Caspian Pond Turtle is also known as striped-neck terrapin. The numbers of wild Caspian turtle is decreasing day-by-day, unfortunately, their number started decreasing as a result of storks, vultures, and human interaction.
Plus, even they are fun to watch as a pet but turtles don’t like to be handled and petted. Before you adopt a Caspian pond turtle, you need to do your homework on what kind of foods and resources Caspian pond turtles need.
You may also want to know whether a Caspian pond turtle is a perfect fit for your home and family or not. Caspian pond turtles are one of the most common petted turtles in the US and Worldwide too. But the million-dollar question is – ” Do Caspian Turtle Makes Good Pet? “
So, In this article, we will learn all about the Caspian pond turtle –
Do Caspian Turtle Makes Good Pet?
Keeping them as a pet is fun and exciting, even they don’t like being handled. They are fast-growing animals and require plenty of space, if you can provide them a lot of space or you have plenty of space in your home – they can make a good pet.
Apart from space, they also need special care and attention, if you are a person who always tends to be busy all time then a Caspian pond turtle is not for you. Caspian Pond Turtles are definitely not the right breed for you to pet.
They can bite sometimes, so it’s better to keep them away from children. Plus they also require special food. However, they are highly adaptable and loves basking. They can easily feel stressed and frightened.
They always look for food as they are very active. If you want to keep a Caspian turtle healthy as well as happy, you may have to feed them with a variety of different foods. However, you can leave
them alone at home with other turtles without worrying.
Let’s know more about Caspian Pond Turtles
Caspian Turtle Native Habitat
As I told you, Caspian Ponds Turtler is very active and versatile and tends to make their home in freshwater and brackish water bodies of river or pond water. You can find these creatures in many different countries. For Example – these animals are widely distributed throughout Israel, Eastern Europe, Crete, Bulgaria, Sadi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and Cypress.
You can find numbers of Caspian turtles living in freshwater and brackish water bodies of river or pond water and permanent bodies of water but as soon as they find themselves in water shortage, you will find them in the dormant condition during the summer.
They feel forced to become dormant in areas where the water availability is temporary. Plus, Caspian pond turtles found in northern areas tend to hibernate during the winter.
Top 10 facts on Caspian Pond Turtles
- Caspian Turtles are highly active and adaptable.
- Caspian Pond Turtles have smooth and oval carapace.
- Their caprice can be found in tan, black, or olive.
- Caspian Turtles become Dormant in Summer.
- These Creatures tend to hibernate in winter.
- Caspian Turtles usually breed in early spring but sometimes you may also find them breeding in the autumn as well.
- They love and enjoy basking.
- Caspian Turtles are always hungry and alert.
- Caspian Pond Turtles are only available in limited numbers.
- Due to a few breeders in the United States, they still exist on this planet.
What Type of Environment Do Caspian Pond Turtles need?
Now, You may ask what type of environment you need to provide a Caspian turtle to keep them happy. Well, to keep an adult Caspian turtle in your home, you will have to provide them at least a 75-gallon tank. A commercial tub or koi pond would be even better if you can afford it.
What about keeping more than one Caspian pong turtle? – well, if you are planning to adopt more than one Caspian pond turtle and looking to keep them in a single tank then a 90-gallon tank is recommended for a pair of medium-sized Caspian pond turtles.
If you’re going to keep three or four turtles then you can easily add extra 40 gallons if available in the tank for each one. For three turtles, 140 gallons would be better and for four turtles, the 180-gallon tank would be better. 🙂
You don’t need to keep them on the gravels as they will only increase the cleaning hours. Gravels will usually trap too many uneaten foods and waster. It’s better to keep them in an aquarium without any bottom. Plus, your pal can also swallow gravels which is life-threatening. It’s better to avoid the bottom, especially gravels.
They love basking, so they need to provide them a dry surface that is specially designed for resting and basking like the commercial dock for turtles. I would recommend purchasing a Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit with Tank, Filter, and Heater
Why filter and Heater? Look, it’s very important to keep the water clean and fresh if you want to keep them healthy and happy as well as want to ensure their survival. A filter will maintain the freshness of the water by continuously flowing the water.
A Caspain turtle usually needs water temperature between 60-degree Fahrenheit to 82-degree Fahrenheit. Too hot temperatures can force them to become dormant and too much cold temperature can make them hibernate.
To avoid such things, you may need to the heater or UVB light with a good thermostat to provide a basking area with 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a water temperature between 60-degree Fahrenheit to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
You have to consider getting a reliable thermostat with the best heaters available to monitor these temperatures. Why don’t you check these Top 11 Heating Lamp and Top 10 best thermostat? You can easily choose your best one from these reliable options in an estimated budget.
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How To Take Care Of Pond Turtles
Caspian Pond Turtle Care Requirement.
