World Turtle Day 2024 is on Thursday, May 23, 2024: How are you celebrating World Turtle Day?

Thursday, May 23, 2024 is World Turtle Day 2024.

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How are you celebrating World Turtle Day?

Wearing a helmet that looks a little like a turtle shell?

Which Turtle Tank Should I get?

Which Turtle Tank Should I get?

Not suitable - see below:

TERRAPIN & TURTLE TANK SET-UP + FEEDING

30% of your tank should be “dry land” for the turtle to dry-out, bask and get UV light.

A large commercial basking area such as an Exo Terra Basking Bank works well in deep water. In shallow water, e.g. for Musk Turtles there is a danger of the baby turtle getting jammed under the Bank and drowning. There should be a 2” gap between the lower edge of the bank and the tank floor to prevent this happening.

Exo Terra Turtle Bank

Zoo Med Lamp Stand

Day-time Ultra-Violet light, "normal" light and basking spot heat should be provided by a single 100 or 160 watt mercury vapour UV & Heat Lamp such as the Zoo Med PowerSun lamp. This should have the height adjusted so that the ground temperature directly under the lamp is 95ºF.

The lamp should be on for 12 – 14 hours a day.

Water temperature should be controlled by a water heater with a guard or specifically manufactured for turtles. These are usually pre-set to 75ºF.

e.g. Exo Terra 50 watt Turtle Heater PT-3702

If not, you need to adjust the wheel, screw etc. to 75ºF.

Your turtle should be fed on a mixture of :

Cooked shrimp

Cooked fish (any)

Fresh trout or salmon in worm-sized strips

Lean beef in worm-sized strips

ReptoMin turtle pellets ***

Earthworms (nightcrawlers)

Wax worms

Defrosted shellfish sold as marine fish food

Mealworms

Small snails

Live crickets floating on the water surface

Many older terrapins and turtles require significant quantities of green leafy matter. You can supply this from pond or aquarium plants / weeds and by romaine lettuce.

You should also have a cuttlefish bone floating in the water as a supply of calcium and an aid to natural beak trimming.

Twice a week dry the food with a paper towel and put 2 or 3 drops of liquid reptile vitamins on it …

or Fluker’s Liquid Vitamins

*** the pellets should be soaked in Fluker’s Liquid Calcium or calcium lactate solution or calcium borogluconate solution for 10 minutes prior to a feed.

Download, save to disc and read this book for further information:

FEEDING LIVE FISH & THIAMINASE

You should NEVER feed live fish to turtles in captivity.

Many live and dead raw fish and shrimps contain an enzyme - Thiaminaise - in their tissues which causes vitamin B1 deficiency and a premature death.

See:

for the scientific explanation.

Cooking destroys the thiaminaise so you can feed ANY well cooked shrimps of fish to your turtle.

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TURTLE FILTRATION – EXTERNAL CANISTER FILTER

As your turtle(s) get older you will find yourself doing very frequent water changes to reduce the smell and cloudiness of the water.

Now is the time to think seriously about a filter !

Aquarium filters are designed for fish, turtles produce a lot more waste so you are best using an External Canister Filter rated at 3-times the capacity of your actual tank.

So, for a 55 gallon tank you need to get a filter for 160 gallons [minimum] to be effective.

We find the FLUVAL brand mid-priced and very reliable over the past 5 years:

You need to do a local internet search for stockists.

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turtles and fertility?

turtles and fertility?

Some cultures belive turtles are a sign of fertility......

Read On:

Turtles as a Symbol

From history to present day there are many belief symbols. Some are of good omens and some are of bad omens. We even see some of these symbols in our dreams. Have you ever wondered what the turtle symbol represents in different cultures and meanings? In this article I summarize some of those symbol beliefs.

Dreams... What do they mean? The turtle seen in a dream indicates an unusual improvement. This would be a positive omen. Turtles in a negative aspect means fear of facing responsibility or reality. However, a turtle can represent long life because turtles live a long time. They also have quiet strength.

Spirituality:

In the far east, the turtles shell was a symbol of heaven and the square underside was a symbol of Earth. This meant that the turtle was an animal whose magic united heaven and Earth.

In the west, early Christians viewed turtles as a symbol of evil forces during war.

In the Hindu myth the tortoise Chukwa supports the world. The turtle also represents the creator and holder of the Earth and everything it contains. In the Balinese scripture -- Any person who consumes and supports the killing of turtles is not a good Hindu, and is doing a dishonor to himself, thus disconnecting himself from proper Balinese religious practices.

Cultures:

Japanese - The turtle is a symbol of good fortune and longevity. The turtle is an positive omen bringing 10,000 years of happiness. The Cosmic Mountain and the abode of the Jennin are supported by a tortoise.

Chinese - The turtle carries the world on its back. This is a symbol of fertility, vitality, and great patience. The Chinese believed these animals foretold future events. They are the third animal of four that represents water and was thought to be a model of the world. Its upper shell curved like the heavens and its lower shell was flat (the way the Chinese at the time believed the Earth was). They read the future in the pattern on the tortoise shell.

The tortoise also supports the world. Its four feet being the four corners of the Earth. It is the Black Warrior, depicting strength and endurance. It was credited with a great life span and was therefore a symbol of longevity. As a warrior the tortoise joined the dragon on the banners of the imperial army. Both representing indestructibility as neither can destroy each other. The tortoise can not be crushed nor the dragon reached.

Polynesian - The turtle symbolized fertility and long life.

African - The turtle originated ju ju and appears in fertility rites. It represents the feminine to the serpent's masculine power.

Greco - As the feminine power of the waters, the turtle was an emblem of Aphrodite/Venus in Greco-Roman myth.

Native American - The totem symbolizes the relation between the tribe and it's ancestors. Human and animal figures are sculpted on a trunk and offerings are made to these sacred totems.

"Great Turtle -- The wisest of all creatures in Iroquois mythology."

The Ojibwa, Saulteaux, Cree, and Iroquois people view the turtle as a symbol of Mother Earth and referred to the continent of North America as Turtle Island. They viewed the hard outer shell, which protects a living being, as an analogy to their mother, the Earth, also a living entity.

The Sioux and Taters believed that the world is a huge tortoise floating on the waters.

For the Aztecs, turtles were a symbol of cowardice and boastfulness. Hard outwardly but soft inwardly.

The turtle is a creature of two elements, Earth and water. The people of the Turtle Clan share an affinity with both. They enjoy helping things grow, both plants and people, yet require freedom to do their own things, as the turtle has its freedom in the water.

Turtles will often leave a pool or pond before a draught arrives. This is a warning of a change in climate.

Conclusion

Different cultures have their own belief systems, some dating back to ancient times. Beliefs are nothing to be ashamed of, they are a part of what makes you who you are today.

Also on this date Thursday, May 23, 2024...