How many years do land turtles live at home and in the wild

Land turtles in nature live from 30 to 250 years. Their life expectancy depends on the specific species. The main parameter of longevity is their size: large reptiles live up to a quarter of a millennium, and Central Asian ones only up to 40-50 years. Home keeping of animals often leads to a reduction in the life of a pet by almost 2 times.

Centenarians

The life expectancy of a land tortoise is great. Such centenarians are known:

• elephant named Harrietta (175 years old);
• Galapagos giant male Jonathan (180 years old);
• Madagascar radiant Tui Malila, (192 years old);
• Seychellois Advaita (150-250 years).

There is information from zoos, which notes that some individuals of box species reached their centenary. Spurs can live up to 115 years, Balkans – up to 90-120 years, representatives of elephants celebrated their 150th anniversary in captivity.

Cayman in the wild also live an average of at least a century and a half, and Seychelles and up to two and a half hundred years.

The registered maximum age of large land turtles is 250 years, not 300, as Ranevskaya sings to us in the image of Tortilla in the film about Pinocchio. And the larger the reptile, the longer it can live, provided that nothing happens that violates the usual way of life.

How many years does the Central Asian land tortoise live

This species is most common in Russia and the countries of the former CIS. It is not difficult to meet the owner of this pet, since the reptile is not demanding to care, calm, easily tamed, and not aggressive.

The average life expectancy of the Central Asian tortoise in the wild is defined as 30-40 years. But in the records found in the monasteries of Jerusalem, contemporaries read about some individuals who were 100 and even 120 years old.

The longest-lived among the Central Asians is Marion, who has crossed the 152-year mark. This fact is documented.

At home, land turtles live 15-20, less often 30 years. This is also a long time when compared with cats, rabbits and hamsters.

Important! Given the fact of the longevity of these reptiles, you need to compare your capabilities before getting an exotic pet. It is not recommended to engage in these mature people who are not sure that they will live another 30 years, and in the event of their death, someone will gladly take on the responsibility of caring for the animal.

Video: tips on how to live the Central Asian tortoise to 40 years

Lifespan of domesticated tortoises

Today, many animal lovers keep other types of turtles, in addition to the Central Asian ones. According to statistics, they can live in captivity:

With proper care and optimally close to natural content, a pet can delight its owners with its presence much longer. An important role is played by the food base of the animal, temperature, humidity and the absence of stressful situations.

What is needed to increase life expectancy

In order for the life span of a pet to be as long as possible, it should be properly maintained. For this, the following rules must be observed:

1. The reptile’s terrarium should be at least 3 times the size of the animal.
2. The diet of the reptile should be varied, with the use of mineral supplements and vitamins.
3. The air temperature should not be below 26 degrees and above 33.
4. For comfort, pet tortoises require shelter: an inverted plastic container or a box with a cut-out for entry.
5. Increases the life of a pet at home using an ultraviolet lamp.
6. Maintaining cleanliness in the terrarium is the key to the health and longevity of the reptile.
7. Food and drink should always be fresh and clean.
8. Bathe your pet at least once a week. But do not use hard brushes and shampoos. Enough water and a soft sponge.
9. In the terrarium, it is recommended to install a shallow pool with water of 20-24 degrees. The animal should easily get out of it to land, and when diving, the head should remain outside.

What to Avoid When Keeping

Despite the seeming indifference to everything that surrounds it, the turtle can experience severe stress. If Central Asian land tortoises live in captivity, they are sensitive to the attitude of their owners. Loud house sounds, rude cries disrupt the usual calm environment and can lead the animal to a nervous breakdown. Therefore, the following postulates should be taken as a rule:

1. Be careful in handling the reptile, do not drop the animal and do not frighten with sharp sounds. If children are playing with the pet, adults should supervise the process.
2. If you notice anything strange in the behavior or appearance of the reptile, do not delay the examination by the veterinarian. Refusal to eat, a change in the shape of the shell, lethargy, the appearance of tumors and ulcers are serious signs of the disease.
3. When buying new armored reptiles, quarantine them for a month. At this time, the future neighbor must live separately.
4. Do not keep reptiles of different species in the same terrarium.
5. If the reptile escaped from the aquarium and cannot be found, place a bowl of water and your pet’s favorite food in the room. Turtles have good eyesight and react quickly to treats and water.
6. Remember that the depth of the reservoir should allow the animal to easily stick its head out and keep it on the surface.
7. Install two thermometers in the aquarium: one for water, the other for air.

Puberty

Experts say that the sexual maturity of reptiles depends on their habitat. If the animal lives in the wild, then the female becomes capable of laying eggs at 10-15 years. Males mature much earlier – at 5-6 years old they can also fertilize the chosen one.

Important! Land tortoises should not be forced to disrupt the life cycle and produce offspring ahead of that time, as is inherent in them by nature.

Some reptile breeders claim that their pets themselves began to express their readiness to reproduce offspring at 4-5 years old. In fact, this cannot be allowed. It just affects the wrong content of the animal.

After all, judging by human standards, a reptile (female) at 4 years old still has an early teenage period, comparable to 10-12 years of a girl. Like a child, a reptile can be fertilized and even lay eggs. Another question is how this will affect the health of the turtle itself and its offspring.

Therefore, experts categorically prohibit keeping young females under 10 years old together with males.

Since the average life expectancy of a reptile is 30-40 years, after 25 years, the Central Asian land tortoise becomes old. But some females are still able to lay eggs.

But at this age, for a reptile to give birth to offspring is a very serious burden on the body. Therefore, this must be prevented. It is best to limit the contact of older females and males who have reached the age of twenty.

In order for pets to live in captivity for a long time, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of their proper maintenance.