Indian flapshell turtle caresheet

REA D EVERY WOR D IF YO U DO NOT WANT YOUR
TURTLE TO DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR FAULT
CARE SHEET CONTENTS:- [5 pages ]
* Minimum required goods/items list for turtle caring.
* Turtle keeping information.
* Turtle ideal indoor habitat picture.
* Turtle sexing , sex determination.
* Turtle mating information.
* Important websites for turtle help.
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
* Turtle keeping is not easy as you think, it needs lots of
time , vigilance,working and dedication. If you can not
provide proper habitat and temperature then your turtle
WILL SURE DIE SOONER OR LATER BECAUSE OF SOME
DISEASE , STRESS due to IMPROPER CARE.
* Turtle gets easily under stress reducing their lifespan.
* Please take them seriously if you dont want your pet to die.
* Everything written in this care sheet should be followed.
* Turtles and Tortoises are not SAME..
* If you found HEALTHY turtle from anywhere in WILD /
outdoors PLEASE DO NOT BRING IT HOME, LEAVE IT BACK TO
PLACE YOU FOUND , WILD TURTLES LIVE LESS YEARS WHEN
REMOVED FROM WILD BECAUSE OF STRESS, if its injured give it
veterinary doctor care and release back to same place.
* IF you are found in possession of ANY WILD turtle species
then you will be jailed because they are protected species under
INDIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT 1972 SCHEDULE I PART 2,
3.4.5.8.9.10.11.12.13.
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS HANDLI NG TURTLES
INDIAN FLAPSHELL TURTLE
Lissemys punctata , Fr es h water
SOFTSHELL t u r t l e
aquatic turtles
care sheet
Indian f l a p s h e l l f r e s h w a t e r s o f t s h e l l
Owl and Eagles can eat turtles. Cats , Dogs are no harm.
PURE aquatic turtles can be found in or
near water. Most aquatic turtles will
leave the water to bask on dry land, but
spend most of their time in the water.
Pregnant women, children under the age of 5 and people
with weakened immune systems.
Turtles facts:
Because all turtles are potential carriers of infectious
diseases, such as Salmonella, always wash your hands
before and after handling your turtle.
Do not wash turtles.
Do not take them out of water unnecessarily like for playing.
REQUIRED IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR
YOUR TURTLE
…
appropriately sized habitat
…
Knowledge about aquatic turtles
…
commercial aquatic turtle food
* Heat Source
* Water tank heater
* UVB lighting if Indoors IMPORTANT
… calcium supplement or LIVE fishes IMPORTANT
… Thermometer for temperature measurements. IMPORTANT
… Spirulina food IMPORTANT
PETCO - Reptile2 BIFOLD OUTSIDE.indd
1
average adult size:
5 to 30+ inches long,
average life span:
20-40+ years with proper care,
depending on species
Diet:
juvenile - carnivore; adult - omnivore
Temperature
25 to31 celcius, not below 25
because then turtle wont be able to process food, New
born clutches/hatchlings at 28-31c for their proper growth.
IF temperature goes below 25 then feed very less.
-
Will reach adult size in 1-2 years, depending on ideal
conditions; upgrade habitat size as your turtle grows
Note: The information on this C are S heet is not a
substitute for veterinar y care . If you need additional in formation , please refer to the sources on the follow ing
page or contact your veterinarian as appropriate.
2/27/12
3:03 PM
care sheet
Diet
* Quantity of food - give a
chunk of size of turtle head.
• live comet gold sh, earthworms, mealworms,
bloodworms, snails and
crickets.
• dark, leafy green veggies
and nely chopped veggies.
also bene t from comet
gold sh, earthworms and
insects as treats.
• These aquatic turtles
need a pelleted commercial diet.
• These turtles needs
Spirulina diet for shell
growth
* can give boil rice and
fishes.
Feeding
• Fresh, clean, chlorine-free water
should be available at all times.
• Feed small one daily, Feed adults
every two days and less in
winter if temperature is low i.e.
under 25Celcius. Turtle need to
be fed in water to eat.
• Add very small amount of
Sea salt in water tank for stopping
infection. Two teaspoons for 300
liters.
INDIAN FLAPSHELL TURTLE
L i s s e m y s pu n c t a t a , Fr es h w a ter
SOFTSHELL turtle
• Sprinkle food with calcium supplement daily and a multi-vitamin
supplement once or twice a
week.
* use Proper water filters inside tank
if you are keeping it in indoors.
* If you cant calcium then feed
live fishes in water.
* Feed them fresh water plants,
fresh water fish (live), fresh water
shrimp (frozen) n algae with
mixture of spirulina powder n
ocassionally cockroaches... Dont
feed them daily coz I give them
some time to digest the food n
clean their bowels
HOUSING
• Water tank Size - appropriate size
habitat, at least a 40 gallon breeder
tank with a screened lid so the turtle
can’t escape. A good rule of thumb is
10 gallons per inch of turtle; adult
turtles will require more room.
• Ha
a bitat - aquatic turtles drink the
water they swim in, so it needs to be
changed frequently.
