Turtles can eat tomatoes and many enjoy doing so. However it is important to never feed your turtle too much of one type of food, even tomatoes. Tomatoes should not be given to your turtle more than once a week and it is even better to feed them to your turtle even less than this. It is recommended that rarely feeding your turtle tomatoes is best.

The reason that turtles should not eat tomatoes too often is because it can make them ill and cause a number of health problems. The excess sugar and acid in the tomato can cause the turtle’s stomach to bloat painfully and can also cause diarrhea and make the turtle’s stomach more hospitable for parasites to thrive in.

Since tomatoes are technically a fruit, they are pretty high in sugar content and acidity. Mediterranean species of turtles such as Hermmans in nature would rarely have access to fruit and because of this their digestive tracts are not developed to deal with these amounts of sugar. This can result in an imbalance of their normal intestinal flora. It is recommended that fruit such as tomatoes only be given to them sparingly or not at all.

There is no need to get upset about your turtle not being able to eat a lot of tomatoes, there are plenty of other accessible and inexpensive things such as vegetables, pellets, and small fish that are healthy for your turtle, if not healthier!

It is true that if a turtle gets stuck on its back, there is the possibility of it dying. In fact, male turtles sometimes fall backwards after copulation and if they are unable to right themselves they can die of starvation.

A turtle’s ability to right itself after falling onto its back also depends upon the particular species. For instance,, the flat shelled turtle that lives in freshwater have long, muscular necks which make it easier for them to flip themselves back over if they happen to accidently get flipped onto their backs.

However for other species of turtles and tortoises, righting themselves can be a task if they have been flipped onto their back. Tortoises and turtles that live on land have much shorter legs and necks which makes it harder for them to get off of their backs. It has been said that early explorers and sailors even used to take giant land turtles with them on long journeys across the oceans as a source of fresh meat, and they would keep the creature upside down so that they weren’t able to wander off of the ship and/or get away.

Some turtles are fortunate enough to have been made equipped with shells that will automatically right themselves if they are flipped over. The very tall domed shells of the star tortoise for instance have a natural tendency to roll back into an upright position. This is also due to the mono-static shape which effectively means that there is one position that they are most stable in. That position being right side up.

For other turtles whose shells are flatter, they have two stable positions on their front and on their back which means that the possibility of getting stuck on their backs is more likely. Even worse are the turtle’s whose shells have even more stable points. Having these stable points makes them more likely to flip onto their backs as well as onto their sides and get stuck halfway through when trying to roll back onto their fronts.

Young turtles that get stuck on their backs in direct sunlight can overheat and die in a very short matter of time. It can even happen in minutes! If a turtle accidently flips onto its back while underwater there is the possibility of it drowning, starving to death or becoming stranded in cold waters and dying from the freezing temperatures.

Turtles can eat bananas. In the wild, turtles love to munch on anything they can find; often they will feast upon things such as insects, fish, bananas, and strawberries in nature. However something important to keep in mind is that turtles should never have too much of one type of food, and should only be given fruit on rare occasions if not at all.

Fruit has a high amount of sugar, which could be harmful to the turtle if fed too frequently. The sugar content and acid, etc. in fruits can cause a turtle’s stomach to bloat up and cause pain, as well as diarrhea and a number of other health problems.

Some pet owners have found that only feeding their turtles bananas on rare occasions is the best method and that mixing it with a varied diet helps. Experts have suggested that bananas every now and then for a turtle can be a healthy choice.

Turtles can and do enjoy eating lettuce. Most turtles are omnivorous creatures which means that they will eat just about anything. However some of their favorite things to eat include leafy green vegetables such as lettuce. They also love to eat small fish and insects. However this does not mean that you should feed your turtle anything that you want. Table scraps are never acceptable for a turtle, and these creatures also require a healthy and balanced diet.

Some pet owners have found that adding a variety to their turtle’s diet ensures the best health and also helps the turtle not get sick of what it’s eating. Among the better commercial foods for aquatic and semi aquatic turtles are Tetra Reptomin floating turtle sticks. Some pet owners have found that getting creative and mixing them with other fish foods, bits of meat, and vegetables such as lettuce can help since the floating sticks by themselves are a bit expensive.

