Are you thinking of adopting a turtle? There are diverse and beautiful freshwater turtles around the world. We find them in lakes, swamps and even in riverbeds, however, they are also very popular pets, especially among young children because of their easy care.
Keep reading this article on our site to find out about the species of freshwater turtles to find out which one suits you best to you and your family.
Red-eared slider
To begin we will talk about the red-eared slider, although its scientific name is Trachemys scripta elegans. Its natural habitat is in Mexico and the United States, being the Mississippi its main home.
They are very popular as pets, and the most common in points of sale since they are found all over the world. They can reach 30 centimeters in length, with females being larger than males.
Its body is dark green and includes some yellow pigmentation. However, their most outstanding feature and what they get their name from is having two red spots on the sides of their heads.
The shell of this type of turtle is slightly inclined, in its lower part, towards the inside of its body since it is a semi-aquatic turtle, that is, it can live in water and in the land indistinctly.
This is a semi-aquatic turtle. They are easy to see in the rivers of the southern US, to be more specific in the Mississippi River.
Yellow-eared Turtle
Now it's the turn of the yellow-eared turtle or also called Trachemys scripta scripta. They are also turtles from the areas between Mexico and the US and it is not difficult to find them in the market.
They call it that because of the yellow stripes that characterize it on the neck and head as well as on the ventral part of the shell. The rest of its body is dark brown. They can reach 30 centimeters in length and love to spend long periods enjoying the sunlight.
This species adapts quite easily to domestic life, but if it is abandoned it can become an invasive species. For this reason we must be very careful if we can no longer keep it, making sure that someone can accept it in their home, we must never abandon a pet to its fate.
Cumberland Tortoise
Finally we will talk about the Cumberland tortoise or Trachemys scripta troosti. It comes from the USA, specifically from Tennessee and Kentucky.
Some scientists believe that it is the evolution of hybrids between the two previous turtles. We will observe a green shell with light spots, yellow and black. It can reach 21 cm in length.
The temperature of your terrarium should be between 25ºC and 30ºC and it should have direct contact with sunlight, since it will spend long periods of time enjoying it. It is an omnivorous turtle since it feeds on algae, fish, tadpoles or crayfish.
Pig-nosed Turtle
The pig-nosed turtle or Carettochelys insculpta is native to northern Australia and New Guinea. It has a soft shell and an unusual head.
They are animals that can reach an incredible 60 centimeters in length and can weigh up to 25 kilograms. Due to their appearance they are very popular in the world of exotic pets.
They are practically aquatic as they only leave their environment to lay eggs. These are omnivorous turtles that feed on both plants and animal matter, although they love to enjoy Ficus fruits and leaves.
It is a turtle that can reach a considerable size, that is why we must keep it in a large aquarium, it must also be alone since they have a tendency to bite if they feel stressed. We will avoid this problem by offering you quality food.
Spotted Turtle
The Spotted Tortoise is also known as Clemmys guttata and is a semi-aquatic specimen that measures between 8 and 12 centimeters.
She is very beautiful, she has a black or bluish shell with small yellow specks that also extend through her skin. As in the case of the previous ones, they are omnivorous turtles that live in freshwater areas. It comes from the eastern United States as well as Canada.
It is Threatened in the wild as it suffers habitat destruction and collection for the illegal pet trade. For this reason, if you decide to adopt a spotted tortoise, make sure that it comes from breeders that meet the relevant permits and requirements. Do not encourage traffic because, together, we can make this wonderful species extinct, the last of the Clemmys family.
Bulb Turtle
The bulb turtle or Sternotherus carinatus also comes from the USA and many aspects of its behavior or needs are unknown.
They are not particularly large, only about 15 centimeters long and dark brown with black markings. In the shell we find a small rounded bulb, characteristic of this species.
They live practically in the water and like to mix with areas that offer a lot of vegetation where they feel safe and protected. Like pig-nosed turtles, they only come to dry land to lay their eggs. It needs a spacious and practically full of water terrarium where it will feel comfortable.
A curious fact is that this turtle when it feels threatened it releases a fetid odor that scares away its possible predators.
