| How to Take Care of Mini Pet Turtles Posted: 21 Mar 2019 05:00 PM PDT Mini turtles are species that stay small, generally reaching an adult shell length of no more than . Small turtles are not only cute and fun to watch, but they are usually easier to house and care for than larger species. Proper care depends on the species of mini turtle you choose. Research the needs of some of the popular small turtle breeds—such as musk turtles, mud turtles, and spotted turtles—before you bring one home. EditTaking Care of Musk Turtles - Provide a tank for a single turtle. Like most small turtle species, musk turtles are aquatic, meaning they spend almost all their time in the water. Get a tank that will offer your turtle plenty of space to swim and explore its underwater environment.[1]
- If you want to keep a pair of musk turtles, get a tank. Avoid housing 2 males together, as they may become aggressive with each other. If you keep a male and female together, you may need to separate them if the male harasses the female.
- These turtles typically grow no longer than . The males tend to grow slightly larger than the females.
- Put a submersible filter in the tank. You'll need a filter to keep your turtle's water fresh and clean. Look for a filter that is "submersible" or "internal."[2] If you're not sure what kind of filter will work best, get advice from a reptile specialist at your pet store or from your exotic pet vet.
- Turtles produce a lot more waste than fish, so using a filter is important for keeping your turtle's environment from becoming dirty and foul-smelling.
- Fill the tank with non-chlorinated water, but keep it shallow. Pour in enough water that your turtle can swim around, but keep it shallow enough that the turtle can stretch up to breathe while its back feet are still on the floor of the tank. That way, your turtle won't have to tread water constantly to reach the surface.[3]
- You can buy a water conditioner to neutralize chlorine and other harmful chemicals in your tap water. Check your local pet store or search online for an appropriate conditioner for turtle tanks.
- Offer a basking spot for your turtles. Musk turtles don't spend a lot of time out of the water, but they may occasionally want to bask. Provide a small area of the tank where your turtles can crawl completely out of the water if they need to.[4] This could take the form of:[5]
- A plastic basking platform
- A large rock that the turtle can climb easily
- A piece of driftwood
- A floating turtle dock
- Give your turtle a UVB basking light and water heater. All turtles need UV light and heat to help them stay warm and properly metabolize essential vitamins and minerals. Get a high-quality UVB reptile clamp lamp and position it directly over your turtle's basking spot.[6]
- Look for a heat lamp with a built in thermometer. Ideally, the light should warm the area directly under it to around , while the rest of the tank should stay around .
- Keep the light on for 12 hours during the day, then off for 12 hours during the night. This will help the turtle maintain its natural biological rhythms.
- You can also keep the turtle's water warm with a submersible heater. Maintain a water temperature of .
- Decorate the tank with medium-sized gravel if you wish. Musk turtles don't need a substrate, but adding gravel or a few rocks can make the tank look more attractive.[7] Take care not to put in any rocks that are small enough for the turtle to swallow.
- Keeping the bottom of your tank bare will make it easier to clean.
- Feed your turtle a variety of animal foods. Musk turtles are primarily carnivorous. Offer your turtle foods such as earthworms, crickets, bloodworms, snails, and cut up pieces of fish or shrimp. You can also give your musk turtle pellet foods that are specifically formulated for freshwater turtles. Put the food directly into the water with the turtle.[8]
- Musk turtles younger than 6 months should be fed twice a day. Feed turtles older than 6 months once every other day.[9]
- Offer only as much food as your turtle can eat in about 10-15 minutes. Clean up any uneaten food right away so that it does not go bad and contaminate the water.[10]
- Ask your vet to recommend a multi-vitamin supplement for your turtles. Add the supplement to their food once a week. Hatchlings need a daily calcium supplement, while adults should have calcium supplements 3 times a week.[11]
- Handle your musk turtle cautiously. Musk turtles can bite, and they also tend to release a nasty odor when they're scared or stressed (hence the name!). If you must handle your turtle, carefully pick it up from the back of the shell. This will make it harder for the turtle to bite you, and may also prevent it from feeling as frightened.[12]
- Musk turtles have long necks, so take care that your turtle doesn't stretch around and bite you while you're trying to pick it up.
EditCaring for Mud Turtles - Give an adult mud turtle a tank that's at least . Although mud turtles are tiny (with most reaching no more than in length), they love having lots of space! While hatchlings can do well in a tank that is only , you'll need to upgrade them to a larger space as they get into the juvenile and young adult stages.[13]
- As a general rule, your aquarium should have of floor space for every of turtle.
- Provide a canister filter for the tank. Canister filters are ideal for mud turtle habitats because they can filter out lots of waste and don't disturb the turtles with a lot of vibration.[14] Ask at your local pet store or check with an exotic pet vet to get recommendations for the best kind of canister filter to use.
