South Yorkshire Fish & Terrapin Rescue Welcome to Our Terrapin

South Yorkshire Fish & Terrapin Rescue Welcome to our Terrapin.

Care E-book

Contents Introduction ….4 Important Hygiene Measures ...5 Getting Started with Your Terrapin ...6. • Where to purchase a Terrapin ...7 • What Breed of Terrapins Can I Buy? ...7 • Healthy Terrapin Checklist ..8 • When to Purchase your Terrapin ..9 • Determining your Terrapins Age ..9 • Setting up a Suitable Home ..10 • Terrapin Transportation ..13 Establishing a Healthy Diet.. 14 • Meat & Fish • Vegetation • Dried Food • Additional Dietary Supplements • Portion Control Encouraging your Terrapin to Hibernate ..16 • How to spot when your Terrapin is ready for Hibernation • Providing Suitable Hibernation Conditions • Bringing your Terrapin out of Hibernation Safely Terrapin Behaviour and Activity ..18 • Pacing or Swimming Back and Forth • Digging in the Ground • Stretching out Flat on All Fours • Standing Tall, Legs Extended, Head held High © Copyright 2021 2 www.ftrescue.co.uk

• Withdrawing Limbs into Shell Suddenly • Ramming another Terrapin with its Shell • Burrowing in the Ground • Laying on its Back The Senses The Terrapins Shell Summary.. 21 Disclaimer & Copyright

Introduction

Terrapins, Turtles and Tortoises are reptiles and are classically known as Chelonians. While the Tortoise is a land animal, the Terrapin is amphibious, spending time in water as well as on land. In ancient times the Earth’s climate was a much warmer place and todays Terrapins are still adapted to those conditions. Therefore, unfortunately many wild Terrapins do not survive in colder climates.

The natural habitat of today’s modern Turtles lies in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. However, by using hibernation through the winter months, some species of Turtle/Terrapins have been able to adapt to the changing seasons and survive quite comfortably in parts of North America, Europe, United Kingdom and Australia.

In the UK, freshwater Turtles are usually referred to as Terrapins with Turtles only being used to describe the wild saltwater species. In this guide I will use the term Terrapin throughout each section of this book. The fascinating history and uniqueness in appearance make Turtle/Terrapins a popular choice of pet for many children and adults alike. However, a considerable number of owners purchase a Terrapin as a pet without fully understanding much about the environment and conditions required for keeping their Terrapin healthy.

Terrapins have a long lifespan of over 30 years, so you are taking on a long-term responsibility. To ensure that Terrapins enjoy a long and healthy life, it is essential to provide them with an environment as close to nature as possible. Many health problems occur from poor care. To achieve success the following points must be considered: - A balanced and varied diet. - Access to clean water - Natural sunlight or artificial life for warmth and basking. - Careful Handling Techniques. - Immaculate attention to cleanliness. - Continuous observation of general health and regular examinations.

Important Hygiene Measures

Water basins and the soil or sand around them are the perfect place for parasites such as ticks or mites and bacteria such as Salmonella. For this reason, it is important to scrub the water basin and surrounding areas regularly and try to keep the soil or sand dry as much as possible. The water, soil and sand should be changed regularly.

In an enclosure for an aquatic or semi-aquatic Terrapin the water quality is of the highest importance. A good filtration system will help to keep water, but it is your responsibility to keep all other areas clean.

Each week you should rinse out the filter including the sponges. This is done best when removing some of the water from the enclosure and rinsing the sponges in that water. This then preserves the good bacteria that builds up on the sponges. In addition, you should change around 75% of the enclosure water every 2-3 weeks. By changing out 75% of the water and replacing it with a clean supply of water you dilute any pollution in the water and keep it clean for your Terrapin.

You can help to cut down on water pollution by regularly removing all uneaten food and any faeces with a net. You can also reduce pollution by having a separate small aquarium for which you place your Terrapin in just for feeding.

Finally, Ensure you thoroughly wash your hands after handling a Terrapin or any of its equipment to minimize the risk of transferring a disease to yourself.

