Box Turtle Pet Care

Box turtles range between the truly aquatic turtles and the terrestrial tortoises with their need for bodies of water in which they soak and their need for grassland and wooded areas with moist and humid soil. Box turtle forage for food on land and spend the time they sleep dug into the earth in burrows, under logs and under rocks.

HOUSING:

Box turtles need a big size enclosure in order to provide for the proper range of heating and humidity.

The smallest size indoor housing for one box turtle to be kept in is 3 x 3 x 2 feet. For two turtles, the minimum size should be at least 4 x 4 x 2 feet. Aquariums are not appropriate housing for an adult box turtle. Babies may be kept in aquariums, but as they grow larger enclosures are needed.

Create a land area using 2 to 3 inches of good quality plain sterile potting soil slightly moistened. Do not use backyard dirt of soil from a garden.. Do not used coarse substrates such are gravel or sand, as these tend to scratch the shell and open the way for bacterial infections.

Box turtles require a hide box in which to get away from it all and feel secure. A good size box in one corner of the enclosure, filled with hay in which to burrow. is essential. The hide box can be anything from a cardboard box to a plastic container with a door cut into it.

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How to Create Pet Turtle Habitats at Home

How to Create Pet Turtle Habitats at Home - Turtles are just like any other pet animal; they will warrant a certain degree of commitment for an individual to be able to effectively take care of them. And just like other pets, it's important to set up proper pet turtle habitats before you go about acquiring your first turtles to take care of. Designing a place for your turtles to live in is not as simple as you may think it is. For the most part, you will need to create a space that is pretty much like the natural pet turtle habitats that the reptile thrives in. Species differences Before you go about designing and setting up your pet turtle habitats, it's important to note that different species will require different environments. For instance, there are certain turtles that can live in fresh water and there are those that require some sort of muddy environment. Pet turtle habitats tend to vary and the idea is to consider specific space requirements as well as the area of your home that you have allotted for your pet. For some enthusiasts, it's better to run a research first on your options and consider your own living space before acquiring a specific type of turtle. It's better if you get a pet that will easily adjust with the type of home that you have. For instance, if you don't have a lot of backyard space, you will logically have to set up pet turtle habitats indoors. This will mean getting turtles that will do just fine without much sunlight. Accessories While the best place to keep pet turtle habitats is still outdoors where they can get enough warmth from the sun and conveniently hibernate during the winter season, some people opt to keep their pets indoors for a lot of reasons. This is perfectly fine so long as you make sure that the pet turtle habitats come equipped with such accessories as UV lamps that can provide the same heat that the sun offers. Since turtles normally live on both land and water, it's important that the tank of your pet turtle habitats come with a dry space where your pets can easily take a break from being in the water for too long. You will also need to install filters that should be regularly cleaned to keep your pets from developing fungus on their shells which can be difficult to treat. A slanted design for the tank is common among pet turtle habitats and you can easily buy these enclosures in specialized pet stores. Alternatively, you can also have the tank custom-made although this will probably cost more. Serious turtle lovers usually have pet turtle habitats specifically designed to suit their needs. For beginners, you can probably start with a smaller tank and work your way up as you go along. Keeping it natural You will want to keep your pet turtle habitats as natural-looking as possible so that it doesn't take much for your pet to adjust to the new home. by Steven Magill

