Care and Diet for Aquatic Turtles

Aquatic turtles require lots of care.

Aquatic turtles of all kinds are a favorite pet of children and adults alike. There are more than 50 varieties of aquatic turtles, including painted, map, snapping, musk, red-eared slider and box turtles. However, many people are unaware of how to care properly for their turtle. Some may be surprised by how much work goes into keeping a turtle well fed and healthy. Caring for a turtle the right way will extend its life and allow the it to live comfortably.

Diet

Aquatic turtles should be fed a diet of healthy fish and other foods. Goldfish, guppies, minnows and smelt are nutritious choices. Chopped mice can also be fed to aquatic turtles. Mice liver gives an excellent serving of vitamin A, and whole mice are a good source of calcium. Purchase the mice whole, then chop them at home. Chopped mice are not generally sold in stores. Turtle pellets can also be given to your aquatic turtle, but should not be used exclusively. Aquatic turtles may take a while before they will eat turtle food. The pellets should be softened before they are given to the aquatic turtle. Earthworms and insects can be given in small amounts. Aquatic turtles should be fed every one to three days. Monitor your aquatic turtle to see how much it is eating. Give more or less depending on how much it eats.

Temperature

The tank temperature should range between 75 and 82 degrees. Use a submersible heater to keep the water levels warm. Purchase a temperature gauge that measures the temperature from the inside of the tank, but displays the reading on the outside. If you use a light bulb in the tank, then no additional heaters are necessary.

Housing

Aquatic turtles should be placed in glass tanks, plastic tanks or outdoor ponds (if the pond's temperature matches the requirements, which is between 75 and 82 degrees, for a healthy aquatic turtle). Make sure that the shells of the turtles do not take up more than 25 percent of the tank floor. Use a floor substrate that does not contain gravel or sand. Use a bare-bottomed tank or a mud substrate. Make sure there is a platform for the aquatic turtles to rest on so they can climb out of the water. Water inside the tank should be cleaned at least once a week. Smaller tanks should be cleaned more often. Scrub the tank thoroughly when cleaning to remove bacteria from the floor and walls. Make sure the water temperature is similar to what it was before replacing the aquatic turtles. Using a water filter will increase the time between water changes.

Light

Aquatic turtles should have a basking light. A 50 to 150 watt florescent bulb is usually enough. Unless you feed the aquatic turtle a lot of chopped mice, then an additional UV light will be necessary to provide the aquatic turtle with enough vitamin D.

Problems

Aquatic turtles can easily get sick or become vitamin deficient. If you notice a skin infection, then the water should be changed more frequently, or the aquatic turtle needs a larger basking area. If a turtle is vitamin deficient, then it may get swollen, red eyes. If the aquatic turtle is not receiving enough calcium, then its shell will become soft. Make sure there is a screen over the tank to prevent escape.

References

• Win Rosevet: Aquatic Turtle Care
• Tortise Trust: Aquatic Turtle Care Basics