- You can also build your own canister filter if you prefer. Search online for tutorials for making DIY turtle tank filters.[15]
- Offer a large basking area (occupying about 1/3rd of the tank). Make sure your turtles have a relatively large "haul-out" area where they can come out of the water and bask. Mud turtles spend more time on land than some other species of aquatic or semi-aquatic turtles.[16]
- You can buy or make your turtles a rock-like basking shelf out of plastic or fiberglass, or provide a large rock or piece of wood for them to hang out on.
- For mud turtles, the tank's floor area should be about 2/3rds aquatic and 1/3rd basking area.
- Fill the tank with clean water twice as deep as the turtle's length. Make sure the water is deep enough so that your turtle can easily dive and swim. Use fresh, unchlorinated water, and change out 1/3rd of the water once a week.[17]
- Talk to your vet or a reptile specialist at your local pet store about how to achieve the ideal pH and chemical balance for your turtle's water. Mud turtles like slightly brackish water with a pH of 6.6-7.6.
- Decorate the bottom of the tank with large river stones if desired. A bare-bottomed tank is easier to clean, but you can decorate your mud turtle's habitat with some pretty polished cobbles for a more natural and attractive look. Make sure to select stones that are too large for your turtle to swallow.[18]
- If you choose to add stones, you will need to stir up and agitate the rocks once a week in order to keep debris and dirt from accumulating between them.
- You will also need to remove all the rocks and disinfect them in a solution of 1 part bleach to 20 parts water once every 2 to 4 weeks.
- Put a basking light and water heater in the tank. Mud turtles need lots of warmth and light to stay healthy and metabolize the vitamins they need. Place a UVB heat lamp over the turtle's preferred basking site and maintain a temperature of under the lamp. Use a water heater to keep the water at .[19]
- Your curious mud turtle might try to bite the submerged water heater. Protect the heater and turtles by placing a piece of PVC pipe over the heater. Drill several holes in the pipe to let the heat out.
- You can use a heat lamp or under-tank heater to warm the terrestrial part of the tank to .
- Make sure to give the turtles a natural light/dark cycle by keeping the basking lamp on for 12 hours at a time and then switching it off for 12 hours during the night.
- Feed your turtles a variety of animal foods. Mud turtles are carnivores, and they do best with a varied diet. Offer foods such as small to medium-sized feeder fish, snails, insects (such as crickets), and earthworms. Don't give them more than they can eat within 10-15 minutes.[20]
- You can also offer your mud turtles freshwater turtle pellets.
- Hatchlings should be fed twice a day, while adults need to be fed once daily.
- Add a multi-vitamin supplement to your turtle's food once a week. Young mud turtles also need a daily calcium supplement, while adults need extra calcium 3 times a week.
- Avoid handling your mud turtle. Mud turtles are not cuddly pets, so don't pick them up more often than you need to. If you have to pick up your mud turtle, grasp it at the back of the shell so that it can't bite you.[21]
- Like musk turtles, mud turtles have long necks. Take care to keep your hands far enough out of the way that your turtle can't reach back and nip you.
EditKeeping Spotted Turtles - Keep your spotted turtles in a large tank or medium-sized turtle tub. Spotted turtles can get a little larger than other mini turtles, achieving an adult shell length of up to . They do best in a tank that is at least or a medium-sized aquatic turtle tub habitat.[22]
- Spotted turtles are sociable, so you can keep a group of them together if you wish. For example, you could house up to 4 males and as many as 15 females in a tub that is by .
- Equip the tank or tub with a submersible or canister filter. Use a high-quality turtle tank filter to keep your turtles' water fresh and clean. This will help prevent your spotted turtles from developing fungal infections and other health problems.[23]
- Ask your vet or a specialist at the pet store to recommend a filter that will work well with your turtles' enclosure.
- Give your turtle(s) plenty of basking spots. Spotted turtles are prone to fungal infections, so they need to be able to come out of the water and dry off completely from time to time. Offer them at least 2 basking areas (such as large rocks or pieces of wood) where they can climb out and lounge before returning to the water.[24]
- Take care not to place any pumps or filters in an area where they will splash water up onto the basking spot(s).
- Keep the water no more than deep. Although spotted turtles are aquatic, they are not strong swimmers. Keep their water relatively shallow to prevent drowning. Make sure their water is clean and free of chlorine and other harsh chemicals.[25]
- In addition to providing easily accessible basking spots, you can also help prevent drowning by giving your turtles artificial plants to cling to.[26]
- Provide plenty of light and heat. Put a UVB heat lamp over your turtles' favorite basking spot. The basking spot should be heated to around . Use a submersible heater to keep the water temperature at about .[27]
- Don't allow your turtles' water to exceed , or they will go into a dormant state known as aestivation.