Getting Started with Your Terrapin Where to Purchase a Terrapin When looking to purchase a Terrapin there are two main places you should consider: 1. A Licensed Pet Shop Your Chosen Pet Shop should be specialised in Reptiles and Aquatics and must be able to show knowledge of how to properly care for a Terrapin. You should be able to ask questions to determine that they show a suitable knowledge on caring for Terrapins. Good knowledge is especially important as it will increase the likelihood your new Terrapin will have been appropriately cared for and they will be not carrying harmful diseases. It is important that you do not make the decision to bring a Terrapin into your life on a spur of the moment due to the responsibilities needed for many years. It is crucial that you find out exactly what care and equipment is need for your species of Terrapin before buy it.

2. A Local Rescue Centre You may also wish to consider re-homing a Terrapin through a local rescue. If you do decide to rehome through a rescue it is important that you visit the centre and have a good look at how they run their set up. The centre must be able to show you where the terrapins are kept and how clean and well the Terrapins look. Like the Pet Shop the Rescue Centre must be able to answer any questions you ask about the Terrapins. They should also give you support before and ongoing once you have the Terrapin you wish to adopt. Furthermore, it is especially important that you do not make the decision to bring a Terrapin into your life on a spur of the moment due to the responsibilities needed for many years.

What Breed of Terrapins Can I Buy?

From the 16th of August 2016, New EU regulations came into effect in all EU Countries including United Kingdom, which has had an impact on certain types of pet Terrapins. The regulations that are relevant to Terrapin owners in the UK are the new EU Invasive Alien Species Regulations (IAS). The regulations consist of a list of animals and plants that are both non-native to the UK and EU and that are classed as invasive. This is because introducing a new species into any given environment upsets the established status quo of existing plants and animals, and can place their food supplies, habitat or lives at risk.

Out of the 23 animals listed under the new regulations, three species of very popular pet Terrapins are included: - The Red-Eared Slider - The Yellow-Bellied Slider - The Cumberland Slider This effectively means that owners of the affected species, your existing pets can live out their natural lives with you as normal, but you cannot expand their ranks or breeds from them. The regulation on rehoming your pet Terrapin is a problem for anyone that needs to do so for any reason. At present, the only permitted option for doing this is to surrender your Terrapin to a registered Rescue Centre or Association. Unfortunately, if you had your heart set on owning a Red-Eared Slider, Yellow Bellied Slider or Cumberland Slider in the past, this is no longer an option for you. Such species cannot be given away or sold.

Whilst this means that some of the most popular species of Terrapins kept in the EU and UK are no longer legal as pets, there are still lots of other Terrapin Species that are suitable that you can still consider: - Diamond Back Terrapin - Musk Turtle - Map Turtle - Common Snapping Turtle - Alligator Snapping Turtle - Mississippi Map Turtle - Painted Turtle

Healthy Terrapin Checklist

Good Shell Condition – Young Terrapins: up to 1/3 of Adult Size: Firm and Elastic Shell, like a thumbnail. Adult Terrapins: Hard and Firm shell. All scutes (horny plates) firm and intact top and bottom. Algae growth is acceptable. Most Terrapins will regularly shed their shell.

Poor Shell Condition – Young Terrapins and Adults: Shell gives way and flakes when pressed. Adults: Firm, but then changes shape. Individual plates very bumpy or profile from the side just as bumpy. Plastron: Holes in the horny plate; pink, watery blisters under or in the horny plate; loose or missing plates, bare (whitish yellow) bone exposed.

Healthy Skin – Outside of heavy scales on neck and legs, skin is leathery, soft and elastic.

Unhealthy Skin – Cracked or Infested with Ticks and Mites.

Healthy Eyes – Clear, Bright, Opened Wide.

Unhealthy Eyes – Cornea clouded, lids closed, swollen.

Healthy Nose – Dry, no bubbles, no-noise when breathing.

Unhealthy Respiratory Tract – Bubbles at nose and mouth, opens mouth wide while craning neck, rattle when breathing.

Healthy Claws – Claws loosely embedded or missing; nail bed inflamed (reddish or whitish) and/or swollen.

