My turtle looks like a Caspian Pond. What breed is it & how old?

The images are a bit blurry. It can be difficult to keep those little guys still! It does look like a YBS. They are not native to the UK and are typically captive bred. They are quite easy to keep. They need warm, clean water, a water heater, a basing spot with an overhead heat lamp, UVB lighting, a balanced diet consisting of animal protein and plant matter, calcium supplementation and multivitamin supplementation. For now, keep water depth no deeper than twice the length of the shell. As it grows, you can increase water depth. Maintain water quality via filtration and regular water changes. Feed a varied diet of prey (appropriately sized feeder fish, earthworms, crickets, etc.) and fresh greens and vegetables. Use a calcium and vitamin supplement and provide UVB lighting. You can review slider care at the link below. It is titled for Red Eared Sliders, however, Yellow Bellied Slider care is the same. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

What you have appears to be an aquatic/semi-aquatic species of turtle. Basic requirements include a tank of at least 10 gallons initially, a water heater, a water filter, a basking area out of the water, a heat lamp and a UVB light source.

Thanks for reaching out about Franklin and including photos. This appears to be a yellow bellied slider, probably a male (long tail) and very young (under 1 year). Most hatch in spring but if captively bred, environmental conditions can be manipulated. Good luck.

We need more information in order to help you. Please post again with the breed of this turtle (is it a turtle or a tortoise?). Photos of the turtle's head. Photos of the cage set-up you have. Thank you.

If you post another question with images of Nala and Simba attached, we can possibly identify the species. This would make it easier for us to provide correct care information. In general, aquatic turtles need: a tank, clean water, a submersible heater, an area out of the water for basking, a heat source, a UVB light source and proper food. Two babies will be fine in a 10 gallon tank for now (20 gallons would be better), but as they grow, so their tank must grow. Ideally, you want to provide 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle as a general guideline. This means you may be looking at a 100 gallon tank or larger when they are full grown.Please don't release them into the wild after reading that! The water level should be no deeper than twice the length of their shells. That will increase as they grow and become adept swimmers. Most species do well in water that is kept about 80 F. A heat lamp can provide an area for basking near 90 F. A UVB light provides beneficial rays to aid in vitamin D synthesis and calcium utilization. Diet depends on the species, but for now, commercial pellets, fresh greens, vegetables will suffice. Let us see what kind of turtles you have and we can provide more detailed information for their care.

Thanks for reaching out about your turtle. Unfortunately, there aren't great ways to calculate ages in turtles - the reason for this is that their size and physical characteristics can vary depending on their husbandry. For example, too much or too little nutrition can cause a turtle to become too large or remain very small instead of growing at a normal pace. As far as the vitamins and diet - to get advice on this, it would be important to know what species of turtle you have. There are many different species that are commonly kept as pets, and they can require very different things in their diet and environment to help them thrive and live a long and healthy life. You could repost your question with some photos, or what may be better is to have a consultation. As another alternative, you can also take your turtle to a veterinarian who is familiar with turtles, and they can assist you with this as well. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

That hinge on her plastron (bottom shell) is normal. It is supposed to appear "split". That allows her to close up securely when she retracts her head. These turtles do not get as big as other species, but a 10 gallon tank is too small. She also needs a UVB light source. Windows will block most of the sun's beneficial rays. You can find a UVB light source in most pet stores. A popular brand is the ZooMed ReptiSun light. They are good eaters, eating a wide variety of animal protein, plant matter and commercial diets. The link below leads to a care sheet providing additional information. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Three-toed-Box-Turtle-Care-and-Information/