- Place a sand or rock substrate in the habitat. Spotted turtles do well with a little substrate at the bottom of their tanks or enclosures. If you wish, you can use a shallow layer of sand or small to medium-sized rocks.[28] Be sure to agitate the substrate once a week to stir up loose dirt, and change out or disinfect your substrate during regular tank cleanings.
- If you use rocks, select stones that are too large for your turtles to swallow.
- Give your turtles an array of animal-based foods. Like most mini turtles, spotted turtles are carnivorous. Offer them foods such as crickets, earthworms, mealworms, pieces of chicken, crab, or tadpoles. You can also offer them freshwater turtle pellets.[29]
- Some spotted turtles will eat small amounts of leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce.[30]
- Hatchlings and younger spotted turtles should be fed several small meals throughout the day, while adults should be fed once every other day. Don't feed them more than they can eat in 15-20 minutes.[31]
- Handle your spotted turtle sparingly. Spotted turtles become stressed out when you handle them a lot, so try not to pick them up more often than you have to. If you do need to hold a spotted turtle, do so for no more than 20 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times a week.[32]
- To avoid bites and minimize stress on your turtle, grab your turtle with both hands near the back of the shell.
- Other popular small turtle species include Reeve's turtles, map turtles, and box turtles. No 2 species have the same needs, so research the best way to care for whatever type of turtle you choose.
- Whatever kind of mini turtle you keep, you will need to clean its habitat regularly. Wash your turtle's tank and any items in the tank thoroughly every 2-4 weeks.
- Many turtle species can live long lives, with some reaching lifespans of 50 years or even up to 100 or more. If you buy a turtle, plan on caring for your companion for many years or decades.
- Always purchase turtles from reputable breeders rather than buying turtles that were captured from the wild. Removing turtles from their natural habitat is destructive to the ecosystem and can be traumatic or even deadly to the turtle.[33]
- In the U.S., it's illegal to sell a turtle with a shell that's less than long. This is because small turtles are more likely to carry salmonella than their larger counterparts.[34] If you do buy or adopt a tiny turtle, always wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap after touching the turtle or objects in its habitat.
- Quarantine new turtles away from any other turtles you may have for at least 60-90 days to ensure that they don't have any infectious diseases or other health problems.[35]
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| How to Do the Orange Justice Dance Posted: 21 Mar 2019 09:00 AM PDT One of the most popular dance moves on Fortnite is the Orange Justice dance. While it looks like a difficult dance, it is easy enough to learn. With a little practice, you'll be dancing just like the Orange Shirt Kid in no time. EditMoving Your Legs - Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart. Start by getting into position. You don't want your feet too spread out, but you also don't want your feet too close together. Imagine that your shoulders and feet are the four corners of an upright rectangle.[1]
- Practice swaying your legs to your right. To sway your legs to the right, bend your knees as if someone is kicking them from your left side. Then practice until you get a feel for the movement and can do it without thinking.[2]
- Try swaying your legs to the left. Once you're able to sway your legs to the right, try doing it in the other direction. Just imagine that someone is kicking your knees from your right side.[3]
- Sway your legs from side to side. If you can sway your legs to the left and to the right, then the next step is to try swaying your legs from side to side in a seamless movement. Practice just the leg movement for a few minutes or until you get a feel for it.[4]
EditAdding the Arm Movements - Cross your arms down and to your left as you sway your hips to the left. Make an 'X' shape with your arms. You should put your right arm on top of your left, and keep your palms facing your body.[5]
- Put your arms down as you lean to the right. As you sway right, keep your left arm on the left side of your body, and your right arm on your right side. You'll want to keep your palms facing your body.[6]
- Sway left and open your arms. As you sway to the left, outstretch your arms up and to the side. Your arms should be in a "I don't know gesture."[7]
- Sway to the right with your arms down. You should make your arms parallel, with your right arm on your right side, and your left arm on your left side. Keep your palms facing inward.[8]
- Clap up as you move to the left. As you sway to the left, raise your arms in front of your face and clap. You should make a triangle with your arms with your head in the middle.[9]
- Your hands should be just above your head.
- Combine the leg and hand movements. Once you've got a feeling for doing the leg movements and the hand movements, try doing them at the same time. Go slow at first and then go faster when you get more comfortable doing it.[10]
- Practice, practice, and practice. No one can master the orange justice dance in a day. Getting good at it takes lots of time and practice. Don't give up if you can't get it down right away. Stay positive and keep trying!
