How long turtles can live

Depending on the species of turtle, the nutritional requirements may vary. With those elements in place, your turtle can more easily thrive and live out its full potential lifespan—however many years that may be. How Long Do Turtles Live? Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: April 13, Other Turtle Species With Long Lifespans Other species of wild turtles and tortoises have even longer lifespans than pet turtles. Source: Genome Biology, , R28; Shaffer et al.

Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. As for domestic turtles, whether they live out the full extent of their natural lifespan depends largely on the type of care they receive. One reason turtles are believed to have such long lifespans is their slowness.

Turtles continue to grow very slowly throughout their lives. This prevents them from aging in the same way birds and mammals do. Thanks to their slow metabolisms, they can survive long periods without food or water, which also gives them a greater chance of survival in harsh conditions.

Another explanation is that the long lives of turtles and tortoises gives them an evolutionary advantage that aids in effective reproduction. Wild turtles tend to live in harsh environments that aren't always conducive to breeding. Perhaps their communication is considered as adequate as they have survived millions of years until today. What is the lifespan of a turtle? Written by Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok Dr. Also, turtles can live for a long period of time without any food or water due to this slow metabolism rate.

Turtles even have the ability to go into hibernation if the environment gets too rough. In the hibernation state, turtles can live for months underwater without any access to oxygen, food or water.

Their anaerobic metabolism helps them to process different biological functions at a different rate than other animals. You can improve the lifespan of your pet turtle by giving him proper care. The first thing you need to provide is the correct temperature range for your turtle. Every species has its own ideal temperature range. For most aquatic turtle species , the temperature of the water should range between 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit with a basking temperature of 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Your turtle also needs a dry basking place with a heat lamp and a UVB lamp. UVB is crucial for healthy turtle growth as it aids in metabolism.

The heat lamp keeps your turtle dry in the basking place. The last thing you need to pay attention to is the diet of the turtle. For additional protein, you can use mealworms, insects, shrimps, chickens etc. The diet also varies on what species of turtle you are keeping. You should only get a pet turtle if you can commit to it.