It is perfectly fine for your turtle to eat lettuce; however something to keep in mind is that turtles are generally quite messy when they eat. Because of this owners should try their best to keep water clean and free of debris. Lettuce when left uneaten can easily make a tank dirty in a matter of minutes. Another thing to watch out for are small decomposing amounts of flesh as they can get trapped under rocks and logs and contaminate your turtle’s environment. Lettuce can be sticky when it gets soggy and is also easily trapped underneath rocks. This is why it is important to keep an eye on your turtle when feeding it such things and to remove any uneaten portions from the tank immediately.

If you ever notice your turtle seeming lethargic or appearing to have cloudy skin patches or milky eyes this is a good indication that your turtle may have very poor nutrition or could even have a disease. If this is the case a veterinarian who knows a lot about reptiles should be consulted as soon as possible to determine whether or not the turtle’s diet is a cause or if there are other factors involved.

It is important that you keep a close watch on your turtle’s diet, and if you own more than one turtle, make sure they both get to eat equal amounts of food. Turtles are generally messy when they eat, so make sure to keep the water clean and free of debris, as small decomposing particles of flesh can get trapped under rocks and logs and contaminate your turtle’s environment.

Try adding a little variety to your turtle’s diet. They love vegetation such as lettuce, other leafy vegetables, cabbage, berries, alfalfa and cloves.

Although turtles are omnivorous creatures they are better off not eating things such as bread. This is because turtles lack certain enzymes needed to breakdown foods such as bread and things that contain dairy. This could be harmful to them. Some people have reported that their turtle has eaten bread when handed it. If a turtle is domesticated and you are feeding it, chances are that it will probably eat anything you throw its way. However this doesn’t mean that you should feed it foods such as bread. A lot of human foods are processed and packed with preservatives, spices, and other things that can be very harmful to a turtle. Instead you should try to feed your turtle a diet that is high in vitamins, nutrients, and calcium to ensure that they are healthy and maintaining a well-balanced diet. Turtles love to feast upon things such as leafy vegetables, meat, small fish, dehydrated shrimp, etc.

Turtles do not breathe underwater in the sense of what we call breathing. That is, they do not take in oxygen through inhalation and exhalation. Rather, they absorb or take in oxygen through means other than just by their lungs.

Turtles have a set of lungs that it can breathe with. As its activity increases so does its demand for air. The turtle, depending on the species can hold its breath underwater for a long time. Most species can hold their breath anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. How long the turtle can hold its breath is also in direct proportion to how active it is and if it is able to find pockets of air. These pockets of air can be found in small caves and/or under ice.

According to some studies that have been done, turtles were found to virtually not be breathing at all. Instead they would take in air by a different area of the body other than the means of the lungs. It was once thought that turtles did breathe underwater because movement of the water was seen around the turtle’s mouth. However later studies showed that the air was actually absorbed through gill like structures in the beck in some turtles and in through the skin at the throat on others. Water movement was also found near the turtle’s anal area where there was also absorption of air through two sacs. These sacs are similar to the throat in that they have tiny capillary blood vessels that are equipped to absorb the oxygen needed from the water.

Some turtles are able to hibernate for up to four months without breathing or eating while underwater. In addition to the absorption of air through both ends of its body, the turtle’s system slows down. Because these creatures are cold blooded, their body temperatures are comparable to the environment around it. When the temperature drops, the turtle cools down. The turtle’s heart can slow to as little as 5 to 10 beats per minute. The creature’s need for oxygen and/or food is diminished. Cold water not only lowers the turtle’s body temperature, it also retains more oxygen that the turtle will absorb. Turtles are no different from other living organisms in that they need oxygen to perform natural bodily functions. They are also able to go without air for short periods of time.

Turtles are still in need of oxygen when they are underwater hibernating. In fact, two things can still cause a turtle to die. One being the lack of oxygen due to a stagnant body of water. The second being the body of water freezing solid. Turtles often fare better in a pond or river that has a constant flow of water regardless of the temperature to bring in a fresh supply of oxygen. If the water freezes, the turtle will literally freeze to death.

Keeping turtles and fish in the same tank is possible, but only if a few conditions are met. One of the most important things to consider is that turtles often eat fish. If you intend to ensure that your turtle and fish get along and that your turtle does not mistake the fish for food, it is important to consider the size of the fish and the type of fish. For instance, you probably wouldn’t want to put guppies or goldfish in with a turtle because they are smaller and they also generate too much waste to the water. It is also a good idea to avoid the Oscar fish because instead of your turtle eating the fish, they will most likely end up getting injured from the oscar’s bite. Most pet owners that have fish and turtles in the same tank opt for certain types of catfish, giant Gourani, or cichlids that are not overly aggressive.

