How to Care for Aquatic Turtles

Some species of land and aquatic turtles can live for an impressively long time, even outliving humans. If you're interested in keeping these gentle and fascinating pets, it's important to learn how to set up an ideal living environment to ensure your turtle's comfort. You should also familiarize yourself with feeding techniques, cleaning routines, and long-term care practices for aquatic turtles.

Ensure you purchase the right type of aquatic turtle. Aquatic turtles have webbed feet and are primarily aquatic reptiles, whereas land turtles have rounded, elephant-like feet and spend most of their time on land. Both types of turtles require similar habitats, but there are key differences you should understand to provide proper care for your turtle.

• Popular pet aquatic turtle species include sideneck turtles, wood turtles, painted turtles, pond turtles, and slider turtles.
• Popular land turtle species include red-footed turtles, Greek tortoises, and Russian tortoises.

Raising Turtles in an Aquarium. Aquatic turtles are aquatic animals, so they require a water tank to live in. If your turtle is relatively small, a 20-liter tank will suffice. Larger turtle species may need a tank with a capacity of at least 40 liters or even 80 liters. All tanks should have a mesh lid to allow air circulation and prevent the turtle from escaping.

• To ensure your turtle lives a long and healthy life, you'll need more than just a glass tank and a rock. The tiny 'turtle tanks' sold at pet stores are inadequate for turtles, and experienced turtle owners sometimes refer to them as 'death traps.'
• Turtles grow, so it's important to talk to the seller about the specific species you're planning to raise and learn about other species as well as their maximum size. Purchase a tank that fits the turtle's potential full-grown size, not just its current size.

Use UV Lamps and Thermometers to Regulate Temperature. Aquatic turtles need 12-14 hours of sunlight daily to absorb enough vitamin D. It's best to buy a high-quality UV lamp for the aquarium. Set up an automatic timer to ensure the turtle receives the necessary amount of light.

• For most aquatic turtle species, you should maintain the aquarium's temperature around 25°C, but some species can tolerate slightly higher or lower temperatures.
• Typically, you only need to clamp the heater on the rim of the tank and angle it downward. Attach an easy-to-read thermometer on the side of the tank to ensure the temperature remains stable.
• You will need to create a temperature gradient in the tank, with one side hot and the other cool. This allows the turtle to regulate its body temperature.

Provide a Combined Land and Water Habitat. There are various ways to arrange and decorate the turtle's habitat depending on the species. Aquatic turtles primarily need a water environment, while terrestrial turtles require more land area. However, both types of turtles need a diverse environment.

• Place a sloped rock for aquatic turtles to sunbathe and warm up on land. You should buy a spacious aquarium and a rock approximately 10 cm long. Rinse the rock with water free of chemicals.
• Wooden planks or bricks are also excellent materials to create a land area for the turtle because they are easy to clean. Just keep them dry and slightly sloping towards the water so the turtle can easily access it. Avoid using wood shavings and bark as they may harbor mold, which turtles may chew on, causing issues.
• Plastic or clay hiding spots are also a good idea. You can buy one with the right size at a pet store or make your own using a few stones.
• If you want to plant in the tank, be sure to quickly check if the plants are safe for the turtle to eat. Real plants are great but will likely be eaten by the turtle within a few days. Unless you have an aquarium designed for planted tanks, consider decorating with artificial plants instead.

Provide Fresh, Chemical-Free Spring Water. Distilled water lacks essential minerals and isn't sufficient for the turtle's health. Tap water contains chlorine and may also contain fluoride, which can disrupt the pH balance in the turtle's environment. You should use dechlorinated spring water in the turtle's swimming area and filtered water for drinking.

• A teaspoon of salt mixed with every 4 liters of water will help reduce harmful bacteria and protect the turtle from skin diseases and shell issues.
• Regularly mist the dry areas to maintain humidity. Again, this may vary depending on the turtle species.

Invest in a Water Filter. Aquatic turtles need clean water in their tanks, and your job will be much easier if you install a water pump filter to circulate and clean the water regularly. Since turtles eat, drink, and excrete in the tank, it's crucial to keep the water as clean as possible to maintain the turtle's health.

• Water filters are generally quiet and affordable, consisting of a small tank that draws in water, filters it, and returns it to the aquarium.
• You'll still need to change the water and clean the tank once a month, but without a filter, you'll need to change the water much more frequently (2-3 times a week).