Movement – On land: all four legs used for forward motion; no dragging of rear legs (nerve damage). In water: When viewed from the front, does not tilt to one side when swimming (lung damage)

General Responsiveness – When picked up, the Terrapin either moves vigorously in defence or pulls back strongly into its shell.

When to Purchase Your Terrapin

You should never buy a Terrapin until you are 100% ready for the responsibilities and dedication required for keeping your Terrapin healthy and safe. You should have considered long and hard about whether you wish to own a Terrapin. You should also have decided which Terrapin you would like and already have brought and set-up all the equipment you will need.

The best time of the year to purchase a Terrapin is in the Summertime while the weather is warm. If you purchase a Terrapin during the winter it may be difficult to decide whether an unresponsive Terrapin is ill or is about to hibernate. Sick Terrapins are unlikely to survive hibernation and therefore purchasing well before hibernation is needed to ensure the Terrapin survives.

It is also not advisable to buy a Terrapin that is just coming out of hibernation. If the Terrapin had a health issue problem at the start of winter that problem is unlikely to be evident until around 4-8 weeks after it has fully awoken.

Determining A Terrapins Age

You cannot determine a Terrapins age by counting the growth rings on its shell. However, you can make a rough estimate of its age if you know how large it is now, and how large the species tends to grow. This method is most useful when the Terrapin is young. If your Terrapin is around a third of the normal adult size it will be around 3 years old.

The growth rate of a Terrapin does slow as its ages and it is also dependent on its living conditions. Therefore, this method only gives a rough estimate, and it becomes more difficult to estimates a Terrapins age as it reaches adulthood.

Setting up an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Terrapin Enclosure

Although Aquatic Terrapins spend most of their time in the water, they also like the option of basking under a heat lamp. Semi-Aquatic Terrapins also need both water and dry land to stay happy and healthy. The amount of water or land your Terrapin will need depends on which species of Terrapin you own. Most Terrapins require a large and varied enclosure so that they can dig, climb and explore. A rock or shelf that emerges out of the water is crucial so that your Terrapin can bask and keep its temperature regulated.

Minimum Requirements for Your Terrapin Enclosure:

A Large Enclosure Although your Terrapin may start out small, they do grow incredibly quickly. Therefore, it is especially important to buy the largest enclosure you can afford and can easily accommodate in your home. This will mean that you will not have to stress your Terrapin by continually changing the enclosure as it grows.

To calculate the size of the enclosure which your Terrapin will need as a minimum you should take the length of the Terrapins adult shell and multiply it by 5. The result gives you the minimum width of your enclosure. Finally, if you take the length of the adult shell of a Terrapin again and multiply it by 3 this gives you the minimum depth and height of the enclosure.

For example, a 6 inch (15cm) long shell would require an enclosure: 30 inches (75 cm) in Width 18 (45 cm) in Depth 18 (45 cm) in Height Beware that these figures are only a minimum, the enclosure can never be too large and the bigger it is the happier your Terrapin will be. If you wish to keep more than one Terrapin, you should increase the resulting size by around 30%.

A Powerful Filtration Unit Powerful filters are now available in all types of shapes and sizes to fit your requirements. It is advised that under-gravel filters are unsuitable for Terrapins because they suck and store all the contamination into the gravel where they can remain and cause further pollution to the water. Terrapins are very messy eaters so therefore an internal or external power filter is required to maintain a suitable water quality

- Internal Power Filters

An internal power filter consists of a small, submersible water pump which draws the water through a sponge or piece-of-foam, therefore removing any small particles of dirt. These are highly effective and easy to clean, the only draw back is that they take up a lot of room inside the enclosure and can easily be moved or knocked over by large Terrapins. You can however lie these types of filters down on their side to reduce the depth of water required.

- External Power Filters External power filters work on the same principle as internal ones – pumping water through a sponge or foam. The difference is that they are external to your enclosure which helps free up space and avoids your Terrapin dislodging the filtration unit. Each external power filter has one tube which takes the dirty water from the enclosure to the filter, and another which takes the clean water from the filter back to the enclosure. External power filters are more expensive than internal ones and can be harder to clean, but these are still a great choice for helping to keep the enclosure clean.

