Even though you're using a water filter, you'll still need to remove feces and other debris from the tank with a net every day. Turtles need lots of calcium to keep their bony shells strong. These care sheets include some guidelines to help ensure that your turtle lives a long healthy happy life. Audra earned a BASc in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied Natural Sciences at the College of Marin. Rinse the tank and accessories thoroughly, and be sure to wash away all traces of the bleach solution. Audra Barrios. Be sure to wash your hands and sanitize the sink or tub with bleach after washing the tank. Gently slope the peat moss or soil and river rocks so the incline won't be too steep for your turtle to climb. You’ll want thermometers for both the air and water in order to maintain an environment similar to whatever your turtle or tortoise would find in the wild. “In addition, turtles may also get respiratory disease, shell infections, shell fractures, parasites, and abscesses. If it's been a few weeks, try offering the turtle some earth, grub, or mill worms. ", "This is awesome and this helped me so much with buying a turtle. A musk turtle can lay around one to nine eggs at once, which takes 60 to 80 days to hatch. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. UV light provides your turtle with vitamin D, which helps it absorb calcium. Just make sure your turtle has some room to crawl around. If you have an aquatic turtle, put its food directly in the water. For example, red eared sliders need their tank to be around 26-29C (79-84F), and around 32C (90F) for the basking area. % of people told us that this article helped them. This is due to their complex care requirements, as well as their susceptibility to stress, which can greatly affect a turtle's … Choosing A Turtle. ", Turtle Care 101: How to Take Care of Pet Turtles. This article has been viewed 809,176 times. A heat lamp should be next on your list of things to purchase for caring for a turtle. This passion has resulted in her offering useful tips on pet care. As a general rule of thumb, feeding your turtle four to five times a week will be fine, unless you have a young water turtle, in which case they should be fed every day. 18 August 2020. turtle wax: dedicated to the drive At Turtle Wax, we’re a dedicated team of auto enthusiasts that live and breathe Turtle Wax® & auto culture. It depends on turtle species. Purchasing Salmonella Free turtlesdoes not mean that you and your family are not at risk of contracting the infection. Housing: a turtle terrarium of at least 60cm in length Heating: basking temperature of 100 o F and intense UVB Water Maintenance:temperature of 80 o F and a strong filter … With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and exotic animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues, and animal husbandry. Audra Barrios is a Marine Biologist and the owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business offering reptiles, supplies and plants. Here is an insight into their habitat, … In the beginning, handle it only for short amounts of time while it grows used to you. What temperature should a turtle tank be? ", "Learned a lot for a new turtle mama (5 hatching today!). “In the wild food would be limited, so mimic nature when you care for your animal,” Tellem said. I will find something for it to climb onto. This article was co-authored by Audra Barrios. It's wise to set up the tank at least 2 weeks before getting your turtle so you can perfect the temperature and other environmental conditions. Your turtle will appreciate having a cozy spot to hide. Turtles carry salmonella, and handling the turtle or cleaning its droppings can pass the virus on to you. June 20, 2014. You should provide your turtle with only the amount of food it can eat within 5 minutes. Expert Interview. The majority of these turtles are not fully ambulatory and cannot move adequately from a heat source, so they are prone to overheating. It is a beautiful experience too. ", https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/other/general_health/box_turtle_care.aspx, https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other/terrapin, http://www.redearslider.com/filtration.html, https://tortoise.org/general/boxcare.html, https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/pet-care/turtle-care, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/turtles-aquatic-feeding, https://tortoise.org/general/watcare.html, http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/spring-cleaning-tips-for-exotic-pets, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. ", "It was very helpful. Avoid lining the bottom of the tank with gravel. They go to the bathroom in the water,” said Jim Nesci, a reptile expert with a conservation educational show called Cold Blooded Creatures. If you purchased a pet box turtle, make sure it has the right amount of water to make the turtle relaxed and happy. 