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