The conformation of the shell, the quality of the scutes, the color of the shell, and the texture of the skin and shell are all signs that allow me to guess the age of the animal. Denish says no. First, if breeding is going to be considered, it will allow you to know when the pet can be bred.
Second, it helps you to know what size that turtle will be when an adult. That helps you to make sure that you have an appropriately sized enclosure for that pet.
Finally, it helps in some species when you need to know the proper diet for a newborn, a juvenile, an adult, or a geriatric. To me, it is most important to research the species you are considering to make sure it is appropriate for you regarding temperament, size, care requirements, and costs. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: March 07, By David F. Yes, but make sure it is warm and the area has a fence so it won't wander off. Also, make sure there are no poisonous plants or other harmful weeds.
Not Helpful 22 Helpful It's almost impossible. You might want to ask a vet or check at the pet store or shelter you bought the turtle from to see if they have any records.
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A poor quality shell can make a turtle look older than it actually is. For example, a turtle that had poor nutrition for several years might develop a rough, bumpy shell, giving a false impression of its age.
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 2. The age of a turtle is hard to measure once they're over the age of 5. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Related wikiHows How to. How to. Expert Interview. About this article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: 4. Updated: October 21, Article Summary X To tell a turtle's age, start by counting the number of rings inside one of the scales on the turtle's shell.
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. Our adopters shelled family members, benefit greatly from accurate information!
More reader stories Hide reader stories. Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Teresa O'Donnell Jul 14, Tamara McCullough Jun 15, I don't see much information about turtles to share, so this was a great opportunity to share something for my turtle-loving members to enjoy.
Thomas Hunter Aug 10, The Eastern mud turtle is small, measuring only 3 - 4 inches in size. Eastern mud turtle characteristics include:. The Mississippi mud turtle shares many of the same characteristics of the Eastern mud turtle. They grow to a similar size and have similar coloring and features including size, color and shape of the shell. What differentiates the Mississippi mud turtle are two, light colored lines on either side of the turtle's head.
The lines extend from the tip of the head, back toward the shell before stopping. They may be thin or thick and can range in color from pale yellow to a deeper tan that is difficult to see.
The Striped mud turtle is one of the easiest of the species to recognize. It is generally smaller than the other mud turtles, rarely growing larger than 3 to 4 inches in size. While the overall coloring and shape of the shell of the striped mud turtle is similar to the others, it is distinguished by three, light colored stripes running vertically along its shell as well as a single stripe between its eyes.
The stripes may be yellow, tan or gold in color, and there may also be a coordinating stripe that rings the shell at the edge dividing the top and bottom. The yellow mud turtle has a similarly colored shell of dark, olive brown to the other mud turtles, as well as similar characteristics. It differs and is distinguished from the others by yellow coloring on its head, throat, and sides of neck.
This color may extend from the shell, along the sides of the neck and up under the chin, leaving the top of the head a darker color, or it may encompass the entire head. In some turtles, the yellow is less pronounced, appearing more as two thick stripes of color on the turtle's neck. The yellow mud turtle grows roughly 3 - 4 inches in size.
While the four sub-species of mud turtles each have their distinguishing characteristics, they are essentially the same in many ways. Mud turtles can live up to 50 years with proper diet and care. Turtles that are kept outdoors do hibernate in the winter, burrowing themselves deep into the mud to stay warm. The male mud turtle is generally larger than the female, with a larger head, legs, and tail. Generally, the rings only develop in times of proper feeding and scarcity of food.
In other words, the rings can form when the turtle was properly fed or seriously famished, not only during summer and winter.
In this method, we measure the size of the turtle to get a rough estimate of its age. Some turtles, especially in the wild, show some visual signs of aging. In wild, the carapace of older turtles is more worn and torn. The carapace can also have dents and chips.
While the plastron can be smooth, there can be scars on the head and legs. Such signs tell that a turtle has reached its matured age, which is approximately 10 to 20 years old. These signs are not prominent in captive bred turtles, as the shells of captive-bred turtles do not sustain injuries like wild turtles.
Also, some turtles start to get darker as their age increases. Giving too much priority on the condition of the shell to determine the age is not recommended.
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