How to Clean Your Turtle Tank

Turtles may seem like a low-maintenance pet, but they are notoriously dirty. In fact, they are much messier than fish, so cleaning the tank regularly is an absolute must. Here is how to clean your turtle tank.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• large tank
• smaller feeding tank
• bleach
• vacuum
• water
• filter

1. The first step in a clean turtle tank is to make sure that you have a large enough tank. In a larger tank, the waste products are less concentrated, so cleaning doesn't have to be done as often. A good general rule of thumb is to have at least 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle. So, for example, two two-inch turtles would require a 40-gallon tank.

2. Second, get rid of gravel. Gravel may look nice, but it really makes it hard to keep the tank clean. Gravel holds in waste and bacteria and it is also hard to deal with in the cleaning process. If you do decide to use gravel, make sure that the gravel is large enough that the turtle cannot ingest it.

3. Third, use a powerful filter. Since turtles are so much messier than fish, use a filter that is three time stronger than the tank size. For instance, if you have a 20-gallon tank, use a filter rated for a 60-gallon tank.

4. Fourth, have a separate tank for feeding. Feeding in a separate container reduces the mess considerably for two reasons. First, undigested food does not end up in the main tank. Second, turtles often defecate shortly after eating, and having them do so in a separate container reduces the amount of waste in the main tank. Just make sure to clean and sanitize the lightweight cleaning tank (such as a plastic container) after feeding the turtles.
   
   To make sure that the water temperature in the feeding tank is good for the turtles, simply transfer some of the water from the main tank into the feeding tank . This also aids in the next way to keep a tank clean:

5. Fifth, do a partial water change. Remove part of the water and replace it with fresh water. Doing this frequently (when feeding in a separate tank or two to three times a week) dilutes the amount of waste in the water.

6. Sixth, even with all of the above, you will still need to occasionally remove all of the water from the tank and give it a good scrubbing. You may want to use a vacuum to remove all of the water. Due to the possibility of salmonella, make sure to never use your mouth to get the suction going.
   
   Be sure to remove everything from the tank including any furnishings and scrub them well. Also scrub the inside of the tank thoroughly. To do this, use a solution that is one part bleach to 30 parts water.

7. Seventh, put fresh water into the tank, treating it with a solution you can find at pet stores. Though turtles are not as sensitive as fish, chlorine in the water may irritate their eyes.

8. Eighth, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with hot soapy water after completing the cleaning process, or any time you handle the turtles.

[starlet67]

on 6/3/2009 Great tips for cleaning your turtle tank!5*