The arrival at the home of a new member is always important, so you need to have everything ready to welcome you. If you’ve acquired a water turtle, I’m sure you’d like to know a little more about it. In this post, we will cover the basics to take care of your new pet.
Recommendations for the care of an aquatic turtle
Her new little friend is a cold-blooded animal, and to regulate her body temperature, her habitat needs to be the closest to her area of origin (the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico). Let’s see how we can make you feel at home.
Where should I have my new pet?
It should be located in a quiet place away from doors or windows. Avoid areas near radiators and/or that directly receive cold drafts.
What should Aquatic Turtles look like?
To house your aquatic turtle, a large enclosure with between 8 and 15 liters per juvenile species is recommended at least (shell of 3 to 6 cm) and, as the turtle grows, you will need more space. Therefore, it is recommended to look for the largest Aquatic Turtles you can buy!
If you have a garden, you can live in an outdoor tank, but you can also live at home if you provide Aquatic Turtles or water earth land, where you have a dry surface to rest, and water so you can swim.
Since it is in the water that the new tenant will spend the longest, the depth of it must be at least twice the size that the turtle has vertically, that is, that it covers its body several times so that you can swim comfortably.
In the dry areas of the aquatic earth land, the aquatic turtle can regulate body temperature, so it is essential that it has ramps so that the turtle can access a firm surface. You can never skip this step, as it is very important that the turtle can get out of the water and dry, otherwise it can lead to excessive caloric expenditure, stress, and other possible diseases in the shell.
What supplements do you need?
In addition to worrying about water and the dry zone, another factor to be taken into account in Aquatic Turtles is the control of temperature, humidity, and light. Next, we will describe to you the three main devices that are needed to keep your pet happy and healthy:
- Thermometer specific for aquatic turtles. This device keeps the water at a temperature between 23 and 25 Cº. It has a structure resistant to blows and care because it could burn the turtle if it touched it.
- Filtration equipment. It is a device that keeps water free of dirt and biologically balanced. Reduces maintenance and improves turtle quality of life.
- Specific lighting system for aquatic turtles. If your turtle is not able to sunbathe indoors, it is ideal to provide you with a lighting system formed by a lamp holder and a specific lamp for aquatic turtles. The light that this lamp emits has a balance between UVB and UVA light necessary for optimal calcium metabolism and vitamins. These systems are designed to be resistant to splashes of water.
Turtles do not entertain themselves with toys but can enrich the habitat by providing them with opportunities for moderate climbing. If you want your water turtle to feel the biggest in your home, consider including an area of pebbles, branches, and shrubs, so you can climb or look for shade. In addition, turtles also enjoy digging, so you should make sure that there is a deep layer of a mixture of sand and aquarium gravel.
Cleaning of Aquatic Turtles
How to clean the Aquatic Turtles?
Keeping the aquatic earthy clean is very important, so you will have to be disciplined with cleaning your habitat, if it is a small Aquatic turtle of fewer than 15 liters, you need to change the whole water 2 times a week.
If it’s bigger, you can change the water once a week. This also depends on the number of turtles and whether they have a filtration system. It is always necessary to use a conditioner for water before putting the turtles, thus reducing stress and toxic agents to animals. It is also recommended to clean with running water the decoration, filter, and box.