| Turtle age - do you know how old your pet turtle is? | | | | time, making the number of rings unclear. Layers of |
| Did you know that the average lifespan of a turtle | | | | the carapace will fall off during its lifetime, and the |
| kept as a pet is forty years? A turtle can even live | | | | turtle may go through growth spurts, developing |
| much longer than that - up to 100 years, probably | | | | more than one ring per year. As turtles mature, the |
| longer than its original owner! The turtle's longevity | | | | markings or lines on their shells also become |
| also varies according to the type or class to which it | | | | less-defined, or may even deteriorate. This, in turn, |
| belongs in the animal kingdom. It is astonishing to | | | | would make counting the rings difficult and unreliable. |
| know that the oldest turtle on record lived to be | | | | Therefore, we should use this method of turtle age |
| two hundred and fifty years old! | | | | determination only as an estimate of years. |
| Let's examine some interesting facts about the turtle, | | | | It is the responsibility of human beings to ensure |
| and see if we can figure out how old your new pet | | | | turtles achieve long and healthy life spans in the wild |
| is! | | | | by enacting and enforcing laws to protect their |
| Studies show that turtles first appeared on the earth | | | | natural habitats. In captivity, pet turtles can suffer |
| over two million years ago. This remarkable fact | | | | from illnesses and die if their requirements for proper |
| makes them one of the oldest-known creatures on | | | | nutrition and habitat are not provided by their |
| our planet. Turtles have been called living fossils, | | | | owners. |
| meaning there has been little change in the species | | | | Turtles have also been counted among the animals |
| since their first appearance on earth! | | | | that are in danger of becoming extinct. This is |
| Turtle ownership has become more and more popular | | | | brought upon by the loss of their natural habitat; |
| over the years. Hence, it is now normal to have a | | | | whether by greedy poachers illegally removing them |
| pet turtle passed from one generation of a family to | | | | from the wild or by developers encroaching on their |
| the next, so that, in some instances, the pet turtle | | | | feral habitat. |
| can actually and amazingly outlive its original owners! | | | | The crucial fact to be considered, therefore, is not |
| Determining the correct age of a turtle may not be | | | | determining the turtle's exact age, but in ensuring |
| definitive. For pet owners who have just acquired | | | | that it will actually experience and enjoy a long life. |
| their turtles, their pets' ages cannot be known for | | | | This is where your task as a responsible pet owner |
| sure, especially if they were just captured from the | | | | comes in. With the proper nourishment and exercise, |
| wild. | | | | housing that comes as close to replicating the natural |
| In the past, people have theorized that counting the | | | | habitat of the turtle as possible, and protection from |
| rings or lines on the turtle's shell is a way of | | | | predators and improper handling, your pet turtle will |
| determining its age. Unfortunately, this is not a reliable | | | | be sure to live many years, and may even be |
| method. The turtle's shell may be damaged over | | | | inherited by the next generation in your family! |