REA D EVERY WOR D IF YO U DO NOT WANT YOUR

TURTLE TO DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR FAULT

CARE SHEET CONTENTS:- [5 pages ]

* Minimum required goods/items list for turtle caring.
* Turtle keeping information. INDIAN FLAPSHELL TURTLE
* Turtle ideal indoor habitat picture.
* Turtle sexing , sex determination. Lissemys punctata , Fr es h water
* Turtle mating information. SOFTSHELL t u r t l e
* Important websites for turtle help.
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
* Turtle keeping is not easy as you think, it needs lots of
time , vigilance,working and dedication. If you can not
aquatic turtles
provide proper habitat and temperature then your turtle
WILL SURE DIE SOONER OR LATER BECAUSE OF SOME
DISEASE , STRESS due to IMPROPER CARE.
* Turtle gets easily under stress reducing their lifespan.
* Please take them seriously if you dont want your pet to die.
* Everything written in this care sheet should be followed.
* Turtles and Tortoises are not SAME..
* If you found HEALTHY turtle from anywhere in WILD /
outdoors PLEASE DO NOT BRING IT HOME, LEAVE IT BACK TO
PLACE YOU FOUND , WILD TURTLES LIVE LESS YEARS WHEN
REMOVED FROM WILD BECAUSE OF STRESS, if its injured give it
veterinary doctor care and release back to same place.
* IF you are found in possession of ANY WILD turtle species
then you will be jailed because they are protected species under
INDIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT 1972 SCHEDULE I PART 2,
3.4.5.8.9.10.11.12.13.

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS HANDLI NG TURTLES

care sheet
Indian f l a p s h e l l f r e s h w a t e r s o f t s h e l l
Because all turtles are potential carriers of infectious PURE aquatic turtles can be found in or
diseases, such as Salmonella, always wash your hands near water. Most aquatic turtles will
before and after handling your turtle.
leave the water to bask on dry land, but
Owl and Eagles can eat turtles. Cats , Dogs are no harm. spend most of their time in the water.
Pregnant women, children under the age of 5 and people
with weakened immune systems. Turtles facts:
average adult size: 5 to 30+ inches long,
Do not wash turtles. average life span: 20-40+ years with proper care,
depending on species
Do not take them out of water unnecessarily like for playing.
Diet: juvenile - carnivore; adult - omnivore
REQUIRED IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR
YOUR TURTLE Temperature 25 to31 celcius, not below 25
because then turtle wont be able to process food, New
born clutches/hatchlings at 28-31c for their proper growth.
… appropriately sized habitat
… Knowledge about aquatic turtles IF temperature goes below 25 then feed very less. -
… commercial aquatic turtle food
* Heat Source Will reach adult size in 1-2 years, depending on ideal
* Water tank heater conditions; upgrade habitat size as your turtle grows
* UVB lighting if Indoors IMPORTANT
… calcium supplement or LIVE fishes IMPORTANT Note: The information on this C are S heet is not a
… Thermometer for temperature measurements. IMPORTANT substitute for veterinar y care . If you need additional in -
… Spirulina food IMPORTANT formation , please refer to the sources on the follow ing
page or contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

PETCO - Reptile2 BIFOLD OUTSIDE.indd 1 2/27/12 3:03 PM

 Developed with and approved by a q ualifi fie
ed vet-
care sheet
INDIAN FLAPSHELL TURTLE
L i s s e m y s pu n c t a t a , Fr es h w a ter erina ria ns , gr a duated s tu d e n ts and pr o fe s si o nal
SOFTSHELL turtle tu r t l e keeper ss..and turtle breeding centers.

