Most people agree that Turtles are interesting pets to own, but many individuals get them not knowing how to care for them. Their primary needs are space, the correct amount of light and shade as well as moisture to survive, so you ought to be familiar with their basic needs before you acquire one. The best place to keep a turtle is in the open-air because they hibernate in the winter and if they are kept inside they won’t hibernate which can cause them to develop liver ailments. Their natural cycle should not be messed with so keeping a pen open-air means you can create a completely natural habitat for them.

Some people who keep turtles indoors use refrigerators to make them hibernate. This action is not wise as there could be a power failure and the temperature inside the icebox could rise, this would come in the way of their regular hibernation. This can be lethal for them so if you plan on keeping your pets inside, don’t let them hibernate. If you really decide to keep the turtle indoors, you need a tank of forty gallon capacity, with clearly demarcated areas for land and water. The aquarium should be made in such a way that there is water occupying two-thirds of the capability and the balance is land, where they would just lie down under the heat of the lamp. You should keep the tank just about eighty degrees during the day and seventy degrees at night. These animals are cold blooded so they take a long time to adjust to temperature alterations. This is why it is best never to bring them out of the tank, as the sudden temperature fluctuation negatively impacts their immune system. It is essential that you wash and clean your hands thoroughly after handling turtles as some of them carry salmonella and it is very essential to keep the environment where they live clean too. Keep the water clean and free from waste material, so it could be a good idea to invest in a water filtration system to make this happen. Do not use water from the faucet for filling the tank as it contains chlorine and fluoride both which upset the ph balance. De-chlorinated water needs to be used for the swimming area and filtered water for them to drink. There are many commercial diets available for turtles but dietary requirements differ depending on the species, nevertheless, you should not feed your pet more than two to three times a week.

All care must be taken to avoid wood chips or bark falling in the water as eating these things can make a turtle sick and moreover, these also pollute the water encouraging the growth of fungus and molds. Don’t forget turtles need twelve hours of sunshine, so if you are holding your pet indoors, you have to put up a Ultra Violet lamp to provide the Vitamin D3, which one can get from sunlight. This is why we see them sunning themselves for endless hours and when kept indoors ensure that the tank is situated at a place which does not see too many fluctuations in light and also provide them with a shady place for spending time when they need to. These are sold at pet stores, but you can also make one using wood or stones and if you decide to keep plants in the tank, just make sure they aren’t poisonous to them. To know your turtle better, watch his behavior closely as they are extremely interesting and can provide pleasure for the whole family.