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| How to Eat Sauerkraut Posted: 21 Mar 2019 01:00 AM PDT Sauerkraut literally translates to 'sour cabbage' in German, but don't let the unsavoury translation stop you from adding this fermented nutritional powerhouse into your daily meals. Sauerkraut adds a punchy flavour and good bacteria, antioxidants, fibre, and vitamins to any meal. One serving of unpasteurized and uncooked sauerkraut contains more lactobacillus bacteria than one serving of live yogurt. EditEating Raw Sauerkraut - Eat it by the forkful. Raw sauerkraut can be enjoyed as is, by the forkful. Just take the jar out of the fridge, grab a fork, and enjoy the health benefits! Eat a forkful once or twice a day straight from the jar.
- Buy unpasteurized sauerkraut from the refrigerator section of your grocery store. Sauerkraut off the shelf will have been pasteurized which kills the helpful bacteria.
- Eat it warm or cold. Cold sauerkraut is the best bet to reap all the natural health benefits. Sauerkraut should be kept in the fridge, even if you bought it off the shelf.
- Take the jar out of the fridge early if you want to have your sauerkraut at room temperature with your meal.
- Use it as a condiment. For many people, the only way they've encountered sauerkraut as a food option is as a condiment for street vendor sausages. From a long-standing German and Polish tradition of topping sausages, to ballpark hot dogs, sauerkraut adds a soft, acidic zing to any meal, not just when fatty meats are involved.
- Top your avocado toast with a forkful of sauerkraut or add a thin layer to any sandwich (not just the traditional Reuben), burger, or wrap (let the brine drip off first so your food doesn't get soggy).
- Top your scrambled eggs with a little sauerkraut in the morning and you'll feel full longer due to the cabbage's fibre content.
- Try it as a mac and cheese topper.
- Add it to a salad or macro bowl. Bring the flavour and nutritional value up a notch by adding a forkful or two of sauerkraut to a simple salad. Make a simple salad of torn lettuce leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper, then top with raw sauerkraut for a green salad with zing.[1]
- Sauerkraut pairs well with everything from shredded apple and carrot to ginger and mango, so be creative.
- The sweetness of apples and carrots perfectly balance the zip of the sauerkraut.
- Add or substitute it in any time you would eat pickles.
EditEating Cooked Sauerkraut - Add sauerkraut to soups and stews. Sauerkraut goes well with everything from beef stew to carrot ginger soup. Cooking the sauerkraut into a dish will destroy the helpful bacteria. If you're eating sauerkraut for the live bacteria, stir a forkful into your soup or stew just before you eat it instead.
- Make a potato bacon soup, then add a cup or two of sauerkraut, let it simmer for another 30 minutes, and serve.
- Bake sauerkraut into a casserole or pasta. Sauerkraut naturally pairs well with pork, so try a casserole of sausage, mushrooms, and sauerkraut.
- Baking sauerkraut into your meal can potentially help with digestion.
- Make a Polish casserole of pasta noodles, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and sausages.[2]
- Add sauerkraut to your meatball mixture before cooking them or toss it into your pasta sauce.
- Fry it up in a skillet with sausage, potatoes, and onion.
- Bake sauerkraut into a chocolate cake! Add ¾ cup of sauerkraut to your chocolate cake for an adventurous twist.[3]
EditBlending Sauerkraut - Blend some of the brine into a smoothie. You can reap some of the benefits of sauerkraut and get accustomed to its unique taste by using just the brine. Start with a spoonful of brine before adding sauerkraut.
- Blend sauerkraut into a smoothie. Stir 1-2 tablespoons of sauerkraut into your favourite green smoothie before blending.
- Try it with kiwi and kale. Add in some iceberg lettuce and orange to complete the smoothie.[4]
- Try a green smoothie made of 1 cup of kefir, ½ cup of sauerkraut, 1 tbsp dill green apple, and 3 cups of dandelion greens.[5]
- Go beyond green smoothies with a chocolate avocado sauerkraut smoothie. Blend half a frozen banana, half an avocado, 2 tbsp sauerkraut, 3 tbsp cocoa, 2 tbsp flax or chia, 1 tsp honey, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 cup of water, and ¼ cup almond milk.[6]
- Blend the leftover brine into a salad dressing. Reuse the nearly empty container by simply blending the leftover juice with olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and lemon juice and zest. Pour back into your empty container and keep in the fridge.[7]
- If you can't find unpasteurized sauerkraut at your local grocery store, check any natural foods store or German or Polish grocery stores.
- Go slow if you're new to sauerkraut and have digestive issues. The probiotics can initially cause gas and bloating while working their magic.
- Try Kimchi, a Korean staple made with Napa cabbage instead of regular green cabbage and with added fermented fish sauce and red pepper flakes.
- Keep an eye on your salt intake, as sauerkraut is high in salt from the fermentation process.
- When in doubt, discuss your dietary needs with a doctor or registered dietician.
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