Turtles are not arthropods. Even irregular turtles are not considered to be arthropods. Turtles are reptiles. Furthermore, they are classified as being reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the super order Chelonia) characterized by a special bony orcaartilaginous shell that is developed from their ribs and acts as a type of shield.

The order Testudines includes both extant (still living) and extinct (species that are no longer living) species. The earliest known turtles date back some 200 million years ago, which makes them one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes and even crocodiles.

Turtles, different from some reptiles are ectotherms (cold blooded) which means that their internal temperature varies according to their ambient environment

The word arthropod refers to animals that are invertebrates and have an exoskeleton. (External skeleton). These creatures also possess a segmented body, and jointed appendages. They are members of the Phylum Arthropoda (derived from Greek origin for “joint” and “foot” which together means “jointed feet”).

Arthropods include insects, arachnids such as the spider and crustaceans. Arthropods are required to molt in order for them to grow properly. They are also one of the only two animals groups that can live successfully in very dry environments.

As you can see, turtles and arthropods are very different from each other.

Turtles in general are not blind. However, of course that is not to say that there are not some turtles that are born blind or have become blind. Most of the time, one can tell if a turtle is blind or not if their eyes are shut all of the time. It seems to be unknown whether or not a turtle can be blind and still have its eyes open.

Turtles can become blind for a number of reasons. One reason is a deficiency in Vitamin A. Another reason could be that they were attacked but survived from a predator, or something of the like.

It is also quite common for turtles to suffer from two distinct eye problems. The first is swollen eyelids and the second is a bacterial eye infection.

Swollen eyes effectively render the turtle blind, which in turn makes it quite difficult for these little guys to feed themselves. As a result of this, they are at risk of starvation. Bacterial eye infections are developed on their own or together with swollen eyes and because the bacteria can move quickly and easily from the eye to the nasal passage, if left untreated an eye infection can quickly lead to a potentially fatal respiratory tract infection.

There are certain ways an individual can tell if their turtle is suffering from either of these problems. Some common symptoms found in turtles suffering from a swollen eye or eyes include:

• Swollen or puffy eyelids that seem larger than normal
• Reddening of the conjunctiva and orbital glands (the glands that secrete tears)
• The eyelids have become so swollen that the turtle can no longer open its eyes.
• Weeping (excess production of tears)
• Accumulation of detritus (dead cells) around the eye(s)
• Blockage of the nostrils. A sign of this may be that your turtle is having trouble locating food.
• Loss of appetite. Is no longer eating at all.
• Weight loss.

The following symptoms can occur on their own or in association with swollen eyes. Eye infections can also be linked to a respiratory tract infection. In any case symptoms may include:

• Watery eyes
• Puffy or swollen eyes
• Reddening of the conjunctiva and/or surrounding tissues
• The turtle exhibits frequent rubbing or scratching of its eyes
• Wheezing
• Loss of proper balance when swimming
• Excessive amounts of fluid being secreted from the mouth and/or nose.

Any turtle that is suffering from any of the above symptoms needs to be examined by a veterinarian immediately to confirm diagnosis and treat the problems. The veterinarian in this case will often examine the Harderian glands for signs of swelling. If this is found it is usually a good indication that there is a problem with Vitamin A deficiency, which is usually caused by poor diet. If this is the case, the veterinarian will usually give the turtle an immediate injection of Vitamin A in order to help stabilize the condition and then will provide you, the pet owner with advice on how you can improve their diet so that they will recover and you can keep this from happening again.

Sometimes turtles may get a bacterial infection or respiratory infection in their eyes from sand being trapped in their eye, or from being wounded. Veterinarians that are familiar with reptiles usually have no problem recognizing this and will consider the options during your turtle’s check up. Bacterial infections of the turtle’s eye can be confirmed by the vet by sampling some of the mucous around the eyes by using a swab. Once the precise infection is properly diagnosed, the vet will then usually prescribe suitable antibiotics such as administering an intramuscular injection.

If your turtle seems to be blind in one eye or is suffering from asymmetrical swelling of the eye (meaning that only one eye is swollen and the other is not) this usually indicates that it was caused by some kind of physical damage. Due to this damage, sometimes a secondary infection behind the eye has been known to cause the eye to bulge out. This type of infection required proper antibiotics and it is for this reason that a veterinarian should be consulted immediately. If left untreated, the infection will usually spread and can cause frequent blindness as well as result in the death of Mr. Turtle.

Owners who use chlorinated water in tanks may want to consider that this could be the reasoning behind your turtle’s eye troubles. Chlorinated water has often been found to irritate the eyes of many aquatic turtles which cause them to try wiping their eyes and usually results in scratching the types. All new water added to the tank should have the chlorine removed using a dechlorinator. These are often found sold in pet stores as many are often used inside fish tanks.

