Caring for the Florida Redbelly Turtle

The Florida redbelly turtle, also referred to as the red-bellied cooter, originates in Florida and southern Georgia in any type of aquatic habitat and lives on a mostly herbivorous diet. Redbelly turtles are often found basking in the sun on logs. Their name derives from their red-tinted plastron or belly. These reptiles are popular pets, but properly caring for your redbelly turtle is important to achieve optimal health.

  1. Feeding

    • Redbelly turtles need a diet that is high in calcium, but low in phosphorous. You can feed them dried, packaged foods occasionally, but a regular diet of fresh food is best. Feed your turtle two times per week for 15 to 20 minute periods and give them as much they can eat in this interval. A few examples of fresh food you can feed your reptile are: romaine, green leaf and red leaf lettuce, kale, carrots, cantaloupe, honey dew melon, strawberries, meal worms, earth worms, cray fish, blood worms and beef heart.

    Captive Habitat

    • Redbelly turtles do well with air temperatures in the low to mid 80s, a water temperature in the low to mid 70s and a basking temperature in the high 80s to low 90s. Since these turtles are avid baskers, a sunning area is necessary. You will need UVB lighting and a heat lamp over the basking area. If the water temperatures dip below the recommended temperature, you will need a submersible heater. Redbelly turtles should have an area in which they can get wet, but also a spot in which they can dry off. The water area should be as deep as possible since they are good swimmers. Use a substrate that is a fine-to-medium-size gravel.

    Enclosure

    • Adult male redbelly turtles range in size from 7 to 9 inches and females are usually 11 to 13 inches. The recommended size enclosure for a single fully grown redbelly turtle is a 90- gallon or larger aquarium to enable a sufficient swimming area. If there is more than one turtle, an additional 100 gallons of tank space is recommended. Rubbermaid containers or stock tanks can work for enclosures.

    Considerations

    • Florida redbelly turtles do well with other types of turtles, including map turtles, painted turtles, mud turtles, musk turtles, sliders and other types of cooters.
      It is important to clean your turtle's living space regularly to achieve optimal health.
      Using an adjustable thermostat for the water in the enclosure is a good idea to regulate it. Keep the living space as close to a natural environment as possible to reduce stress caused by tcaptivity.
      If you take good care of your red-bellied turtle, it can live for a long time.