Things You'll Need
- Aquarium (at least 20 gallons)
- Dechlorinated water
- Large rocks or stones
- Water filter
- Water heater
- Thermometer
- Clip-on lamp with full-spectrum bulb
Instructions
Fill the tank with at least as many inches of dechlorinated water as your turtle is wide. You can dechlorinate water by boiling it and then letting it cool or by adding a dechlorination agent purchased from the pet supply store. Painted turtles are good swimmers, so it is better to have more water than is necessary than too little.
Stack the rocks on one side of the aquarium to create a basking area. This should provide a stable platform that is higher than the water level, but not so high that the turtle cannot climb on to it easily from the water.
Place the filter, heater and thermometer in the water, positioning them according to their manufacturers' instructions. Set the heater to warm the water to 75 degrees.
Clip the lamp to the side of the tank, above the basking area. This should heat the area to the 85 to 90 degrees it should be for the turtle's health and comfort.