How to Raise Terrapin Turtles

In the U.S., the type of terrapin turtle that is commonly used as a pet is the diamondback terrapin. This species of turtle is unique because it is the only species of turtle in North America to spend its life in brackish waters. Brackish water is water that has salt in it, but not as much salt as seawater. In the wild, they are found on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and can be identified by the diamond shape markings or grooves on the top of their outer shell.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • 100 gallon horse tank
  • Basking platform
  • Clip-on light
  • Full-spectrum fluorescent light
  • Live or plastic plants
  • Filtration system
  • Hydrometer
  • Salt
  • Turtle food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up the proper housing. Hatchlings can be kept in a 10-gallon aquarium, filled mostly to the top with water. A basking platform will be needed. A clip-on lamp will need to heat the basking area to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and can be purchased at a hardware store. Most light bulbs should have enough power to get the basking spot to the right temperature. A full-spectrum fluorescent light also needs to be attached to the aquarium. The fluorescent light source will provide the light needed for vitamin E synthesis to take place. Live or plastic plants inside the aquarium will provide a sense of comfort and hiding places for the turtle.

    • 2

      Provide the proper filtration for hatchlings. Submersible filters can work as a filtration device, but canister filters that attach to the side are recommended. A lack of proper filtration will cause shell rot. Also, keep the temperature of the water near 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 3

      Salt, or do not salt, the terrapin's water depending on where the turtle originated. Wild-caught terrapins need to be kept in brackish water. Purchase a hydrometer from a pet store or online and salt the water until it has a specific gravity of 1.018 when measured with the hydrometer. The 1.018 measurement will need to remain constant for the first six months. Use rock salt to salt the water. After six months, the specific gravity water measurement can be between 1.014 to 1.016. Improper levels will lead to buoyancy problems and shell rot. Once a week, your turtle will need to be placed in fresh water for 30 minutes to one hour. Captive bred hatchlings and adults can start in fresh water and should not need salt added.

    • 4

      Feed hatchling and juvenile terrapin turtles as much as they can eat in a 15-minute period, once a day. Use turtle foods that can be bought at any pet store. Adults should only be fed once every other day, because they have a tendency to overeat. Adults should be fed commercially sold turtle foods and they should eat as much as they can in a 15-minute period.

    • 5

      Move the hatchlings to a new tank after a year or when they reach 4 inches in size. Males need at least a 75-gallon tank, while females will need a minimum 100-gallon tank. The 100 gallon stock tanks used for horses are the best housing option. Make sure the tank is full of water, but still has the clip-on lamp, basking area and full-spectrum florescent light. Make sure plastic or live plants can be found at the bottom of the tank. Crushed coral works well as a substrate to place at the bottom of the tank. The water temperature should still remain near 78 degrees Fahrenheit.