An Aquarium Heater Depending on where you live and the type of Terrapin you have you may need to use an under-water heater. This will help to maintain the temperature needed for your Terrapin. Be aware that Terrapins will always try to get as close as possible to heat, therefore it is a good idea to ensure that your heater has a guard in order to protect your Terrapin from the risk of getting burnt.

Suitable Lighting All Terrapins require some form of lighting in an indoor enclosure. The use of a spot lamp over the land area of your enclosure will provide heat and light for your Terrapin to bask. In addition, you may decide to use a suitable UV light above the water to provide further heat and light across the full enclosure.

You must ensure that your Terrapin cannot touch the lighting otherwise it will risk being left with serious burns. It is also essential that you place heat-resistant covers over any lighting, like with light bulbs, if cold water is splashed on a hot bulb it can instantly shatter and cause serious issues to your Terrapin.

Gravel, Sand and Rocks Although Gravel and Sand are not essential it can help maintain the water quality and provide your Terrapin with a more natural environment. Sand or Gravel is recommended though especially if you have a Terrapin that naturally is not a good swimmer. In this case sand and gravel will help provide grip for your Terrapin when pushing itself along at the bottom of the enclosure. © Copyright 2021 11 www.ftrescue.co.uk

Rocks or at least some aquarium ornaments are recommended for all types of aquatic and semi-aquatic Terrapins. If there is nothing in your enclosure except a land area and water, then your Terrapin will quickly become bored and frustrated.

It is not recommended that you place real plants in a Terrapin enclosure simply because Terrapins naturally eat real plants. Artificial plants may be used instead, but if your Terrapin does try to eat them, they should be removed as soon as possible because you do not want your Terrapin eating plastic.

Before purchasing your Terrapin, you should ideally have the enclosure fully set up, including water for a minimum of 7 days. This allows the water to reach the right temperature but more important allows the correct nutrient balance to become established. This means when you introduce your Terrapin it is immediately in the right conditions for a happy and healthy life.

Finding a Suitable Place for your Enclosure

Rooms with large windows are ideal as this increases the amount of natural light your Terrapin will see. However, care should be taken to avoid direct sunlight as this can cause variances to the water temperature and promote excessive algae growth. Even in light rooms you should still provide artificial lighting in the form of UV lights since the amount of natural light will not be enough to keep your Terrapin healthy.

Terrapins are easily disturbed by noise and vibrations as well as sudden movements. Therefore, you should avoid placing your Terrapins home close to household appliances such as washing machines, tv’s, and music players which emit sound or vibrations.

In addition, you should also take care not to make sudden movements near your Terrapin as this could frighten it. Finally, drafts can also be harmful to Terrapins since they can cause a sudden drop in temperature. It is therefore important that you do not place your Terrapin enclosure next to doors and windows and should avoid placing its home directly on the floor.

Transporting Your Terrapin

When you rehome your Terrapin the Shop or Rescue Centre you arrange to have it from should provide you with a suitable container to transport your Terrapin home. Where possible you should avoid transporting your Terrapin, especially over long-distances or during cold weather. The most important thing is to always keep your Terrapin warm and safe. When travel is essential (such as a Vet trip) there are two ways you can safely transport your Terrapin. 1. The Polystyrene Box The preferred method of transport most people choose is the polystyrene box. It should be at least 0.5 inches thick (1.25cm) since this provides good insulation against the cold and is also much harder for your Terrapin to dig out of.

Simply make a few air holes in the lid to allow your Terrapin to breathe and when you wish to transport your Terrapin place a hot water bottle filled with warm water at the bottom. Then take a newspaper and soak it in warm water and scrunch up each sheet to line the box. This will then act as a source of moisture, warmth and protection. Then tape the lid closed and ensure your Terrapin cannot escape, finally you can wrap the box in a blanket to add extra protection from the cold.

2. The Cardboard Box This method needs a cardboard box (a shoe box is also fine), a hot water bottle, a pillowcase, some string and a wool blanket.

