Turtle Tank Ideas

Plants

• Plants are great for turtle tanks and are both decorative and functional. Fake plants come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are great because they won't disintegrate and leave a mess, and they will last a long time. You also can opt to use real plants that your turtle can eat and enjoy, however, they tend to cause a mess. Artificial and natural plants that are safe to use in your tank can be found at most pet and reptile stores.

Land

• It is important for any turtle tank to have a section for the turtle to bask, so make sure that this is included when making your tank. To create your turtle's basking area, you can use a variety of mediums. Large rocks are great for your turtle to climb on and can be found in various colors and sizes. For a funkier environment, you can find rocks made of various odd colors and designs, or you can even paint your own rock. If you opt to paint your own rock, make sure you use either epoxy paint, or you can use non-toxic acrylic latex paint and paint two clear coats of epoxy to seal it.

Cork It

• Cork is another good substance to use as basking surface for your turtle because it doesn't disintegrate quickly in water. You can either choose to weigh it down, or let it float throughout the tank. A creative idea is to cut your cork into shapes, such as other turtles or frogs, and paint it. Again, make sure that you use epoxy paint or acrylic with a coat of epoxy to seal.

Pebbles

• Pebbles are meant for the bottom of your tank, but that does not mean they can't contribute to the decor. You can find multicolored pebbles at most pet stores, just make sure to get them large enough. A good rule of thumb is to try to find pebbles about the size of your turtle's head to ensure it cannot consume them, which can cause blockage and even death. A great idea to spruce up the look of your tank is to use marbles or colorful glass stones, which can be found at most craft stores.

Paint It

• Another fun idea to make a colorful tank for your turtle is to paint the outside. You can paint the back outside with scenery such as beach landscape or nighttime sky, or get creative and make cool patterns. When painting, try and stick to one side. If you do all four sides, stick to either the top or the bottom such as painting little clouds on top, or an ocean floor on the bottom. You don't want your tank to be completely covered or overwhelmed with paint as your turtle will need to be able to see out. Just remember to use the paint as an accent. Acrylic latex paint is fine for this job as it is relatively cheap and will be on the outside of the tank, so you won't need to use an epoxy seal.

Figurines and Decor

• Most pet stores have a variety of aquarium-safe decorations and figurines that you can buy depending on your taste. Take a look around at your local pet stores and see if you can't find some decorations to fit your taste. You can find everything from Disney characters to light up figurines. Try online as well, as you will have a larger variety to choose from.

Warnings

• When decorating your tank, always ensure that everything you put in is safe for your turtle.
  Don't over-decorate; your turtle needs plenty of room to swim and move, so don't clutter its tank. Use the decorations to spruce up or highlight your turtles home, not to overcrowd it.