CARE OF CAPTIVE ANIMALS — WALKER 359 



TURTLES, TORTOISES, AND TERRAPINS (TESTUDINATA) 



The baby turtles often sold with gaudily painted shells never develop properly, 

 as the paint stunts their growth and eventually kills them. The paint may 

 be removed by swabbing with turpentine or alcohol, but these fluids should 

 not be allowed to come in contact with the young turtle's skin. 



LEATHERBACK TURTLES (Dermochelidae). Feed flsh. They must have 

 fair-sized tanks of salt water of about 85° to 95° Fahrenheit. In the wild state, 

 they come out of the water only to lay their eggs, so will not need any area 

 above the water unless the females are to be encouraged to lay their eggs in 

 the sand. They may be kept for a limited time in fresh water, but where 

 so kept they usually succumb within a short time. See formula on page 330 for 

 making salt water. Water should be changed sufficiently often to keep the 

 tank from becoming cloudy, but need not be changed as often as for some other 

 animals. 



If whitish films develop around the eyes, it is ordinarily a fungus growth 

 and is usually fatal. Sometimes this condition can be controlled by the following 

 methods : 



Add enough potassium permanganate to the water to give a slight tinge of 

 color. The animals should be placed in this for 3 days, then in plain salt water 

 for 1 day, changing again to the permanganate bath for 3 days, next remaining 

 for 9 days in clean salt water, again 3 days in the permanganate water, then 

 finally remaining in salt water. This latter method is used in some aquaria to 

 kill various invertebrates as well as fungi. 



Another method is to add about 1 ounce of tincture of iodine to each 10 

 gallons of water in the tank. 



Chlorine in the proportion of % to 2 parts per million of water will also 

 kill fungi. Care should be exercised not to make the solution so strong as to 

 injure the turtles or flsh. 



SNAPPING TURTLES and ALLIGATOR SNAPPERS (Chelydridae). Feed 

 fish or meat. Provide with sufficient water in which to swim, and earth, sand, 

 or rocks on which they can rest when out of the water. 



MUSK or MUD TURTLES (Kinosternidae). Feed fish and meat. They 

 should have water in which to swim and some ground, rocks, or other space 

 above the water on which to rest. 



LARGE-HEADED CHINESE TURTLE (Platysternidae). Will eat meat, 

 snails, worms, and fish. Usually lives in mountain streams. Nocturnal. 



BOX TURTLES, LAND TORTOISES, and many FRESH-WATER TURTLES 

 (Testudinidae). The land forms need plant food such as lettuce, kale, bananas, 

 melons, prickly pear cactus, mushrooms, tomatoes, and occasionally a little fish 

 or ground beef and soft bread. The aquatic types should be fed fish, meat, 

 insects, shrimp, some green vegetation, fruit, and bread. Provide sufficient 

 water in which to swim, and space to roam about out of the water. Some 

 of the dry-land forms do not swim, and will drown in water. If one is not 

 certain of the swimming or water requirements of this group, it is well to 

 provide the cage with a tank with sloping edges so that the animal can readily 

 climb out of water. The dry-land forms enjoy soaking in shallow water, as 

 they may obtain their water in this manner rather than through drinking. 



SNAKE-NECKED TURTLES (Pelomedusidae). Fish, meat, and insects should 

 be offered; also occasionally lettuce, bananas, and bread, until one is certain 

 the individuals he has will or will not take it. Since they are semiaquatic, 

 they should have water in which to swim ; also a fair amount of area outside 