• Sprinkle food with calcium sup-

plement daily and a multi-vitamin
• Te mperature
Diet supplement once or twice a Habitat
week. VERY IMPOR TAN T
* use Proper water filters inside tank
maintenance
* Quantity of food - give a MAXIMUM 31 celcius ANY-
if you are keeping it in indoors. • Thoroughly clean the
chunk of size of turtle head. * If you cant calcium then feed
WHERE for the warm end/ habitat at least once
live fishes in water. basking area/ water and a week: place turtle
• live comet gold sh, earth- NOT LESS THAN 25°celcius in a secure habitat; scrub
worms, mealworms, * Feed them fresh water plants, ANYWHERE for the cool end/ the tank and furnishings ;
bloodworms, snails and fresh water fish (live), fresh water water/outside; recommend rinse thoroughly with water.
crickets. shrimp (frozen) n algae with
radiant heat or ceramic heater • After replacing water add clean,
mixture of spirulina powder n
• dark, leafy green veggies as primary heat source. use an dechlorinated water, with same
ocassionally cockroaches... Dont
and nely chopped veggies. feed them daily coz I give them
incandescent light if indoor tank. temperature range of water as
also bene t from comet or ceramic heater as primary before changing
some time to digest the food n water.
gold sh, earthworms and clean their bowels heat source if keeping indoor.
insects as treats. * RECOMMENDED IDEAL
Grooming
• These aquatic turtles HOUSING TEMPERATURE IS 28CELCIUS
& hygiene
need a pelleted com- • Water tank Size - appropriate size • Lighting - IF INDOORS
mercial diet. habitat, at least a 40 gallon breeder Keep the habitat clean and
UVB rays with
• These turtles needs tank with a screened lid so the turtle remove uneaten food and fe-
full spectrum lighting
Spirulina diet for shell can’t escape. A good rule of thumb is ces right away.
growth 10 gallons per inch of turtle; adult
turtles will require more room. for 10-12 hours a day is
* can give boil rice and
fishes. • Haa bitat - aquatic turtles drink the
required. Incandescent Signs of a
water they swim in, so it needs to be lighting is needed for healthy animal
Feeding changed frequently. basking area.
• Subbstrate - slate, rock, or a large • House adult aquatic • Active and alert
• Fresh, clean, chlorine-free water smooth gravel, too large to eat, is turtles alone and do not • Eats regularly
should be available at all times. optional; water for swimming area; house different turtle
some aquatic turtles require • Healthy, hard shell with
species together
• Feed small one daily, Feed adults a shallow area they can rest in the no lesions
every two days and less in water with their head sticking out.
winter if temperature is low i.e. require a turtle dock area to bask out of NORMAL • Clear, bright eyes with
under 25Celcius. Turtle need to the water. Other turtles require dry land BEHAVIOUR no swelling
be fed in water to eat. areas outside of the water.
• Turtles do not like frequent • Healthy skin with no
* Water plants - some non poisonous
• Add very small amount of plants are also required in water tank handling and may bite when sores
Sea salt in water tank for stopping * Create slope for turtle to come in and frightened. • Clear nose and vent
infection. Two teaspoons for 300 out of water when required.
liters. * Live fishes in water. • Aquatic turtles are excellent
* Basking is very important for any turtle swimmers.

*
Red flags / illness symptoms Common health issues

• eye, nose, or mouth • abnormal feces Health Issue Symptoms or Causes Suggested Action
discharge
• sneezing, runny nose GI tract poor appetite, listless- consult your exotic ani-
parasites ness, possibly diarrhea mal veterinarian as
• discolored, bumps or
soon as possible.
spots on shell or skin and anal prolapse.
respiratory open mouth breathing, consult your exotic
infection eye nose and/or mouth dis- animal veterinarian
• lethargic charge; sneezing. can be and ensure habitat is
caused by a cold habitat. appropriately warm.
• frantic swimming
shell rot/ulcers discolored or foul smelling consult your exotic an-
patches or pits on the shell that imal veterinarian and
can become infected. may be ensure daily cleanings
caused by an unclean habitat or and/or diet changes.
If you notice a ny of these signs , please contac t your improper diet.
exotic animal veterinarian. eye or swollen eyes and sides of consult your exotic
respiratory head; may be caused by a animal veterinarian
infection vitamin A de ciency. and use a vitamin
supplement.

PETCO - Reptile2 BIFOLD INSIDE.indd 1 2/17/12 2:49 PM

INDIAN FLAPSHELL Lissemys punctata
TURTLE IDEAL INDOOR HABITAT

Continued. .........
 INDIAN FLAPSHELL Lissemys punctata
TURTLE SEXING SEX DETERMINATION
It is very hard to determine sex of baby turtles , for exact sex determination the turtle should be atleast one or two year old.

Pictured below are a pair of adult Indian flapshells. The male is on the left while the female is on the right. Note that the tail is visible from underneath the cloacal tissue
flap in the male while it is not visible in the female. Also note the smaller frame on the male as well as it’s thinner appearance (this is more noticeable in the picture below).

MALE FEMALE

In the picture below, the male is now on the right. Note his more elongated appearance as compared to the ovoid female on the left. Also note the curve in his shell just
above his tail. It has a bit of flare which the females are lacking.

FEMALE MALE
In the pictures below, note the large thick tail in the male on the left and the short stubby tail in the female on the right. Also note the flap which covers the top of the
longer tail in the male on the left.

Again in below images, the male is pictured on the left and the female is on the right. Note the differences in the tail lengths. Also note the lack of a flap covering
over the male’s tail underneath to allow easier access for breeding. The female in comparison has a protective flap.

TURTLE MATING INFORMATION

Breeding period months - May to August.
Gestation period of Female - 4 to 8 weeks after mating , depends on temperature too.
Incubation period for Eggs - 60-70 days.

IMPORTANT WEBLINKS FOR TURTLES

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/
http://www.turtleforum.com/
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/index.html Thanks to Akshay, turtlerescueleague,
http://www.turtletimes.com/ wetwebmedia, austinturtlepage,turtleforum and
http://www.turtles.net/index.php petco.com.
http://www.reptilescanada.com/forum.php (Compiled by [email protected] )
http://www.petforums.co.uk/turtles-tortoises/
http://www.happyturtlespub.org/smf/
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/firsaid.htm
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://turtlerescueleague.com/index.html
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2007/february/Cousquer/