- Baby water turtles are cute and make great pets, however most people don't realize how big they are as adults. This usually ends up with buying a bigger tank. Seeing adult turtles before starting the aquarium can give a new turtle owner a better picture of what size tank they need. Another factor to consider is how many turtles are going to occupy the tank. A 25 to 50 gallon tank will give two water turtles enough room to live peacefully and have everything they need, but some species will need up to a 125 gallon tank. Different species of turtle require slightly different care. Learn as much as you can about your particular turtle.
- Turtle aquariums differ from tropical fish aquariums in a few different ways. Water turtles need a swimming area and a dry area. The swimming area should take up about two thirds of the tank. The water needs to be filtered and heated. Canister filters and a small side-hung heater will work well in most turtle aquariums. Even though you use a filter the water should still be changed out at least once a week. The temperature of the water will depend on the type of turtle but the average is between 75 and 80 degrees. Turtles can be a dirty and their water quality will determine their overall health. Gravel such as is used in a fish aquarium should not be used in a turtle aquarium because turtles tend to eat the small pieces of gravel and get sick. The water needs to be deep enough for the turtle to be totally submerged and able to flip over. There should be nothing in the water area that would trap the turtle under the water.
- Starting about halfway across the tank, a land area should start at the bottom of the tank. It should gradually slope up to the surface and above. This slope gives your turtle a way to climb out of the water to bask in the heat and dry out her shell. It also makes a place that the turtle can still be partially submerged while standing on a rock or piece of wood. A nice flat rock should be somewhere in the land area with a light shining on it. The light needs to be warm enough to dry out the turtle's shell (around 90 degrees Fahrenheit) and it should be on a timer so it goes off at night. This mimics real time and also keeps your tank from getting overheated. Wood used in the tank should not have been treated with any kind of chemical. Sand and decorations are not necessary in a turtle tank and it just makes for harder cleaning.
