How to Set Up a Vivarium for a Baby Turtle

Turtles are fascinating creatures that do well in vivariums designed for the needs of their particular species. Many people make the mistake of buying a baby turtle and designing a vivarium to accommodate its small size without planning for the size it will become. It is fine to start off small, but owners must be prepared to move the turtles to a larger vivarium as soon as the babies outgrow their nursery. Overall, the design of the vivarium will depend on whether the species is aquatic, semi-aquatic or terrestrial.

Things You'll Need

  • Acrylic or glass tank
  • Potting soil (land turtles)
  • Vivarium plants
  • UV lamp
  • Heat lamp
  • Water dish (land turtles)
  • Water heater (water turtles)
  • Filter (water turtles)
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Instructions

  1. Land Turtles

    • 1

      Place an acrylic or glass tank, 20 gallons or larger depending on the species and number of land turtles you plan to keep, on a level surface away from direct sunlight and drafts.

    • 2

      Place 2 inches of perlite-free potting soil. The soil allows the turtles to dig, which keeps their claws healthy and helps them regulate their body temperature.

    • 3

      Plant the tank with vivarium-friendly plants such as tropical moss, ivy and ferns. You will need to provide UV light for both the plants and the turtles. A heat lamp may be necessary if the temperature drops below 70 degrees F.

    • 4

      Add a water dish that the baby turtles can enter and exit safely, and mist the vivarium daily to provide humidity.

    Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Turtles

    • 5

      Place an acrylic or glass tank, 20 gallons or larger depending on the species and number of land turtles you plan to keep, on a level surface away from direct sunlight and drafts.

    • 6

      Add water. The water must be deep to immerse the turtle entirely, covering its shell, with room to swim. Most turtles will require a small water heater. Add a strong hang-on-back filter or canister filter to ensure clean water. Do not use sand, gravel or any other small substrate, as turtles are notorious for swallowing these. Real aquatic plants will be eaten by the turtle, but you may add plastic plants for decoration.

    • 7

      Create a land area for basking that the turtles can access easily. Land can be made out of rock, sand, wood, soil or fake rock. Provide appropriate full-spectrum, UVA and UVB reptile lighting and a heat lamp. Invest in a good thermometer for the tank. If your setup is intended for a semi-aquatic species, your land area will need to be larger, perhaps half the tank, than if for a fully aquatic species.