated, due to daily |
| from fifty to a hundred years, depending on the | | | | wear-and-tear, and their shells may look stressed, |
| species or class to which they belong. However, if | | | | with scratches and pits, and may even be chipped |
| you have purchased a pet turtle from a store, or if | | | | off. |
| you have acquired it as an adult, its exact age may | | | | Finding out the size or weight of a turtle is another |
| be difficult, or even impossible to determine. | | | | step to help determine its age. Compare your turtle's |
| Nonetheless, there are reliable methods for | | | | statistics with the species norm. If your turtle is small, |
| determining the age of your turtle. Perhaps the oldest | | | | chances are it is a young one. Female turtles are |
| method is to count the rings on the back of a turtle's | | | | normally larger than male turtles no matter what their |
| shell. This may not prove to be a precise method, | | | | age may be. Turtle age can be estimated by pooling |
| however, since these rings may dull over time. | | | | these vital facts together. |
| However, if you can combine this technique with | | | | Although these animals can live for over a century, |
| additional information, you can come fairly close to | | | | the dangers to which they are exposed have placed |
| determining your turtle's age. | | | | many of them on worldwide endangered species lists, |
| In order to use this method of counting rings, you | | | | with many varieties near extinction. For so many of |
| must first know if your turtle is a hard-shelled type, | | | | these amazing creatures, their life expectancy is now |
| as soft-shelled turtles do not form these lines. Once | | | | greatly influenced by man. It is the pet owner's |
| you have determined that your turtle is of the | | | | responsibility to make sure that the turtle's food, |
| hard-shelled variety, look closely at the scale-like | | | | shelter, and other demands are met, so that it can |
| segments or scutes that make up its carapace. | | | | live up to its maximum life expectancy. |