Can colored object enrichment reduce the escape behavior of captive freshwater turtles?

The effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior and welfare in captivity reptiles freshwater turtles particular, which are popular aquarium pet species, is very little studied compared to other taxa. We carried out a small scale case-study colored object enrichment, with without fish scent, group 15 cooters (Pseudemys sp.) sliders (Trachemys scripta ssp.) display at public aquarium. new aimed reduce escape (interaction transparent boundaries) increase exploration random swimming. used simultaneous recording whole level for focal individually-marked turtles. decreased days before feeding overall, spite relatively low interest objects. Fish-scented objects attracted significantly more interest. Random swimming, focus, aggression submission increased significantly, basking feeding, smaller differences after feeding. There were large between individual respect activity budgets changes both increases decreases seen behavior, aggression, levels activity. Our outcomes suggested that introducing food scent may be beneficial reducing captive However, careful monitoring effects much larger investigations, including postenrichment periods, needed.