The Cost Of Keeping Fly River Turtles As Pets

The Fly River Turtle, also known as the Pig-Nosed Turtle, is an intriguing species native to the riverine environments of northern Australia and southern New Guinea. With their distinctive pig-like snouts and flipper-like limbs, these turtles are well-adapted to aquatic life. The pricing of these turtles can vary significantly depending on factors such as size, age, health, and the seller's location. Generally, they range in price from $850 to $5,000. Prospective buyers must exercise caution and ensure they purchase from reputable and ethical sources.

Fly River Turtle price range

The Fly River Turtle, also known as the Pig-Nosed Turtle, is a fascinating creature native to the riverine environments of northern Australia and southern New Guinea. With its distinctive snout and flipper-like limbs, it is a popular choice for those looking to own an exotic pet.

The price range for a Fly River Turtle can vary significantly depending on various factors such as size, age, health, and the seller's location. Generally, the cost of these turtles ranges from $850 to $5,000. For example, vendors like New England Reptile specialize in Captive Bred Baby (CBB) Fly River Turtles and offer detailed pricing on their sales page. On the other hand, MorphMarket, known for having the largest selection of Fly River Turtles in North America, typically lists turtles around 4 inches in length.

It is important to note that the Fly River Turtle is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to factors such as habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade. Prospective buyers should ensure they engage with reputable sellers who source their turtles ethically and comply with CITES regulations and local wildlife conservation laws.

Additionally, owning a Fly River Turtle requires a significant commitment in terms of care and maintenance. These turtles need a conducive living environment that replicates their natural habitat, including specific water quality, diet, and habitat setup requirements.

Conservation status

The Fly River Turtle, also known as the pig-nosed turtle, is listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable. It is the last surviving member of its family, Carettochelyidae, with lineage stretching back 70 million years to the Eocene period before the dinosaurs became extinct.

The Fly River Turtle is predominantly found in the rivers, lakes, swamps, and pools of northern Australia and southern New Guinea. They are also found in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and some parts of Australia. Their habitats are often composed of rivers, lakes, swamps, and pools, providing the muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation that these turtles use for shelter and food.

The species is facing a noticeable decrease in its wild population due to various factors. In Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, indigenous people harvest the eggs of Fly River turtles and capture the animals, either to sell them or for their meat. They are also widely captured for the international pet trade, with technological advancements making hunting easier. In addition, an increase in commercial activities, such as logging, mining, and fishing, is bringing human populations into closer contact with these turtles.

In Australia, the biggest threat to the species is habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural practices, such as water extraction for irrigation, and pollution from mining. The introduction of water buffalo and other livestock is also a prominent threat, as they trample over nesting sites, eggs, and hatchlings, and graze on the water vegetation that the turtles eat.

As the last member of its family, the Fly River Turtle is of particular importance and could serve as a flagship species. They are protected in Australia in the Kakadu National Park, and exportation has been banned. However, these regulations are not well enforced in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, so an illegal trade persists.

Natural habitat

The Fly River Turtle, also known as the pig-nosed turtle, is native to the Northern Territory of Australia and the island of New Guinea. They are found in the southward-flowing rivers of New Guinea and in the Alligator, Daly, and Victoria Rivers of northern Australia. They are highly aquatic, predominantly inhabiting warm, tropical freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, swamps, pools, and lagoons with soft bottoms and slow currents. They can be found in waters up to 7 meters deep and occasionally venture into brackish waters like estuaries, river deltas, and even the open sea.

Fly River Turtles prefer waters with dense forests of broadleaf trees along the shores, providing them with the ideal environment for foraging and hiding. They are known to congregate under overhanging branches, where they can find fallen fruits and nuts to feed on. They also seek out thermal springs in riverbeds, especially during colder weather, to warm themselves.

These turtles are well-adapted to their aquatic environment with flipper-like forelegs, webbed hind legs, and a shell covered in soft, leathery skin. Their distinctive pig-like snouts serve multiple purposes, including breathing at the water surface while the rest of their body remains submerged, sensing and locating prey, and absorbing oxygen in the water through papillae in their throats.

The lighter underside of the Fly River Turtle's shell provides camouflage within its aquatic habitat. When viewed from below, their counter-shading colours appear white like the clouds, and from above, they blend in with the grey or olive reflections of trees lining the rivers.

In terms of nesting, female Fly River Turtles communicate with each other to find suitable nesting sites on sandy shores, avoiding areas of low elevation or with submerged vegetation to prevent flooding. They come onto land in groups at night to dig shallow holes and lay their eggs.

Diet

Fly River turtles, also known as pig-nosed turtles, are omnivores, but their diet consists predominantly of plant matter. In the wild, their diet centres around the fruit and leaves of the wild fig.

In captivity, pig-nosed turtles thrive on a diet of figs, apples, kiwi fruit, bananas, and occasional fish and shrimp. They can also be fed commercial turtle food, such as Reptomin, but this should be supplemented with fresh vegetables. It is also important to not overfeed pig-nosed turtles with high-protein foods, as this can cause rapid growth and is believed to be harmful to the liver and kidneys.

For the first six months of a pig-nosed turtle's life, it is recommended to feed it commercial pellets or meaty foods such as earthworms or fish once daily. After six months, it is recommended to switch to every other day feeding. In addition, it is a good idea to offer romaine lettuce, Anacharis, Water Hyacinth, and other safe edible aquatic plants and leafy greens daily for grazing.

Some other foods that pig-nosed turtles enjoy include:

• Mealworms
• Pinky mice
• Sinking algae wafers
• Fish food pellets
• Eels
• Whitebait
• Eels
• Mussel meat
• Raw fish meat
• Vegetables (zucchini, peas, carrots, lima beans, corn, kiwi)
• Mushrooms
• Corn on the cob
• Low-fat dry dog food
• Boiled eggs

Physical characteristics

The Fly River turtle, also known as the pig-nosed turtle, is the last living member of the Carettochelyidae family of turtles. It has flipper-like forelegs and webbed hind legs, which are well-suited for aquatic life. The turtle's shell is covered in soft, leathery skin, similar to soft-shelled turtles. The shell's upper and lower portions, known as the carapace and plastron, respectively, are streamlined and adapted for swimming. The carapace is taller in females, while males have longer and leaner tails.

The Fly River turtle's distinctive snout, or nose, is large and fleshy, resembling that of a pig. This feature allows the turtle to breathe at the surface of the water while remaining submerged, reducing the risk of exposure to predators. The snout also serves as a sensory organ, aiding in the search for food in murky coastal waters. The turtle's throat is equipped with papillae, which enable it to absorb oxygen from the water.

The Fly River turtle's body is gray, with a white underside that is somewhat transparent in juveniles. This lighter coloration provides effective camouflage within its aquatic environment, making it difficult for predators to distinguish the turtle from the reflections on the water's surface.

These turtles can grow up to 70 centimetres (27.5 inches) in length and weigh up to 30 kilograms (66 pounds). Females tend to be larger than males. While the average lifespan in the wild is unknown, Fly River turtles have been known to live into their late 30s in captivity.

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