Things You'll Need
- 30 gallon to 40 gallon aquarium tank
- Substrate material (rocks and sand)
- Filtration system
- Heater
- Driftwood and large rocks
- Aquatic plants
- UV lighting
Instructions
Purchase a 30 gallon or 40 gallon tank or provide another enclosure with minimum measurements of 24 inches by 18 inches by 14 inches.
Create water and land areas within the tank. Either split the tank in two sections in such a way that the turtle can travel between them, or create a slanted substrate so that part is covered by water and part is not.
Keep the water clean with a proper filtration system.
Maintain a tank temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This includes the basking area of the tank.
Keep the water temperature between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Build up the basking area with driftwood and larger rocks.
Add live plants to provide needed oxygen for the turtle naturally.
Provide UV lighting for the turtle. Turtles are nocturnal so they hide during daylight hours. The UV light will keep the turtle healthy and will benefit the live plants.
Feed the turtles with small insects, worms and minnows. Add some lettuce or cabbage to the protein part of the diet. Finally, dust the food with a calcium supplement.