Turtle Habitat
Turtles make interesting and pleasing pets. One of the most well-known aquatic reptiles, they've been making their way into homes for decades. When setting up a turtle habitat, however, many things must be considered and maintained to ensure that your turtle lives a long, happy and healthy life.
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Considerations
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Consider the needs of the type of turtle you have or are in the market for. In the pet trade, there are really two kinds of turtles: water turtles and land turtles. The differences are fairly self-explanatory; land turtles are predominantly terrestrial reptiles while water turtles spend most of their time in the water. Though there are some universal rules when taking care of turtles, it's important to understand the kind of turtle you have before setting up its new habitat.
Land Turtles
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Box turtles, one of the most common land turtles found throughout North America, are good examples of land turtles. They have longer legs and a higher shell and are more suited to a terrestrial habitat. A land turtle's ideal enclosure should be at least three to four feet long and two to three feet wide, which is equivalent approximately to a 75-gallon tank. Their substrate should be about one inch or two of dirt or soil, which can be purchased at a local pet store. Turtles naturally like to dig and burrow and can make a mess of the terrarium with defecation, requiring spot-cleaning of the tank every day and replacing all of the soil at least once a week. The turtle's water pan in the tank should be placed low enough for the turtle to reach down into it.
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Water Turtles
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Most water turtles are smaller and flatter than land turtles, and they spend around 80 percent of their time in the water. The tank should be at least 40 gallons, or about three feet long and a foot and a half wide. Most substrates for aquatic turtle tanks are gravels, no different from the kind found in fish tanks. The habitat should be filled about halfway to two-thirds with fresh, dechlorinated water. Using a filter, such as an in-tank fish filter, is recommended. Turtles tend to urinate frequently. To complete the enclosure, add rocks or a floating turtle dock to allow the turtles to escape from the water and provide a basking area.
Heat
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Both types of turtles are exothermic, meaning that their body temperatures are dependent on external sources. Heat lamps are a requirement, and should be placed on one side of the tank to allow for a warm side and cool side. In a water turtle tank, place the lamp above the basking area. It's important to avoid heat rocks, since the turtles can easily get stuck and burn themselves. In a water turtle tank, avoid the use of an undertank heater, which adheres to the outer surface of the bottom of the tank. These heaters can heat the water to dangerous temperatures and cause the glass to crack. An ideal daytime temperature for both types of turtles is 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while at night it may safely drop to as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Feeding
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Most land turtles are omnivorous, but should be given a primary diet of fruits and vegetables every day. You can feed them things like earth worms occasionally, but be careful to ensure they're pesticide-free. Water turtles can feed off of many things, including a plant called Anacharis, which is very common to the pet trade. They also eat feeder fish and specialized turtle food pellets.
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