Painted Turtle Information for Kids

Turtles as Pets

• Owning a turtle is a long-term responsibility, because painted turtles can live for 15 to 25 years. Many reptiles, including turtles, can carry salmonella bacteria, which is a tiny organism that can make you very sick. So it's very, very important to always wash your hands after you touch your turtle or anything that has been in its home. To handle your turtle, grasp it by the sides of its shell to avoid getting scratched or snapped at. Turtles don't need a lot of care, but they do need to live in the right kind of housing, be fed the right kinds of foods, and, most importantly, they need to be kept in a clean environment. The initial setup of the turtle's habitat can get expensive, but the maintenance is fairly easy if you do it regularly. Turtles are cold-blooded and can't keep their bodies warm by themselves. Your turtle will need a heat source, such as a basking light, to get warm enough to move around.

Adopting

• Pet turtles usually come from three different sources. Rescue groups like herpetological societies are often the best place to look. You get to help a needy animal, you'll be in contact with people who know how to care for turtles, and you can often get some or all of the equipment you need for less than it would cost at a pet store. Even if they don't have painted turtles available when you are looking, they may be able to find one for you. Many pet stores carry turtles, although most places have laws about what size turtle can be sold. Like rescue groups, they may not have painted turtles available, but you may be able to ask them to get one for you. Places that carry turtles usually have the equipment you'll need, and it's worth asking for a discount if you buy all your equipment and a turtle from the same place. The last place to look for a pet painted turtle is in the wild. If you're interested in collecting a wild turtle, make sure to find out if it's legal to do so where you live. Wild animals may be more likely to have parasites or bacteria, and they won't be used to handling, so be careful.

Housing

• Painted turtles are mostly aquatic, which means they spend most of their time in the water. A tank for a painted turtle should be three times as wide as the turtle's shell is long, and six times as long as the turtle's shell. So if you have a turtle with a shell 5 inches long, its tank should be 15 inches wide and 30 inches long. Keep the water at 70 to 75 degrees F by using a submersible heater. Your turtle won't spend every moment in the water, though. It will need something solid, like a rock or floating pad, to crawl onto and bask.

Feeding

• Because they'll keep eating if you keep feeding them, painted turtles should be fed whatever they can eat in 30 to 45 minutes. They will eat both meat and plants, so offer a variety to see what yours prefers. A balanced turtle food is a good place to start, with fresh vegetables, too. You can keep live fish in the tank for your turtle to hunt, although be prepared for the turtle to make a bit of a mess if the fish are bigger than one bite. Once a week, dust the food with a vitamin made for your turtle to be sure it's getting what it needs. Feed your turtle after it has had time to warm up each morning.

Cleaning

• Turtles tend to eat and poop at the same time, so be prepared to clean up after each meal. Change the water in the entire tank at least once a week, and never pour the waste water down a sink that people use for washing or for preparing food. Remember that clean water means a healthier turtle.

Veterinary Care

• Before you bring your painted turtle home, find a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles, or herps. You may never need to take your turtle to the vet, but with 15 to 25 years of life, it's best to have a plan.