To prevent eye infections, swelling and blindness from occurring within your pet turtle it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to feed your turtle the proper diet and make sure that he or she is getting enough Vitamin A in their diet. It is also very important to make sure that they are kept in a clean tank that is free from lots of debris, etc. as these kinds of things can get caught in their eyes and cause an infection. Keeping objects that are very pointed (such as logs, etc.) or can cause great damage to the turtle’s eye if bumped on out of the tank is also never a bad idea.

Never keep a turtle in a tank with other creatures that may prey upon the turtle, this could make injuries to the eyes more likely as they may get into a scrap or have to try and defend themselves against a predator. Make sure that you do not keep the water in your turtle’s tank chlorinated or that if you do there is not too much chlorine. If it seems to irritate your turtle’s eyes, get rid of the water by dechlorinating it as mentioned in the process above.

Turtles, different from some reptiles are ectotherms (cold blooded) which means that their internal temperature varies according to their ambient environment. In other words, they are hot when their environment is hot and cold when their environment is cold. In hot environments, cold blooded animals such as the turtle have blood that is much warmer than warm blooded animals. Cold blooded animals are also much more active in warm environments and are very sluggish in cold environments. This is due to the fact that their muscle activity is dependent upon chemical reactions that run quickly when they are hot and slowly when they are cold. Cold blooded creatures can convert much more of its food into body mass compared to warm blooded creatures.

Many warm blooded animals sweat or pant to lose heat by water evaporation and can cool off by moving into a shaded area or getting wet, cold blooded animals such as the turtle often like to bask in the sun to warm up and increase their metabolism. Some may also prefer heat lamps when kept in captivity.

Cold blooded animals require much less energy to survive than warm blooded animals do. Mammals and birds (warm blooded creatures) require much more food and energy than do cold blooded animals of the same weight. This is because in warm blooded animals, heat loss from their bodies is proportional to the surface area of their bodies, while the heat created by their bodies is proportional to the surface area of their bodies; the heat created by their bodies is proportional to their mass.

Furthermore, the ratio of a body’s surface area to its mass is less the larger the animal is. What this means is that larger, warm blooded animals are able to generate more heat than they lose and more easily able to keep their body temperatures stable. This in turn also makes it easier for them to stay warmer by being larger. This also means that if a warm blooded animal is too small it will lose its heat faster than it can produce it. Since cold blooded animals like the turtle do not need to burn as much food to maintain a constant body temperature, they are more energy efficient and can survive longer periods of time without food than warm blooded creatures can. Many cold blooded creatures will try to keep their body temperatures as low as possible when food is scarce.

Cold blooded creatures also have the advantage of being less prone to infections than warm blooded animals. This lies in the fact that being a warm blooded body provides a warm environment for viruses, bacteria and parasites to reside. As a general rule, mammals and birds since they are warm blooded, are usually prone to more problems with infections and such than reptiles, whose constantly changing body temperature make life more difficult for bacteria, etc. to survive in. However turtles are known to carry diseases and suffer from infections quite commonly, so they could be one of the exceptions to this rule.

Mammals when compared to cold blooded animals still typically have a stronger immune system than cold blooded animals such as the turtle. A reptile’s immune system is more efficient when the animal is warmer, however since bacteria are known to most likely grow slower in lower temperatures, reptiles will sometimes lower their body temperatures when they have an infection.

Some people have mistaken turtles and clams to be related because they share a few similar traits, such as having a shell. However, just because they have this in common does not make them related. Turtles and clams are two completely different creatures. Peanuts have shells too, but that doesn’t make them anymore related to a turtle than you or I.

Turtles are classified as being reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the super order Chelonia) characterized by a special bony orcaartilaginous shell that is developed from their ribs and acts as a type of shield.

The order Testudines includes both extant (still living) and extinct (species that are no longer living) species. The earliest known turtles date back some 200 million years ago, which makes them one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes and even crocodiles.

Turtles, different from some reptiles are ectotherms (cold blooded) which means that their internal temperature varies according to their ambient environment. Some species of turtles have been known to have noticeably higher body temperatures than the water they are surrounded by due to their high metabolic rates. Turtles are amniotes (includes reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals). This means that they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater. However, many species are known to live in or around water.

