Albino creatures are fascinating. You have albino hedgehogs (also known as spiky floofs or ouch mice) that appear to be from another planet. Then there are the albino zebras and albino lions, who appear to be the most stylish creatures in the savanna, if not the world. Finally, there are albino turtles, which are so fascinating you have to see them to believe them.
What hue come to mind when I utter the term “albino”? You’re probably thinking about white. Especially when the Latin word for white is albus. Albino turtles, on the other hand, aren’t necessarily white; they can even be red! As a result, they resemble small fire-breathing dragons or mythical creatures from another dimension. Our globe is far from dull; all we have to do is be patient and seek for great things like these interesting creatures.
Because we adore albino animals, you can read Bored Panda’s previous pieces on them here and here. Also, make sure to check out these stunning albino people photographs. But now, back to the turtles! Scroll down for an interview with specialist Aqua Mike on albino turtles, who has a 1-year-old pet turtle named Hope who was born with her heart outside her body.
(h/t My Modern Met)
Some albino turtles look like fiery red dragons!
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An albino turtle named Hope was born with her heart outside her body. She celebrated her first birthday this November
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Hope, an albino turtle with a pink belly side neck, has created quite a stir on the internet. This unusual animal is not only an albino, but she was also born with her heart pumping on the outside of her body! Aqua Mike, her owner, has continued to look after her since she became an internet phenomenon. Hope turned one year old in November, and we’re confident she’ll have many more birthdays to come.
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Bored Panda asked Aqua Mike what his first response was when he saw an albino turtle for the first time. “I fell in love right away. It was like seeing a strange species I had never thought existed.”
Different species of turtles have different chances of being born albino
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“There are numerous varieties of albino turtles,” he explained. “Some may appear to be a solid yellow with little patternings on their turtle shells, similar to a red-eared slider, however the pink belly side necks are known to have pink on them even when they aren’t albino, thus that color remains in the albino variation as well!”
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Albino turtles, according to Aqua Mike, make excellent pets, but they are not the same as doggos or cattos: “They are quite engaging and will beg you for food, they will pose for the camera and everything, but they are not supposed to be touched. I’m frequently asked what kind of turtle I should acquire for my kids, preferably one that can be handled. Don’t get me wrong, they can be handled, but they aren’t like a dog or a cat. They are most content when you leave them alone!”
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“Albino turtles are magnificent animals,” he continued. They do require more sophisticated care since, when they are little, they may struggle to find food in their tank due to their reduced vision. To ensure that they are eating enough, they must be relocated to a smaller feeding container where the food is much more accessible. When they reach 3-4″, however, they are considerably more efficient at locating food in their enclosure and do not need to be taken outside of the tank to be fed in a separate container.”
Aqua “Albinos are also a lot more noticeable than normals,” Mike said. When a typical turtle sees you, it may be startled or afraid, causing it to swim away and hide. The albino does not feel threatened in your presence, especially because you’ve been handling them to feed them for so long. They behave much more naturally, which allows you to better monitor and study these uncommon species.”
Albino reptiles can look red, orange, pink, or yellow because some pigment remains in their skin
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Albinism affects turtles, lizards, and other reptiles differently than it does mammals, birds, and humans. Albino reptiles often have one pigment left in their skin, which is why they might seem red, orange, pink, or yellow.
I’m going to spend the rest of the day looking at albino reptile photographs and believing that dragons exist and that these are their cousins (thrice removed). Some turtle species are more prone than others to be born albino. Sulcata turtles, for example, have the best probability of being born looking sophisticated, suave, and trendy with a reddish appearance.
Most albino animals have a tough life because they often have poor eyesight and are easy for predators to spot
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Albinism in animals can make life more difficult than in animals born normally. They typically have a variety of health issues, including as impaired eyesight, which means they: a) can’t obtain food as effectively since they don’t have access to glasses; and b) can’t detect predators approaching from afar.
That is not the only disadvantage. Being albino also implies that predators will notice and target you, which is why many albinos do not survive infancy. So, if you see an albino animal, get them some glasses to level the playing field.