If you are planning on housing fish and turtles together another important thing to consider is space. Turtles can grow up to very large sizes and it is quite common for them to reach at least a foot in length. Keeping this in mind, it’s never a bad idea to have a tank setup that is at least 80 gallons of water with the length of the tank measuring in at least 5 feet.

Another thing that is required within a turtle fish tank is a complete filtration system that can handle a large amount of waste generation. External power filters work great especially if you have a fairly large fish. Not providing your turtle and fish with a filtration system will lead to murky and smelly water. It’s also ideal to include an aeration system that is generated by air pump so that your turtle can reside within an oxygen rich environment.

Something else to consider is that turtles require dry land in order to rest, bask, and relax. Therefore your tank should have a part filled with sand or large rocks that are higher than water level. Getting a turtle ramp is also ideal as it has a suction cup that just attaches right to the side of the aquarium wall surface. Many people who try to keep fish and turtles together in the same tank do not realize that turtles need to be able to escape from the water every now and then. If they are unable to do so, you will end up coming home to a dead turtle that has died from exhaustion.

Turtles are not poisonous in the sense of delivering poison to a victim as they lack teeth or fangs that would enable them to do so. They do not use venom for protection or predation as some reptiles such as the snake do. However there have been many reports of people becoming ill after eating turtles. Many have been known to carry diseases such as salmonella. While others such as the American Box turtle have been known to poison a human after being consumed. Interestingly enough, it is said that the poison at work is apparently from mushrooms that are harmful to humans, but have no effect on the turtles that eat them.

There have even been more serious cases where people have died from eating poisonous turtle meat. One such case involved the death of six and more than 90 others becoming seriously ill after attending a feast of critically endangered hawksbill turtle located on the remote Pacific island of Murilo. Four of the six among the dead were children.

An emergency response team from the Department of Health of the Federated States of Micronesia and the World Health Organization concluded that the deaths were caused by chelonitoxism. Chelonitoxism is a form of poisoning from the flesh of turtles. According to the nation’s health authorities there is no known antidote or medicine that can specifically treat chelonitoxism and children are more susceptible to the effects of the poison.

In any case, the best option may be to not eat turtles.

Turtles are known to shed. Shedding on a healthy turtle is nothing to be concerned with, however if it is thick or dark in color than you should consult a vet immediately. Another time that a veterinarian should be consulted is if the skin seems red or irritated. This may indicate that there is a problem.

As they grow, turtles will shed their skin in order to fit in their shell. The biggest problems that often occur in turtles shedding improperly often are caused from poor lighting or temperature within their tanks. In order to have healthy skin and shells, turtles need certain types of lighting and need to be warm. Air and water that are not warm enough can lead to fungal infections. Turtles must also have a basking area where they can get out of the water, dry off and bask in very warm light. The ambient air temperature in the tank should be around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) The basking area should be even warmer than that.

Over the turtle’s basking area there should be some sort of lamp that will take a 40-60 watt incandescent bulb. The basking area should be kept at 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit (29-32 degrees Celsius). Using a thermometer can help ensure the correct temperatures. You can also adjust the temperature by raising or lowering the light fixture. The basking area should be set up in one end of the tank so that the entire tank does not become too warm.

Equipping your turtle’s tank with an additional light that produces UVB rays is also important. UVB bulbs should also be replaced every six months as they begin to lose their effectiveness over time. Both the basking light and the UVB light should be left on 12 to 14 hours a day to ensure that your turtle is getting an adequate amount of lighting and warmth.

Most reptiles shed their skin all at once and then do not shed again for some time. However turtles are known to constantly shed their skin, but it should be noted that they do so in small bits at a time. If your turtle or tortoise does not have any water or enough water in its tank you may not notice it shedding at all. This is not good for your turtle. If you own an aquatic turtle it is quite common to find small bits of dead skin floating along the surface of the water every now and then.

As mentioned before, if turtles are not kept in a proper environment they can get fungal infections. This is actually one of the most common causes for prolonged or excessive shedding in turtles. While there are some treatment options available that you can perform such as soaking the turtle in an iodine solution twice a day, it is highly advisable that you do not just try to treat the problem yourself. A veterinarian should be consulted in this case and in the meantime the turtle should be removed from the water as much as possible to keep it dry. It is especially important to keep the turtle dry during the night when you cannot monitor its activities. One way to do this is to move your turtle to a second habitat during the night while you sleep.

