Supplies for Aquatic Turtles

Aquatic turtles kept as pets enjoy a captive environment reminiscent of their natural habitat. Water filtration, basking areas, hiding places and heated water make a home turtle aquarium feel like the reptile's natural pond or stream. Whether you're providing a home for a red-eared slider, map turtle, painted turtle or another species, you'll need certain basic supplies.

  1. Aquarium

    • A durable glass aquarium allows pet owners to clearly view their turtle and secure attachments to the enclosure. When purchasing an aquarium consider the turtle's expected adult size. For example, a turtle with an estimated adult length of 8 inches requires a minimum aquarium size of 20 gallons, according to Doctors Foster and Smith. To give the pet even more space to swim horizontally, choose a long-length breeder aquarium, because turtles don't require much depth in their enclosure.

    Landscaping

    • Aquatic turtles don't live underwater 100 percent of the time. In addition to daily swims, turtles enjoy basking on warm rocks. Add large sturdy rocks that protrude from the water. Gentle slopes make it easy for a turtle to climb out of the water to bask. Consider adding ornamental logs and foliage---both above and below the waterline---to create hiding spaces.

    Screen Cover

    • Topping the aquarium with a wire mesh cover provides ventilation for your pet. Some curious turtles will stack themselves upon one another in the basking area of their tank and try to climb out of the enclosure. A wire mesh cover reduces their chances of escaping. The metal screen also provides a fire retardant barrier between the turtle and his lighting source.

    Heating Devices

    • Aquatic turtles prefer water at around 78 degrees Fahrenheit and a land basking area that ranges from 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. To consistently achieve warm conditions add a submersible water heater, under-tank heat pad and full-spectrum (UVA and UVB) light to the turtle setup. The light should rest on the outside of the screen tank cover, while the heat pad sits under the exterior of the aquarium to warm the water from below. The water heater should be suction-cupped to one of the inside glass walls of the aquarium, low enough to be submerged.

    Filtration

    • Use a few filtration options to keep the turtle tank clean and to reduce buildup of waste products, according to Aquatic Community. Line the bottom of the aquarium with gravel, small pebbles or other rock decorations. These types of substrate create natural filtration by allowing fine debris to settle at the very bottom of the tank. To clarify the water and create water movement, install a water filter in the aquarium. In addition to your water changes every two weeks, the filter helps maintain the cleanliness of the tank daily.