Aquatic Turtles

Aquatic Turtles - Care Sheet

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Aquatic Turtles
Red-Eared Slider: Trachemys scripta elegans
Yellow-Bellied Slider: Trachemys scripta scripta

Aquatic turtles are a popular choice for many reptile
owners because they are cute and entertaining.
Because they live such long lives, however, it is important
to realize what kind of commitment you are making
before buying a turtle. Knowing how to provide the
proper care is essential to giving your turtle a happy,
healthy life. Below are some general care guidelines,
although it is always important to thoroughly research
the specific turtle species you’re interested in keeping.

Basic Info
Age: The average age is 15-25 years, but with proper
care they may live much longer
Length: Up to 12 inches (females are typically larger
than males)
Weight: Up to 3 lbs.
Sexual maturity: 3-5 years (males), 5-10 (females)
Gestation: 60 days, 2-20 eggs
Incubation: 55-75 days

Behavior
If you are home during the day, an aquatic turtle may be
the right choice for you, since that is when they are most active. They will forage for food in the water, swim around, and head above water to bask.

We generally caution against trying to bring in turtles
found in the wild. They do not adapt as well to captivity as farm-raised turtles. Additionally, it is important to buy a turtle from a reputable vendor or pet store. Roadside vendors sell baby turtles that lack proper warmth and nutrition. They may be doomed from the start, even if you do everything right as its owner. If you have bought a pet from a roadside vendor, it is important to have your turtle checked out by a vet.

Diet
Aquatic turtles are omnivores, gradually eating a more
plant-based diet as they get older. Vitamin A and calcium deficiency is common if they do not eat a balanced diet.
Their diet should be a mix of:

Aquatic turtle pellets – recommended brands are Mazuri, ReptoMin and ZooMed
Protein sources like small, whole fish, insects, worms, dried krill
Leafy green vegetables, such as collard greens, mustard greens, and dandelion greens or other aquatic plants

Environment & Caging
Aquatic turtles require a lot of space. Even when it is a baby, it is important that its environment is large enough for it to grow into. Its environment should also be as close to what it would be like in the wild as possible. That means it has plenty of room to swim and enjoy time out of the water to bask in the sunlight (or artificial light if kept indoors). Your turtle’s environment should:

Be wide, long, and deep enough for swimming and diving
Have a water temperature of 75-80ºF
Contain a log, ledge, or some other area of dry land for basking and drying off
Make sure the basking area is kept at a temperature of 85-90ºF. Also, provide a shaded area.
Provide plenty of UVB light for proper growth. If you are keeping your turtle indoors, you will need a UV light and a heat-emitting light to maintain a proper temperature in the basking area.

Have a water filtration system and test the water to make sure parameters are normal. We recommend filters be double what is recommended for your tank size is (i.e. a 50 gallon tank would need a 100 gallon filter).

You should change your turtle’s water every 1-2 weeks or even more frequently to avoid health problems. Additionally, while many place gravel in the bottom of the tank, this can provide a choking or ingestion hazard. It is alright to have a bare-bottomed tank or use stones larger than the turtle’s head.

Veterinary Care & Preventive Care
We recommend a physical examination every 6-12 months, where we can perform a fecal examination for parasites
and order blood work if necessary.

Since many aquatic turtles suffer from poor husbandry at birth/before adoption, it is important to be on the lookout
for health issues such as swollen eyes. This could indicate
an infection or a vitamin A deficiency, which is a common affliction.

Another common problem is respiratory infection or pneumonia. Watch for symptoms such as:

Small mucus bubbles coming from the nose
Bubbles around the eyes
Floating oddly, such as tilting toward one side
Struggling to get to the surface (straining its neck and opening its mouth)

For either of the issues listed above, it is important to
contact a vet quickly to discuss your options. Other
common health problems can include soft shell, stunting, and shell or skin infection.