Do you remember reading children’s books with pet turtles as the main pet? Children adore turtles as pets. They are very interesting creatures and there are many species. When you decide to have a turtle for a pet you will need to know the exact species for the proper care.
Let’s dive right in.
Pet Turtles Are Both Fascinating And Novel
Let us look at some pet turtle species you can own. There are two types of turtles, the terrestrial and the aquatic. This means the first type of turtle spends more time on the land while the aquatic turtle needs to have a great deal of water.
Terrestrial Turtles
Box and mud turtles are the terrestrial turtles. They require land to hibernate during the winter and sun on during the day. Most terrestrial turtles need 12 hours of sunlight which can be provided by a UV lamp.
Pet turtles are very susceptible to temperature changes and need to live in 80 degrees during the day and 70 degrees during the night. Terrestrial turtles also need water not only to drink but also to swim around in.
Aquatic Turtles
Aquatic pet turtles are sliders and painted turtles. Sliders typically live in swampy areas or near lakes with a lot of mud. They tend to bask in the sun during the day as well as swim to cool off.
The painted turtle like the slider is mostly aquatic so they spend more time in the water than out sunning themselves. The painted turtle is the most complicated turtle to take care of because they require special care.
Tank
Once you have decided on the type of turtle you wish to have you will then know what size tank you need. Most pet turtles require a 40 gallon tank or larger to have room for land and water.
You will want to have plants in the tank but make sure they are not poisonous to pet turtles because they will eat them. You pet shop should be able to tell you the right type of plants to have.
Wood Chips
Wood chips and bark are not a good idea, not only do they harbor bacteria and molds but pet turtles can eat them.
A turtle does not have a large digestive track and therefore wood chips often cause blockages. Certain turtles can even have small rocks to burrow under along with the dirt.
Food for Pet Turtles
Some proper food for pet turtles is often lettuce, goldfish, special feed sticks, berries and insects depending on the species of turtle you own.
Water for Pet Turtles
Water is very important to your turtle. You never want to give them tap water to drink.
It is also best to give pet turtles natural spring water or non- chlorinated water for swimming in. Chlorine and other chemicals of tap water can cause bacteria in their digestive systems.
Habitat
Turtles can make great pets if you know a little about their habitat needs. Turtles are wondrous creatures that you can find in most warm climates walking along the roads or basking in the sun.
So what better way than to give your child a great pet than to own a pet turtle.
Sensitive
Keep in mind that turtles are sensitive and you will not want to handle them a lot. They do need to hibernate to live a longer life. This requires you to keep the pet turtles somewhere little children cannot disturb them during the fall period.
Pet turtles are both fascinating and novel pets for children. So consider getting one for them to enjoy!
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