How to Take Care of an Aquatic Baby Turtle

Because of their inherent cuteness, baby turtles are often sought-after pets for young children. However, it should be known that they are very delicate animals that require the utmost care and responsibility, and even then, keeping one healthy can be a difficult task. Before deciding to keep a baby turtle, whether one you've purchased or have found at a park (as is often the case), make sure you're up for the challenge of keeping it, as its life depends on the level of care you can provide.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass aquarium with screen lid, 10 gallon
  • Gravel
  • Slate rock
  • In-tank filter
  • Aquarium water heater
  • Dechlorinator
  • Heat lamp with bulb, 75 watt
  • Turtle food, available at local pet store
  • Food plate
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Instructions

  1. Setting up the Enclosure

    • 1

      Layer the bottom of the tank with about one inch of gravel.

    • 2

      Fill the tank with about four inches of water and add a few drops of dechlorinator, which is a readily-available liquid that removes chlorine and other harmful elements from tap water.

    • 3

      Stack the slate rock on one side of the tank until it reaches just above the water's surface. This will provide a dry basking area for your baby turtle.

    • 4

      Place the in-tank filter at the far end of the tank, opposite the basking area. These type of filters are semi-submerged in the water and are designed for use in turtle tanks or terrariums. Consult your owner's manual for installation instructions unique to your model.

    • 5

      Submerge the aquarium heater next to your filter. Fully submerge the heater before you plug it into a power outlet and turn it on. Most aquarium filters are vertical tubes that contain the heating element. To make use of them in your tank, simply lay them under the water horizontally.

    • 6

      Top the tank off with the screen lid and place the heat lamp, with the 75 watt bulb screwed in, over the basking area. Your baby turtle's enclosure is now complete.

    Basic Care and Feeding

    • 7

      Make sure it remains about 85 degrees F in the tank during the day and about 65 to 70 degrees F at night by turning the heat lamp on during the day and off at night. This will simulate natural conditions.

    • 8

      Cut up various vegetables, like lettuce, carrots, and squash, into tiny pieces big enough for the baby turtle to eat and place them on its food plate, which in turn should be placed on the basking area.

    • 9

      Drop some of the baby food pellets into the water. These are often sold at pet stores and typically contain fish meal.