Turtle Habitat Information

Turtles are a very diverse group of reptiles and therefore demand a very diverse range of habitats and enclosures. Some turtles are aquatic and require a lot of water, while others are terrestrial and require only land; while others survive well in both. Keeping turtles and setting up a habitat requires care and patience and should not be taken lightly, as the right environment is vital to your pet's health.

  1. Aquariums

    • Most turtles, both terrestrial and aquatic, will require an aquarium at least 4 feet long and 2 feet wide to comfortably accommodate full-grown turtles. Aquatic turtles should have vivariums, meaning that about half of the tank should be water. Some owners like to fill the tank with water and then scatter rocks about, while others like to use sloping gravel to create a sort of beach. Terrestrial turtles don't swim, so they typically only need a few inches of dirt or soil substrate.

    Aquatic Habitats

    • Aquatic habitats arguably require far more care than terrestrial habitats. The water should be properly filtered using in-tank filters. It also needs to be dechlorinated, which can be done using commercial dechlorinators available at most pet stores. Turtles need to bask, so rocks that stick out above the water, or wooden logs or even floating turtle docks, can be used.

    Terrestrial Habitats

    • Terrestrial habitats are much easier to maintain and do not require setups as elaborate as aquatic setups. Most terrestrial turtles, like musk turtles or box turtles, need a few inches of soil, as they like to dig, as well as shallow bowls for food and water. Some terrestrial turtles may like to soak, so make sure the water bowl is large enough to contain them yet shallow enough for them to crawl in and out of.

    Heat and Light

    • Turtles are exothermic creatures and require a basking area. A turtle's indoor habitat should be covered by a mesh screen lid, upon which you can place a heat lamp and bulb. This heat should be placed directly over the turtle's basking area on one side of the tank, so that it has a hot side and a cool side. The tank should maintain a temperature around 80 to 85 F during the day and should be allowed to drop to the mid-to-low 70s at night. Proper UVB lighting is also essential for the growth of a healthy turtle's shell, so make sure you provide fluorescent light strips over the habitat.

    Shelters

    • Like all animals, turtles need shelters to feel safe, or they may fall victim to unnecessary stress. Terrestrial turtles can be given log homes or even cardboard boxes as shelters, while aquatic turtles can be given caves, or even floating logs (commonly sold in pet stores).