How do I care for my baby painted pond turtle?

Question

I have a baby painted pond turtle and I want to know how much water he needs and what to feed him. I have pond pellets and he likes rocks to sit on. What other information can you give me? Please respond a.s.a.p. Thank you.

Answer 1

It needs food, sun to baske in (very important), enough water to submerge itself in so it can swallow it's food, and a rock or log so they can get out of the water to baske in the sun.

They spend the better part of their day basking in the sun. This is important to maintain a healthy shell.

Baby turtles need all the necessary vitamins (some from food, some from the sun), otherwise they get soft-shell and die. Older/bigger turtles fare better in captivity.

Artificial light may be sufficient as long as it's both UVA and UVB light (not just UVA, very important for reptiles). I wouldn't use pre-packaged food from the pet store. Buy crickets or mealworms from your pet shop, catch flies and/or worms on your own, and give them seaweed, lettuce, or other kinds of plant/vegetable matter as well. The more variety the better chances of him getting his vitamins and staying healthy. But...

Good Luck. You're still going to need it.

Answer 2

1. It's fine to let them wander on carpet, as long you don't loose sight of it. 2. You may not release a captive turtle into the wild, either give it to someone else or a shelter that takes in turtles. Not only will it probably not survive, but you can introduce bacteria that wild-bred turtles never seen before. 3. Fruits are once a month, and veggies become their main diet as they become adults. Baby turtles are mainly meat eaters. 4. Once per day, for turtles under a year old. Every other day for over a year old. 5. Painted turtles are aquatics, meaning they live in water and come out onto a dock to bask. 6. Depends on how it was cared for, whether it had food and lighting. Could be a year - 2 years. 7. Turtles do not like being held, it causes stress. Only handle the turtle when it needs to be moved. Like tank cleaning. Besides that, don't pick it out of it's tank. 8. Get a water heater, and keep the water at a constant 75 F. Remember 75 degree F. water doesn't feel warm to the human touch. The turtle will tell the difference. 9. There needs to be both a basking light and a UVB light, both should be kept on for at least 10 - 12 hours per day, to simulate daylight. 10. Food cost depends on what you're feeding it. I don't feed just one turtle, I have many. Maybe...$4 - $10 for the pellets, and a few more $ for worms and snails.

Answer 3

I have 2 painted pond turtles...sometimes I think they are called yellow bellied sliders. Your turtle probably needs a large tank at least 55 gallons. Get a 55 gallon Rubbermaid tub. Those are the best, and cheapest.

He needs some rocks to sun on....ummm...you need to get him a heat lamp he will get shell rot if you don't they need some way to get dry.

It might take him a while but he will eat reptile sticks...you can get those at wal-mart, as with the tub. If you have cats or dogs sometimes they will eat cat and dog food for a snack. They like bugs to. Mine have fish in there tank but they never eat them.

I hope that helps they are not the easiest pet to own, but once you get the hang of it they are really fun to watch.

Answer 4

The site below has a lot of good info.

You need at least 10 gallons per inch of shell length. You need to rig it for good cleaning, good heating (80 or so water temps), lighting that includes UV-B, and a basking area that gets to 90.

Diet- good turtle pellets or things like trout chow are OK. You can add variety later.

Be aware that turtles are not easy pets- they take a lot of work to get set up, and daily cares. Baby turtles are tougher yet.

You can get more info below:

Answer 5

i got an eastern painted turtle an i feed it turtle food an an i keep it in a cage with alot of water an a lil rock to get its head outta the water every know an then

Answer 6

Rapping

Answer 7

I had a pond turtle called Tippy. Tippy died, so I'm not the best person from whom to seek advice.

I'm writing this because I miss Tippy.

Answer 8

Get a book. Books have to be fact checked while any idiot can write anything on the internet. The information will be more complete too.

Answer 9

I don't have one, they told me it was illegal in this area becuase they're so small, so you can't have it as a pet.

I'm only writing becuase I've wanted one since I was 17!

Sorry, don't have any answers for you. My ex boyfriend's tortoise (?SP) used to like to eat lettuce. Nothing in his tank but tiny gravel and a heat lamp. He liked his space. Maybe check with your local pet smart, or check out the library for books.

Answer 10

Make sure you use a fresh baby when you paint him. Old stale babies are no good.