• Sub
bstrate - slate, rock, or a large
smooth gravel, too large to eat, is
optional; water for swimming area;
some aquatic turtles require
a shallow area they can rest in the
water with their head sticking out.
require a turtle dock area to bask out of
the water. Other turtles require dry land
areas outside of the water.
* Water plants - some non poisonous
plants are also required in water tank
* Create slope for turtle to come in and
out of water when required.
* Live fishes in water.
* Basking is very important for any turtle
*
Red flags / illness symptoms
• eye, nose, or mouth
discharge
• abnormal feces
• sneezing, runny nose
• discolored, bumps or
spots on shell or skin
• lethargic
• frantic swimming
If you notice a ny of these signs , please contac t your
exotic animal veterinarian.
PETCO - Reptile2 BIFOLD INSIDE.indd 1
Developed with and approved by a q ualifi
fie
ed veterina ria ns , gr a duated s tu d e n ts and pr o fe s si o nal
tu r t l e keeper ss..and turtle breeding centers.
• Te mperature
VERY IMPOR TAN T
MAXIMUM 31 celcius ANYWHERE for the warm end/
basking area/ water and
NOT LESS THAN 25°celcius
ANYWHERE for the cool end/
water/outside; recommend
radiant heat or ceramic heater
as primary heat source. use an
incandescent light if indoor tank.
or ceramic heater as primary
heat source if keeping indoor.
* RECOMMENDED IDEAL
TEMPERATURE IS 28CELCIUS
• Lighting - IF INDOORS
UVB rays with
full spectrum lighting
for 10-12 hours a day is
required. Incandescent
lighting is needed for
basking area.
• House adult aquatic
turtles alone and do not
house different turtle
species together
NORMAL
BEHAVIOUR
• Turtles do not like frequent
handling and may bite when
frightened.
Habitat
maintenance
• Thoroughly clean the
habitat at least once
a week: place turtle
in a secure habitat; scrub
the tank and furnishings ;
rinse thoroughly with water.
• After replacing water add clean,
dechlorinated water, with same
temperature range of water as
before changing
water.
Grooming
& hygiene
Keep the habitat clean and
remove uneaten food and feces right away.
Signs of a
healthy animal
• Active and alert
• Eats regularly
• Healthy, hard shell with
no lesions
• Clear, bright eyes with
no swelling
• Healthy skin with no
sores
• Clear nose and vent
• Aquatic turtles are excellent
swimmers.
Common health issues
Health Issue
GI tract
parasites
respiratory
infection
shell rot/ulcers
eye or
respiratory
infection
Symptoms or Causes
poor appetite, listlessness, possibly diarrhea
and anal prolapse.
open mouth breathing,
eye nose and/or mouth discharge; sneezing. can be
caused by a cold habitat.
discolored or foul smelling
patches or pits on the shell that
can become infected. may be
caused by an unclean habitat or
improper diet.
swollen eyes and sides of
head; may be caused by a
vitamin A de ciency.
Suggested Action
consult your exotic animal veterinarian as
soon as possible.
consult your exotic
animal veterinarian
and ensure habitat is
appropriately warm.
consult your exotic animal veterinarian and
ensure daily cleanings
and/or diet changes.
consult your exotic
animal veterinarian
and use a vitamin
supplement.
2/17/12 2:49 PM
INDIAN FLAPSHELL Lissemys punctata
TURTLE IDEAL INDOOR HABITAT
Continued. .........
INDIAN FLAPSHELL Lissemys punctata
TURTLE SEXING SEX DETERMINATION
It is very hard to determine sex of baby turtles , for exact sex determination the turtle should be atleast one or two year old.
Pictured below are a pair of adult Indian flapshells. The male is on the left while the female is on the right. Note that the tail is visible from underneath the cloacal tissue
flap in the male while it is not visible in the female. Also note the smaller frame on the male as well as it’s thinner appearance (this is more noticeable in the picture below).
MALE
FEMALE
In the picture below, the male is now on the right. Note his more elongated appearance as compared to the ovoid female on the left. Also note the curve in his shell just
above his tail. It has a bit of flare which the females are lacking.
FEMALE
MALE
In the pictures below, note the large thick tail in the male on the left and the short stubby tail in the female on the right. Also note the flap which covers the top of the
longer tail in the male on the left.
Again in below images, the male is pictured on the left and the female is on the right. Note the differences in the tail lengths. Also note the lack of a flap covering
over the male’s tail underneath to allow easier access for breeding. The female in comparison has a protective flap.
TURTLE MATING INFORMATION
Breeding period months - May to August.
Gestation period of Female - 4 to 8 weeks after mating , depends on temperature too.
Incubation period for Eggs - 60-70 days.
IMPORTANT WEBLINKS FOR TURTLES
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/
http://www.turtleforum.com/
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/index.html
http://www.turtletimes.com/
http://www.turtles.net/index.php
http://www.reptilescanada.com/forum.php
http://www.petforums.co.uk/turtles-tortoises/
http://www.happyturtlespub.org/smf/
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/firsaid.htm
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://turtlerescueleague.com/index.html
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2007/february/Cousquer/
Thanks to Akshay, turtlerescueleague,
wetwebmedia, austinturtlepage,turtleforum and
petco.com.
(Compiled by [email protected] )