There are many reptile enthusiasts who would like to start their adoption and own something that is very easy to maintain However, most of common reptiles in pet stores have a common factor that puts these first-time fans off: almost all reptiles up for adoption are insectivores.
This displeases these fans for various reasons. A very important one is that insects make them repellent. Another factor to consider is that they must make incessant trips to the store to obtain live food, which often escapes and colonizes the house. A few crickets escaped inside a home can plunge its inhabitants into sleepless despair. It is also not pleasant for many people to make a colony of crickets at home.
If you are one of these fans, continue reading this post as our site will indicate the various types of herbivorous reptiles.
The land turtles
Without a doubt the most common herbivorous pet reptiles are tortoises In addition, they are also the easiest to keep if you take into account two basic premises: a garden is necessary (even if it is tiny), and that the chosen specimen is compatible with the prevailing temperatures in our environment.
The fact that needs a garden is motivated by the need that turtles have to hibernate, which they cannot do on a flat perform because they need to bury themselves in the ground to proceed to hibernation. If they cannot hibernate, tortoises die very quickly. The issue of ambient temperature is also important if we want to enjoy a he althy and happy turtle. Discover some species of tortoises.
Mediterranean land turtles
Mediterranean tortoises are easy to keep, since their vital temperature range is very wide and their diet is based on vegetables that are within everyone's reach. Here are a couple of examples:
- The Mediterranean tortoise, Testudo hermanni, is a very common herbivorous pet. It should be noted that fruit is not convenient for these turtles, since it causes diarrhea. It is much better if your diet is based on green vegetables: alfalfa, lettuce, watercress, rosemary, sage, clover, lamb's lettuce and any garden plant or flower.
- The Eastern Mediterranean tortoise, Testudo hermanni boettgeri, is paler than the previous one and its temperature range is slightly lower. It comes from the Balkan area. Their diet includes endives, spinach, clover, yarrow, dandelion, thistles, lemon balm and many other wild plants (up to 60 plant species). Fruit intake should be minimal and always ripe.
Both species in the garden optionally feed on small insects and snails (the calcium in their shell is very good for them). However, we can also provide them with calcium through preparations that we will find in any animal store.
Mexican Turtles
There are several species of Mexican tortoises, although all of them are threatened One of the reasons for this threat, among others, is the extraction of wild animals for sale. We must fight to eradicate this type of trade. Pets must always come from approved breeders or exotic animal rescue entities. Next we point out a couple of species of Mexican tortoise:
- Sinaloa scrub tortoise, Gopherus egvoodei. Endangered species, whose characteristic is that its shell is flatter than that of most land turtles.
- Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii. This tortoise inhabits the Mojave and Sinaloa deserts. It can weigh up to 7 kg. It is threatened.
In the image we can see the desert tortoise:
Argentine turtles
There are 2 species of Argentine tortoise. Both threatened due to habitat destruction and the pet trade.
- Argentine land turtle, Chelonoidis chilensis. Endemic species of the Argentine arid shrublands. Threatened species. Among various plants and fruits, it also consumes cacti. It is the southernmost species of turtle.
- Chaco Turtle, Geochelone chilensis. Species native to Mendoza, San Luis, Córdoba and Paraguay. They are small in size (20 cm), and are threatened. Its habitat is the savannah and thicket and hawthorn areas.
In the image we can see the Argentine tortoise:
Colombian Turtles
Colombia is a country very rich in turtles tortoises, in which up to 27 species are counted. It is the 7th country in the world in terms of different terrestrial and semi-aquatic turtles, and the 2nd in the South American continent after Brazil. The basins of the Orinoco River and the Amazon River are the territories where the majority of turtle species in Colombia proliferate. Unfortunately more than ten species are threatened.
Development, communications, and ranching have altered the ancestral habitat of various turtle species. Trapping destined for pet stores has also had a negative impact. Below we show the two fully terrestrial species of the 27 cataloged. The rest are semi-aquatic.
- Morrocoy, Chelonoides carbonaria. This turtle is omnivorous, diurnal and of medium size. It can reach 51 cm in length. Globally it is not threatened, but at the Colombian level its situation is critical. This is due to the destruction of their habitat, and the illegal hunting of hatchlings for the pet market.
- Yellow-legged Morrocoy, Chelonoidis denticulata. Large land turtle that can reach 82 cm in length. Its longevity reaches 80 years. Its habitat is the deep forests that exist in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is highly threatened at all levels by the destruction of its habitat and the illegal trade in eggs and hatchlings.
In the image we can see the yellow-legged morrocoy:
The Saharan spiny-tailed lizard
The Saharan spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx geyr i, belongs to the genus Uromastyx made up of more than 20 species that inhabit the areas desert and pre-desert areas of North Africa, India, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Measures an average of 35 cm in length and 250 g in weight. It is one of the minor species among the Uromastyx lizards. Its habits are diurnal, feeding on grass, flowers and occasionally small insects.
In a calm mood, if he gets nervous or feels attacked he uses his tail as a whip, just like lizards of the same gender do. Its usual colors can be red, orange or yellow on a dark background and with lighter points that stud its entire back and flanks. It inhabits the semi-arid rocky areas of Algeria, Nigeria and Mali.