Fill a hot water bottle with warm water and place it in the bottom of the box. Put your Terrapin inside a pillowcase (turned inside-out) or cotton bag and tie the end closed with string. Place the pillowcase on top of the hot water bottle and close the box, wrapping it in the wool blanket. This method is safe to transport a Terrapin for up to 1 hour in cold conditions.

Establishing a Healthy Diet

Feeding a Healthy Diet

Just like humans, a Terrapin will always like certain foods more than others. However, the food it likes the most will not necessarily be the food that is best for it. A Terrapin needs a varied, nutritious diet to live a healthy life. Your first step is to establish whether your Terrapin eats meat, vegetation or both. If your Terrapin is aquatic or semi-aquatic, you should always feed it in water. Terrapins are naturally very messy eaters, so in order to maintain water quality, it is recommended that your feed your terrapin in a separate enclosure to its main living quarters.

Meat and Fish Meat should never be the only part of your Terrapins diet; however, it can be used as a tasty treat and helps to provide a varied diet. You should stick to low fat meat where possible such as chicken, heart, reduced or fat-free ground beef or pork, and small fish such as shrimps, guppies, and even filleted chunks of trout. Ensure that any meat is small enough for your Terrapin to eat whole or easily tear apart. Your Terrapin may also enjoy water snails, which you can breed in a separate enclosure and feed to your Terrapin for the occasional treat. Earthworms dug up from your garden can also be a tasty treat for most Terrapins.

Vegetation Terrapins will eat a wide range of plants which is why if you place plants within the enclosure, they will often become eaten. Some of the plants your Terrapin will eat include herbs such as parsley, lemon balm and basil. Your Terrapin will also eat certain vegetables such as green beans, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts and carrots. Some fruits can also be fed to Terrapins such as pears, apples, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and bananas.

Dried Food One way to ensure your terrapin receives a balanced nutrient rich diet is to feed it one of the several commercial dried foods that are available at most pet stores. The dried food should never make up all your Terrapins diet, but it can be a good base to start the diet. Depending on the size of your Terrapin you may need to break some of it up (especially vegetable pellets) into smaller pieces to allow your Terrapin to eat it. The advantage of using commercial dried food is that it usually floats on the water’s surface. This means you can easily scoop out any leftover food to avoid polluting the enclosure.

Additional Dietary Supplements There are several commercial dietary supplements available for Terrapins. These supplements provide minerals and trace elements that are essential for a Terrapins healthy growth and development. Calcium is especially important when it comes to shell maintenance – especially when your Terrapin is still growing. There are various ways you can add calcium to your Terrapins diet: 1. A common treat for pet birds, cuttlefish can also be fed to Terrapins to increase their calcium intake. Simply break a small part of the cuttlefish off and place it in the enclosure. Your Terrapin will nibble on it as and when it wants to. 2. Another way to add some extra calcium to diet is to add ground eggshells amongst your Terrapins normal food. Ensure that the eggshells are well ground though, any large pieces of eggshell can be sharp and cause harm to your turtle. 3. Finally, most reliable pet stores stock a special preparation of calcium which can be fed easily to Terrapins. Notice: Bananas, tomatoes, and peaches are all high in phosphorus which can weaken the Terrapins shell if consumed in large quantities. When feeding your Terrapin foods high in phosphorous you should add some calcium too to create the right balance.

Portion Control Young freshwater Terrapins will need feeding one or two times daily whereas adult Terrapins only need to be fed every other day. Whenever you feed a Terrapin you should only give it half the amount of food it can eat in one meal. To establish how much this is you can let your Terrapin go without food for Two days and then weigh or measure a good amount of its favourite food. Feed the Terrapin until its first eagerness subsides and its starts to become more selective or slow in its eating. Stop feeding and work out how much it ate and then feed half this amount in future.

