Theresa Travers
For any turtle owner, a good turtle home is key to keeping your pet healthy. This is where your pet will spend most of its time, so it needs to have the right environment. Here are some general guidelines to help you make your turtle’s home comfortable:
How to choose an aquarium for turtles
The first thing to consider is the size of your turtle. They may start out weighing just a few grams but can grow to be as much as 100 pounds. Research the type of turtle you want to keep and purchase a habitat that is appropriate for each species. You can start small and create a larger habitat as your turtle grows.
“You need to know the species of turtle you’re keeping and make sure you’re providing the right environment for it,” says veterinarian Jay Johnson, owner of Arizona Exotic Animal Practice and a consultant on turtle-related health issues to the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
For example, some turtles hibernate and others don’t. Not allowing them to hibernate can lead to health problems down the line, Johnson says. Similarly, if your turtle comes from a tropical area, you’ll want to make sure the temperature stays consistent throughout the year. In general, you should buy a larger habitat than you think you’ll need.
“Most people provide enclosures that are too small,” Johnson said. “Most turtles and tortoises in the wild have ranges of a half-mile to a mile, so if you put them in a small cage, [normally] They’re storing half a square mile to a square mile of land in a studio apartment that they can never leave.”
If possible, it’s also a good idea to provide an outdoor space for your turtle to roam freely. “Most turtles and tortoises don’t do well indoors for extended periods of time unless they’re very well cared for,” says Johnson. If the weather permits, and your turtle’s habitat is properly equipped for outdoor use, consider keeping it outdoors.
Materials needed for the tank
Consider purchasing the following items for your turtle’s tank:
- Habitat: You can use a variety of materials for this, but Johnson suggests Christmas tree boxes, kiddie pools, or plastic tubs or fish tanks. Fish tanks are only appropriate if you have aquatic turtles. Johnson recommends plastic containers over fish tanks, as they’re easier to clean and lighter than glass tanks.
- rock Lying down: Many turtles love to bask in the sun, but if the rocks are too small, many of them will eat them, so make sure the rocks are bigger than your turtle’s head, says Laurie Hess, veterinarian and owner of the Avian and Exotic Animal Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, New York.
- Thermometer or temperature gun: Use this to check the water temperature
- food: Fresh and pelleted
- UV Light and Heat Lamp: UV lights mimic the sun’s natural light, and Johnson recommends setting them on a timer to mirror the sun’s patterns. “All turtles and tortoises need a reptile-specific UV light, and without it they usually get sick and start to have problems,” Johnson says. “Many reptiles rely on temperature for their internal functions, so they need to be able to move through a range of temperatures to perform their internal functions.”
You’ll need to change the bulbs a few times a year to keep the temperature just right, and sunshine is crucial because vitamin D helps plants absorb calcium from food, Hess says.
Contrary to what you may have read, Johnson says there’s no need to use night lights. Nighttime temperatures can drop to as low as 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but your turtles will be fine.
Many turtles, like Russian tortoises, spend their time underground, so you’ll also want to create habitats for them to “hide,” just like they would in the wild. Use dome-shaped hollowed-out wooden logs and dampen them regularly to keep the environment moist, says Johnson. If you have an aquatic turtle, check the water frequently (like Wish does), monitor ammonia levels, and dechlorinate the water, says Hess.
How to Set Up a Turtle Tank
A good idea is to place a heat lamp on one side and a UV light on the other, so your turtle has a chance to spend time in hot and cool areas. When it comes to placement of the tank, make sure it’s not in an area with sudden temperature changes. You should also keep the tank away from the kitchen, as turtles can carry Salmonella, which can spread to food, Hess says.
How to clean a turtle tank
When you start cleaning your turtle’s tank, start by removing everything from the tank. Once removed, clean the tank with very diluted warm bleach to kill bacteria and let the tank sit for 10 minutes, then rinse the cleaning solution with water and let it dry for a few hours. Replace all of the substrate (peat moss, aspen, wood shavings, coconut shells, or crushed walnut shells) with new material. Soak stones in soapy water, trim plants, and remove algae. Use gloves when handling your turtle or tank, or wash your hands immediately after handling. Turtles can carry bacteria such as Salmonella, so always be careful.
How often you clean will depend on the type of turtle you have and how dirty they get. Johnson recommends cleaning wet tanks once or twice a month and dry tanks once every few months. Excrement should be picked up and spot cleaned regularly. Deep cleaning should be done regularly.
image: Talisa / Shutterstock
