Caring for Baby Painted Turtles

The scientific name for a painted turtle is Chrysemys picta. Some states do not allow pet stores to sell turtles, but do allow you to keep any turtles you find in nature. This means you can find food for your turtles at your local pet store, even though they can't sell you a turtle. Painted turtles are some of the most common turtles kept as pets.

  1. Housing

    • Baby turtles don't need as large an aquarium as an adult turtle, but it makes sense to purchase one so that you don't have to buy another when your turtle has grown. You will need an aquarium that holds at least 20 gallons of water. Fill it with 6 inches of room-temperature water and add a bunch of rocks at one end so the baby painted turtle can climb out of the water and rest. You will also need a heat lamp that heats the area above the rocky area to about 90 degrees.

      To clean your tank use a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Soap leaves a residue that remains even after a long rinse. For hard spots or stains, put baking soda on a toothbrush and scrub the area.

      Note: If you have any other animals in your home, such as a cat, you will need a screened cover for your aquarium to protect your turtle.

    Feeding

    • Don't overfeed. Baby turtles can be fed once a day or even once every other day You can purchase turtle food from your local pet store or an online store (see Resources). Also, place some vegetables in the aquarium every couple of days. Baby painted turtles can have lettuce, carrots, zucchini and spinach. You may want to cut them up into bite-sized pieces while your painted turtle is small.

      As a treat, you can give your baby painted turtle a minnow. Minnows can be fished or purchased from a pet store.

    Supplements

    • Your baby painted turtle will need a supplement of calcium and vitamin D. Painted turtles usually get their vitamin D from the sun, but your turtle won't get it when he is in an aquarium. You can purchase a powder-form calcium supplement that has the ingredient D3 in it, which is vitamin D. Just sprinkle a dash over each of your turtle's meals.

    Warning

    • Turtles can carry Salmonella, a germ that can be transmitted to humans and make them very sick. Wash your hands each time you care for your turtle. If you let your baby turtle play on the floor, wash the floor when you are finished.