what does a pet turtle need to be happy?

Answer 1

Depends on what kind of turtle it is. I'm guessing it would be a Red Eared Slider because these are the most common household pets that are turtles. You can decipher this by looking on the side of his head, if it is a slider, you will see red lines on each side of its head. Turtles are very social animals and do not thrive being alone in the tank. Make sure you get a companion for him/her but keep in mind that you should not place two males together because they can become territorial. Two females or a femal and a male should be fine. Also, make sure that you keep a few feeder fish in the tank so that the turtles are stimulated and get regular exercise when they chase around their food. Lastly,
Clean the tub/tank once a week at least. The waste from the turtle is needless to say harmful if left uncleaned. In addition to this, you should scrub the shell with a soft toothbrush and buy some shell cream which will give the turtle the vitamins it needs to have a healthy shell and prevent shell rot.

Answer 2

Knowing the species would help, but here are some guidelines for Painted Turtles and Red-ear Sliders...

Big tanks, lots of room to swim, hunt, and feel secure in.

Clean, warm water.

Good sunlight-like lighting with UVB rays.

The right diet, and not all pellets.

Good, warm, safe basking sites.

Places in the water to hide.

A knowledgeable owner.

Try http://www.austinsturtlepage.com for other ideas.

Answer 3

to be healthy just like any other living thing a happy turtle is a healthy turtle

Answer 4

They need room
The right temperature
And for my tortoise, he likes lots of attention and new toys (such as logs) to play with to keep him entertained.
It will also need a place to hide to feel secure in.

Answer 5

A mate.

Answer 6

bugs and plenty of room to roam!