How to Care for Yellow Cooter Turtles

Yellow cooter turtles are a subspecies of the cooter turtle and can be cared for as you would care for any other cooter turtle. Cotter turtles are large turtles, often growing to between 12 and 16 inches long. They are usually darkly colored with lighter, often yellow or ivory, markings on their shells and skin. Cooter turtles are social, and they spend much of their time basking in warm light or swimming, as many pet turtles do. Cooter turtles can live for up to 40 years, and it's important to make sure they remain healthy under your care.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Sand or gravel aquarium substrate
  • Aquarium filtration system
  • Basking area materials, such as rocks
  • Basking light or heat lamp
  • Full spectrum UVB light
  • Turtle food
  • Vitamin supplements or cuttlebone
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide an aquarium for your turtle. Baby turtles, or hatchlings, can be housed in smaller aquariums, such as 20-gallon aquariums, with a water depth of about 3 inches. Adult turtles, however, will require much larger aquariums, up to and beyond 100 gallons. Adult cooter turtles should be housed in aquariums with a water depth of at least 30 inches.

    • 2

      Add sand or gravel to the bottom of the aquarium.

    • 3

      Install a filtration system in the aquarium. This will help keep the turtle's water as clean as possible. For larger turtles, in larger aquariums, canister filters are often the best choice at effectively cleaning the aquarium. Power filters or submersible foam filters also work well, especially when caring for a smaller turtle in a smaller habitat.

    • 4

      Construct a basking spot for the cooter turtle. This basking spot is a raised area in the aquarium, out of the water, where the turtle can warm up. Basking spots are often constructed out of stacked, flat rocks. These rocks should be securely stacked, so they don't topple when the turtle climbs them.

    • 5

      Install a basking light or heat lamp over the basking area. You will also need to install a full spectrum UVB light over the aquarium. This will ensure that the cooter turtle gets the correct amount of vitamin D.

    • 6

      Perform partial water changes often, keeping the habitat as clean as possible. Partial water changes occur when some of the dirty aquarium water is removed and replaced with fresh, clean water.

    • 7

      Feed the cooter turtle depending on its age. Growing turtles should be fed once a day or every other day. Adult turtles should be fed two or three times a week. Feed only as much as your cooter wil eat in 20 minutes. Cooter turtles are herbivorous, meaning they mostly eat plants. Some hatchling turtles may enjoy small insects, but mostly they will want to eat vegetation. You can feed your turtle greens such as spinach, zucchini and aquatic plants. Many vegetarian prepared turtle foods also work well for the cooter turtle.

    • 8

      Dust the turtle's food with a calcium or vitamin D supplement, or offer the cooter turtle a cuttlebone to chew on. Both of these will ensure that the turtle receives the proper nutrients.