As I told you for Caspian Pond Turtle Care you need to have a large-sized tank of at least 75 gallons with heaters and thermostats. Apart from these, you need to feed them a variety of different food to ensure their happiness and healthiness. You need to separate their basking area and resting areas they need different temperatures for each activity.
Plus, you need to avoid keeping them in unstable temperatures. You also need to be careful with your kids and turtle. They might bite if they feel frightened. You can leave them alone at the home but leaving them with kids is not recommended. You may also need to provide them with certain supplements to tackle any calcium deficiency.
Let’s know what they prefer to eat –
Pond Turtle Diet
What is an ideal Caspian pond turtle diet?
They are omnivores and tend to eat a variety of different foods. Caspian Pond Turtle usually eats amphibians, carrion, small invertebrates, aquatic insects, and aquatic plants in the wild. In captivity, you can feed them some commercial turtle pellets, meats, insects. roaches, fish, prawn. greens, shrimps, crayfish, crickets, minnows, and various terrestrial.
You may also need to provide them some supplements to tackle any calcium deficiency. You can use the cuttlebone as an additional calcium supplement. Feeding them with uneaten kitchen food can be life-threatening, so it’s better to avoid such things.
Caspian Pond Turtle Behavior
Caspian Pond Turtle tends to love and enjoy basking but they will prefer to dive into the water as soon as they feel frightened. You will find them always begging for more food. They tend to be active and hungry all the time but it doesn’t mean you need to feed them all the time. Avoid overfeeding your turtle.
Caspian Pond Turtle doesn’t appreciate being petted and doesn’t like being handled or held. They might bite you too. However, they are personable and will definitely recognize you as his caretaker or master.
You can leave them alone in the house without worrying too much but leaving them with kids will be a disastrous idea, it is not recommended. They love basking, so they require a special room for basking and resting.
Caspian Turtles Overall Features & Description
Caspian Pond Turtles have a smooth and oval carapace that can be found in tan, black, or olive. Caspian Turtles usually become Dormant in Summer and tend to hibernate in winter. They usually breed in early spring but sometimes you may also find them breeding in the autumn as well.
Apart from their smooth and oval carapace, their body is also marked with a yellow or cream-colored lines. Caspian turtle’s nesting usually takes place in June and July and can lay up to 4 to 6 eggs on average.
Their hatched carapaces are usually 33 mm long, round in shape, and are brighter than adult Caspian pond turtles. At this stage, you will find them being a carnivore but they tend to shift to being omnivores as soon as they become adults.
They make their home in freshwater bodies and can be found in many different countries. They don’t like being handled or held by someone and also tends to bite if they feel frightened.
What Is An Ideal Caspian Pond Tank Size?
Well, to keep an adult Caspian turtle in your home, you will have to provide them at least a 75-gallon tank. If you are looking to pet more than one Caspian pond turtle, you need to add 40 gallons more if available in the tank to keep them healthy and comfortable.
How Long Do Caspian Pond Turtles Live?
Caspian Pond Turtles can live up to 40 to 50 years but in captivity, it’s totally on the care, they are getting. With proper care, they can live up to 40 to 50 years but on average, it has been that they live up to 35 to 40 years.
Caspian Pond Turtle Baby
Usually, a Caspian pond turtle can lay up to 4 to 6 eggs on average. The Caspian Pond Turtle Baby features 33 mm long length, round in shape, and tends to be brighter than adult Caspian pond turtles. At this stage, you will find them being a carnivore but they tend to shift to being omnivores as soon as they become adults.
Conclusion
So, keeping a Caspian pond turtle as a pet requires a good amount of money and a lot of space in your home. They do make good pets but they also don’t appreciate being petted or handled.
You have to provide them a variety of different food to keep them happy and active. You can’t provide the same diet for more than three days, otherwise, they will stop taking interest in eating.
You may also want them away from kids as they tend to bite when they feel threatened or frightened. You can leave them alone at home without worrying too much.
They exist only in limited numbers. Thanks to a few breeders of the united states. Due to their effort and love for turtles, they still exist in our world. As per my point of view, I would have only considered a Caspian pond turtle as a pet if I would have enough space left in my home.
They require a variety of different foods and resources. If you have space and some extra thousands of dollars to spend, you can take a Caspian pond turtle into your consideration.
So, what do you think? Do they make good pets? I want to know what you think about them. Do let me know about the pros and cons of having a Caspian turtle as a pet in the comment section. I would love to add that to this article.
Thanks for reading this article, I hope you will find this article helpful. Do check our other posts too. Thanks again, have a great day or good night maybe? well, what was the time when you were reading this.
94% of pet owners say their animal pal makes them smile more than once a day. In 2007, I realized that I was made for saving Animals. My father is a Vet, and I think every pet deserves one. I started this blog, “InPetCare”, in 2019 with my father to enlighten a wider audience.