Baby Snapping Turtles - What You Should Know Before Getting One

Baby Snapping Turtles - What You Should Know Before Getting One

Are you thinking of getting a baby snapping turtle? You may have seen one at a local pet store. It is also common for people to pick some of these turtles up from their backyards or surrounding areas. You may think it would be nice to keep the cute babies as pets. You should know though that there is a lot to keeping a snapping turtle as a pet. You should consider keeping them only if you are capable of doing so. Here's what you should know about snapping turtle pets.
Baby Snapping Turtle Growth and Size
The most common mistake of potential pet owners is that they think snappers stay cute. They are later surprised to learn that snapping turtles can become very large. On average, these turtles can grow up to 8-16 inches. There have been some however that have reached more or less 20 inches. Their average weight is 30 lbs. but some can reach to double the average weight. These turtles grow fast. From a mere 2 inches as babies, they can grow to their full minimum average length in two years.
It is when the turtles are at their maximum growth that they become difficult to take care of. Pet owners become even more alarmed when they find out that these turtles can live for very long. From the moment they are born, snapping turtles can live for four decades more. Unprepared pet owners eventually realize that they got more than they bargained for. They may therefore abandon their pets, leave them in zoos or put them up for adoption.
Baby Snapping Turtle Habitat
The maximum growth capacity of a baby snapping turtle is not your only concern. You also need to think about where it is going to live. In the beginning, your baby turtle may be comfortable with just a ten-gallon tank. You then have to add ten gallons for every inch that your turtle grows. You may have to prepare a hundred gallon tank.
Snapping turtles also can't be house trained like dogs and cats. Although they are enclosed in an aquarium or pond, they can quickly make their environment dirty. Aside from the large volumes of waste that they excrete, they also have the tendency to churn up their habitat bottoms. They can also muddle up the decorations and items that you have set up in the aquarium. This means that you will have to constantly monitor and clean their environment.
Baby Snapping Turtle Temperament
Snapping turtles are generally mild mannered when in their natural water environment. When the occasion calls for it though, they can bite people and eat other animals. They could also hiss and take an aggressive stance. A snapping turtle pet is capable of doing the same thing. It could bite you or other animals around it, including other snapping turtles. This means you may have to take the extra effort to provide a completely separate home for your snapping turtle.
These are only some of the basic considerations when taking care of a snapping turtle. It is already obvious however, based on these points alone that it is no joke to decide to take in a baby snapping turtle. Do think your decision over a couple of times. You certainly want to provide a clean and happy home for your turtle.

Don't end up with a turtle you don't want. Learn more about the Snapper Turtle and how to care for it at: http://www.TurtleTanks.Org/snapper-turtle.html

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How To Design A Turtle Terrarium

How to Design a Turtle Terrarium -

A turtle terrarium is ideal if you want to show off your pet and decorate your house at the same time. You will be providing your turtle a habitat, and adding to the natural feel of your home.

Step 1: Get a tank

You will need to get a tank large enough to accommodate your turtle when it reaches its maturity. The minimum turtle terrarium dimensions should be 3-4 times the length of the turtle, twice the length of the turtle in width, and 1.5-2 times the length of the turtle in height. Add 8-12 inches above the highest level the turtle can reach inside the tank so it cannot escape.

If you have more than one turtle, increase the tank dimensions by 40-60% per turtle.

The tank for your turtle terrarium should preferably be Plexiglas, since regular glass produces glare.

Step 2: Prepare the water and land area

Try not to obstruct the water area so that the turtle can swim freely and not bump into or be stuck on decorations. Place the decorations along the corners instead, covering other turtle terrarium equipment like filters.

Turtles love to bask, so they will need land area to rest on. This can be made of acrylic, glass, thick wood, plastic, or a large stone. Anchor the land area above water level, with a ramp sloped so the turtle can climb on.

Avoid sharp edges or decorations that will block the turtle's path. Also, do not use gravel or other materials that are less than 2 centimeters in diameter.

Step 3: Make sure the water you use is clean

Turtles spend a lot of their time in the water. It is where they swim, eat, drink, and release their waste. Over time, the water will become dirty, and this will make the turtle susceptible to diseases if left unchanged.

Changing the tank water in a turtle terrarium is a tedious job, and is recommended to be done every 45 days, at least. To keep the water clean between each change, you can use a water filtration system instead.

You can also add a teaspoon of salt in every 4-5 liters of water to prevent harmful bacteria, and shell and skin diseases.

Step 4: Decorate the tank

Make the turtle's habitat a bit more homely by adding decorations to it instead of leaving it bare.

Remember to wash and sterilize things you pick up from the road before you put them in the tank. Do not add decorations that are sharp, pointed, or so small that the turtle can swallow them.

You can add commercial decorations, driftwood, gravel, plants, shells, and stones to your turtle terrarium.

Step 5: Provide proper lighting

Turtles also love to bask, which is why you will need to fit a heating or basking light onto the tank. There are several basking lights available in stores. When you install the lights, make sure they focus on the land area where the turtle will rest.