To determine if you are feeding your Terrapin the correct amount you should weigh it regularly and record its weight. Young Terrapins will be growing and should become heavier in proportion to their size. Adult Terrapins whose growth is either terribly slow or complete should be maintaining their weight. If you Adult Terrapin loses a significant amount of weight you should increase the amount or frequency of its feeding. If it gains weight, then you should reduce the amount of feeding or frequency of feeding. Excessive weight loss can be a sign of illness, so consult your Vet.

Helping Your Terrapin Hibernate Safely

Some Terrapins whose natural habitat is subject to cold weather during Winter go into hibernation. However, not all Terrapins that are kept as pets will need them to hibernate even if they would naturally do so in the wild. During hibernation, a Terrapins heart rate and breathing slows down, their metabolism slows down and they hardly move at all. Like all hibernating animals Terrapins live of their fat reserves and a healthy Terrapin should have no problems hibernating successfully in the right conditions. You should not attempt to feed a Terrapin in hibernation.

How to Spot when your Terrapin Is ready to Hibernate Even if you have no experience of having a Terrapin go into hibernation it is straight forward to spot the signs that your Terrapin is ready. In October, as the length of the day and the strength of the sun decreases, Terrapins begin to lose their appetite and become more sluggish with their movements.

The spend less time swimming and more time lazing around in the darker areas of their enclosure. If keeping your Terrapin indoors you can encourage hibernation by changing the conditions to match the natural conditions. As the days get shorter and reduce the amount of time you have lighting on in the enclosure and slowly begin turning the temperature of your Terrapins heating down.

Once your Terrapin begins showing signs it is ready for hibernation you should stop offering it food. It can take a Terrapin up to a week to fully digest food and empty its bowels so before hibernation can begin the Terrapin should have gone 7 days without food. You should always weigh your Terrapin before putting it into hibernation and keep a record of its weight. When your Terrapin comes out of hibernation you will to weight it again and see if it has lost more than 10% of its body weight you should consult your Vet.

(NEVER put an unhealthy Terrapin into hibernation as a sick Terrapin is unlikely to survive.)

Providing Suitable Hibernation Conditions

When your Terrapin is ready to go into hibernation you need to ensure you can provide it with the correct conditions for a safe hibernation. The first thing to do is to find a place in your home suitable that is always cool enough, this could be a cellar or even a modified refrigerator. The refrigerator should be set up to maintain a temperature of between 40-44F and must have had the light removed. You should place each Terrapin in a small plastic box filled with moist moss. The moss acts as an artificial mud bottom. © Copyright 2021 16 www.ftrescue.co.uk

The water level in the compartment should be shallow enough that a Terrapin can sit at the bottom and crane its neck out of the water to breathe. The water temperature should be between 34-54F. if the water temperature goes above 54F for too long, the Terrapin may come out of hibernation to soon. You will need to change the water every three to four weeks to stop your Terrapin becoming ill. If the water turns yellowish or a whitish film forms on the surface, you should change the water immediately. It is a good idea to put a fresh bowl of water in the refrigerator or cellar for several hours before changing the water. This will ensure the water stays at the same temperature during the water changes.

Bringing your Terrapin out of Hibernation

You should avoid purposefully bringing your terrapin out of hibernation. A Terrapin will naturally awaken from hibernation once it is ready. The length of hibernation depends on the type of Terrapin you own. Most Terrapins hibernate for between 4-6 months, but you can ask a specialist for the exact period of hibernation your Terrapin needs. You should check on your Terrapin every few days, increasing that to at least twice a day when you are expecting your Terrapin to awaken. Once it does awake you should move its hibernation quarters to a warm room (72F) and wait until the water has reached room temperature.

Once the water is at room temperature you can place the Terrapin back in its normal enclosure. You should keep the water in its normal enclosure at room temperate – no heating should be used at first. Once back in its normal enclosure you should begin to slowly increase the temperature and amount of light your Terrapin requires over a few days. After 2-7 days your Terrapin should resume its normal level of activity and have got its appetite back to normal. If your Terrapin doesn’t behave normally please consult your Vet.

Terrapin Behaviour and Activity

Terrapins are naturally silent animals although occasionally you may hear them hiss during the mating season or if you are handling them too roughly. Noisy breathing could be a sign of a respiratory illness and should be checked out by a Vet. As with any pet you should become familiar with your Terrapins normal body language and behaviour. This helps you to understand your pet since it cannot talk to you and is essential for spotting any potential health problems your Terrapin may have.