A turtle’s shell is made of bone. This shell is not one big bone, rather it is many bones that are joined tightly together. The shell bones are covered by horny plates known as scutes. These scutes do not correspond to the individual bones. It is also the scutes that are replaced from underneath when a turtle sheds its outer layers of skin.

Shedding is a cleaning process most common to turtles that frequently bask. Basking in UVB lights is the turtle’s way of raising its temperature. Anything on the turtle’s shell such as algae etc. actually reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and will also slow the turtle down in water. Peeling of the skin sheds the dirty layer and exposes a fresh, clean layer of scutes.

A turtle may shed at any time during the year, however many turtles typically begin shedding around the time they enter hibernation. Then in the spring when they emerge and bask they begin to shed a lot. Rapid growth is another major cause of shedding in turtles.

Shedding is less common among turtles that do not bask frequently such as the snapping turtle or the musk turtle. This is why they are often covered in algae. Turtles such as the box turtle do not normally shed. However, they may be found shedding as a part of a healing process. Scutes may also regenerate where they were lost by accident or injury. Scutes can be scratched or worn off by repeated scraping against rough rocks. If this happens a lot to your turtle, it may be a good idea to change the rocks.

There is no harm in peeling scutes off of a turtle as long as they come off easily. Scutes not peeling could be caused from tightly adhering algae. In this case, they can usually be eased off carefully with a knife blade.

Shedding skin can be caused by over soaking in water, getting obtaining too much Vitamin A, or from a fungal infection. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your turtle to make sure that his shedding is normal. Keep an eye out for any warning signs such as discolored or irritated skin, etc.

It is unknown whether turtles are aware of the peeling or shedding of their skin and whether or not they are bothered by it. However they do not usually appreciate when people pull their shedding scutes off. It is for this reason that it may be better to just let the scutes fall off on their own unless there is a problem preventing this from happening naturally. Some of the scutes, depending on the species of turtle can be quite thick.

Turtle meat is not considered kosher as reptiles, amphibians, and insects are all forbidden foods when it comes to Jewish dietary laws. This is according to Leviticus 11:29-30, 42-43.

Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods can and cannot be eaten and how these foods must be prepared and eaten. The word “Kashrut” comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper or correct. It is the same root as the more commonly known word “Kosher”. The word kosher, describes food that meets these standards. The word kosher can also be used to describe ritual objects that are made in accordance with Jewish law and are fit for ritual use.

Contrary to what many people believe however, rabbis or other religious officials do not “bless” food to make it kosher. While there are blessings that observant Jews have been known to recite over food before eating it, these blessings actually have nothing to do with making the food kosher. Food can still be kosher even without a rabbit or priest ever becoming involved with it.

Kosher dietary laws are observed all year round, and not just during Pesach or Passover. There are additional dietary restrictions during Passover and many foods that are considered kosher year-round are not considered kosher for Passover. Food that is not kosher is commonly referred to as Treif (meaning torn, from the commandment not to eat animals that have been torn by other animals).

Although the details of kashrut or keeping a kosher diet are extensive, the laws all derive from a few fairly straightforward rules. These rules are as follows:

• Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals.
• Of the animals that can be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.
• All blood must be drained from meat and poultry or broiled out of it before being consumed.
• Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten.
• Fruits and vegetables are permitted as long as they are inspected for bugs first. (Bugs and/or fruits or vegetables with bugs cannot be eaten).
• Meat cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy.
• There are some views that say other meat cannot be eaten with fish.
• Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food should not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot.
• Grape products made by non-Jews are not to be eaten at all.
• There are a few other rules that are not universal and vary upon the person.

Animals that cannot be eaten include the following:

• Of the “beasts of the earth” you may only eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Any land mammal that does not possess these qualities is forbidden. The Torah specifies that the camel, hare, pig, and rock badger are all not kosher since they lack these two qualities. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and bison are kosher.
• Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything with fins and scales. Thus, shellfish, lobster, oysters, shrimp etc. are not permitted.
• Rodents, reptiles, amphibians and insects are all forbidden.

For birds, the criteria are less clear. Birds such as chicken, geese, duck and turkeys are permitted. However some people choose to avoid turkey as it was unknown at the time of the giving of the Torah.