18 August 2020. Here are five tips that can, regardless of its type, help you provide your pet with the best care … You’ll also want to add calcium to your turtle's diet. If you spot concerning signs, such as a soft, leathery shell, cloudy eyes, or skin blisters, bring it to an exotic pet vet who's experienced with treating turtles. Out of all of the reptiles you can purchase the turtle may be one of the most fascinating. Pin my string of turtles care tips! There are many different breeds of pet turtle and each one has its own specific needs and special care. If you’re thinking you don’t have time to maintain a turtle's environment, you may want to consider a primarily land-dwelling tortoise. However, aquatic turtles need an amount of water that is twice as deep as the length of their body. You can get a calcium supplement and “dust” their food with it twice a year. Turtles are opportunistic eaters and will over-eat if you provide too much food. Turtles … Feed your red-eared turtle the right food. Thanks. Box turtles, along with aquatic turtles, have specific depths of water that they prefer over others. The essential tips to take care of the yellow-bellied slider are the following ones. Red Eared slider Turtle Habitat, Diet and Care Tips. Unlike its counterparts in the reptile and amphibian world the turtle comes with a … Search online for an experienced local vet, or ask the breeder or pet store for referral. 2 years ago. “The tortoises are easier.”. Taking care of baby turtles is different from taking care of adult turtles, because they are more vulnerable to changes and environmental stress than adult ones. Maintaining your turtle’s environment is very important to stay on top of. If you purchase your turtle as a baby, expect to offer it plenty of TLC and keep the following tips in mind: Many pet turtles can easily live about 20 years, which can be another reason not to rush into the buying process. “Frequent water changes will ensure the water is clean and free of particles that can lead to infections.”. Golden Thread Turtle Care Tips. Make the basking area's height more than twice the turtle's length to ensure it'll be above water. “These animals require water and land with ample room to explore. However, box turtles should have a bowl specifically for their food in the tank. There’s a better option out there! by Editorial. Your turtle’s habitat should have two thermometers (one for water temperature and another for the dry side of the tank). To help you care for your turtle I have put together some turtle care sheets (water turtle or land turtle). ", "This article is very informational, and will really benefit me on my turtle purchase! References This article received 19 testimonials and 86% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Try another answer... Nice! Tortoises, on the other hand, are herbivores and will require a mix of fresh vegetables (about 80 percent of the diet) and fruit (20 percent). Top 5 turtle care tips. Yup! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. How to Take Care of a Turtle. Make sure the water isn't too deep. All claws are equal in length for female turtles. Turtle Care Tips. Aquatic turtles cannot eat unless the food is in the water. Just like any other pet, turtles require a clean and spacious living environment, a heat source, a good diet, and fresh water. First off this is not an easy species to keep when … wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Read on for another quiz question. For tips on keeping your turtle healthy and happy, keep reading! The first thing you should worry about is building an enclosure for your turtle. Also, regular cleaning of your pet’s shelter as well as proper disposal of waste reduces the risk of getting the bacterial infection. Keep in mind the water in the tank will need to be deeper if you have an aquatic turtle. Finally, be sure to look for any physically signs of illness, including swollen eyes, discoloring on the shell and avoiding food. Great reading, thanks. The bigger the enclosure, the better,” said Brian Ogle, a science instructor who specializes in animal behavior and pet ownership at Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida. "Now I know the turtle needs to climb out sometimes to bask and dry up. ", "I want a turtle, and I learned to take care of one in this good article. Different species of turtles have different needs, so I recommend you check with the pet store before purchasing a turtle. All of these conditions require veterinary care.”. ", will have to do to look after it. It depends on the type of turtle you have, of course, but turtles will generally eat insects, fish (like comet goldfish, which are smaller than the common goldfish) and dark, leafy greens. Specific care instructions depend on your turtle's species, so check with the breeder or pet store for your pet's exact requirements. When you're at the pet supply store, ask an employee for advice about purchasing a filter. The most common disease turtles carry is salmonella, which is significant as it can be transmitted to humans and cause serious disease, especially in the immunocompromised. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Care-for-Turtles-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-Turtles-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Care-for-Turtles-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1334263-v4-728px-Care-for-Turtles-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"