Yellow-bellied turtle

Origin

Close to the red-bellied turtle, the yellow-bellied turtle has been available in the pet industry for over 60 years. in the 1990s, the yellow-bellied turtle became even more available, most specimens were purchased from when they were cubs.
The history of the yellow-bellied tortoise began in 1857, when it was first described by Agassiz. They are native to the southern United States and can live for 40 years or more.

Feeding the yellow-bellied turtle

The yellow-bellied turtle is omnivorous, that is, it eats both plant and animal matter, but its needs change as it ages. Young yellow-bellied turtles eat insects and will look for pieces of dead fish.
They will also eat the plants that grow in the pond. As it grows, the yellow-bellied turtle will only feed on 95% vegetation. Store-bought plants for the aquarium are excellent in the diet of the yellow-bellied turtle. These include anacharis and cabomba.
Place these plants in the Aquarium of the yellow-bellied turtle and let them float freely to the surface. You can also put lettuce leaves, escarolle and collard, but they need to be changed every day to prevent them from spoiling.
you can also give the yellow turtle animal proteins: grains of trout, salmon and japonz carp (koi carp). Ducks, crickets and other freshly killed insects are preferred by yellow-bellied turtles.
Vegetation should always be available, but protein-based animal elements should be given every 2 days, in quantities that the yellow-bellied turtle can consume immediately. Uneaten immediately, these animal elements can make the yellow-bellied turtle sick.
The yellow-bellied turtle needs a balanced diet to avoid getting sick. Yellow-bellied turtle chicks and ovulating females need calcium more than males. You can give them calcium and vitamin D3 once or twice a week. In spring and early summer, you can give the yellow-bellied turtle the same supplement twice a week.
The yellow-bellied turtle can be manualized if it is used to this, but most will bite. The shell of the yellow-bellied tortoise is part of her body and it is advisable to take it in hand gently. Like all reptiles, the yellow-bellied turtle can handle it on its own. hold the turtle gently, and if it is large, hold it with one hand on each side of the carapace. Keep your fingers away from the yellow-throated turtle's head as its neck can lengthen considerably when it wants to bite.

Features yellow-bellied turtle

Physical description

The yellow-bellied turtle is between 20 and 25 centimeters long, but can even reach 28 centimeters. Initially, the Cubs of the yellow-bellied turtle are light in color, but their color becomes darker with the passage of time.
Its carapace of up to 10 centimeters is almost round when viewed from above. The shell of the baby turtle with yellow temples is green, and the shell under the body is yellow in color.
The head, tail and limbs are primarily green, with bright yellow spots in the cheeks, oriented vertically.

Behavior and personality

Yellow-bellied turtles live a lot together. They warm up, eat, sleep and get along very well with each other. properly cared for, they seem extremely satisfied. Each movement of the yellow-throated tortoise's body is part of a fascinating complex of movements designed to regulate body temperature, moving its body 15-20 degrees up and down.
in the wild, turtles with yellow temples, retreat on rocks, fallen trees to avoid water obstacles. in this way, they warm up with the help of warm rays of the sun. The same thing they do in the aquarium if you provide them with a lamp. When on land, the yellow-bellied turtle stretches its neck to the maximum, stands with its hind legs stuck to the ground and separates its fingers, ready to propel itself into the water when needed. When it has warmed up properly, the yellow-throated turtle jumps into the water to cool off and eat.
The yellow-bellied turtle is a strong and agile swimmer. It feeds while diving and finds food with the help of sight, smell and even touch. It can stay underwater for a long time, up to 40 minutes, especially when the water is cold and its metabolism has slowed.
When ready, the yellow-bellied turtle will return to the surface to warm up and repeat this cycle throughout the day.

Health

The yellow-bellied turtle is a hardy creature, but can fall prey to disease if not properly cared for. Her health depends on you, what conditions of food and living you provide her.
Closed eyelids and swollen eyes result from vitamin A deficiency.
Soft shell or bone metabolic diseases are caused by the inability to metabolize calcium.
The Holey or rotten shell of the yellow-bellied tortoise is caused by poor water quality. Improved hygiene is mandatory. The respiratory diseases of the yellow-throated tortoise are caused by fluctuations in water temperature or incorrect temperature.

Living conditions

Keeping a yellow-bellied turtle healthy and happy is relatively easy. It only needs a few things: a clean water space to swim in, an area to dry and warm, water and air at appropriate temperatures, bright lighting and a proper diet.
You can keep one, two or even four yellow-bellied turtles in a suitable aquarium. But keep in mind that they are going to grow fast and will soon need a bigger space.
The water in the aquarium should be deep enough to sink completely. A water deeper than 40 centimeters is even better. Water should be kept at a temperature of 22-30 degrees Celsius. Provide an area where the yellow-bellied turtle can stay on land and keep warm. This area should be smooth and have sufficient surface area to balance.
The best source of heat is a special lamp that you can buy at the pet store. Attach the lamp to the edge of the aquarium and leave it on during the day. It should not be lit at night.

Breeding yellow-bellied turtle

Turtles breed through eggs. In captivity they do not breed (usually) because they need special conditions that most owners cannot provide.
They need a temperature of 27-29 degrees C with an air humidity of 95%. Avoid turning eggs.
Turtle hatchlings appear after 100-120 days.