| Turtle age—do you know how old your pet turtle is? | | | | time, making the number of rings unclear. Layers of |
| Did you know that the average lifespan of a turtle | | | | the carapace will fall off during its lifetime, and the turtle |
| kept as a pet is forty years? A turtle can even live | | | | may go through growth spurts, developing more than |
| much longer than that—up to 100 years, probably | | | | one ring per year. As turtles mature, the markings or |
| longer than its original owner! The turtle's longevity also | | | | lines on their shells also become less-defined, or may |
| varies according to the type or class to which it | | | | even deteriorate. This, in turn, would make counting the |
| belongs in the animal kingdom. It is astonishing to | | | | rings difficult and unreliable. Therefore, we should use |
| know that the oldest turtle on record lived to be two | | | | this method of turtle age determination only as an |
| hundred and fifty years old! | | | | estimate of years. |
| Let's examine some interesting facts about the turtle, | | | | It is the responsibility of human beings to ensure turtles |
| and see if we can figure out how old your new pet is! | | | | achieve long and healthy life spans in the wild by |
| | | | | enacting and enforcing laws to protect their natural |
| Studies show that turtles first appeared on the earth | | | | habitats. In captivity, pet turtles can suffer from |
| over two million years ago. This remarkable fact | | | | illnesses and die if their requirements for proper nutrition |
| makes them one of the oldest-known creatures on | | | | and habitat are not provided by their owners. |
| our planet. Turtles have been called living fossils, | | | | Turtles have also been counted among the animals |
| meaning there has been little change in the species | | | | that are in danger of becoming extinct. This is |
| since their first appearance on earth! | | | | brought upon by the loss of their natural habitat; |
| Turtle ownership has become more and more popular | | | | whether by greedy poachers illegally removing them |
| over the years. Hence, it is now normal to have a pet | | | | from the wild or by developers encroaching on their |
| turtle passed from one generation of a family to the | | | | feral habitat. |
| next, so that, in some instances, the pet turtle can | | | | The crucial fact to be considered, therefore, is not |
| actually and amazingly outlive its original owners! | | | | determining the turtle's exact age, but in ensuring that it |
| Determining the correct age of a turtle may not be | | | | will actually experience and enjoy a long life. This is |
| definitive. For pet owners who have just acquired their | | | | where your task as a responsible pet owner comes in. |
| turtles, their pets' ages cannot be known for sure, | | | | With the proper nourishment and exercise, housing that |
| especially if they were just captured from the wild. | | | | comes as close to replicating the natural habitat of the |
| In the past, people have theorized that counting the | | | | turtle as possible, and protection from predators and |
| rings or lines on the turtle's shell is a way of | | | | improper handling, your pet turtle will be sure to live |
| determining its age. Unfortunately, this is not a reliable | | | | many years, and may even be inherited by the next |
| method. The turtle's shell may be damaged over | | | | generation in your family! |