How to Care for Miniature Turtles

Officially, there is no such thing as a miniature turtle. However, some turtles will remain small, less than 5 or 6 inches long, making them easier to keep than their larger brethren. The most popular and easy to manage of these is the musk turtle. These aquatic turtles are fascinating to own, but many people buy them on a whim without really knowing how to care for them properly. With the proper habitat and diet, however, they are great pets, although owners must remember that turtles carry disease so they are not appropriate for small children.

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
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a 30 gallon or 40 gallon tank or provide another enclosure with minimum measurements of 24 inches by 18 inches by 14 inches.

    • 2

      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.

    • 3

      Keep the water clean with a proper filtration system.

    • 4

      Maintain a tank temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This includes the basking area of the tank.

    • 5

      Keep the water temperature between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 6

      Build up the basking area with driftwood and larger rocks.

    • 7

      Add live plants to provide needed oxygen for the turtle naturally.

    • 8

      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.

    • 9

      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.