Turtle - Animates

Water
Feeding
This needs to be fresh and chlorine free. Turtles drink
Juveniles (up to one year) should be fed twice a day
as they swim so it is important that their water is
and adults (over one year) every second day. They can
Healthy looking hard shell with no lesions
clean. Treat the water with Aquaplus or Stresscoat to
only feed in water and so you may want to consider a
Active and alert
de-chlorinate it.
secondary container for feeding.
Feeds well
You can place your turtle into the secondary container
Healthy skin with no lesions
with the correct temperature water and feed in here
Bright and clear eyes
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The signs of a healthy turtle are:
to reduce mess and waste. Feed only as much as can
Clear vent and nose.
be finished in one feeding (about 15 minutes).
Keep an eye on your turtle’s weight; if he is developing
The signs of an unhealthy turtle are:
skin folds around his legs he is overweight and you
Open mouth breathing, coughing or sneezing
need to consider feeding more leafy green vegetables.
Lethargy
Frantic swimming
Habitat care and behaviour
Diet
Like all creatures, turtles like variety. A good
commercial pellet combined with a variety of plants,
frozen food and live food. Live food simulates life in
the wild and creates some stimulation for your turtle.
Water changes of 50% will be required weekly with
a thorough clean once a month at least. Turtles will
spend a fair amount of time basking under their light,
warming themselves. Being cold blooded creatures
they rely on external influences to regulate their body
temperature. They don’t like to be handled too much.
Different reptiles should not be housed together.
Safe list:
Protein such as earthworms, crickets,
waxworms, silkworms, aquatic snails, blood
worms, daphnia, shrimp, krill, mealworms
Leafy greens can be fed sparingly such as;
collard, mustard and dandelion greens, kale
and bok choy. Lettuces need to be of the dark
green variety such as water lettuce, romaine,
endive or radicchio. Iceberg lettuce contains
very little nutrition and should be avoided
Sores, lesions, discoloured patches or foul smelling patches on the shell
Swollen eyes
Abnormal faeces.
Consult your veterinarian if you notice any of these
signs or symptoms.
Recommended supplies
Hygiene
Large tank with a lid
Turtles can be potential carriers of salmonella and
Large gravel (optional)
you should always wash your hands before and after
Flat basking rocks
handling your turtle or its tank contents.
External filter
Pregnant women and people with weakened immune
Cuttlefish/conditioning block
systems should consider another pet.
Variety of high quality food
Gravel siphon
Heater
Flowers are okay to feed but make sure they
are spray free. Varieties which are safe include
roses, pansies, petunias, lilies, carnations,
hibiscus, nasturtium and geraniums
Book about care
Aquatic plants like anachris are also well loved
by turtles
Reptile light bulbs
Other vegetables: carrots (tops are fine too),
squash and green beans – these can be grated
or thinly sliced.
Secondary feeding container
Basking lamp
Light hood
Clean your
gravel regularily
to keep your
tank healthy.
Thermometer(s)
Haul out ramp.
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Ru
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Red Eared Slider
Turtle
care guide
Light
Turtles require two light sources:
Turtles are gentle
aquatic creatures that
emerge from the water to
bask in the sunlight. Taking
care of a turtle is a long term
commitment which needs a
great deal of thought prior to
purchasing. Most turtles are
“look at” pets and don’t
particularly like to be
stroked or cuddled.
Fluorescent reptile light:
This needs to be a full spectrum UVA/UVB reptile light
which is necessary for the production of calcium and
maintenance of the hardness of their shells. It needs
to be on for 10 to 12 hours per day, a good rule of
thumb is 12 hours on and 12 hours off. This will create
a consistent day/night cycle.
Basking light:
The basking light needs to be incandescent light
producing UVB rays. Make sure that your turtle cannot
touch this light and it cannot fall into the water.
Environment and housing
Gravel and substrate
The environment that you house your turtle in needs
Gravel is not necessary; in fact very small gravel can be
to be well thought out, set up and maintained. The
ingested by your turtle and this can cause blockage
Filtration
habitat that you create needs to meet your turtle’s
problems. We recommend very large stone gravel;
Turtles are pretty messy creatures for their size
needs and simulate his natural environment as much
stones that are large enough not to be swallowed.
and they need a very good filtration system. We
as possible.
Alternatively river rocks or aquatic safe rocks can be
recommend a powerful external canister filter. This not
used. This also makes the clean up easier.
only saves on cleaning up time, but creates a healthier
Turtles require a swim area and a land area in their
Use this checklist to make sure that a
turtle is right for you and your family
I understand that my turtle won’t like to be
over handled
I can accommodate the large tank, heating
and filtration that my turtle will require
I can commit to looking after this turtle daily
enclosures. A 75 litre tank is considered a minimum
A haul out ramp with a landing/basking spot under
for one turtle and he needs to have enough space for
the basking lamp is a necessity. There are many
swimming and basking. Bigger is always better!
commercial basking platforms available, but a flat river
Water depth – this should provide as least 1.5 to 2
A rock placed in the swim area which allows for
will require 7.5 to 10cm of water depth).
deep and shallow swimming allows the turtle to
area should be 4 to 5
times the length of
your turtle and the
poke its head out of the water while its body
remains submerged.
Heat
width should be 2 to 3
Your heat source for the water needs to come from
times the width of your
a submersible heater or an external filter/heater
turtle. It pays to invest
combined. If you are using a submersible heater this
larger and will always require an appropriate
in the largest tank you
must be covered with a heater guard. Turtles can break
sized enclosure
can afford to allow for
the glass covering a heater easily.
growth. The tank also
Water temperature: 26-28ºC
needs to be tall enough
Basking area: 29-32ºC
for up to 25 years
I understand that my turtle will get much
An adult can provide primary care for this pet
Average size: 16cm to 30cm – adult
so that your turtle can
Life span: 20 years
not climb out and a lid
is recommended.
environment for your turtle to live in.
rock is also a good option.
times water depth as your turtle is long (a 5cm turtle
The length of the swim
A basking area is needed below it.
Have a thermometer in both areas.
If you are using a
submersible heater
this must be covered
with a heater guard.
Turtles can break
the glass covering a
heater easily.
Ru
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