Now as far as clams go, the word “clam” can actually be applied to freshwater mussels as well as other freshwater bivalves and some marine bivalves. In the United States the general term covers all bivalve mollusks but can also be used in a more limited sense that refers to bivalves that burrow in sediment as opposed to those bivalves that attach themselves to substrate (such as mussels and oysters). The term has also been used to describe ones that can swim and/or are migratory creatures (such as scallops). In the United Kingdom, the word “clam” is one of the common names of various species of marine bivalve mollusks. However it is not generally used to cover edible clams that burrow.

Clams are equipped with “clam shells”. These shells resemble a hinged container that consists of two equal halves that lock together. When clams feel threatened they “clam up” and withdraw back into their shell. These creatures also have open circulatory systems which mean that their organs are surrounded by watery blood that contains oxygen and nutrients. There are over 15,000 different species of clams worldwide and they come in a variety of different sizes and colors. (Shades of brown, red-brown, yellow, cream, etc.)

These creatures burrow under the sea floor and their shells protect their soft bodies. Most clams are typically only a few inches long. The clam’s head is located within its shell and is rudimentary, without eyes or antennae. Water containing oxygen and food particles can be found entering through the clam’s incurrent siphon (two tubes that project from the end opposite of the foot and may be united in a single structure referred to as the “neck”). Waste containing water is expelled through an excurrent siphon.

Clams usually have separate sexes and when they reproduce their eggs and sperm are deposited into the water, where the fertilized egg then develops into a free swimming larva without a shell that may not reach its adult form until several months later.

As one can easily see, turtles and clams are not related and are very different from one another in a number of various ways.

Generally turtles are absolutely not deaf! In fact, this could not be further from the truth! Turtles have an external eardrum known as a tympanum. This tympanum allows them to hear high frequency airborne sounds. Their tympanum is not homologous with the tympanum of mammals because it is developed independently in all three groups. The tympanum of turtles is supported by a deep quadrate emargination, and the stapes of turtles is slender in order for it to be able to vibrate quickly to transmit sounds from the tympanum to the middle ear.

A turtle’s ears can be seen as small ear holes located on the sides of their heads. In the past, and sometimes still today, people have assumed that turtles were or are deaf. This presumption may have most likely arisen from the fact that turtle’s ears are not a highly visible thing and they do not physically stick out from the sides of their heads, as is the case with most animals.

However, even though these creatures do not have visible external ears, they can still hear. They may not hear as acutely as humans; however they do still have the necessary auditory nerve and corresponding brain center that is required for them to feel and decipher surrounding vibrations. Sound waves are gathered via these small external holes found on the sides of the turtle’s head. Once they reach the middle ear (as described above and mentioned earlier), these middle ears help them to increase the volume of the sound waves.

The anatomical makeup of turtles is quite interesting. The reason that their ears are said to be located inside of their heads is so that they are more aero-dynamic whenever they are in the water. As a result, this allows them to detect sounds and vibrations in their surroundings. The way a turtle responds to a sound can often be based on the way they sense the vibrations surrounding them.

It is true that although many people view turtles as being iconic or “good luck charms” that many species are still becoming extinct. There are many reasons for this extinction.

Sea turtles are becoming extinct at higher rates because seagulls often make them a meal when they are born. These turtles have also been known to try eating plastic that they find and sometimes this results in them choking to death. Some get stuck in nets and drown.

Many other species are becoming extinct as a result from us humans. Turtles are killed all the time and their skin is found being used to make leather for handbags and shoes. Their meat is used to make food and put into soups. Their shells are often used to pattern plastic.

Our building habits have become quite a problem for turtles as well as we are using too many lights now near the sea. For instance, if there is a hotel nearby, the lights will confuse turtles when they hatch. This is because when turtles hatch they have an instinct that tells them to follow the moon’s light, however if the artificial light from the hotel confuses the turtle into thinking that it is the moon, the turtle will follow the wrong light and could possibly run into a predator, get hurt, or get ran over if there is a road nearby.

Many turtles are caught by fishermen as bycatch on accident. Often when this happens the fishermen will kill the turtle for no good reason and then throw it back out to sea, along with other innocent creatures that they have accidentally fished up or caught in a net.

Famous rituals in Brazil say that if you eat the meat of a turtle that you will become immortal. This is causing the extinction of many turtles here.

Whether a turtle are a “sign of good luck” or not really just depends upon the culture, religion or the individual. However it is said in many cultures that turtles are a sign of good luck. They are believed by many to have power over all kinds of bad magic and also symbolize the primal mother and Mother Earth. In addition they have also been said to symbolize longevity and one’s hope and wish for a long life. They are supposedly a link between heaven and earth which made them a natural for use in divination. A few cultures and religions stray away from this train of thought and view the turtle as being bad luck or evil.

Some cultures view the turtle as an ancient symbol that represents order, creation, endurance, strength, stability, longevity, fertility, and a gentle innocence, these creatures are said to offer protection, good fortune and have the power to bring forth happiness and good omens.

