How to Move With a Turtle

Moving day is always busy, but with a little bit of planning, moving with your pet turtle doesn't have to add to the stress. Pet turtles should not be released into the wild. They don't have immune systems able to handle diseases in the new habitat, and may not be able to find food. Turtles released into non-native areas may become an invasive species. If you can't take your turtle with you, find an animal rescue organization, or a friend, who can take care of it.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic container with lid, slightly larger than the turtle, and shallow enough that the turtle can't flip over
  • Drill or hammer
  • Paper towels or shredded newspaper
  • Wide adhesive tape
  • Crumpled newspaper
  • Styrofoam cooler a bit larger than the plastic container
  • Nail
  • Heat lamp, optional
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Drill air holes through the container lid, from the underside of the lid. This will keep the bottom side of the lid smooth so the turtle does not damage its shell. Alternatively, use a hammer and nail to make the air holes. Make a container for each turtle.

    • 2

      Drill air holes through the upper wall of the container, from the inside out to prevent injury to the turtle. Do not put air holes through the lower walls, because moisture may leak out.

    • 3

      Line the bottom of the outer Styrofoam container with crumpled newspaper. Poke air holes in the lid and walls of the container.

    • 4

      Line the bottom of the turtle's container with enough wet paper towels, or shredded, wet newspaper, to keep the turtle from moving around the container and keep him moist. Do this on the day of the move to limit the amount of time the turtle must be confined.

    • 5

      Place the turtle in the plastic container and close the lid. Avoid covering the air holes, and tape the lid to the container.

    • 6

      Put the plastic container gently into the Styrofoam cooler. Fill any empty space with lightly crumpled newspaper to keep the turtle's container from sliding around.

    • 7

      Avoid leaving the Styrofoam cooler in sunny or hot areas. In the car, shade the cooler with newspaper. Never park the car in the sun with the cooler inside. Overheating the turtle will kill it.

    • 8

      Provide food for the turtle if your trip is longer than a day. Keep the paper towels moist. You can also spray the turtle's shell periodically with water.

    • 9

      Allow the turtle some basking and swimming time if you stop for the night. Let it swim, supervised, in a container free of cleaning products. Let it bask in a container that it can't crawl out of.