Simple Care Guide

Turtle

Follow these simple steps to create a safe and natural environment for your aquatic turtles. Start from the beginning, or navigate through various topics for your specific pond needs. Choose from the categories below to learn more about best aquatic turtle practices and tips.

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With their unique shell patterns, gentle behavior, and expressive faces, aquatic turtles are among the most interesting pets to care for. Browse our selection of turtle products for success with your reptile or amphibian!

Turtles need both land and water to live, so it’s recommended that you keep about 75% of the aquarium filled with water for your aquatic turtle. A general rule of thumb when preparing your turtle’s habitat is 10 gallons per inch of turtle (remember that as your turtle grows, it will need more space). Rock, slate, or large gravel work as ideal substrate for your base – just be sure gravel is large enough that it cannot be consumed by your turtle.

It is essential that your turtle get the proper nutrition it needs to grow and remain healthy. We recommend a high-quality source of protein, such as crickets, mealworms, or waxworms to keep your turtle strong. A vegetable or plant source is also important for balanced nutrition with natural vitamins and calcium, so once a week, feed your turtle 1-2 teaspoons of dark, leafy greens, such as kale, collards, or mustard greens.

Keep in mind that in addition to lots of water, your cold-blooded turtle needs a small, dry area to rest and bask under a heat source. It’s recommended to keep the basking temperature between 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit with proper lighting that imitates natural sunlight. Your lighting choice should produce UVA and UVB rays and be on for 10-12 hours per day. It’s recommended to use timers to set a naturally-occurring cycle.

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