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4 Responses to 'How do I take care of pet turtles?'

1. kouneli - July 16th, 2010 at 7:38 am

   The care somewhat depends on the type of turtle.

   The most common turtles are Red-eared sliders. These are very hardy turtles, but they do get large (18″ long). The one I personally recommend is the African Sideneck turtle or Painted turtle. Both of these do not get as large as the RES. The sidenecks usually get 8″ long; painteds are of a similar size.

   I actually am unsure as to whether or not these turtles really require a companion. I’ve never seen them closely interact with one another. When it comes to feeding, there are times when just one turtle would be better because of the fact that you will sometimes get one that eats before the other has a chance.

   For one sideneck or one painted, you will need at least a 20 gallon long tank, filter, heat lamp, basking spot/ramp, and UVB light.
   Filter….I prefer the canister filters. They don’t take up much tank space, and they are easy to operate without having to worry about a certain water level to some extent.
   UVB light….Reptiles require UVB to produce Vitamin D. Without Vitamin D, they are unable to absorb proper amounts of calcium. Without calcium, their bones (and shell in the case of turtles) get brittle and break.
   Heat lamp….Turtles require a spot to get up out of the water (completely) and be able to dry off and absorb heat when they’re too cold. (Remember from elementary school that they are cold-blooded?)

   Proper feeding is also a must. Aquatic turtles are mainly carnivorous (though they do eat plant matter sometimes). Feeding a well-balanced pelleted diet should be the staple. Supplementing with bloodworms and rosey red minnows (not goldfish) will help ensure proper nutrition.

2. Mia - July 16th, 2010 at 6:53 pm

   Get a book perhaps on them
   i cant help that much
   sorry

3. Turtlegirl - July 20th, 2010 at 12:56 am

   The care really depends on the breed of turtle.

   Personally, I like Eastern Box Turtles. They are colorful, and friendly. Also, They are pretty easy to take care of.
   A tip for Eastern Box Turtles, if you decide to get one, they need a bit of water in their enclosure, but I have found that a plastic dog water dish works well.

   Red Eared Sliders are good too, but if you get them you will have to get a tank filter, which can be pricey. If that is not a problem, then take a look at read eared sliders. I have two, and they are great pets, as long as you don’t mind not having a cuddly animal.

   You can get one or two, it doesn’t really matter. I think my sliders like having company, but on the other hand, if you get two, they might sometimes fight, or one might be a bully.
   Whatever breed you decide to get, you should research it first. Also, get one that personally appeals to you, and it will just be a better experience.

4. Haley - July 20th, 2010 at 11:28 am

   i have a red eared slider turtle and it is awesome.Males get smaller than females,they are fun to take care of and are easy to take care of.they just need light, tank, basking area, and a good owner.they are very common so you can find a lot of info. on them. the turtle itself is pretty cheap depending on where you get it. i got mine as a baby and it was only 6 dollars. adults are normally 20 or so.they are fun to watch and like all turtles are messy. if you get an aqutic turtle you would need a filter and heat. i don’t have heat in mine because my house is warm and so is the basking light. i reccomend the red eared slider and also if you get 2 turtles you need more space so thats up to your parents budget kind of if they can get u double the space. either 1 or 2 good luck with your turtle(s)

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