Hey You made it! Great job! You have found one of the best online resources for your Pet Turtle.
This site has the basic information you need to care for your Pet Turtle, and answers for your questions. However, if you're serious about providing the best possible care for your new pet, you absolutely must get the Turtle Guide Book. Not only is this our Product of the Month, it's packed full of great turtle facts, care and treatment instructions, and diet information.
You'll find everything you need to know in order to make your new Pet Turtle feel right at home. You can find great tips and techniques for creating your Pet Turtle's habitat, including suggestions for the dry area and wet area. Did you know that turtles can live up to forty or fifty years old? Your pet's going to be with you for most of your life. Don't they deserve the best possible care you can give them?
The Turtle Guide Book will help you provide just that and more!
Some species can live a long time. Pet turtles can enjoy a long life as well if you create a turtle habitat that is much like their natural living area. Doing the proper research for the type of turtle you have is a key factor in creating a turtle habitat that will allow your pet to thrive.
The Set Up You Will Need for Your Turtle Habitat
Most people that are turtle owners keep their pets indoors. Others create a turtle habitat outside to allow the turtle their hibernation period. Some people that keep their pets indoors put them in the refrigerator in the fall and take them out in the latter part of spring to allow them to hibernate. This is not a good idea. There are many things that can go wrong with this scenario such as a power outage or a rise in temperature suddenly that may wake your turtle from his slumber. This can even prove fatal so it is best that your pet doesn't hibernate if it is to be kept indoors.
The first thing you will need is a tank of at least 40 gallons. Your turtle habitat will need to be able to have room in which to roam, water in which to swim and a feeding area, so extra room is always recommended.
Besides a tank, you should invest in a heat lamp so that your turtle can bask in the "sun." The proper temperature at which your turtle should be kept depends a lot on the species of turtle you own. Land turtles are able to maintain their body heat for a longer period of time than can aquatic turtles. To be on the safe side, allow the daytime temperature to stay at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In the evening, you can lower the temperature to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Your turtle does not like a sudden temperature change, so unless you can take out your turtle in an area that mimics the temperature in the tank, it is best to leave them alone. Changes in temperatures adversely affect reptiles and can compromise their immune system. Being cold blooded creatures, their bodies take much longer to adapt to sudden temperature changes.
What Should Be Added To The Turtle Habitat To Make It Feel Like Home?
Adding non poisonous vegetation to your turtle habitat is fine. They will often munch on these plants so make sure they will not harm your turtle. You will want to avoid using wood chips or the bark of a tree for your turtle habitat as your turtle may get sick from eating them. These items will also grow mold, mildew and fungus quickly. Your turtle habitat should also contain a place to use as shelter when they want to retreat from the world. This can be made of wood or stones that have been selected carefully.
Be sure your turtle habitat is kept away from curious little fingers and out of the way of other pets you may have. A turtle is smart enough to know who his friend is and who is not. Giving your pet the ideal habitat will allow you and your family to enjoy your turtle for many years.
