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This article was co-written by Audra Barrios. Audra Barrios is a marine biologist and owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business that supplies reptiles, supplies and plants. With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and rare animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues and animal husbandry. Audra holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied natural sciences at the University of Marin. She is the founder and CEO of Things That Creep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving reptiles and amphibians through education. For the past 6 years she has worked as a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.
There are 11 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 76,283 times.
Some species of tortoises and water turtles can live very long, even outliving humans. If you want to keep this gentle and enjoyable pet, you need to learn how to prepare the right habitat for your turtle to enjoy. You should also learn techniques for feeding, cleaning, and long-term care of water turtles.
Steps
Prepare habitat for turtles
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Make sure to buy the right water turtle. Water turtles have webbed feet and are primarily aquatic reptiles, while tortoises have round “elephant-foot” feet and spend most of their time on land. Both water turtles and tortoises need similar habitats, but there are some distinct characteristics that you need to know to ensure proper care for your turtle. [1] X Research Source
- Popular pet water turtles are sideneck turtles, wood turtles, painted turtles, pond turtles, and slider turtles.
- Popular tortoise species are the red-footed tortoise, the Greek tortoise, and the Russian tortoise.
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Breeding turtles in an aquarium. Water turtles are aquatic animals, so they need to live in a water tank. If your turtle is quite small, a tank with a capacity of 20 liters is enough. Slightly larger turtles will need a tank with a capacity of at least 40 liters or 80 liters. Every tank should have a mesh lid to allow air to circulate and prevent turtles from escaping. [2] X Research Source
- For your turtle to live a long and healthy life, you will need more than a glass jar and a stone. The tiny “turtle ponds” sold in pet stores aren’t enough for turtles, sometimes called “dead pools” by experienced turtle owners.
- Turtles will grow, so you need to talk to the turtle seller about the specific breed of tortoise you plan to keep and learn more and other turtle breeds and sizes they can reach. Buy the right tank for your turtle’s maximum size instead of just relying on its current size.
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Use an ultraviolet heater and thermometer to control the temperature. Water turtles need sunlight 12-14 hours a day to absorb enough vitamin D. You should buy a high-quality UV lamp for the aquarium. Set the time automatically to ensure the turtle receives the required amount of light. [3] X Research Sources
- For most water turtles, you’ll need to keep the temperature in your aquarium around 25 degrees Celsius, but some turtles can tolerate temperatures slightly lower or higher.
- Usually you just need to clip the heater on the top of the tank and tilt it down. Mount an easy-to-read digital thermometer on the tank wall to ensure a stable temperature.
- You will need to create a temperature range in your turtle tank so that one side is hot and one side is cold. Thus, turtles can regulate their own body temperature.
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Provides a combination of terrestrial and aquatic environments. There are many ways to arrange and decorate a turtle’s habitat, depending on the species. Water turtles need water primarily, while tortoises need more land. However, both water turtles and tortoises need diverse environments. [4] X Research Sources
- Place a sloping rock for the water turtles so they can sunbathe and warm up on land. You should buy a wide aquarium and a rock about 10 cm long. Wash the stone with non-chemically treated water.
- Some wooden boards or some bricks are also great materials to create a terrestrial area for turtles because they are easy to clean. You just need to keep it dry and slightly sloping down into the water for easy access by the turtles. Wood chips and bark can become infected with mold, which turtles sometimes gnaw on and cause problems. It is best to avoid these materials.
- Plastic or clay shelters are also a good idea. Go to the pet store to find the right size or make your own with a few stones.
- If you want to grow plants in a tank, you should do a quick check to make sure the plants are suitable and won’t harm the turtle if they have food and leaves. Real plants are great but will be eaten by turtles in a few days. Unless you have a pond with plants, consider decorating it with artificial plants.
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Provide your turtle with plenty of natural and chemical-free spring water. Distilled water has no minerals and is not healthy enough for turtles. Tap water contains chlorine and possibly fluoride, which causes a pH imbalance in the turtle’s habitat. You need to use dechlorinated spring water in the swimming area and filtered water for turtles to drink. [5] X Research Sources
- A teaspoon of salt mixed with every 4 liters of water will help reduce bad bacteria and protect turtles from skin and shell diseases.
- Regularly spray water over terrestrial areas to maintain humidity. Again, this will vary by species of tortoise.
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Buy a water filter. Water turtles need a lot of water in the tank, and your job will be much easier if you install a water filter pump to circulate the water regularly and clean the water. Turtles eat, drink and excrete in the tank, so it is very important to keep the water as clean as possible to protect the turtle’s health. [6] X Research Sources
- Water purifiers are usually quite quiet and also inexpensive, consisting of a small reservoir that draws water in and filters the water through a filter, then returns it to the tank.
- You still need to change the water and wash the tank once a month, but without a water purifier you will have to change the water much more often (2-3 days).
Feed the turtles
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Feed the turtle 2-3 times per week. A turtle’s dietary needs vary greatly from one species to another, so it’s a good idea to do your research and ask the turtle seller. Most water turtles need to be fed no more than once in 3 days. [7] X Research Sources
- Most water turtles are carnivores, while tortoises are mainly herbivores. Water turtles like to eat mealworms, rice worms, snails, maggots and many other insects. Tortoises love fruit and vegetables, including dark leafy greens like kale and radishes, corn, and watermelon.
