About Paws Plus Scales

Welcome to the blog

My name is Siddharth, and I am a passionate pet  enthusiast and turtle caretaker. I started this blog to share practical, tested advice on keeping aquatic and terrestrial animals including  turtles healthy and thriving at home.

What You Will Find Here

  • Enclosure & Tank Setups: Detailed guides on lighting, heating, filtration, and habitat design.

  • Diet & Nutrition: Species-specific feeding schedules and healthy diet choices.

  • Health & Preventive Care: Spotting common illnesses early and keeping your turtle active.

Whether you are setting up your very first hatchling tank or looking after a long-time shelled companion, my goal is to provide clear, reliable, and straightforward turtle care resources based on my experiences over the years keeping these pets in India specially with very less awareness and resources available

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Indian Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata) Care Guide

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My 12" Flap shell turtle flap shelled turtle from beneath The Indian flapshell turtle is one of the most common freshwater turtles found in India. You can often see it in village ponds, slow streams, marshes, and even near houses during the rainy season. It is also frequently sold in local fish markets. This species has a soft, leathery shell rather than a hard, scute‑covered shell. It gets the name “flapshell” from the skin flaps on the plastron above the legs, which cover the legs when the turtle retracts into its shell. It has a noticeable snout, giving it a distinctive look compared to hard‑shelled turtles. Typical size ranges from about 240 mm to 370 mm in shell length. In this guide, we’ll look at diet, enclosure requirements, and basic breeding information for Indian flapshell turtles. Don’t forget to look at the sketch below to understand the basic tank requirements and layout for a turtle enclosure. Diet: Omnivorous Feeder The Indian flapshell turtle ...
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Indian Star Tortoise Care Guide (Geochelone elegans) in India

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My Star Tortoise "Rocky" rocky eating vegetables When you look at an Indian star tortoise, it’s easy to see why it gets its name. Each scute on the shell has multiple yellow lines radiating outwards, forming beautiful star‑like patterns on a dark background. This striking appearance makes the species popular in the Indian pet trade, although it is still less common than the red‑eared slider turtle. Star tortoises are usually more expensive than sliders, often around ₹700–₹800 per tortoise, depending on size and availability in your area. Larger individuals typically cost more. Before you decide to keep one, remember this very important point: A star tortoise is a land tortoise, not an aquatic turtle. It comes from dry, scrubby habitats and cannot live in a water tank. It may manage to paddle for a short time, but eventually it will sink and can drown. Never keep an Indian star tortoise in a tank full of water. Basic Description and Sex Differe...
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Indian Tent Turtle (Pangshura tentoria) Care at Home – Complete Guide

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It is also sold as Singapore Turtle or American Turtle along with Red Eared Sliders as they resemble them when young. Since it was my first turtle and I didn't knew much about turtles at that time but i have created a visual guide above for your reference From the images above you can see clearly why it is so easy for them to be confused for Red eared sliders by inexperienced keepers.  The Indian tent turtle (Pangshura tentoria) is a medium‑sized freshwater turtle found in many rivers and slow‑moving waters across India. It’s an attractive, active species that can do well in a home setup if given proper space, clean water, basking, and a varied omnivorous diet. In this post, I’ll share how to set up a basic enclosure, what to feed an Indian tent turtle, and some important hygiene and handling tips based on practical experience. Enclosure Setup for Indian Tent Turtle The basic enclosure for an Indian tent turtle is similar to what you would use for other semi‑aquatic turtle ...
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