does any one have good information on raising a turtle?

Question

im going to be getting one in a month!!
i just think they are really cute so i asked for one and now i dont really know any thing on it!!
ineed help on food, environment, etc.!!
thanx a bunch!!!

Answer 1

This has everything you need to know

www.petturtle.com

good luck

Answer 2

What kind of turtle?

Most turtles need a place to be in the sun/light and a place to be in the water. I have 2 red eared sliders and I use a 100 gallon tank (only because mine are really big now and need a lot of room!) You can probably start out with a 20 gallon tank.. You will need a water filter, gravel or rocks, something they can climb on to get out of the water and dry out (called basking, they love that!) and a lamp or source of light. The water needs to be changed often because turtles can be pretty dirty and some can even carry salmonella. Some turtles (like red eared sliders) can only eat in the water, so if you are getting those kind make sure they have room to swim and go underwater so they can eat.

Good luck and try getting a book at a pet store about turtles, it will help you a lot. Also, if you have more questions ask someone at a pet store, or if you have any more questions you can message me and I'll help as much as I can.

Answer 3

At least your asking before you actually got it. Now if you want to be a good turtle parent, then spend the next month reading everything you can get. Go to Petco and buy the appropriate "turtle for dummies" book, along with a few others. Check the libraries too. Most turtle care info is relative to all turtles, but the specifics of environment, substrate, etc. will depend on whether you are getting an aquatic turtle or land turtle.

You should spend this time assessing everything it is going to need and deciding if you have the commitment and the funds to take care of one long term. Turtles live for a long time if cared for properly ( from 20-100 years depeding on species ), and they can't just be set loose if you decide you don't want it anymore, nor will pet stores take them. Aquatic turtles need to have their tanks cleaned regularly, and they can be very messy. You also need to know whether you are getting a herbivore ( tortoise ) or an omnivore/carnivore. They have specific dietary needs, BUT STAY AWAY FROM PROCESSED OR PACKAGED FOOD, USE FRESH FOODS.

Regardless of the species, you will need to spring for a good outdoor enclosure, or buy a big tank with UVB lighting. UVB lighting is not optional, it is a REQUIREMENT. You cannot judge the quality of a UV light by 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 etc. This means nothing unless you know what the percentage of the total light output is. I prefer to judge UV lighting by the professional industry scale, expressed in microwatts per square cm ( cm2 ). Cheap flourescent UV lamps are not to be replaced EVERY YEAR as previously stated. They should be replaced EVERY SIX MONTHS! If you go with a cheap $20 light, that is what you will get. A cheap light. A poor light and insufficient UVB will cause your turtle health problems such as metabolic bone disorder, which can lead to deformities and death. Herpers who know what they are doing and care about their animals spend the extra for a nice mercury vapor lamp ( I recommend Mega-Ray SB 160 ), OR they will buy numerous $20 strip lights every 6 months. Your reptile's health depends on it, SO DO NOT GO CHEAP ON LIGHTS. Do not torture the turtle as so many do by going cheap and placing it in a small 10 gallon tank. Turtles do best the more room you give them.

I also do not recommend SAND as a substrate. They should be on a humidity retaining substrate such as moss, mulch, coconut bark, etc. Sand will get into their eyes causing abrasions and inflammation...they will also eat some of the sand if you feed them on the sand, and this can cause an intestinal impaction and inflammation. Most sand is composed of primarily silica ( pulverized glass ) and can pose an inhalation/respiratory hazard. TURTLES ARE ALREADY PRONE TO RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS-SO DO NOT USE SAND.

Just make sure you know what you are getting into beforehand.

For necessary information go to:
Tess Cook's boxturtlesite.org
anapsid.org ( much of the lizard/reptile information is useful for turtles )
chelonia.org
then go to kingsnake.com's turtle forums or Austins turtle page

Answer 4

It depends on the type, but we have cooters (basic turtle) and used to have map turtles (that are VERY crafty and escaped). If you get them from the time they are babies (size of a quarter), any turtle that is green not brown will be super friendly!

1. Food- I recommend Repto-Min for turtles, you can get it ANYWHERE. Ours recognize the yellow top and come dashing through the water for it!

2. Their environment should grow with them. If you can do an outdoor environment, we've found that to be the best because they don't like tanks very much and they LOVE and need sun. Email me [e-mail]- let me know if they'll be in or out and i'd love to let you know about our experiences!

3. Cleaning also depends on indoors or outdoors.

Lastly, all turtles (or any animals) will bite if frightened or if you put your finger in their mouths- it is a myth that snapping turtles or any others want to injure you- NONE of ours have ever bitten anyone once.

