How to Take Care of a Turtle

Knowing all about turtle care is the next step for people who have bought one as a pet. Sometimes, the inquiries regarding this originate from individuals who get it as a gift. The first meaningful step is to identify it i.e. finding out the species it belongs to.

Where to Start
There are different types of pet turtles. It is important to know whether your turtle prefers the land for its firmness or the water for its fluidity and the feeling of weightlessness while in it. Depending on this information, they can be differentiated as land turtles (also known as 'tortoises'), sea turtles and terrapins which prefer brackish water to live in. This information will help you a lot in providing care for your pet, especially in offering a secure environment for your pet. The different types have different equations and inputs related to their needs about habitat and feeding etc.

Indoor Housing
It may be that you would love to house your pet turtle indoors. However, it is not their natural environment. They do love to live under the Sun, in water or on the land eternally hoping that one day a cold breeze would raise the goose pimples on their hard back.

An unavoidable reason may force you to house your pet indoors. Well, in such case, you must take note of the following data. Some species of aquatic turtles are good swimmers and prefer deep waters. On the contrary there are some others which stick to shallow waters. Do not keep the aquarium in direct sunlight because it will raise the temperature of the water in it. This could become a matter of life and death because they are cold blood animals and don't have wings like ducks to escape.

If your pet is aquatic, like the red eared slider, then it should be housed in an aquarium with deep water. It is important to provide a basking area for them in the form of a large stone that will stick above the surface of water. The aquarium should also have a heat-source and a light-source which will enable your pet to produce essential vitamin D on its own. The heat-source should maintain the temperature of water in the aquariums in the range of 68-75 degree Fahrenheit.

The terrestrial or land turtle can be kept in an enclosed space laid with the right substrate such as potting soil and a dish, preferably a large one, for drinking water. It is better to avoid using wood chips, pines and ivy for the substrate.

Outdoor Housing
The outdoors give you plenty of opportunity to make the place that you have chosen for your pet as habitat, resemble its natural surrounding. This protected habitat or home must provide at least 15 by 15 feet of space for your pet. This space should contain a basking area, water source large enough for your pet to take an occasional dip and a shaded area. A new pet turtle should be provided with one or two hiding places which will help it to overcome the agitation because of the change of place. You can use plants or shrubs for this purpose; avoid using poisonous stuff.

Feeding a Turtle
Depending on their species, turtles are herbivorous, carnivorous or omnivorous. You can take dietary care of them, if you know the breed you are keeping.

Foods in the form of raw meat and worms mixed with the vegetables and fruits can be provided to the turtle. You can also provide food sticks from the pet shops along with the foods for reptiles. Young turtles eat daily but some of the fully grown ones won't. On the other hand, few may choose not to eat for a few days in a row. Keep a watch on them, and in case of slackened physical activity contact a vet.

Taking Care of Turtle Eggs
Fate may land you up in a situation where you need to take care of a turtle eggs. So, let's have a quick look at how to take care of them. Don't worry, this task is easy. You need to collect them in a container and keep them moist. You can use a handful of wet moss to coat the bottom of the container, place the eggs on it and lay another layer of wet moss on the top of the eggs. You can further nurture them by placing the container in a warm place. The eggs hatch in 70-75 days, during which you will have to keep a watch on them.

Do you know, turtles usually eat the food when it is put into the water? However, remember to take it out when your pet no more needs it. This will stop the growth of bacteria, fungus and the food going bad. You can add salt (¼ cup) to the aquarium water which will stop the growth of different types of fungi in it.

List of Turtles
Tortoises Arnold's Giant Tortoise Galápagos Giant Tortoise Indian Star Tortoise Parrot-beaked Cape Tortoise Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise Texas Tortoise	Sea Turtles Green sea turtle Hawksbill sea turtle Flatback sea turtle Loggerhead sea turtle Kemp's ridley sea turtle Olive ridley sea turtle	Terrapins Carolina diamondback terrapin Texas diamondback terrapin Mississippi diamondback terrapin Mangrove terrapin Eastern Florida terrapin Northern diamondback terrapin

It is necessary to remember that their swimming or drinking water should not contain chlorine in it. You must be aware that there are some restrictions on the sale of small turtles because it is known that there is a connection between pet turtles and salmonella. To take precautions against this infection which you may catch while handling your pet, wash your hands with soap thoroughly. If you want to own one as a pet at home choose something other than alligator snapping turtles. They do snap, so if you have small children in the house, you may want to keep them away from the surprisingly sharp teeth and strong jaws of the turtles.