![]() ![]() Despite the obvious differences in muscle anatomy, turtles are extremely strong. The pectoral or chest muscles are well developed in turtles. The numbers of scutes or the “rings” on the scutes have nothing to do with the turtle’s age. The scutes are usually shed in large patches, unlike snakes, which usually shed in one piece. The shell is covered with bony plates called scutes. The top or dorsal shell is called the carapace and the bottom or ventral shell is called the plastron. How do turtles differ anatomically from other pets?Ĭompared to other animals, turtles have different muscle structures, and many of their bones (like the ribs) are replaced by a protective shell (which is hinged underneath, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators). After handling any pet, its excrement, its bedding or its toys, THOROUGHLY WASH YOUR HANDS. Common sense and good hygiene are essential in preventing this disease. Apparently, the reason for the size limit was that turtles larger than 4 inches could not be easily placed into the mouth! Before purchasing a turtle, check your local laws regarding ownership. You can imagine how easily the disease, which involves contact with infected feces, could be spread if young children were placing soiled hands or the turtles itself in their mouths!ĭue to the high incidence of Salmonella poisoning in the 1970’s, some municipalities passed laws prohibiting the sale of any turtle smaller than 4 inches in diameter. Since box turtles are a common family pet, the danger of infection is very real. Although turtles are certainly not the only pet or reptile that can carry Salmonella, most turtles carry the infection asymptomatically, which means that they do not show signs of illness. While the disease rarely causes anything more serious than vomiting and diarrhea in adults, young children, the elderly and people with lowered immune systems can easily develop a fatal disease. ![]() The disease is spread by contact with infected feces. Salmonellosis is the disease caused by an infection with Salmonella organisms. Salmonella is a bacterium often implicated in human “food poisoning”. I’ve been told that I should be concerned about Salmonellosis. With proper diet and housing, captive box turtles usually live to 20 years of age but they can live 30-40 years. Sexual maturity is reached about the fifth year of life. Turtles that are not allowed to hibernate grow at a faster rate. If well fed and well kept, this adult size is reached at 4-6 years of age. The average adult size for box turtles is roughly 5-7 inches in diameter, with females being slightly smaller than males. Most box turtles never get very large (unlike tortoises). Please do your “homework” and research as much as possible about this type of pet before bringing it into your life. Turtles are often one of the most neglected captive reptiles, since many people simply do not know how to take care of them properly. Box turtles can make great pets if cared for properly. The box turtle is a very popular reptile pet. If you own another species, most of this information will apply, but you should check with your veterinarian about any specific requirements for your pet turtle. By far the most common species is the popular box turtle, which will be the subject of this discussion. ![]() Several species of turtles are available for purchase as pets. ![]()
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