Turtles and tortoises are among the most long-lived animals on earth, and even the smaller species tend to mostly live for 50 years or more on average.According to scientists, turtles live so long because of the extremely slow growth of their bodies, which means that their bodies do not naturally deteriorate as fast as other animal species do. Their slow metabolisms also mean that they can survive for longer periods without food or water.In fact, larger species of sea turtles can live for more than 100 years! So, read on to learn about how turtles live such long lives, and how they spend their lives out in the water.If you enjoyed this article, then do check out our other pages on how long do fish live? And the rarest animals.Pet Turtle LifespanMost pet turtle species are on the smaller side, which makes it easier to house them in tanks or enclosures in one’s home. Depending on the species, they can live for somewhere between 15-40 years, which is no small commitment! The first few years of a pet turtle’s life are crucial, and they need to be given proper care and nutrition during this period. If they are likely to survive past this stage, then it is very likely that they will live a long, fruitful life!Some great pet turtle species which are easy to care for, as well as which have good lifespans in captivity are as follows.Red-eared sliders -Red eared sliders are small turtles that live for around 20 years in the wild but can live for up to four decades with proper care and nutrition.Box turtles - Box turtles, similar looking to tortoises but actually members of the pond turtle family, can live for around 50 years both in the wild and as pets.Painted turtles - These beautiful turtles can live for 15-25 years in captivity, compared to only 5-10 years in the wild.Wood turtles - These turtles can live for up to 60 years in captivity, literally making them lifelong pets!Map turtles - These small critters can live for up to 30 years as pets, but only for 15-20 years on average in the wild.Smaller turtle species are preferred by pet owners as their growth is minimal and they remain small even after decades.How to Improve Lifespan of Pet turtlesTaking proper care of your turtle and making sure it is kept in the proper enclosure will help to keep your turtle clean and healthy, making sure it lives a long life. Turtles naturally have long lives, and only succumb early if exposed to improper housing conditions or disease. Cleaning their tanks regularly is a must to prevent the build-up of waste materials which may affect the health of your turtle.Though you can handle your turtle, make sure not to do so often as it can lead to stress, which may lead to an early death for your pet. Make sure your enclosure has plenty of space for the turtle to move about in and has proper terrestrial and marine environments with a basking area. Different species of turtles may thrive well at different temperatures, so make sure that you do your research and adjust the temperature settings of your tank accordingly.The Sea Turtle Life CycleThe life cycle of a sea turtle begins with the eggs, which are laid on a nesting beach, used by many generations of turtles. These beaches are located in tropical and subtropical areas, and the eggs need to be left undisturbed for between six weeks to two months until they hatch and the baby turtles come out. The turtles then begin their journey towards the sea, with the weaker ones succumbing on the beach. Once they reach the ocean, they travel out into the unknown, usually to patches of the ocean where seaweed is abundant, until they mature fully. This may take between 2-10 years, and this period of time is called the ’lost years’, as researchers are unable to determine the exact location where they travel to! As sea turtles have quite long lifespans, they also mature quite late.When the turtles are ready to mate, they make their way back to the waters near where they were born and reproduce with each other. A female may mate with multiple males, and when ready to lay eggs, ascend to the same nesting beach where she hatched. After laying her eggs, she will retreat to coastal waters and continue to grow and reproduce. Once the turtles are mature they do not return to the area where they spent their growing years, rather becoming more active near the beaches where they hatched.Sea turtles have very long lifespans, taking them around 40-50 years to fully mature, with their total lifespans ranging from 60-70 years!So how do turtles ultimately die? The most common causes for turtles to pass on are old age, drowning, improper diet, infection by parasites or bacteria, or being mistreated as pets. They may also be crushed by passing cars or die from heat exposure if they leave the water.Other Turtle Species With Long LifespansWhen it comes to all turtles, tortoise species are essentially turtles as well. The only difference is that turtles have adapted to living in aquatic habitats, whereas tortoises live only on land and are unable to survive in the water. If we include tortoises in the mix, then the Galapagos giant tortoise is the longest living species of turtle. This giant tortoise is one of the most long-lived creatures on earth, with almost every specimen living for well over 100 years! Their long lives are credited to their extremely slow metabolism, slow-moving nature, and strict vegetarian diet.Turtles and tortoises all over the world tend to live longer in captivity than in the wild. It was reported that though these species had the capacity to live for decades in the wild, there were a number of threats such as predators, natural phenomena like extreme weather, and other accidents in the wildlife which can cut their lives short. Scientists have estimated that since most large tortoises and turtles don’t show rapid deterioration of the body like other animals, they could very well live up to 400-500 years! However, there are still no solid records to back these claims.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do turtles live? then why not take a look at animals that live underground or hairless animals.
Turtles and tortoises are among the most long-lived animals on earth, and even the smaller species tend to mostly live for 50 years or more on average.