Pacing or Swimming Back and Forth If your Terrapin is constantly swimming back and forth along the side of its enclosure, or if it is constantly trying to climb out of its enclosure your Terrapin may not be happy with its surroundings. Is the water and air temperature correct? Is the amount of water and land space, right?

If your Terrapin has been placed into a new environment it may swim back and forth as it explores its new home. After a day or two it should have calmed down. Swimming back and forth can also be a sign that your female Terrapin is ready to lay eggs and is searching for a suitable place to have her eggs.

Digging in the Ground If your female Terrapin keeps scraping or digging at the ground with her rear legs, she may be trying to lay her eggs. This behaviour can even be observed if there is no earth or gravel to dig in. Provide a suitable site for her to deposit her eggs safely.

If you have a male Terrapin, this activity could mean that your Terrapin is searching for food. This is normal but if your Terrapin is constantly looking for food you may wish to double check that you are giving him the correct amount of food. Also ensure that your Terrapin is not trying to eat the gravel or stones, this can be a sign of a mineral deficiency.

Stretching Out Flat on all Fours if your Terrapin lays under the spot or UV lamp on dry land with all its limbs extended outside of its shell it is nothing to worry about, your Terrapin is just sunbathing. Sometimes Terrapins will lay their head flat on the ground and close their eyes when sunbathing, although this may look like your Terrapin is sick it is a completely natural and healthy behaviour that has no cause for concern.

If your Terrapin spends all day sunbathing, then you should start to be concerned. Pick it up and see if it either assumes a defensive position by withdrawing into its shell, or actively moves it legs to try and escape. If it does not do either of these things but instead seems listless your Terrapin may be sick and should be seen by a Vet. © Copyright 2021 18 www.ftrescue.co.uk

Standing Tall, Legs Extended, Head Held High When your Terrapin is standing tall with its legs extended and head held high it is in that position to take a good look at its surroundings. On land this position also makes it easier for your Terrapin to empty its bowels and in water it may be reaching its head out the water to breathe. This is perfectly normal behaviour.

Withdrawing Limbs into Shell Suddenly If your Terrapin suddenly withdraws its limbs into its shell, then it has been suddenly alarmed and should be left alone for a few minutes until it relaxes again. You should avoid any further sudden movements to prevent scaring your Terrapin again.

Ramming another Terrapin with its Shell The aggressive Terrapin may approach the other Terrapin diagonally from the front, perhaps nipping at the other Terrapins legs or neck. A male Terrapin often does this to a female to initiate a mating season. If the aggression leads to injury you should separate the two Terrapins.

Burrowing in the Ground If your Terrapin burrows into a hiding spot and has also stopped eating it may be showing signs of it starting to hibernate. This happens in Autumn when the days are shorter, and the sun is low in the sky. At other times in the year this behaviour can indicate a problem with the Terrapins health, and you will need to take it to a Vet.

Laying on its Back If your Terrapin falls when trying to climb it may land on its back. Although it may look like your Terrapin is struggling it should be able to flip itself back over by itself. If the Terrapin is laid on its back for a long time you should step in and help it out.

The Senses Terrapins have a well-developed sense of smell using it during mating and when deciding what food, it wishes to eat. Aquatic Terrapins can smell just as well underwater as they can on land as they use their sense of smell to navigate.

Vision is also one of the Terrapins strongest senses, allowing the Terrapin to detect potential food and danger from a distance. When up close it relies more on its sense of smell, but its long-distance vision is particularly good.

One of the Terrapins weaker senses is its hearing, detecting low-pitched sounds the best. Your Terrapin is also able to detect vibrations which is why you should not place your Terrapins home near anything that causes excessive vibrations. It is very difficult to identify © Copyright 2021 19 www.ftrescue.co.uk

a Terrapins ears since they do not have an external ear. The ear drum lies directly below the skin and is usually covered by leathery skin or scales.

