About Aquatic Turtles

Definition

• Aquatic turtles are reptiles that primarily live in the water. These turtles are excellent swimmers because of their webbed feet and flat shells. Certain aquatic turtles have flippers, which they use to glide and steer through the water. Most aquatic turtles have eyes near the top of their heads. This allows them to hide in the water from predators with only their eyes and nose showing above the water. Some of the largest turtles are aquatic such as the leatherback sea turtle. Smaller aquatic turtles can be kept as pets, although not all types make good companion animals.

Types

• The most common type of aquatic turtle kept as a pet is the red-eared slider. In the wild, these turtles are found throughout the United States. Red-eared sliders make good pets as they can easily be tamed and handled. They grow to be 8 to 10 inches in length and come in a variety of colors. All red-eared sliders have a red marking that starts at the eyes and runs to the back of the head.

  Painted turtles also make good pets as they can be tamed and easily handled. Female painted turtles can grow up to 12 inches in length. The males are quite smaller at around 6 inches in length. These turtles have colorful undersides composed of intricate swirls and patterns.

Habitat

• Aquatic turtles are found in the ocean, in ponds and in rivers. Turtles kept as pets should be provided with enough room to swim and relax on land. A 15- to 20-gallon glass fish tank is recommended since turtles sold in pet stores typically grow up to 10 inches in length. A basic aquatic turtle habitat consists of 50 percent land and 50 percent water. Cover the bottom of the tank with a 1-inch layer of sand and add a 1-inch layer of small rocks on top. Fill the tank with at least 6 inches of water. Build the land area in one half of the tank by stacking a pile of smooth rocks until it is high enough for the turtle to be completely out of the water. Plastic plants are recommended for decoration and as hiding places for the turtle.

  Turtles produce a lot of waste and installing a canister filter in the tank will help keep the water clean. Keep the tank warm with an overhead UV heat lamp.

Diet

• Aquatic turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. When feeding pet turtles, it is important to provide the proper foods to keep them healthy. Feeding turtles only turtle flakes bought from a pet store does not provide enough nutrition and vitamins. Meals should include a variety of foods such as aquatic plants, green leaf lettuce, watercress, green beans, sliced carrots, blueberries, bananas, grapes, earthworms, crickets, mealworms, waxworms and small snails. A calcium-mineral supplement should be sprinkled on every meal. Do not overfeed your aquatic turtles as this can cause a buildup of excess fat. Feed your turtles about three times per week.

Health

• Aquatic turtles are typically healthy reptiles. Sickness is usually caused by improper care such as inadequate nutrition, unclean living conditions and improper water temperature. Make sure you feed your turtle the proper diet and invest in a water filtration system and heat lamps. Feeding only turtle flakes or pellets can cause obesity and other health problems. Dirty water can cause skin infections.