There's a lot I can share with you, email me if you'd like! GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 5

Turtles need water that is at least as deep as the width of their shell. I have my 3" western Painted, Hachi, in a 55gal thats filled only 3-4" from the top at all times. As substrate, I use clean sand. Its the most natural and the turtles are smart enough to know its not food. You can add fish to the tank, and as long as the fish cant fit in his mouth completely, he shouldn't go after them. I have 5 silverdollars, 3 baby mollies, 6 neons(which he loves to eat, unfortunately), 2 goldfish to clean the bottom, 3 rainbow sharks, and an unlimited supply of ghost shrimp to clean any crap. Since they're only 26 cents, I figure I can buy a few dollars worth to keep the tank clean. Just remember that your fish need a place to be if the turtle decides he wants to eat them... They need a lot of room, so it would be nice to have a pond area outside. This can be as good as a hole in the ground with a pond tarp over it! As long as the turtle has no where to escape, and has access to land, he will be happy outside. Just make sure nothing else gets him. I would bring them in at night and during winter. Place them either in a large horse trough, or a large fish tank. That way, they will be able to entertain you year round ^.^

Filtration is VERY important. Before my canister filter went out on me, I had the 501 turtle filter running and a Whisper Diatom canister filter. I think canister filters work wonders, try them sometime. They may be expensive but they're worth the money.

You need a spot for them to escape the water. You can use rocks, but I suggest investing in a turtle dock. For small/young turtles less than 4 inches, I would get the one that attatches to the side and goes up and down with the water level. I have a turtle dock thats green and suction cups to the side. I also have a piece of driftwood suspended at water level. Hachi prefers the driftwood over the dock, but I feed him on the dock so he stops associating my fingers with(and as) food...

Feed them freezedried krill, frozen(thawed) brine shrimp, a very small ammount of turtle pellets, and live bugs. You can get super cheap live bugs on FlukerFarms.com. $5 delivered for 500 mealworms, or 250 crickets. VERY good deal. Couldn't believe it when I saw it. Never feed your turtle bugs from outside. They may have pestisides on them and may kill your turtle.

Keep the water about 76*, remember to buy a 2.0 UV light(minnimum, as a 3.0, or 5.0 would be MUCH BETTER), and try to mix up feedings. One day you could feed krill, the next you can feed mealworms.

Oh, they need UV light to digest food, so its completely essential. Dont forget it. They only cost 10-25$. Its not that much of an investment, but they do need to be replaced once a year.

Good luck. Any more questions? Email me. I love turtle-talk.

Answer 6

I just threw mine in an aquarium filled with water, and Fred loves it. I have driftwood for him to get out of the water and bask. I feed him turtle pellets, and feederfish. Get a tank heater, nd a good filter, along with a UVB light. BUT. mine is an aquatic turtle too, Painted. I bring him out every few days and let him run around the house for a while, him and the cat play together, (it's the funniest thing you ever did see, they chase each other around) But I always supervise their time. And he let's me know when it's time to go back in the tank. We've been together for 3 years.

Answer 7

i had two turtles. you are going to need a really good filter system. you can go to like petco and they have turtle food in a can that you can purchase. they also have tanks that don't cost that much. they don't need heat lamps but the do need to be taken out of the tank and put on the floor like once or twice a month. the tank is going to need to be cleaned like one every two weeks. it is fun but sometimes hard. email me for more. [e-mail]

Answer 8

Hello I have an 8 year old red eared slider it is one of many typs of turttles . it realy depends on the typ of turttle your looking at getting . each turttle has its own typ of habitat if you know what kind of turttle your getting the i sugest getting a book on turttles befor getting a turttle it may seame like they dont need much care but they do . there are many turtles that live in water 90% of there life some are a deseart typ turlle and need water but dont live in water . so i sugest this web Page for you pleases read up on them it may not be a pet for you . they can be fun and very enjoyable but if your not willing to read up on them you should not have one . each turtal has difrent needs good luck and hope this helps you

http://www.mooloolabapets.com.au/html/turtle_care.html

http://www.petturtle.com/care.htm

http://www.nikki.bz/!turtletank/care.html

try these sights these are a few of many many place to look up info on turttles .. be sure it is the pet for you ... I got mine do to the 3 previouse owners could not handle the care for him i got him at 6 mo old and now he is 8 years old and have 2 others as well and had them 3 years and not sure on there age do to the owners of them could not care for them eather it was to much for them so I have taken them in and care for them .pleases look up the info first . they are fun pets ... good luck ........dragonflyy

Answer 9

Ok well, the food needs to be greens,carrots,ect. And you could put down sheddings or cleen grass in it's cage well good luck Peace

Answer 10

Try this website:

http://redearslider.com/

Also local pet stores should have information.