Care of Wood Turtles

Many people want to keep turtles as pets, and many choose wood turtles. The problem is that these owners often do not know how difficult it can be to care for a turtle and to provide a proper and healthy living space for this animal. Wood turtles thrive best if they are kept outdoors and allowed to hibernate in the fall and winter just like they would in the wild.

Habitat

A wood turtle's captive habitat should be outdoors in an enclosed space. Adult wood turtles should not be kept inside for any length of time as this is bad for their health. The outdoor enclosure for one adult should be 5 feet by 5 feet with a pond about 2 feet deep and takes up approximately half of the space. The water needs to stay between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or the turtles can overheat easily. Use natural spring water for drinking water and de-chlorinated water in the pond.You can house more than one wood turtle in a living space, but only one male-- as they will fight to the death. For each adult wood turtle you add to the space, you need to give them four additional square feet. Add safe, edible plants and rocks to the living space. You will also need a UVB light attached to the habitat because turtles need 12 hours of sunlight.

Diet

A wood turtle will eat just about anything that will fit into its mouth. You can keep Hosta plants in their habitat, and they will nibble on these. Wood turtles are omnivores, so they eat both plants and animals. The animals you can give wood turtles are: Earthworms, crickets, crayfish, and mealworms. You can also give them fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, carrots, romaine lettuce, and raddichio. Captive turtles will even eat Kitten Chow and canned dog food.

Important Information to Consider

If you plan to breed your wood turtles, then you will need to have a place for the female to lay her eggs. Otherwise, she will lay them in the pond, and they will not survive. Create an area for the turtle to lay her eggs made of 40 percent sand and 60 percent topsoil. Also, you should provide a simple shelter for the wood turtles to retreat to, so they can get out of the sun if they want. They may also want to hide from other turtles, so there is not constant mating or fighting. Finally, it is important to keep your wood turtle's habitat clean and give him fresh water and food. Even if you are good at cleaning his habitat on a regular basis, you should wash your hands with soap every time you handle your pet as this is a good hygiene practice.

References

• Wood Turtle.com: Care of Wood Turtle
• Austin's Turtle Page: North American Wood Turtle
• Popular Pets: Wood Turtle Care Sheet

Resources

• Caring for Your Pet Turtle