Care for Western Painted Turtles

About Western Painted Turtles

• In order to properly care for your turtle, learn as much about it as you can. They can be found in Canada, and in regions across the United States, from Wisconsin to Kansas and Missouri; to New Mexico and Arizona.
  All painted turtles are similar in appearance and behavior to turtles known as sliders. However, because the turtles are native to Western North America, they are regarded as a warmer climate species and less tolerant of the cold than sliders.
  Western painted turtles are the largest of the painted turtles. In five to six years, males can grow to be four to seven inches in diameter, and females can grow to be eight to ten inches.
  In the wild, Western painted turtles hibernate during the winter. However, when you keep a turtle in captivity with constant temperatures and a constant food supply, its need to hibernate may diminish or it may not hibernate on its own at all. According to Pet place, hibernation benefits turtles in captivity just as much as turtles in the wild because hibernation keeps turtles' thyroid glands and immune systems healthy. If you want to cause your turtle to hibernate in its simulated habitat, you should withhold food (but not water) from the turtle for 10 to 14 days, then gradually decrease the habitat's temperature to between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Turtles that are hibernating need to be monitored closely for dehydration. If you are in doubt about whether or not to cause your turtle to hibernate, see your veterinarian.

Feeding

• If you acquire your Western painted turtle as a baby, you should feed it every day for the first six months. After the first six months, feed it every other day.
  Young Western painted turtles are carnivorous and eat small portions of fish, worms, crickets, and floating turtle food. Adults are more omnivorous and will eat lettuce, duckweed and kale in addition to meat. Western painted turtles are prone to nutritional problems, which can cause skin and shell problems. In order to avoid these problems, vary your turtle's diet as much as possible.

Habitat

• A western painted turtle's habitat is very important to its health. According to Animal World, if you buy a baby turtle, it is okay to start with a 20 gallon aquarium. Eventually, when the turtle reaches its full size, you will need to get a bigger aquarium, such as a 75 gallon.
  Inside the aquarium, you will want to put down sand or gravel substrate for the turtle to explore and a small pond for the turtle to swim in. Because turtles are avid swimmers, don't worry about making the water too deep. However, you should worry about keeping the water clean. Dirty water can lead to shell and skin infections. Buy a pump for your turtle's pond or frequently change the water.
  In order to keep your Western painted turtle warm enough, the air temperature in the aquarium should be in the low to mid 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The water temperature in the pond should be 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain these temperatures, you should keep a heater or heat lamp in the aquarium.

Safety

• Because painted turtles are easily tamed. When you first get your turtle, it may hide when you approach. Later, it may become used to you and allow you to handle it. However, as with any wild animal, you should handle Western painted turtles with care. The FDA reported in 2008 that several people contracted salmonella after handling their pet turtles or cleaning the turtles' habitats. Because of the salmonella risk associated with turtles, always wash your hands after handling your turtle or cleaning its habitat.
  Selling turtles that have a shell diameter less than 4 inches is also banned because of the risk of children putting these turtles in their mouths, and then contracting salmonella.