How to Build a Habitat for Semiaquatic Turtles

Creating the perfect environment for your semiaquatic turtle is key to keeping your pet healthy and happy. With a few important supplies and some attention to detail your turtle habitat will be ready for its new residents in no time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Aquarium
• Aquarium filter
• Gravel, sand or pond rock
• Large stones or logs
• Aged or dechlorinated water
• Full-spectrum light with UVA and UVB wavelengths
• Aquarium heater
• Aquarium thermometer

1. Research your turtle's natural habitat. Knowing how your turtle would live in the wild will help you create the perfect home for him by simulating as much of his native habitat as possible.
2. Select the proper sized aquarium. Use the ratio of ten gallons to one turtle to determine what size aquarium you will need. For two turtles you will need 20 gallons, for three you will need 30 gallons, and so on.
3. Assemble under-gravel filter and place it in the bottom of the aquarium at this point. If you have chosen an outside filter you should wait until step 7 to assemble and install the filter.
4. Add enough gravel, sand or pond rock to the aquarium to make about a one-inch layer on the bottom of the tank.
5. Fill the tank about halfway with the aged or dechlorinated water. Aging water is simply setting a few gallons of water out, uncovered, to allow the chlorine and other caustic chemicals used to treat drinking water to leach out of the water. You can speed up this process by boiling the water or you can skip it entirely by purchasing a special dechlorination solution sold at any aquarium supply store.
6. Build up one side of the aquarium with the large stones or logs until you create an area that breaks the surface of the water. This area should be large enough to accommodate your turtle comfortably for basking, but should not take up more than about a third of the surface area of the water.
7. Assemble and install the filter outside filter. Fill the filter reservoir to help it start flowing.
8. Install the submersible heater. Set the heater to keep the water between 77 and 95 degrees F depending on the species of semiaquatic turtle you are keeping.
9. Install the thermometer under the water line at the opposite end of the aquarium from the heater. This will ensure that you have a relatively consistent water temperature in the tank and there are no spots that are too cold for your turtle.
10. Install the ultraviolet lights. These can be either mounted in the hood of the aquarium, or in a clamp light mounted above and pointed down to shine into the tank. These lights should be focused over the basking area, but full-tank coverage is best.
11. Introduce your turtle to his new home by placing him on the dry basking area. Once he is acclimated to the air temperature and new environment, he will then move himself into the water when he is ready.

Tips & Warnings

• To ensure the best water quality in your new tank, allow the water to filter for 24 to 48 hours before introducing your turtle to her new environment.
• Choose your heater and thermometers carefully. Free-floating thermometers and loosely secured heaters are often the victim of frisky turtle antics. If you discover your heater or thermometer is cracked or broken, remove and replace it immediately.
• Also, to help keep your water clear, be sure to rinse everything before you place it in the aquarium. If anything needs a good scrub, use non-iodized salt and warm water and a light duty scrubbing sponge.
• Don't place your turtle directly into the new water. This can cause him to go into thermal shock.
• Make sure the basking area you create is not also creating an easy escape route for your turtle. The basking area should not be high enough that your turtle can reach the top edge of the aquarium if you are leaving it open. If you are using a lid, be sure it is well secured and that your basking area is not high enough to allow your turtle to gain enough leverage to nudge it open.
• Never run an outside filter without water in the tank and reservoir since this could burn out the motor in the filter. Always check your water levels to be sure your filter still has adequate suction.
• Don't make the angle of the slope up to the basking area so steep that your turtle can't climb onto it easily. If you choose to use a floating log for basking, be sure it is heavy and sturdy enough for your turtle to climb onto it without it flipping up and dumping him right off again.