Care for Pet Turtles

Who wouldn't like a turtle as a pet? The common sub-species which are kept as pets are Box turtles, Sliders, Mud turtles and Pointed turtles. Unfortunately, today, people buy turtles only as a 'style statement'; they do not treat turtles as other pets. Turtles are exotic pets, but they require only little care as compared to other fur-bearing animals. Though turtles have a long life-span, many die due to lack of proper care. Here are some tips to take care of your pet turtle.

• You are required to pay close attention to your turtle, take care of its diet, living arrangement.
• Make sure there is enough room for your turtle, there is enough exposure to light, clean water and a basking lamp for the turtle.
• Avoid using tap water for the turtle, as it may contain chlorine. If possible, use natural spring water, or let the tap water stand for 24 hours to remove chlorine and then pour it in the turtle tank.
• If you want to try and recreate the turtle's habitat as natural as possible, then you may set up a turtle pen outside. This will also allow your turtle to hibernate in the fall. It is good for its health; as turtles which don't hibernate may develop liver diseases.
• Remember you will not get to see your turtle until it comes out of hibernation. If you have children or other pets, see to it that they don't disturb the turtle.
• Some people may advice you to keep the turtle in the refrigerator to help it hibernate. But remember, this is not at all a good practice because during a power cut or sudden rise in temperature, the turtle's slumber may be interrupted and the results could be fatal.
• If you are planning to keep your turtle indoors, it is best not to let it hibernate. There are also some necessary precautions to be taken while keeping your turtle indoors.
• Make sure your turtle tank capacity is at least 40 gallons, there should be enough space for land area and water area. Turtles love basking in light, so place the tank in a room with sunlight or try and place a sun lamp near the tank.
• Turtles generally require 12 hours of sunlight, to get vitamin D3 which is very good for their health. The ideal temperature for your turtle tank depends on the breed of the turtle; for example, aquatic turtles need a hotter environment than the terrestrial ones. In general, the tank temperature should be around 80º during daytime, and 70º at night.
• Wash your hands every time you touch the turtle, this will prevent any infection. It is not a good idea to remove the turtle from the tank, time and again, to play with it or show it to someone. Turtles are cold-blooded animals, they cannot adjust to different surroundings easily. Sudden changes in heat can cause serious consequences.
• Keep the turtle pen or tank clean. Keep different water for drinking, as the tank water may be contaminated by urine. Change the water frequently, make sure that the water is clean.
• Do not use artificial decorations in the tank, since there is a high possibility that the turtle may try to ingest it. Don't even use wood chips or tree barks. Not only will the turtle try to eat them but they also get contaminated very fast and favor the growth of mold and fungus.
• Your turtle should have a place for retreat when it is tired of being out for too long. This place should be made of wood or carefully selected stones. If you want to add vegetation, make sure it is not poisonous to the turtle.
• Most turtles are omnivorous. You should feed them the right food that is balanced amount of both meat and vegetables. It is observed that aquatic turtles like meat while terrestrial ones like vegetation.
• You can feed them fish, earthworms, snails, slugs and grubs may be a good option, while terrestrial turtles also like berries, leafy vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, alfalfa and clover.
• Buying feeder fish every day may be expensive, so you may use 'food stick' which is quite cheaper
• It is a good practice to feed your turtle a live fish once in a week. Catching the live fish is a good form of exercise for the turtle.
• If your turtle has developed cloudy skin or patches or milky eyes, it is probably because of a disease or lack of nutrition. Consult a veterinarian promptly.
• Keep your turtle away from the reach of kids and other pets, as they may harm it.

Keep a close watch on your turtle's behavior and take care of it as you would, of any other pet. Remember they are not some 'novelty-factor'. If looked after with care, a turtle can live for many years and bring joy to your family.