Turtles are fascinating to watch. Their serene demeanor, distinctive appearance and slow, deliberate movements may be enough to make you want to bring one home. However, before you do so, there is so much you must know, especially if you’re a beginner. So, can beginners keep turtles as pets? Here is all you need to know.
Are Turtles Easy To Care For?
There is a misconception that pet turtles are low-maintenance pets. However, anyone who has kept them will tell you otherwise. Although they don’t require daily walking and grooming like dogs and cats, turtles have specific needs for a healthy life. Pet turtle care includes:
- Proper habitat: Turtles need a well-equipped enclosure with a basking area, water area and proper substrate. You must maintain the correct temperature and humidity and regularly clean the tank to prevent bacterial buildup and health issues. The pet turtle aquarium should also be big enough, because they will continue to grow in size for many years.
- Specialized diet: Turtles require a balanced diet that can include commercial turtle pellets, fresh vegetables and occasional protein sources like insects or fish. Providing a varied and nutritious diet can be more complex than feeding traditional pets.
- Long-term care: Turtles can live for decades, some even exceeding 50 years! Owning a turtle is a long-term commitment.
- Veterinary care: Like any pet, turtles can get sick and require specialized veterinary care from a reptile vet.
In essence, turtles are not the easiest pets to care for. For this reason, before bringing them home, you need to weigh the pros and cons. You must also meet all the requirements before bringing a turtle home. If you are not sure what to do, consult the pet experts.
What Enclosure Is Good for a Turtle
Even when raised in captivity, you should always remember turtles are wild animals. For this reason, a pet turtle enclosure should mimic their natural habitat. So, what enclosure is considered good for a turtle? The best enclosure will be determined by your pet turtle species.
Aquatic turtles
Species like the red-eared slider and painted turtle require a water-based habitat. For a single turtle, you will need a large aquarium with at least a 20–40-gallon capacity. The tank should have both a swimming space and a dry basking area.
Semi-aquatic turtles
These turtles, such as the box turtle, need land and water environments. You’ll need a Vivarium Tank with a water section and a dry land area with soil or substrate.
Terrestrial turtles
Land-dwelling species like tortoises require a spacious terrarium with a substrate they can dig into. These enclosures must be larger than aquatic tanks to provide adequate space for movement and exploration.
What Does a Turtle Need in Their Enclosure?
Beyond the basic structure of the terrarium, a turtle will also need the following supplies in their habitat, according to the pet experts:
- Substrate: This can be smooth gravel or river rocks for aquatic turtles and soil mixed with sand or coconut fiber substrate for terrestrial turtles.
- Heat lamp and UVB light: A heat lamp provides essential warmth and ultraviolet B rays for vitamin D synthesis and healthy shell growth.
- Water filtration system: A good filter keeps the water clean and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria.
- Hiding spots: Provide hiding places for your turtle to feel secure when needed. These can be rocks, logs or commercial turtle hides.
Summing It Up
Turtles can be good pets for beginners. However, you need to weigh the pros and cons to determine if they suit you. While you don’t need to walk or groom them, you still need to clean the aquarium, maintain the required temperature and humidity and feed them.
Remember, turtles may not be ideal for homes with toddlers due to the risk of salmonella. However, if you still want to keep them, ensure everybody washes their hands before and after handling turtles.
