How Long Do Turtles Live?

It’s no secret that turtles are known to live longer lives than many other pets. Some species of tortoises can live 100 years or more. Several common species of pet water turtles can live into their 40s, though there are many factors that will influence how long your pet turtle lives. Your turtle's lifespan depends on its species, its diet and other aspects of its environment that you can control.

The bottom line is that most turtles will easily live at least a few decades if they survive past the first few years of life.

Determining Your Turtle's Lifespan

If you're hoping to know your turtle's potential lifespan, first identify the species of your turtle. Red-eared sliders if cared for properly are likely to survive into their 30s. Tortoises can easily live past their 50s and even into their 80s, which means it’s quite possible that your turtle or tortoise will outlive you. Time to draw up that will! (No, seriously.)

Larger turtles and tortoises can live extremely long lives. The smaller species that are more common as pets are shorter-lived but still may survive several decades. There are many records of tortoises that have lived nearly 200 years (or even more). It’s hard to verify these claims because the tortoises obviously outlived their owners. Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is probably the longest-living tortoise on record. Adwaita lived in a zoo in India and died at the age of 255 if claims are to be believed. These dates haven’t been verified.

Other famously long-lived tortoises include Timothy, who died at the age of 160; Harriet, a Galapagos giant tortoise who died at the age of 175; Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise who died at age 187; and Tu’i Malila, a radiated tortoise who died at age 188. Almost all of these dates are estimates that can’t really be confirmed.

The Keys to Your Turtle's Health

Of course, feeding your turtle a healthy diet is an important component of helping it live a long and healthy life. Turtle diets can vary widely depending on the species. Some species, like the softshell turtle, eat mostly fish and meat. Other species, like the red-eared slider, eat a mix of insects, fish, and veggies.

Be sure to properly research the ideal diet of your new pet turtle. Many turtles do well with a mix of commercial turtle pellets and fresh foods, but the exact proportions and types of pellets and fresh foods will vary widely. A proper diet can help avoid Vitamin A deficiency, one of the most common health problems for pet turtles. Calcium deficiency, often secondary to Vitamin D deficiency, is a major problem in turtles and tortoises that are kept indoors without a UV light and can cause soft shells and poor growth.

A diet isn’t the only component of a healthy turtle. Be sure that your turtle is well-cared-for with regular vet visits. A clean enclosure with enough space will also go a long way to keeping your turtle disease-free. Dirty living conditions and the stress that comes with them can dramatically shorten your turtle's life. The proper temperature is also important for keeping your turtle happy and healthy.

Common Threats

Be aware of the typical diseases that threaten your specific species of turtle. This will help you know how to prevent them or catch the symptoms early. Abscesses, shell infections, respiratory infections, and parasites are all relatively common in pet turtles. Abscesses and respiratory infections are often secondary to a Vitamin A deficiency, whereas shell infections usually come from poor water quality or an injury. You probably won’t notice parasites unless you have your vet do regular fecal screenings for your pet.

Turtles that live in outdoor ponds or tortoises that live in the backyard are more vulnerable to predation and the elements than their indoor-dwelling counterparts. The daily risks for an outdoor turtle are much higher than the risks for an indoor turtle, so be sure your pond or habitat is secured from predators and has adequate protection from the elements. An outdoor pet turtle may get eaten or harassed by other pets and wildlife. Be sure your pet can't escape from the habitat by burrowing under the fencing. Keep wild animals away that could expose your pet to diseases.