You have a small pet at home - a land turtle . It's not safe to leave her running around the house. Turtles love warmth, and if you have a cool apartment, it can catch a cold. Therefore, you need to urgently purchase a terrarium, where the land tortoise will feel comfortable.
Arrangement of a terrarium for land tortoises
The terrarium size for a land turtle measuring from 6 to 15 centimeters should be 60 centimeters in length, 40 in width, and a height of up to half a meter. For two or one large specimen, the dimensions increase almost twofold: a length of 100 to 120 centimeters, a width and a height of 50.
In order to know exactly what a terrarium should be, you can make a calculation based on 2-6 sizes of the turtle itself.
Shape and material for the terrarium
The terrarium for a land tortoise is a long box with openings for air access. It is better if the dwelling is made of impact-resistant plastic. Although as a building material suitable wood, plexiglass and glass.
When decorating a terrarium, it is important to remember that turtles do not see the glass barrier and can beat about it in search of an exit. Therefore, it is advisable to leave only that side of the transparent, from where you will get the turtle and feed it. To do this, glue the three sides of the turtle with simple colored paper or use a variety of decorative materials, but on the outside of the house.
Equipment for terrarium
You will need a lamp for heating, preferably 40-60 W, a UV lamp specially created for reptiles (10% UVB). To fill the bottom with ground, use large pebbles, wood chips and sawdust. Do not put stones in the terrarium of small size, the turtle can decide to taste them. The stone will be stuck in the esophagus, which will lead to its blockage. The animal should from something to eat, get a personal dish-feeder. In the terrarium there must be a house made of half a ceramic pot or a small house for rodents bought in a pet shop. And attach a thermometer - you will always be aware of the overall temperature so that a defenseless creation does not catch a cold.
Climate and ventilation of the terrarium
Holes for ventilation can be from the sides, from above and even from below the terrarium. But heating can not be done from below - it has a bad effect on the kidneys.
Incandescent lamp in the corner where the pet is warming and eating. A small house is set in a cool dark corner. If in a warm place the temperature reaches 32 degrees, then on the opposite side should be 25-28.
Where should there be a terrarium for a land tortoise?
Before you go choose a terrarium, decide on the place where it will later stand. If you are little familiar with the physiology of turtles and do not suspect if you have a baby at home or an adult, buy a turtle "to grow."
Note that turtles like to hide.
It is not recommended to place terrariums near electrical appliances: televisions and computers.
Quarantine maintenance of land tortoise
For temporary or quarantine maintenance of the pet, a plastic or cardboard box is suitable. But be sure to attach the UV lamp so that its lighting is enough for half the box. Fill the sawdust so that the bug can burrow into them. And most importantly - in a room where there will be a temporary dwelling, the temperature should be at least twenty-two degrees.