The Terrapins Shell One of the most distinguishing features of a Terrapin is its shell, with each species having its own unique markings and characteristics. The shell is mostly made up of living material. Bony plates constitute the supporting structure of the shell, made up of areas of ossified skin, fused together with parts of the vertebrae, ribs and shoulder girdle. The shell is therefore an integral part of the Terrapins skeleton – a Terrapin could never be removed from its shell.

The bone structure of the shell is covered by a sensitive membrane of connective tissue which is protected only by the Terrapins horny plates (scutes). The horny plates are the only part of the shell which are dead tissue and comparable to that of human fingernails. You should take care when cleaning a Terrapins shell, the crevices between the horny plates are overly sensitive and should not be scrubbed or scratched. The plates on a Terrapins shell may grow thick and bumpy with age.

It is also normal and healthy for many aquatic Terrapins to regularly shed their skin and shell plates. Some Terrapins such as the Box Turtle have hinged joints within their shell. This means that when they are attacked by a predator, they can close their shell up completely – leaving no skin exposed. This is compared to other Terrapins which simply withdraw into their shell with their leathery skin still visible and accessible.

Soft-Shell Terrapins have a distinctively reduced shell. The flat bony Carapace is covered only by a tough leathery skin with no plates. Most of the underbelly is only covered with skin. For this reason, extra caution should be taken when handling or cleaning a soft-shell Terrapin. Finally, Soft-Shell Terrapins can breathe through their skin even when buried in sand. As a result, soft-shell Terrapins are overly sensitive to dirty water and shell injuries which can become infected very easily. The colour of the shell of your Terrapin will probably change over the years that you have it. For example, as a Red-Eared Slider gets older, their shell markings begin to become less obvious and less vivid than when it was younger. This is perfectly normal and should not cause any concern.

Summary

Terrapins can make fantastic pets that will provide you many years of entertainment when cared for correctly. Remember that in the right conditions Terrapins can live for a long time (30+ years) Therefore, it is essential that you have thought about whether a Terrapin is the right pet for you.

Each Terrapin species has its own unique characteristics and care needs and it is especially important that you fully research what your Terrapin needs to stay happy and healthy. This will inevitably mean buying expensive equipment, and the need to increase the Terrapins enclosure and the amount of space needed. In addition, you will also need to ensure you provide the right heating and lighting as per your Terrapins needs. Your local Vet should be able to advise you on the exact requirements needed for your Terrapin.

Take care to establish if your Terrapin needs to go into hibernation and make the relevant arrangements to ensure you can provide everything that your Terrapin may need. Remember that an unhealthy Terrapin should never be put into hibernation and you may need to make several trips to the Vet over the course of the Terrapins life. Terrapins also need a varied diet which includes all the vitamins and minerals it needs. It also needs a clean and suitable environment if it is to avoid becoming unwell. These are the two most important aspects of keeping Terrapins – the right diet and good hygiene and maintenance.

Always remember Terrapins are Wild animals and therefore should be treated with care and precaution to avoid injuries to yourself or your Terrapin. That said, Terrapins can be tamed to the touch and can be a wonderful source of entertainment. Finally if you do decide to keep a Terrapin as a pet and provide all the correct care, you will be rewarded with a loveable and entertaining pet.

Disclaimer & Copyright

All information contained within this E-book from South Yorkshire Fish and Terrapin Rescue is meant for educational purposes only! None of us are trained vets and the Advice & Information set out in this E-book should never be misinterpreted as medical advice. Please consult a fully qualified trained vet. If you have any concerns about the health of your Terrapin. South Yorkshire Fish and Terrapin Rescue will not be held accountable for any mistreatment or loss of your Terrapin/s. This e-book and all its contents are copyrighted to South Yorkshire Fish and Terrapin Rescue. You are not permitted to sell or distribute this e- book without express written permission from Us. Anyone found to be breaking Copyright laws will be subject to prosecution. We have sourced all information within this E-Book from over 20 different websites and put it all on one E-book to make it faster to obtain. You can now Save time looking all over the internet you can now get all you need in one place.