| Turtles are fascinating pets to own, but many | | | | sure to wash your hands after handling them. |
| people get them not knowing how to care for | | | | Your turtle's environment also needs to be |
| them. They need to have the right amount of | | | | kept clean. Keep the water fresh and keep any |
| space, light, shade, and moisture to survive. | | | | waste out. You might want to get a water |
| You need to learn what turtles require before | | | | filtration system to keep the water clean.You |
| you get one.The best place to keep a turtle | | | | should not use tap water for the tank, |
| is outside. Turtles hibernate in the winter | | | | because tap water contains chlorine and |
| and if they are kept inside they won't | | | | fluoride. This can really mess up the ph |
| hibernate. This can cause them to develop | | | | balance. De-chlorinated water needs to be |
| liver diseases. A turtle's natural cycle | | | | used for the swimming area and filtered water |
| should not be messed with. Also, if you keep | | | | for them to drink. There are many commercial |
| a turtle pen outside you can create a | | | | diets available for turtles. Dietary |
| completely natural turtle habitat.Some people | | | | requirements differ depending on the species. |
| that keep turtles inside use refrigerators to | | | | You should feed your pet two to three times a |
| make them hibernate. This is not recommended | | | | week.Do not put any wood chips or tree bark |
| though because if the refrigerator suddenly | | | | in your tank. If a turtle ingests this, it |
| rises in temperature or if the power goes | | | | can cause problems. It will also get |
| off, the turtle's hibernation will be | | | | contaminated very quickly and cause molds or |
| interrupted. This can be fatal for them. If | | | | fungus to grow.Turtles need twelve hours of |
| you plan on keeping your pets inside, just | | | | sunlight. You should get a UV lamp for your |
| don't let them hibernate.Also, if you keep | | | | tank to provide the vitamin D3 that sunlight |
| your turtle inside, you must have a tank that | | | | gives off if you keep it inside. They need |
| is at least forty gallons. There has got to | | | | this to stay healthy. This is why you will |
| be enough room to have a land area and a | | | | often see turtles sitting out in the sun. Try |
| water area. Two-thirds of the aquarium should | | | | to keep the tank in a room where the light |
| be water and one-third should be land. You | | | | doesn't change that much.Turtles also need a |
| also need a place where they can lay in the | | | | shelter to go in. They are sold at pet |
| heat of a lamp. You should keep the tank | | | | stores, but you can also make one using wood |
| around eighty degrees during the day and | | | | or stones. If you decide to keep plants in |
| seventy degrees at night. Turtles are cold | | | | with your turtle, just make sure they aren't |
| blooded animals so they take a long time to | | | | poisonous to them.Try to pay attention to |
| adjust to temperature changes. For this | | | | your turtle's behavior and take care of it |
| reason, you should not take the turtle out of | | | | the best you can. Turtles are very |
| the tank to play with it. This sudden change | | | | interesting to watch and will provide lots of |
| in temperature can harm their immune | | | | enjoyment for your whole family. |
| system.Some turtles do carry salmonella so be | | | | |