The turtle is one of four of the Chinese sacred animals (the other three of the four being the dragon, the phoenix, and the unicorn). The turtle is a creature of two elements; land and sea, as such these creatures reflect an ability to adapt and flourish in many different environments. In Asian myth, the turtle represents universal order and is thought to have created the universe from its body: its shell is symbolic of the heavens while its body is symbolic of the earth and its under shell is said to represent the underworld.

In American Indian cultures, turtles are said to represent the wisdom of the ancient ones and are often highly respected for their strength and individuality. Those who bear the symbol of the turtle can carry the responsibility of caring for, protecting and nurturing others. These creatures are also considered to be the oldest, most sacred symbol of the Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee people who believed that North America was created on the back of the turtle. To this day, most indigenous people still often refer to North America as “Turtle Island”.

In the Hindu religion, turtles are considered to be the second carnation of the powerful God Vishnu. Legends go on to say that after a great flood, which occurs every four billion years and dissolves the earth, the God Vishnu transforms himself into a great Turtle. The turtle carries a vessel on his back, in which the Gods and demons mix the elements necessary to re-create the globe. After a thousand years, when the earth has been reborn, the great Turtle remains in place, and on his back now stands a large elephant that supports the planet. Turtles have also been said to be symbols of immortality and are considered temporary dwelling places for souls that are making their way through a series of lives that are on the path to Nirvana.

In the West, early Christians did not like turtles at all and even went as far to view them as symbolizing evil forces during war. In Greece, turtles were once believed to be the citizens of hell.

There have been Japanese fairytales that tell of a man who goes by the name of Urashima. This man was said to protect a turtle from some boys who were bothering it. As a reward, Urashima (the man) is taken by the turtle to meet the King of the Ocean, where he then gets to marry the King’s beautiful water sprite daughter.

In places like Nigeria, the turtle is a symbol of the female sex organs and represents sexuality.

In any case it is plain to see that the majority of cultures and religions view turtles as a good thing, so in order for individuals to avoid some bad karma it might be best to try and keep turtle’s out of harm’s way. Whether or not you personally want to believe that they are good luck, or anything else for that matter is really up to you. You are able to form your own opinion on the matter.

Whether or not a turtle is a carnivore, a herbivore, or an omnivore really depends on the particular species. For instance, tortoises are almost always exclusively herbivores. Their diets usually consist 100% of plant origin. Most aquatic turtles are carnivores. (However this still depends on the species of aquatic turtle) and requires a diet that contains anywhere from 65 to 90% meat. The remaining 10 to 35% is vegetable based. Semi aquatic turtles are usually mostly omnivores and their nutritional requirements are usually best met with a diet that is 50% meat and 50% vegetable. Depending on the species these percentages may vary.

Since a turtle’s diet depends on its species it is important to know what kind of species your turtle is and then adjust its diet based off of this. It is also essential that you know what your turtle’s individual nutrional needs are so that they can be properly met. This can be done by learning what your turtle’s normal diet would consist of in the wild, and then by tailoring it to more closely similate a diet in captivity that is closer to that of their natural diet.

For turtles that require a herbivore diet mixed green leaf vegetables should be fed 90% of the time and more. A few things that one can incorporate into this diet include:

• Dandelions
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Clover leaves
• Parsley
• Carrot tops
• Lettuce
• Coarse mixed grasses
• Flower heads
• Natural fodder plants

They should also eat fruit and vegetables for a percentage of 10% or less. The following can be incorporated into a herbivore diet to meet this requirements:

• Tomato
• Mango
• Cauliflower
• Apple
• Pineapple
• Melon (red, orange and white)
• Pear
• Red and green sweet peppers
• Zucchini
• Cucumber

Furthermore, fruit should be used sparingly, because over consumption can lead to high levels of sugar building up in the gut (intestintes) and result in illness.

For a turtle with a carnivorous diet, the following requirements should be met, Meat component (65-95%) and can include the following:

• Live feeder fish
• Frozen pinkie mice
• Snails
• Mollusks
• Earthworms
• Rehydrated cat food
• Dried commercial trout pellets
• Small quantity of low-fat canned dog food (less than 5% of total intake)

Incorporating vegetables into this diet is dependant upon the species and is approximately 35% or less depending on the species) The following can be used:

• Romaine lettuce
• Clover
• Grated carrot
• Small quantity of fruit or other items listed in the herbivore diet

A turtle with an omnivorous diet should meet requirements with vegetable and fruit components meeting 50% intake. The following can be fed to a turtle that is an omnivore:

