Turtles can make amazing pets to many people. Learning how to care for a pet turtle the right way is certainly worth the time, effort, and money when you have a pet that can be around longer than you! Emotional Pet Support has five useful tips to help you have a healthy and long-living turtle!
1 Educate yourself about your turtle type
Not all turtles are the same. Just like how there are different breeds of dogs and cats, turtles too have different breeds. Learn about the specific breed of your turtle. Is it a Box Turtle, a Slider, a tortoise, or a sea turtle (probably not a this)? There are many other breeds of them to know about or choose from. Know its special dietary needs, temperature requirements, and social temperament. The more you know about your turtle, the higher the chances are that you won’t end up with a dead turtle or make a mistake handling your turtle.
2 Keep an eye on the heat
It is actually quite imperative that you provide your turtle with a mercury vapor UVB heat lamp for them to bask with. This particular type of lamp will provide your turtle with the correct amounts of vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is important for turtles because it prevents bone disease and premature death. Without this lamp, your turtle is in serious trouble, so please do not overlook its importance! Leave the light on for roughly 12 hours every day.
3 Use proper water for the turtle
Never use chlorinated water. This goes for your turtle’s swimming water just as much as its drinking water. At a minimum, pour your tap water into a large container and let sit for 24 hours before adding it to the tank. This will allow the chlorine to dissipate. Ideally, however, you will want to use spring water.
4 Properly prepare for your turtle
Prepare your home and the turtle’s home. You must purchase or build your turtle’s tank before you bring your turtle to your house. You would be very wise to seek out a vet with experience helping turtles. Again, do this in advance so you know exactly where to turn in case of emergency (and for insider tips). A little preparation now will lead to smoother sailing down the road.
5 Take care of its tank
You must always keep an eye on the proper temperature in your turtle’s tank. Of course, this varies from species to species, but for the most part, 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 70 degrees at night are generally accepted across all breeds of a turtle. You may even want to purchase an under the water heater to achieve this. Again, knowing the unique requirements for your specific turtle’s breed is absolutely necessary.