How to Care for Ornate Wood Turtles

Ornate wood turtles originate from Southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. They are semi-terrestrial, splitting their time between land and water. Because of their personable demeanor and relatively simple care requirements, they are well suited for first-time turtle owners. Provide the proper habitat for your ornate wood turtle and enjoy the pleasure of caring for this highly intelligent creature.

Things You'll Need

• 50-gallon aquarium
• Pea gravel
• Dampened sand
• Peat moss
• Cypress mulch
• Clean paint tray or clean kitty litter tray
• Dry leaves
• Hay
• UVB lighting
• 100-watt light bulb
• Clamp fixture
• Earthworms, meal worms, crickets
• Fruit and vegetable mixture
• Calcium/multivitamin powder
• Water filtration system (optional)

Instructions

Habitat

1. Create an ideal habitat for your ornate wood turtle by starting with a 50-gallon aquarium. Opt for a longer, rather than taller, aquarium. This will allow your turtle to get plenty of exercise.

2. Fill the aquarium with one layer of pea gravel approximately 2 to 4 inches deep.

3. Add a mixture of one part damp sand and one part peat moss on top of the pea gravel. This layer should be approximately 10 inches deep.

4. Cover the sand and moss with a thin layer of cypress mulch to complete the substrate.

5. Place a clean paint tray or clean kitty litter tray in the aquarium and fill it with water.

6. Place several dry leaves and/or hay around the aquarium to provide adequate hiding spaces for your turtle.

7. Use UVB-emitting bulbs in the top of the aquarium and a 100-watt bulb via clamp fixture in an area where your turtle can bask.

Feeding

1. Provide a daily diet of earthworms, meal worms and/or crickets.

2. Feed your ornate wood turtle a fruit and vegetable mixture up to three times per week. They are partial to kale, banana, apple, zucchini and mango.

3. Sprinkle a mixture of calcium and multivitamin powder over the fruit and vegetable salad approximately once per week.

General care

1. Keep the temperature between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You should alternate the temperature within that range.

2. Clean out the water tray daily or use a water filtration system, as ornate wood turtles create large amounts of waste.

3. Keep the substrate deep, as your turtle will like to dig and hide beneath the moss and sand.

4. Maintain the water at a temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips & Warnings

• Never release ornate wood turtles into the wild. In Northern America, these creatures are imported and carry diseases uncommon to other local reptiles. They are also domesticated rather swiftly and will not be able to protect themselves against predators.

References

• Animal World: Ornate wood turtles
• Repticzone: Turtles Caresheet
• Austin's Turtle Page: Care Sheet: Central American ornate turtle