Turtle Care - How to Care For Your Turtle

If you are considering getting a turtle to keep as a pet, there are a few items you must be willing to acquire and a number of things everyone interested in turtles should know.

Knowledge of the basics of turtle care is a must. When looking for a tank to use for a turtle habitat it needs to be at least 40 gallons. The best way to estimate tank size is to remember that standard requirement for turtles is 15 gallons of tank per inch of turtle. Turtles can also grow three to four times the size they are when they are first purchased.

Turtles also need both land and water to survive, they also require a sun lamp to help them absorb enough vitamin D3 in the winter months if kept indoors.

When handling turtles make sure to wash your hands right afterwards as some turtles are salmonella carriers. This is another reason to make sure to keep your turtles' tank clean with fresh water. This means cleaning it at least once a week to once every other week at the most.

It is also necessary to have an excellent filter system to help keep the tank clean and the turtle happy and healthy, this is because normal tap water in urban areas contains chlorine and fluoride and can disrupt the pH balance in the tank. Letting tap water sit out overnight before putting it in the tank will cause the chlorine to dissipate.

When preparing a turtle enclosure it is better to stay away from using gravel or wood chips to decorate a turtle tank. Uneaten food and waste can collect in the gravel and create an environment that harbors disease when it comes to good turtle care and wood chips are a great place for mold spores to grow.

The other reason is that turtles may try and eat these causing digestion problems. This also applies to any plants added to the tank that need to be non-toxic to a turtle as they may try and eat them. Many normal garden plants can poison turtles.

When considering building the ideal turtle environment, your commitment in providing ongoing turtle care for many years needs to be considered.

All the equipment to properly raise a healthy turtle is not cheap and that needs to be looked at before making a final decision regarding taking on a turtle as a pet. Turtles can live for decades and make great family pet if these concerns are taken care of and anticipated before purchasing a turtle.

H (John) Tucker has a keen interest in pets especially turtles and tortoises. They do make great pets but are a big commitment especially as they can live for many years. Find out more about turtle care.

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