How to cut the claws of a turtle, do red-eared and land turtles need a haircut?

Having decided to get a turtle, you need to think about creating proper sanitary and hygienic conditions for your pet. Given that the claw plates of reptiles grow constantly, similar to human nails, they require appropriate care. Since it is impossible to create a habitat similar to natural in captivity, animals are deprived of the opportunity to grind down keratinized areas on their own. Owners of such living creatures should know whether it is worth cutting the claws of a turtle, and how to do it competently.

Which turtles need claw treatment

Semi-aquatic species and their terrestrial relatives are subjected to the procedure. Trimming the claws of the red-eared turtle is carried out only when absolutely necessary, when, due to the large length of the reptile, it is difficult to move on land. In this case, you should know the measure, observing the utmost caution. Claws play a huge role in the life of a turtle, they help to travel not only on land, but also in water. Excessive shearing can adversely affect the ability to swim.

Attention! Trimming the claw plates of turtles that lead an exclusively aquatic lifestyle is not recommended. Long claws make it easier to move them under water and cut food.

Processing process

The following items are used to trim the claws of both land and sea turtles:

• manicure file;
• pedicure tweezers, you can manicure.

You can buy a nail cutter at the pet store.

Visually, the claws of a reptile consist of two parts:

1. Dark – located near the base, it contains nerve endings and blood vessels. 2. Light – consists of keratinized claw plates.

It is the light part that is to be cut. The procedure must be performed with extreme care, trying not to damage the dark area, and not to provoke bleeding. If this nevertheless happened, the wound will need to be treated with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide. When cutting the claws, one should adhere to the “golden mean” so as not to harm the animal, and to facilitate its movement.

Claw plates are cut with tweezers in small pieces, trying not to overdo it. With the help of a nail file, they give a normal shape, eliminating the resulting irregularities.

If for some reason you can’t trim the turtle’s claws at home, you can use the services of a herpetologist veterinarian. An experienced specialist will perform high-quality processing of the claws, and, if necessary, the beak, will competently clean the shell, and if necessary, the plastron.

Video: the process of cutting the claws of a land turtle

What to do if the turtle’s claw is broken

The actions of the owner of the reptile depend on the depth of the break. If the dark area has not been damaged, it is enough to trim the claw and file it with a manicure file. If the vessels are damaged, causing bleeding, you will need to use human hemostatic drugs. It is impossible to file the claw plates in this situation!

If half of the claw is broken and bleeding, it is necessary to remove its broken part. It will be better when this procedure is performed by a veterinarian in the conditions of the blade. After stopping the bleeding, the wound is treated. To prevent re-breakage of the claws, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that can provoke injury.

Causes of excessive claw growth

There are two factors that contribute to the growth of the cornea in turtles:

• the use of soft, protein-rich foods by the reptile;
• in an aquaterrarium, the litter consists of sawdust, sand, or other soft components.

In order not to cut the keratinized plates too often, you need to take care of the comfortable living and rational nutrition of your pet. The turtle will need to organize a rocky bottom that allows you to grind your claws on your own.