Pet Turtle Care - Keeping Terrapins As Pets Some Basic Information

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Keeping Terrapins as Pets: Some Basic Information

Keeping terrapins as pets can be a very fulfilling experience. These little reptiles are very interesting to watch and can live for up to forty years. Many children that have been keeping terrapins as pets will often have the same terrapin into adulthood.

What’s in a Name?

In the United States, the name terrapin normally refers to fresh or brackish water diamondback terrapins. However, in the United Kingdom, terrapin is generally the name given for all turtles that are kept as pets.

General Terrapin Information

A terrapin is usually smaller than a turtle and has a much lighter shell. However, many terrapins can grow up to twelve inches in diameter. Terrapins also have webbed feet, as they spend a great deal of time in the water. If you are considering keeping a terrapin as a pet, you need to know some basic care information as well.

Terrapin Habitat

Terrapins can be kept inside or outside. If you choose to keep your terrapin outside, you must provide a safe habitat, away from predators. Terrapins that are kept indoors will need quite a bit of room. Most experts recommend at least a 60 gallon tank. There must be a wet and dry area in the tank. Terrapins spend a great deal of time in the water, so it needs to be deep enough for them to swim.

You will also need a heat lamp if you are keeping terrapins as pets indoors. Terrapins have a difficult time regulating their body temperature. Usually terrapins draw warmth from their surrounding. You also need to expose your terrapin to UV light, as this will aid in the synthesis of vitamins and minerals.

Terrapin Diet

Terrapins require a diet much like a regular turtles. The main different is in their feeding habits. When keeping terrapins as pets, you will soon notice they are very messy eaters. Terrapins eat a wide variety of foods, including mealworms, crickets, vegetables such as kale and lettuce, and fruits such as pieces of bananas and strawberries. Cuttlefish bone is a good source of calcium.

During feedings, many people find it easier to move their terrapin to a separate container; however, it will depend upon how comfortable your terrapin is when picked up and moved. Terrapins generally do not like to be picked up.

Water is especially important to terrapins and must be kept clean and filtered. This will keep the bacteria from building up and making your terrapin sick. You’ll need to consider spring water instead of tap water when keeping terrapins as pets, in order to minimize the amount of chlorine in the water.

A Final Thought

When keeping terrapins as pets, you must realize the dedication needed to properly care for your reptile. Terrapins can be a great pet, but will need the tank cleaned regularly and fresh water daily. You must also be sure the correct temperature is maintained in the tank. Terrapins must also be kept safe from small children and pets. Dropping a terrapin can prove fatal. While keeping terrapins as pets can be a lot of fun, it is also a great deal of responsibility.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #1

Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #2

Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.

Pet Turtle Care Tip #3

All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.

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