Jan 3, 2018

Housing Your Pet Turtle


Category: General
Posted by: Suresh

Pet turtles are housed in terrariums, and when shopping for one in a pet supplies store, be sure not to economize on the size and quality. Like most other pets, turtles like to explore, and getting the biggest you can afford is a good idea since it will give your pet ample room to move around. Also, make sure that you’re buying terrariums of excellent quality and is capable of holding water. Some terrariums, especially those made for snakes and lizards, aren’t designed to hold water. So ask your pet supplies expert which among those in their shelves are best suited for turtles. The size should be big enough to allow the turtle to swim freely and have deep enough water. When the water is too shallow and the turtle tips on its back, it won’t be able to right itself. It should also be big enough to contain a floating docks for the turtle to bask on. You can get these floating docks from pet supplies and reptile accessories stores.

Housing Maintenance

As with any other pet homes, it is important that you stay on top of your turtle’s house maintenance. In many cases, problems with turtle as pet starts with poorly maintained housing.

One maintenance task that you need to do is to always keep the water clean. For this, you will need to have a strong filtration system which you can buy from a pet supplies store. Having one will help keep the water clean so you don’t have to change it very often. However, this does not mean that you don’t have to change the water because you still do. Changing the water removes any particles that may harm your turtle. Also, keep in mind that their tank is also their bathroom, so regularly changing the water is a must or else they may suffer from infections.

Consider making use of water conditioner as well. This will help to keep organisms like salmonella at bay and make the water much more livable for the turtle. You can get these water conditioner from pet supplies store.

Temperature

It is important that you provide your pet turtles with the appropriate ambient and water temperature at all times. The right temperature will vary and depend on several factors like the current season and others. To be sure, ask an expert while you are buying your thermometers in a store that sells pet supplies. You can also do your own research about the right temperatures for your specie of turtle. As much as possible, you’ll want to copy the exact temperature as that of their natural habitat. Failing to do so can result to your turtle losing appetite or developing respiratory problems.

You’re going to need at least two thermometers, one to measure the temperature of the water and another to measure the dry side of the tank. Both types of thermometers are usually sold in all pet supplies stores.

Sunlight

Providing your turtle with sunlight is essential in ensuring its health. You can do this by putting your tank near a window, though this will also promote the growth of algae and cause your tank to become dirtier faster. Thus, the best way to do this would be to get some UV light bulbs designed specifically for reptiles. If you don’t then you run the risk of your turtle suffering from metabolic bone disease or soft shell syndrome.