Aside from heat, turtles also need UV light rays for their calcium metabolization. UV lamps are also available in stores.

Step 6: Situate the tank in a convenient corner

Do not place the tank beside a window. Even though turtles need natural sunlight, windowpane glasses filter 95% of the UV rays. Exposing the tank water to direct sunlight will also cause algae to grow faster, which means you will have to change the water more frequently.

After you have followed those simple steps, your turtle terrarium is now ready. But before you put in your turtle, test the environment first by letting small fish live in the water for a while. This is to check if the water is clean and free of diseases. If all is OK, you can set your turtle inside the tank.

Learn everything you need to know about Turtle Tanks and turtle care at this new website: www.TurtleTanks.Org

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Turtle Pets - Setting Up a Home for Painted Turtles

Turtle Pets - Setting Up a Home for Painted Turtles - Painted Turtles can make great turtle pets for the novice owner. These beautiful reptiles earned their name from the red and yellow stripes that decorate their bodies, giving the impression that these attractive patterns have been painted on by hand.

Painted Turtles usually live in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, which have squashy, muddy bottoms. Painted Turtles are mostly active between the months of May and October, when the temperature becomes warm enough for mating. When the winter season comes, painted turtles will hide themselves deep in the mud at the bottom of a body of water. The mud serves as an insulator during hibernation, helping the painted turtle regulate its temperature and conserve energy, ensuring that it will not freeze to death during the harsh winter period.

Even though painted turtles prefer to spend most of their time in water, these turtles can be frequently seen on rocks or floating logs, basking and enjoying the sun. Some turtles bask by sticking their noses up, breaking the surface of the water while they are afloat.

There is actually a biological reason for this behavior of painted turtles. Painted Turtles do not have the capacity to control their body temperature or generate heat on their own. They are dependent on the sun to help them attain sufficient body heat so that they are able to digest food efficiently. Painted turtles must normally spend two hours daily in the sun for this purpose.

Painted turtles enjoy a vast array of food, but are not able to ingest food unless their mouths are fully submerged in water. Their diet includes tadpoles, insects, small fish, crustaceans, worms, and aquatic vegetation. Turtle pets can also be fed with pre-manufactured turtle food and supplements, although it is always better to prepare a diet that consists of larger, natural food.

Painted Turtle hatchlings need carnivorous meals, with such offerings as insects, worms, and small fish. Adults require the addition of plant material to their diets. Adult painted turtles also require less food than their younger counterparts, eating only a few times a week instead of every day.

When considering housing for your turtle pets, a breeder tank is advised, especially for the hatchlings. However, should you prefer to purchase an aquarium, make sure to calculate a tank siza of at least 280 liters (approximately 74 gallons) per turtle. You should also provide an area in which your turtle pets can bask or dry off. You can allot an area for this by placing manufactured turtle ramps, which are sold in pet stores, into their tank, or by placing large, wide rocks in strategic locations.

Keep a close watch on your turtle pets, so that they do not become exposed to too much sunlight or artificial lighting. This is important because turtles can be killed within minutes if they become overheated.

You should establish and stick to a regular schedule in cleaning the housing of your turtle, as it has the tendency to become messy. Otherwise, algae and bacteria can grow in the housing, which may eventually lead to illness.

Adult Painted Turtles are usually prone to predators like snapping turtles and eagles, while the younger ones are preyed upon by rats, snapping turtles, and bullfrogs. Be sure that the area in which you place your turtle pets is free from these predators! This will ensure that your turtles remain healthy, and can enjoy their expected lifespan of 20-75 years!

Turtle Aquariums -A Turtle Tank Set Up Differs From a Fish Tank!

