What Kind of Water Does an Aquatic Turtle Need?

Aquatic turtles are hardy and thrive as pets when kept under the proper conditions. Part of a creating a healthy environment for your turtle includes putting the right kind of water in his tank.

  1. Function

    • The water in your aquatic turtle's tank serves many purposes. The turtle exercises and stays clean by swimming in it, requires it to properly digest his food at meal times and even drinks it to stay hydrated.

    Bottled Water

    • Using bottled spring water is one way to ensure that you have high-quality water in your turtle tank. Keep in mind, spring water is excellent to use for your turtle's drinking water, but may get expensive to use for an entire tank.

    Tap Water

    • Tap water is most commonly used for turtle tanks, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Only use cold tap water as it tends to be more pure, but you may need to remove chlorine from the water. To do this, simply leave the tap water out for 24 hours before using it in your tank and the chlorine will be gone.

    Filtration

    • No matter what kind of water you use, you'll need a water filter to keep it clean. Submersible carbon filters are perfect for this. Check your local pet stores for different varieties and recommendations.

    Heat

    • Your turtle's water also needs to be a certain temperature. Research what temperature the water should be for your species of aquatic turtle, then pick up a submersible water heater in your local pet store to keep his water comfortable.