Popular turtles to keep as pets include Sideneck turtles, wood turtles, painted turtles, pond turtles, and slider turtles. Popular tortoises include red foots, Greek tortoises, and Russian tortoises.
You need more than a bowl and a rock to ensure proper health and longevity of a turtle. Those little “Turtle Ponds” you can still find in pet stores are insufficient, and sometimes called “Death Bowls” by experienced turtle keepers. Turtles do grow, so make sure you talk to a turtle or pet retailer about your specific turtle breed, and find out more about the species and how much bigger its likely to get. Get a tank big enough for its ultimate size, not the size it is now.
For most turtles, you’ll need to keep the aquarium around 78 F (25 C), but some turtles might be able to abide slightly lower or higher temperatures. Heat lamps can generally just be clipped to the edge of the tank and angled down. Install an easily visible thermometer stuck to the side of the tank to make sure the temperature stays consistent. You’ll need to create a temperature gradient in your turtle’s tank so there’s a hot side and a cold side. That way your turtle can regulate its temperature. [5] X Expert Source Audra BarriosMarine Biologist & Reptile Specialist Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.
Create a rock incline for aquatic turtles, to give them some dry area on which to sun and warm. Get a large container and a rock about 4 inches (10. 2 cm) long. Clean the rock with untreated water. Wooden boards or bricks make great land areas as they can be cleaned easily. Just make sure they stay dry and are sloped gently towards the water for easy access. Wood chips and bark can get moldy or grow fungus. Turtles will also eat them sometimes, causing problems. It’s best to avoid these materials. Some clay or plastic shelter is a good idea. Find an appropriately-sized one at your local pet store or make one with some stones. If you put plants inside the tank, do a quick check to make sure they are compatible and that your turtle will not get sick if he decides to eat a few of the leaves. Real plants are nice but get eaten within days. Unless you have a pond where you grow plants, think about using artificial plants for decoration.
Adding a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water will reduce the level of bad bacteria and protect the turtles better from shell and skin diseases. Spritz the dry areas regularly with a spray bottle, to maintain the moisture in the area. Again, this will vary, depending on the particular species.
Water filters are generally quite quiet and affordable, and they feature a small sump that sucks the water up and filters it through a filter and back into the tank. You’ll still need to change out the water and clean the tank about every month, but you’ll need to change out the water much more regularly (every 2-3 days) without one.
Turtles are primarily carnivores, while tortoises are primarily herbivores. Turtles enjoy eating mealworms, super worms, snails, grubs, and a variety of other insects. Tortoises enjoy fruits and vegetables, including dark leafy greens like kale and turnip, as well as corn and watermelon. Feeding turtles too frequently or feeding the wrong kinds of food can have serious health consequences. Turtles usually live a long time, so it’s important to provide for your pet and make sure that you’re providing the right amount of nutrition on a regular enough basis.
Commercial turtle food is usually fine. Available in pellet form, it’s a mixture of dried shrimp, cricket, and a variety of vitamins and minerals necessary to keep the turtle happy. Any turtle food you can buy at the pet store will do. Amounts will vary depending on the size of the turtle. It’s not recommended to feed your turtle table scraps. However, green, leafy vegetables are sometimes recommended for tortoises and turtles, and can provide a healthy snack, and if you’re not opposed, turtles are generally huge fans of the occasional worm or grub, tossed into the tank. Generally, tortoises need a salad the size of their body every single day. [9] X Expert Source Audra BarriosMarine Biologist & Reptile Specialist Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.
Many turtles will defecate shortly after eating. If you leave them in their feeding tub for a while after feeding, they will defecate in the dish. You get less waste in the tank this way. Not overfeeding will also keep the waste down.
Change out the drinking water regularly and supply new water when you do this. If you use a water filter, you only need to change out the water every couple of weeks.
Replace the water, the light, other supplies, and the thermometer, and return the turtle to the freshly cleaned habitat.
Gently brush off any algae and other growth using the toothbrush. Many turtles like the sensation of being brushed, so this should be a good experience for your pet.
Keep your fingers away from the turtle’s mouth any time you handle your pet. A bite can hurt even if accidental.
How do you keep turtles happy? Leave them in their habitat and watch them swim, eat, bask and move about in their home which you have provided. They will be much happier and so will you. Most people find that tortoises enjoy going outdoors and roaming around under supervision, while turtles prefer remaining in their habitats and not being handled. Still, it’s good to limit your direct handling of the tortoise as much, in general.