Turtle Tanks: A Turtle Tank Set Up Differs From a Fish Tank!
The home of your turtle is referred to as the housing or habitat, one of the vital necessities of your pet. There are two main types, namely indoor, referred to as a turtle aquarium, and outdoor housing, often a garden pond. Although the indoor enclosure has similarities with the fish tanks, it is not the same. Novice turtle keepers should keep this information in mind. 
One of the most important differences between the two is the water level containment. Fish are aquatic creatures surviving in water alone, while turtles need both land and water. For this reason, fish tanks are filled completely with water, while turtle tanks are only half filled. Different turtle species require their own precise amounts of water according to their size, and these amounts must be accurately calculated and rigorously maintained. Watch your turtle - it should have a high enough level of water to enjoy swimming, but the turtle should also be able to stand in some shallow areas of water, and have a rock or log to climb out and bask on to dry off. 
When purchasing a turtle aquarium, make sure that you consider the size your turtle will grow into as an adult. Turtles normally grow three to even four times their infant length as they mature. Therefore, the most ideal aquarium size for your pets is three to four times the length or size of the biggest turtle. The tank width must be twice as large, and the height should ideally be 1.5 to two times its length. Furthermore, choose a tank which is eight to 12 inches above the highest point the turtle can reach in order to prevent it from climbing out and escaping. 
When buying turtle tank accessories, make sure that the welfare and safety of your turtle is prioritized. Never consider placing any rough stones in the tanks, for they may potentially injure your pets. Select smooth stones instead. Stones which are found on roadsides must be sterilized before placing them inside the tank. All other store-bought accessories should be cleaned every week to ten days. An easy way to stick to your cleaning schedule is to take out and disinfect the accessories when you change your tank water. 
Create an elevated place to allow your turtle to bask, either by piling smooth rocks or aquarium gravel on one side of the turtle tank. Other materials to use to create or enhance this basking area are Styrofoam� or floating cork, to improvise a bridge or plastic raft. The other side of the tank should be used for swimming holes. 
A proper filtration system is likewise a necessity. When you make sure that the cleanliness and sanitation of the tank are maintained, you insure the health of your pet. An ideal power filter, which you can submerge in the water, is recommended. This submersible filtration system makes use of foam as the means of filtering. Rinse the foam using cool and clean water every week. 
The purchasing and setting up of the turtle's aquarium are the most important tasks for beginner turtle keepers. Make sure that before you acquire a pet turtle, you are ready to give it proper housing the moment you bring it home. Remember, the best habitats for turtles are the ones that meet their daily needs by mimicking their habitat conditions in the wild. Your turtle needs space, soil, plants, food, water, and proper temperature control to ensure a long and healthy life.

Turtle Tanks � Setting Up Tips

Turtle Tanks � Setting Up Tips - Fish requirements only drinking water to endure. This is why fish tanks are completely inundated with water. On the other hand, the turtles are amphibians.They want land as well as water. It's crucial to provide them with some kind of dry surface they're able to cling to, when they desire to come to land. For satisfying this prerogative, the turtle tanks are supplied with a rock which is only half submerged in drinking water. Furthermore, even the tank must be only 50 percent crammed by drinking water. The rock can be substituted with worn driftwood or cork bark floats too.

It can be crucial to supply the turtle with sufficient area to extend itself; both when it comes to length sand height. This is why possibly a twenty gallon tank is considered optimum. This once more is optimum for a extremely younger turtle but soon their limbs and physique outgrow the tank. This really is why it truly is important to purchase a tank which is far larger than the stipulated requirement. Why do not we plan it by doing this that we don't have to obtain a tank actually once more?

It's paramount to maintain the h2o level higher than the width of the turtle. In the event from the water degree being thinner, the turtle may possibly drown if it lands upside down. Once more, it really is critical to not have clustered spaces underwater. The turtle could get wedged there and hence get suffocated.

While creating a turtle tank, it's superior to steer clear of any unnecessary adornment and even sand and gravel content material. Turtles can very easily reside on h2o vegetation and there must not be considered a dearth of this sort of plants ideally. This was about foods. Subsequent necessary element is sunlight. For this cause, it can be recommended to place a spotlight over the dry rock that we had talked about. Like spotlight can mimic the sun and thus the turtle fancies basking beneath it just because it would have performed in an out of doors atmosphere.

If you setup your initial turtle tank, it is best to concentrate within the land area when you have a will to breed your turtles. A land region is paramount for your function of retaining buried eggs dry. If a female turtle does not uncover a land location, she tends to maintain the egg within the womb. Lengthy retention can trigger injuries for the female and in addition create grounds for big infections in the female turtle.