Turtles may move slowly, but they’ve quietly captured the hearts of pet owners around the world. With their calm nature, ancient lineage, and surprisingly quirky habits, these shelled companions are far more fascinating than they first appear.
Some can recognise their owners, others have remarkable homing instincts, and many show off personalities that rival cats and dogs once you get to know them.
The information in this article is collected from online sources and is intended for general informational purposes only. It should not replace professional guidance.
1. Turtles Can Live For Decades
Your pet turtle might outlive your childhood dog and even stick around through your college years. Many common pet turtle species live between 20 to 40 years with proper care, while some can reach 50 years or more.
This longevity means adopting a turtle is a serious commitment that requires planning for the long haul. Families should consider who will care for the turtle as children grow up and move away. The extended lifespan also makes turtles wonderful companions that can share many life milestones with their owners.
2. They Recognize Their Owners
Contrary to popular belief, turtles aren’t mindless creatures that simply exist in their tanks. Research suggests these reptiles can recognize the people who feed them and may even swim toward familiar faces.
Some turtle owners report their pets becoming more active when they approach the tank, especially around feeding time. While they won’t wag their tails or purr, turtles show affection in their own subtle ways. This recognition ability demonstrates that turtles possess more cognitive function than many people assume, making the bond between turtle and owner surprisingly meaningful.
3. Turtles Need Both Water And Land
Most pet turtles are semi-aquatic, meaning they require access to both swimming areas and dry basking spots. Red-eared sliders and painted turtles, two popular pet species, need deep enough water to swim and submerge completely.
The basking area serves a critical purpose beyond just relaxation. Turtles climb onto dry platforms to regulate their body temperature and absorb ultraviolet light, which helps them produce vitamin D3 for healthy shell development. Without proper basking opportunities, pet turtles can develop serious health problems including soft shell syndrome and respiratory infections.
4. Their Shells Are Part Of Their Skeleton
A turtle cannot crawl out of its shell any more than you could step out of your ribcage. The shell is actually fused to the turtle’s spine and ribcage, forming a protective external skeleton.
Each section of the shell contains nerve endings, so turtles can feel when you touch their shells. The top portion is called the carapace, while the bottom is the plastron. As turtles grow, they don’t shed their shells but instead add new layers of keratin, similar to how your fingernails grow, creating growth rings on each shell segment.
5. Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers
While turtles move slowly on land, they transform into graceful athletes once submerged in water. Pet turtles like sliders can swim at speeds that would surprise most first-time owners, using their webbed feet as efficient paddles.
Their streamlined shells reduce water resistance, allowing them to glide smoothly through their aquatic environment. Watching a turtle swim reveals their true element, where they hunt for food, explore their territory, and display natural behaviours. This swimming ability is why providing adequate water depth in their habitat is so important for their physical and mental wellbeing.
6. They’re Omnivores With Changing Diets
Young turtles tend to eat more protein-rich foods like insects, worms, and small fish to fuel their rapid growth. As they mature, many species shift toward a more plant-based diet including leafy greens, aquatic plants, and vegetables.
This dietary transition surprises many turtle owners who expect their pet’s eating habits to remain constant. Providing variety is key to keeping your turtle healthy, as nutritional deficiencies can lead to shell deformities and other health issues. Commercial turtle pellets offer balanced nutrition but should be supplemented with fresh foods for optimal health.
7. Turtles Can Hold Their Breath For Hours
When resting or sleeping underwater, some turtle species can remain submerged for several hours without surfacing for air. This impressive ability comes from their slow metabolism and efficient oxygen use.
During winter months, certain turtles can even survive for months underwater in a state called brumation, similar to hibernation. They absorb small amounts of oxygen through specialized tissues in their throat and cloaca. However, active turtles need to surface more frequently to breathe. Watching your turtle periodically poke its nose above water is a normal and necessary behaviour for respiratory health.
8. Male And Female Turtles Look Different
Determining your turtle’s gender can be tricky when they’re young, but mature turtles display distinct physical differences. Males typically have longer, thicker tails and longer front claws than females, particularly noticeable in red-eared sliders.
The bottom shell also provides clues about gender. Males often have a slightly concave plastron that helps during mating, while females have flat or convex plastrons. Additionally, males are usually smaller than females of the same species and age. These differences become more pronounced as turtles reach sexual maturity, typically between two to five years old depending on the species.
9. They Need Ultraviolet Light To Stay Healthy
Without proper UVB lighting, pet turtles cannot synthesize vitamin D3, which is essential for calcium absorption and healthy shell growth. Indoor turtles miss out on natural sunlight, making artificial UVB bulbs necessary equipment.
These specialized bulbs should be positioned at the correct distance from the basking area and replaced every six to twelve months, as their UVB output diminishes over time even when they still produce visible light. Inadequate UVB exposure leads to metabolic bone disease, a painful condition causing soft shells and deformed growth. Proper lighting is just as important as food and clean water for turtle health.