• Strawberries
• Various berries
• Grated carrot
• Dandelion greens
• Romaine lettuce
• Red lettuce
• Flower heads
• Cauliflower
• Plums
• Small quantities of green cabbage
• Small quantities of kale leaf
• Sow thistle
• Beets
• Wax beans
• Green beans
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Okra
• Green peas
• Rose
• Dandelion
• Pansies
• Lilies
• Carnations
• Hibiscus
• Pumpkin
• Kiwi
• Banana
• Figs

The meat component should also meet a 50% intake requirement and can include the following food sources:

• Live crickets
• Small land snails
• Slugs
• Rehydrated dried cat pellets
• Trout pellets
• Low-fat canned dog food (less than 5% of total intake)
• Shrimp
• Silkworms

Avoid using raw meats due to the danger of contamination, as well as fatty meats like hamburgers.

Each of these diets should always consist of fresh food and supplemented with a good vitamin-calcium supplement approved for use in turtles and/or tortoises. Clean, fresh water and a stress free environment are also critical to ensure proper feeding habits and adequate consumption. Different species of turtles and tortoises will demonstrate different preferences for certain foods. However, the habit of rotating and varying their diet as much as possible is key to avoid monotony and unbalanced nutrition within their diets.

The natural habitat of each species of turtles is what helps determine its diet as well as other facets of its care. Map turtles prefer to eat only meat, while river cooters prefer plant based sources of food. Box turtles hould eat lots of plants with only a small amount of meat, while the American box turtle is an omnivore that consumes just about anything. The red eared slider starts its life off by feasting upon worms and then later turns into an omnivore as it matures.

One of the best ways to ensure that your turtle stays healthy and happy is to feed it its natural diet as much as possible. Turtles in their natural habitat are used to eating a wide variety of things and the food sources depend upon the season, as well as its availability. Variety is the key to feeding your turtle and ensuring the best health.

Minerals such as Vitamin D3, phosphorous, and calcium are very important as well when it comes to the health of your turtle. While turtles usually get enough phosphourous since most of the food that they consume contains it, it is their calcium that you really need to pay close attention to. Crushed oyster shells, or eggshells that are boiled and crushed, plaster block as well as cuttlebone are all great sources of calcium for your turtle.

However it should be noted that merely providing enough calcium is not sufficient. Dietary calcium cannot be utilized properly if vitamin D3 is absent. This vitamin is produced within the turtle’s body if it is exposed to direct sunlight or any good reptile light. Or, they can be given the vitamin in their diet by using a supplement.

Certain foods can also block calcium from being absorbed because they contain high amounts of oxalic acid, thus care must be taken so that you do not allow your turtle to eat too many of these. Although, being natural vermifues, they can be somewhat beneficial. Certain foods like cabbage have what is known as goitrogens, and these can cause deficiency in iodine if too much of them are given to your turtle. Feeding your turtle with cuttlebone can usually help overcome this problem, since it contains traces of iodine.

Going easy on the protein when it comes to feeding your turtle is also a crucial step in properly caring for your turtle. This is because too much protein in a turtle’s diet can cause stress on the kidneys and it is though to cause deformities such as pyramiding in the turtle’s shell. Therefore, it is advised to not feed your turtle foods that are high in protein such as dog food, cat food, or meats that humans eat. When protein is fed sparingly along with a healthy, varied diet, it does not necessarily cause any harm to the turtle, but it should never be fed as a staple within a turtle’s diet. In fact, it is recommended to feed your turtle as wide a variety of food as possible, without overusing any single type of food. Also note, that plants provide protein, so getting enough protein into a turtle’s diet is not really that difficult, and this should be monitored closely so that they do not consume too much protein.

Now that you know what types of food your turtle should eat, it is also important to know what your turtle should not eat Here are a list of foods that turtles should not eat:

• Milk products (milk, cheese, etc.)- They cannot be digested by reptiles because they lack the enzymes required for breaking down lactose.
• Processed and/or canned foods-These are usually high in preservatives and salt, and the effects it could have on the turtle are still not fully known. It is advisable not to feed your turtle these foods, however if you must feed them this type of food for whatever reason, it should always be fed in limited amounts and on rare occasions.
• Some plants-Even though turtles have been known sometimes to eat poisonous plants in their natural habits, the specifics of this feeding habit are not particularly well known so to be on the safe side it is recommended that poisonous plants such as avocado plants, rhubarb plants, and poison ivy all be kept far away from the turtle and never used in their diet for any reason.

It is important to know what kind of turtle you own, and what they should and should not be eating. Feeding a turtle the wrong kinds of food can make it sick or even result in death if one is not careful.