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Turtle, by definition includes any of a class of land, freshwater, and salt-water (marine) dwelling reptiles with a toothless, horny beak, a leathery body covering, and a bony shell into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn. Turtles, like the other reptiles covered in this section, are a very diversified group of animals and prospective owners should study up on the specific type of turtle that they wish to acquire.

Turtles can be found on every continent except Antarctica and the over 200 different species have habitats ranging from desert to the open sea.

Land and water dwelling species of turtles can be housed outdoors in warmer weather, provided they have access to a shaded area or a burrow. In addition, water turtles should be provided with a pool and a basking area.

The outdoor enclosure for turtles and tortoises (a class of turtle with massive, well-arched shells and stumpy clawed feet) should be about 5 foot by 8 foot and the bottom should be sunk a foot deep.

The flooring should be stone covered with sand or soil to prevent the turtle from burrowing out. The walls of a tortoise enclosure should be at least 30 inches high and bent inward to prevent escape. Make sure to move the outdoor enclosure periodically to provide "fresh pasture". Also be aware that any lawn chemicals or pesticides can be a problem for turtles and if they are to be used, the turtle should not be housed outside.

Since turtles are native almost everywhere, that means they have natural predators almost everywhere too. So if housing your turtle outside, you will need to keep a close eye on your pet to guard against death or injury from other animals.

Winter and indoor housing can be an aquarium for the smaller species or a polyurethaned wood enclosure for the larger ones. It should be I foot by I foot by 2 feet for turtles and 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet for tortoises.

The ambient temperature for turtles should be between 73 and 89 degrees. Because turtles are cold-blooded the environmental temperature will determine their body temperature, so an external heat source is required.

If a turtle is too cold, its bodily functions will slow down, its appetite will decrease or become non-existent, and it will be more susceptible to disease. Too high of temperatures may distress or even kill a turtle, so keep a thermometer in the enclosure to monitor temperature at all times.

Good heat sources are an infra-red heat lamp shining on one corner of the cage or a heating pad under (not in) one area of the cage.

In addition to heat sources, indoor-housed turtles should be exposed to a "Vita-lite" for at least 12 hours a day. A black light can be substituted for the "Vita-lite" for up to 30 minutes each day. For maximum effectiveness the light should be installed no more than 4 feet above the turtle and the bulb should be changed every 6 months.

Do not use glass or plastic shields on the light as they filter out some important ultra-violet rays. Turtles should also have 12 hours of darkness each day. Any other necessary cage accessories such as swimming pools, sand to burrow in, large basking rocks or logs, depend largely upon the turtles species. One last note on cages: all turtles (even water dwelling) should be provided with an area where they can dry off to prevent shell rot.

Feeding requirements vary from species to species and the following is meant as a general guide, but owners should research their particular turtle well to determine proper method and type of feeding.

Water turtles will feed only if they are in water. Adult water turtles are carnivorous (meat caters) and eat about once every other day, and young water turtles are omnivorous (meat and plant eaters) and eat once a day. Good foods for adults include Purina trout chow, dry fish flavored cat food, tropical fish food or commercial turtle food.

Occasionally items such as guppies, bait minnows, goldfish or earthworms can be offered. Young water turtles can be fed any of the adult foods mentioned plus seaweed, spinach, broccoli tops and leaves, mustard greens, grated carrots, and carrot tops. However, vegetables should make up no more than 25% of the young turtle's daily diet.

Terrapins (coastal marsh dwelling raffles that rarely stray from salt water) should be fed a commercial terrapin diet or fish, crustaceans, mollusks, or insects.

Tortoises eat mainly plants, but will occasionally snack on insects, carrion, or small rodents. The colors red, orange, yellow, and green seem to attract tortoises to their food, so good choices include native grasses, flowers, seeds, greens, bok choy, nappa cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, green peas and pods, com, string beans, dandelions, nasturtium flowers and leaves, squash, pumpkin, lettuce, berries, apples, pears, peaches, plums, whole wheat bread, sugar-free breakfast cereal, and soaked dry dog food. Make sure plenty of fresh water is available at all times.

Some turtles naturally hibernate and owners can help to put them into a hibernation stage. Do not hibernate water turtles or sick turtles. It is recommended that before hibernating a turtle, owners should seek advice from a qualified veterinarian and read up about the particular hibernation needs of their turtle species.

While turtles, like other "exotic" pets, do not require annual vaccinations, they do benefit from regular veterinary exanimations. An annual exam by a qualified veterinarian can help to identify disease processes that may not be visibly apparent and will give owners an idea of the overall health of their pet.

Signs to look out for that would require immediate medical attention include:

• Nasal discharge
• Swollen eyes
• Coughing or gasping
• Swellings
• Weight or appetite loss
• Lethargy
• Shell lesions
• Open-mouthed breathing
• A deformed or soft shell
• Loss of balance in water

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