does my turtle need a filter in its tank?

Answer 1

Yes, turtles should have filters but its not needed. It makes it much easier to keep the tank clean and there is no downside to it. I bought a filter for mine the day I got my first turtle. Because I knew how dirty the tank would get. You don't have to clean the tank as often but it should still get cleaned out every once in a while. Get a filter you wil be amazed how much cleaner the tank is.

Answer 2

Yes, I would strongly recommend a filter in the tank, for your sake and his. I have sliders and they funk up water something aweful without a filter (soon they will have their own pond...) and now I don't feel bad not changing the water every three hours.

The filter that I have had the best luck with is the Tetra filter, either the green turtle one (~$20) or the same thing for fish (~$12). The first just has a different color and has a cap to keep turtles out (never had a problem with that though...). I would also recommend a water heater, Tetra makes a good one that won't burn the turtles.

Answer 3

Yes/no. It really depends on the type. If you have the type that lives in the water with only smaller land mass of islands then yes you really do need a filter for the health benefit of your turtle. These turtles are, painters,red eared sliders, turtles like that need a filter, If not they could become sick in their own waste, and trust me a filter is much cheaper than going to the vet to get it cured. If you have a turtle that lives mostly on land like box turtles,mud turtles,snapping turtles, or those kind then no you don't. They shouldn't be in a tank full of water. Their not designed for that. They would drown anyway. They should only have a pond of water for drinks and swims on hot days. Hope this helps. Good luck. :)

Answer 4

No, they don't NEED a filter, but if you don't the water will dirty quickly and you'll be changig the water every couple of days, making it quite a chore. Turtles are not sensitive to water quality like fish and they don't need oxygenated water. They only swim and do not "breathe" the water. To enjoy the hobby, you need to invest in good equipment, large enough tank and good filter. If you decide not to get a filter, I recommend getting the largest tub with as much water as possible, since it will take longer to dirty up.

A 10-20 gallon tank is too small for most turtles, like RES (red eared sliders) or any turtles of similar size. And most pet shops recommend Fluval 3 Plus or Power Filter (Hang on the tank), both of which are limited. They cannot keep the tank clean enough for a turtle and it is a waste of money and you'll be cleaning the tank water every week or two.

From my experiece, bigger tanks (40-50G and up) contain more water and it takes longer to dirty up and as well, you can hook up a large canister filter like Filstar xP3 or Fluval 404 or 405. You won't have to clean the filter for three months and you can do partial water changes every couple of weeks. In this case, all you need to do is chill and enjoy the turtle. This scenerio takes money ($100 for filter and $50-100 for used tank) and/or time to look for used tanks.

Answer 5

A filter is very neccisary for a turtle, depending on the type
if it is swamp dwelling like a matamata turtle, than you can deffinitly go without
but if it is a captive, such as a Red Eared Slider, the addition of a filter is nessecary.

I hope this helped
-Eric

Answer 6

Yes it is probably best for your turtles health to have a filter in its aquarium, But if you want to I imagine you can change it out everyday to get the best results for your turtle.

Answer 7

if u use a filter, try to use a power filter

Answer 8

See the website :)

Answer 9

Yes, it will help with cleaning, but remember it won't remove ammonia produced from urine waste, so frequent water changes are very important. www.austinsturtlepage.com for good info.

Answer 10

ya!