What Do You Need to Care for Pet Turtles?

To keep your pet turtle healthy, it is important to provide it the correct environment and food. The best habitat allows your turtle to move about and offers spots for privacy. Turtles are reptiles, so their bodies are regulated by temperature. Your turtle's habitat needs to be around 72 to 85 degrees, except when it is hibernating.

  1. Outdoor Habitat

    • For outdoor habitats, turtles need an enclosed space that protects them from other animals or at least prevents them from escaping. Make sure the area you select is pesticide free. For land turtles, keep a supply of water in a shallow container. A kid's wading pool may be enough for your water turtle. Both land and water turtles need places to warm up in the sun. They also like dark corners or shelters to hide when stressed or resting, so make sure your outdoor habitat gives them that option.

    Indoor Habitat

    • For an indoor water turtle, get an aquarium that holds about 40 gallons. The water should be as deep as the turtle is wide, but it really depends on how good a swimmer your turtle is.
      You can purchase a pH meter to analyze water quality. Food deposits and other pollutants may change the water chemistry. Avoid using the tap to fill the tank, as tap water contains chemicals like chlorine. Clean your tank out regularly, particularly after meals.
      Land turtles can be kept in a simple wood box indoors; the bigger the box, the better. A box with the dimensions of 3 feet by 1/12 feet is good, but the height depends on your turtle's climbing skills. Add some potting soil so that your turtle can enjoy digging.
      Turtles need ultraviolet light to get vitamin D for their bones and shell. Purchase UVB or full-spectrum lamps. The lights last up to nine months and need to be replaced in a timely manner.

    Feeding

    • Turtles will require daily feeding, but as they get older they don't need to eat every day. To keep them healthy, avoid fat and incorporate calcium-rich foods. Adult land turtles can be fed bigger proportions of fruits and vegetables over meat. Insects would be a nice addition to a land turtle's meals. Water turtles need to be fed in the water, as that's the only way they will eat. Adding live fish to their diet gives them food as well as exercise.

    Other Considerations

    • If your turtle is going to hibernate, make sure that you don't feed it in the days before it rests. Any residue food might not be processed correctly when your turtle's body has slowed down. For each species, try to replicate the turtle's settings in the wild.