What Do Turtles Eat ?

What do turtles eat? Well, that really depends on the type of turtle you are asking about. Most turtles are carnivorous when they are young, but grow in to omnivores when they mature. Some feed mostly on plants while others, like the snapping turtle, actively hunt small creatures for their food. A turtle's diet depends on what kind of turtle it is, where it lives and what it has access to.If you have an adult turtle as a pet, here are some of the foods you can feed it to keep it healthy:Protein: There are many sources of protein that are safe to feed turtles: small amounts of cooked fish, turkey or chicken are okay; boiled eggs are okay; mealworms, waxworms, earthworms and silkworms are okay; slugs are fine, as are shrimp, snails and crickets. Don't give them raw meat, though because it can contain a lot of fat and could become contaminated by the time the turtle decides to eat it.Vegetables: leafy vegetables are best: grape and fig leaves, red clover, carrot tops, dandelions, lettuce (red and green are okay), turnip greens, water lettuce, duckweed, collards, endive and plantain weed are all okay. Regular vegetables like corn, green beans, beets, carrots, okra, green peas and some squash varieties are also okay.Flowers: some turtles love flowers! Roses, pansies, petunias, lilies, carnations, hibiscus, hyssop, borage, nasturtium and geraniums are all okay as turtle food.Fruit: some turtles also like fruit: kiwi, apple, mango, strawberry, cantaloupe, blackberries, bananas, grapes, tomatoes, blueberries and some citrus fruits are all a fine to feed a turtle.Of course, there are some foods that should never be given to a turtle:Turtles cannot digest milk or dairy products because their stomachs do not carry the enzymes needed for the breaking down of lactose. Feeding dairy products to your turtle is a good way to make sure it gets very sick.It is also a bad idea to feed any sort of canned or processed food to your turtle. These usually have large amounts of salt and preservatives and people don't yet know what these ingredients will do to the digestive system of a turtle.What do turtles eat from their natural habitats? Some turtles have been known to eat poisonous plants that are a part of their natural habitat—they do this as a way to make themselves inedible by predators. Unfortunately, especially in the case of pet turtles, you won't know exactly what kind of plants are a part of its native habitat, so it is best to keep poisonous plants (like poison ivy, rhubarb plants and avocado plants) out of their reach and out of their tanks.What do turtles eat? The turtle's diet depends on what kind of a turtle it is and how old it is. While they are babies, turtles are almost completely carnivorous, though they change into omnivores or even herbivores when they get older (depending on the turtle species). If you are buying a pet turtle from a store, the pet store will likely have food you can feed it.

By: Steven Magill

Aquarium Fish Tank

Aquarium Fish Tank Location Choose an area in your home where you can best enjoy the beauty and serenity of your new Fish tank. Avoid placing your fish tank near windows, heating and cooling ducts. Direct sunlight and temperature changes can negatively affect your aquarium. Overexposure to sunlight can lead to rapid algae growth in and on your fish tank, plants and decorations. Rapid temperature variations are harmful to fish. It is also recommended to avoid areas of high household traffic to prevent accidental contact with your set-up. A conveniently located, grounded electrical receptacle is important for heater, canopy and filtration components. Under no circumstances should any household electrical appliances be placed under or in close proximity to your

By: Aleks Kos

Aquarium Fish Tank

There are many different ways you can set up an aquarium depending on what you would like to keep and what interests you most in the hobby. Accordingly hobbyists tend to put names on the different types of aquariums that can be set up because they have similar general requirements depending on the classification of tank. Saltwater Or Freshwater Aquarium ?In general, for your first complete aquarium, you should probably choose freshwater fish-tank for several reasons.Saltwater fish may be colorful and interesting but maintaining a saltwater tank can be very difficult.Reef tanks are more of a science than a hobby.So, if you are a beginning fish owner, you really may want to think twice about starting out with a saltwater tank.For beginners, freshwater varieties are usually best since they're less expensive and easier to keep alive than saltwater fish.It may take many months for you to become experienced with maintaining a saltwater tank, but, if you’re prepared for a steep learning curve, you may prefer to start with a saltwater fish tank.For a saltwater tank, You will probably use live rock, which is also fairly costly, as a biological filter in the tank, as this makes setting up a saltwater tank easier. Live rock is directly taken from a coral reef with organisms still on or inside the rock. These organisms, such as algae, sponges, worms and urchins are an important part of the nitrogen cycle that allows for waste to be processed into a less toxic form.If you do use live rock as a filtration system, you will also need to buy a protein skimmer. A protein skimmer is used to remove organic waste from a saltwater tank before it breaks down in the water.Setting up a lighting system for a saltwater tank is also more expensive than setting up one for a freshwater fish tank. Poor lighting can cause these live organisms in your saltwater tank to die.Many corals feed using a system called photosynthesis, and the proper lighting is necessary to generate energy and good health. Generally speaking freshwater fish are a lot easier to keep so if this is your first fish aquarium.Dimensions Fish tank surface area is important. This will contribute to providing superior oxygenation and facilitate the creation of an attractive aquatic theme. Height also needs to be considered. Marine and fresh water environments can benefit from taller aquariums, which can provide superior conditions for certain species of fish and plants.Weight Remember that even a modest fish tank of 90cm (3ft) in length, when filled with substrate, rocks and water, can weigh as much as 125kg (275lb). So we may have to dispense with the idea of using the old card table, or a chipboard sideboard, unless we can devise some way of strengthening it with angle iron. What is infinitely better is to purchase or construct a purpose made stand or cabinet which is reinforced with angle iron, or stout wooden supports.The Right Size The size of fish tank is often limited to the space available. In general, select the largest size of aquarium that space, location and budget will allow. This will provide many benefits, such as a more stable aquatic environment, greater choice of fish and plants and an enhanced aesthetic value.

By: Aleks Kos

Breeding Discus Fish

The Discus has been referred to as "The King of the Aquarium", and though keeping and breeding them is certainly still a challenge for the inexperienced, the later can be very rewarding indeed. It is very common that after you have successfully raised Discus Fish for some time, that you would decide to extend your Discus care to breeding these beautiful fish. So let's start with the tank: The most important factor in discus breeding in the water quality, make sure it is soft, acidic and clean. It is recommended that you have a bare bottom tank as it is easier to clean. In the breeding tank itself, you may either have one or two potted plants or just leave them out. Remember that breeding Discus Fish should be kept at 88 degrees to aid the breeding process. It is very important to change the water in your Discus Aquarium Fish tank on a regular basis. In a display tank, I recommend around once or twice a week, but for breeding tanks you should up that rate from twice a week to anything up to once a day for the best results when breeding Discus Fish. Some foods that are good for breeding Discus Fish are white worm, adult brine shrimp and chopped up crab sticks or prawns. Now for the breeding: Sexing Discus Fish can be difficult so start with a number of potential parents but bear in mind that Discus Fish tend to become a bit territorial when breeding, so it is best to breed a well-established pair, or keep a group of young Discus and allow them to pair themselves. The breeding pair will usually clean a vertical spawning site on which the eggs are then laid and fertilised. A breeding pair will lay eggs as often as every week, as many as fifteen times and once the babies are born, breeders can observe one of the most unique traits of this fish: the young feed off the mucus produced on the scales of their parents in particular the secretions of the mother Discus Fish. Therefore it is critical not to separate the mother from her small fry. Finally, through selective breeding a wide variety of body shapes, colors, and patterns can be produced and although Discus Fish may not interact with you like your four-legged friends, they can give you many hours of pleasure and entertainment.
By: Liz Linkwell