Some animals are true desert creatures, others are found in humid zones, and still others live their entire life in water. When researching different species, you’ll notice they come from a variety of environments. Each species has specific needs, such as: However, improper care is much more likely to cause problems with captive turtles and tortoises. Genetics can play a role in turtle and tortoise longevity, since they can have cancer and other diseases that shorten their lifespan. However, even smaller turtles can live 15 to 25 years, and are considered a long-term commitment for pet parents. Larger species of turtles and tortoises usually outlive their smaller counterparts. What Makes Some Turtles Live Longer Than Others? In some species, the sex of the hatchling is determined by the temperature of the egg during incubation. Each female turtle may lay anywhere from 1 to 25 eggs, which take a couple of months to mature before hatching. In general, turtles and tortoises will lay at least one clutch of eggs per year, usually in the spring and early summer-although some species may have multiple clutches throughout the year. Most often, turtles and tortoises will be sexually mature by 10 years old. This can take anywhere from 2-7 years based on general care provided and quality of food. A common pet turtle, the red-eared slider, may not be sexually mature until the male’s shell reaches 4 inches and the female’s shell reaches 6-7 inches. All turtles will grow at different rates depending on their quality of care and availability of food. Sexual maturity typically depends on a turtle’s size and not as much their age. Horsfield’s (Russian) tortoise: 50-100 years Sulcata tortoise: 30-50 years commonly, up to 120 years Below are some commonly kept turtle and tortoise species and their approximate lifespans: Tortoises are more well-known for their longevity-with some estimated to live 100 to 150 years. It is important to research each species and work closely with a reptile veterinarian to meet their specific needs.Īquatic turtles will commonly live 20-30 years in captivity, but many can live much longer. Improper environment and nutrient-deficient diet often result in sick, debilitated turtles with extremely short lifespans. However, when kept as pets, turtles and tortoises are typically difficult to care for. In the wild, they must find their own food in addition to evading predators, and they lack routine veterinary care. Most turtles and tortoises should ideally live much longer in captivity than in the wild. In general, most turtle and tortoise species can live well into their 50s if provided appropriate care. Some species may only live 10 to 20 years in captivity, while others can live up to 150 years. The average lifespan of a turtle or tortoise is highly dependent on the species. But with this care and commitment, they can truly be lifelong companions. Keeping a turtle as a pet requires a considerable time commitment in order to provide appropriate care throughout their life. While the words turtle and tortoise are often used interchangeably, turtles most often refers to a species living on land and water, while tortoises live only on land.īoth turtles and tortoises are one of the longest-living species that can be kept as a pet. Turtles and tortoises are both part of the reptile group known as chelonians.
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