Feed turtles 2-3 times a week. Turtle dietary needs vary greatly depending on the species, so it's best to inquire with the seller or do research. Most aquatic turtles should be fed no more than once every 3 days.

• Most aquatic turtles are carnivores, while land turtles are primarily herbivores. Aquatic turtles enjoy eating mealworms, earthworms, snails, maggots, and various insects. Land turtles prefer fruits and vegetables, including dark leafy greens like kale, radishes, corn, and watermelon.
• Overfeeding or offering inappropriate food can seriously harm the turtle's health. Turtles often live for a long time, so it's important to provide them with the right amount of nutrition regularly.

Provide supplemental food for aquatic and land turtles. Different turtle species have specific needs, so it's essential to know the requirements of your turtle. Pet stores often provide care guides that offer helpful information.

• Dry turtle food is also good. Typically, it comes in pellet form, made from a mixture of dried shrimp, crickets, and a variety of vitamins and minerals essential for keeping your turtle healthy and happy. Any turtle food available at pet stores will suffice. The amount depends on the size of your turtle.
• Avoid feeding turtles leftover food scraps. However, occasionally giving aquatic and land turtles some leafy greens is beneficial as a healthy snack. If you're comfortable, aquatic turtles enjoy the occasional treat of worms or maggots thrown into their tank.
• Generally, turtles need a daily portion of vegetables equivalent to their body size.

Prepare a feeding area for your turtle. For most turtle tanks, you can place a small plastic dish in the tank for them to eat. These dishes are commonly available in pet stores, but you can also use any plastic or glass plate you have at home.

• Many aquatic turtles tend to excrete waste immediately after eating. If you leave the turtle in the feeding dish for a while after they eat, it will excrete into the dish. This helps reduce waste in the tank. Not overfeeding is also an effective way to reduce the amount of waste produced by the turtle.

Provide cuttlefish bone for your turtle. Just like birds, some aquatic turtles love nibbling on cuttlefish bone, a calcium-rich food that benefits their beaks (or shells). Cuttlefish bone is available in most pet stores that sell birds, crabs, and turtles.

Change the water and remove leftover food scraps every 2-3 days. Use a net to remove waste and any floating food remnants from the water. It’s essential to keep the turtle's living and eating areas clean for their comfort.

• Regularly change the drinking water for the turtle. If you use a water filter, you only need to replace the water every two weeks.

Clean 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 thoroughly clean the tank with spring water. Usually, soap is unnecessary—just use a brush to scrub and scrape off any algae or debris stuck to the tank walls.

• Replace the water, reinstall the lights, thermometer, and other equipment, and return the turtle to its freshly cleaned habitat.

Groom your turtle a few times a year. When cleaning the tank, take the opportunity to bathe your turtle and check for any signs of injury or illness. You can buy shell care products at pet stores and use a toothbrush to apply them to the turtle’s shell.

• Gently brush away algae or any other organisms stuck to the turtle’s shell with a toothbrush. Many turtles enjoy being brushed, so this can be a pleasant experience for your pet.

Only move your turtle to an environment with similar temperatures. Turtles are cold-blooded creatures, meaning they need time to adjust to changes in temperature. If you plan to take your turtle outside, ensure the room temperature is similar to the temperature of the tank. A sudden temperature shift can stress the turtle and may harm its immune system.

Always wash your hands before and after handling turtles. Turtles often carry salmonella bacteria, so it's important to wash your hands after touching them. Keeping the water in the tank clean and removing waste immediately helps control the bacteria in the environment. Installing a water filtration system can also be beneficial.

• Avoid placing your hands near the turtle's mouth when handling it. Turtles may bite, even unintentionally, which can be painful.

Allow aquatic turtles to be left alone for most of the time. Turtles do not enjoy the company of dogs or cats. They also dislike being taken for walks or being held. Many turtle owners let their turtles roam around the house or take them outside, but this can cause unnecessary stress, potentially leading to health problems for the turtle.

• How can you ensure your turtle’s happiness? Simply let the turtle live in its environment while observing it swim, eat, bask, and crawl around the space you've set up for it. This will make the turtle far happier, and you will also enjoy watching it.
• Most people find that land turtles prefer being outdoors and roaming around, while aquatic turtles prefer staying in their habitat and dislike being handled. However, you should still limit handling land turtles as well.