Turtles are a very common animal, and many people have seen them or kept them as pets. We all know that turtles are long-lived animals and can withstand hunger. So how long can a turtle live without food or water? Let's take a look.
1. How long can a turtle live without food and water?
Turtles can survive for 1-2 months without food or water. They are very resilient to hunger, especially during hibernation, when they can go for months without eating. Although turtles are resistant to hunger, they should not be deprived of food for extended periods, as this can lead to fighting and tail biting among them.
II. How resilient are turtles to hunger?
Turtles' ability to withstand hunger varies with the seasons; the higher the temperature, the more they will eat. In summer, turtles may feel hungry after a few days without food, as their metabolism is more vigorous. During hibernation, turtles can go without food for 4-5 months, making them even more resistant to hunger.
Smaller turtles are more likely to die from prolonged hunger, while larger turtles can tolerate longer periods of hunger. Generally, small turtles may starve to death in ten days or so.
III. What are the signs of hunger in turtles?
When a turtle is hungry, it will stretch its neck out and crawl towards its owner. The hungrier it is, the faster it crawls. At this time, it will nibble on the tail and limbs of its companion. It will also frantically paddle in the aquarium , constantly searching for food at the bottom. When a turtle is extremely hungry, it will also gnaw on the milky-white pendants or white stones in its enclosure as food.
If you put food in the tank, the turtle will eat it all immediately, which means it is very hungry. If you put your finger in front of its mouth, it will think it is food and bite it immediately. When the turtle is hungry, try not to touch it with your hand to avoid being bitten.
IV. How to feed turtles?
When feeding turtles, choose suitable food , such as snail meat , small shrimp, small fish, wheat grains, and tender leaves. Food should be processed before feeding: meat should be chopped, shrimp heads removed, fish bones removed, and frozen food thawed and kept at the same temperature as the water.
The timing of feeding turtles is also important. Under normal circumstances, turtles only need to be fed 2-3 times a week. In autumn, they can be fed every few days, in summer they should be fed daily, and in winter they do not need to be fed if they are hibernating.