- Overfeeding your turtle or eating the wrong food can have serious consequences for your turtle’s health. Turtles usually live very long lives, so it is important that you regularly provide them with the right and sufficient nutrients.
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Feed water turtles and tortoises with complementary foods. Different species of turtles have their own needs, so you need to find out exactly what your turtle needs. The turtle care guide that pet shops often provide will help you with more information. [8] X Research Sources
- Dry food for turtles is also good. Turtle food usually comes in pellet form, which is a mixture of dried shrimp, dried crickets and a variety of vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy and happy turtle. Any turtle food sold at pet stores will work. The amount of food will depend on the size of the turtle.
- Don’t feed your tortoise with food scraps. However, it’s also good to feed your tortoises and water turtles with green vegetables from time to time, because it’s a healthy snack. And if you don’t mind, water turtles are delighted to occasionally eat worms or maggots that you throw in the tank.
- In general, turtles need a daily serving of vegetables as large as their body size.
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Prepare a feeding area for the turtle. For most turtle tanks, you can use a small plastic dish placed inside the tank to feed the turtle. These dishes are usually available at pet stores, but you can also use ready-made plastic or glass dishes. [9] X Research Source
- Many species of water turtles excrete immediately after eating. If you leave the turtle in the feeder for a while after eating, it will excrete onto the plate. Thus there will be less waste in the water. Not overfeeding is also a way to reduce your turtle’s waste.
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Provide squid shells for turtles. Like birds, some species of water turtles love to nibble on squid shells, a food that provides calcium that is good for the turtle’s teeth (beak). Squid shells are available at most bird, crab and turtle stores. [10] X Research Source
Taking care of turtles
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Change the water and remove food scraps every 2-3 days. Use a racket to scoop out the waste and any leftover food suspended in the water from the tank. You need to keep the turtle’s habitat and feeding area clean so that they are comfortable. [11] X Research Source
- Regularly change new drinking water for turtles. If you use a water purifier, you only need to change the water every 2 weeks.
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Wash the turtle tank once a month. Every few months, remove the turtle from the tank and place it in a temperature controlled area while you rinse the tank with spring water. Usually you do not need to wash with soap, just use a brush to scrub and scrape off the moss on the wall of the tank is enough. [12] X Research Source
- Change the water, reinstall lights, thermometers and other devices, then release the turtle back to its clean home.
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Groom your turtle several times a year. When cleaning the tank, you should bathe the turtle and check it for any signs of injury or illness. You can buy a turtle shell conditioner at a pet store and apply it with a toothbrush.
- Gently brush away moss or other organisms from the turtle’s shell with a toothbrush. Many turtles are delighted to be brushed, so it’s a fun experience for your turtle.
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Only move the turtle out of its environment into an area where the temperature is comparable. Turtles are cold-blooded, which means it will take a long time to adapt to temperature changes. If you plan to bring your turtle out to play, make sure the temperature in the room is close to the temperature in the tank. Sudden temperature changes are stressful for turtles and can harm their immune systems.
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Always wash your hands before and after handling turtles. Turtles often carry salmonella bacteria, so washing hands after touching turtles is very important. Keeping the water in the tank clean and removing the waste right away is also a way to control the amount of bacteria in the tank. Installing a water filtration system also helps. [13] X Research Source
- Do not put your hand near the turtle’s mouth every time you hold the turtle. You can be bitten by a tortoise, even if it’s just by accident.
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Leave the water turtle alone most of the time. Turtles don’t like dogs and cats. They also don’t like walking around and being held in their arms. Many turtle owners let their turtles crawl around on the floor, take them outside or take them out to play. This causes unnecessary stress and can eventually lead to health problems for the turtle. [14] X Research Source
- How to help turtles live happily? Leave the turtle in its environment and watch it swim, eat, warm and crawl around the house you’ve prepared for it. They will be much happier, and so will you.
- Most people have noticed that tortoises like to be outdoors and crawl around, while water turtles like to stay in their habitat and don’t like people holding hands. However, you should still refrain from picking up tortoises.
Advice
- Wash the tank and bathe the turtle about once a week.
- Use a cotton swab and untreated water to clean your turtle. Never press on a turtle.
- If you don’t provide a place for your turtle to sunbathe, the turtle’s shell will quickly rot.
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This article was co-written by Audra Barrios. Audra Barrios is a marine biologist and owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business that supplies reptiles, supplies and plants. With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and rare animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues and animal husbandry. Audra holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied natural sciences at the University of Marin. She is the founder and CEO of Things That Creep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving reptiles and amphibians through education. For the past 6 years she has worked as a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.
There are 11 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 76,283 times.
Some species of tortoises and water turtles can live very long, even outliving humans. If you want to keep this gentle and enjoyable pet, you need to learn how to prepare the right habitat for your turtle to enjoy. You should also learn techniques for feeding, cleaning, and long-term care of water turtles.
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