How to set-up a Turtle Habitat

This is an article on how to set-up an aquatic turtle tank. All pictures included are of our tank!

1. The Tank

The tank can vary depending on the species of turtle chosen. Our turtles are map turtles (Graptemys) which are an aquatic species - meaning they naturally live in and/or around water. These turtles are strong swimmers and prefer deeper water, compared to musk turtles (Sternotherus) for example which prefer shallow water.



Our tank is a large glass aquarium:

The bottom of the tank is covered in aquarium gravel substrate (the lighter blue), small glass beads (the darker blue) and large star-shaped glass jewels. These aren't necessary for the turtles' well-being but they look good in the tank. There is also a plastic sheet background fixed to the back wall - this is decorative but can help the turtles feel more at home.

2. Thermostat

The ideal temperature for the water of a turtle tank is 26-28°C. We use a thermostat to maintain the temperature - the thermostat is suckered to the glass and heats the water to whichever temperature is selected.

Temperature can be selected by turning the black knob on the end of the thermostat. Ours is placed diagonally to ensure the water level surpasses the height of the thermostat, i.e. it is fully submerged.

3. Filter

I didn't take a picture of our filter (it was being cleaned at the time) but this is the type of filter we have:

(Link)

A powerful filter is needed for aquatic turtles as they are very messy and produce a lot of waste. The tank can get cloudy and smelly pretty quickly even with a good filter. The filter should be fixed to the bottom of the tank (or suckered to the side if the water level surpasses the height of the filter).

4. Decorations

After filling the tank with the desired amount of water (as stated, ours has a fairly deep water level), decorations can be added:

Our tank contains a coral-effect cube, artificial plants and two turtle ornaments. Whilst turtles do not require any of the items (i.e. they don't need to hide), they will interact with them by nudging them and using them as 'steps'.

5. Basking Area & UV Heat Source

Most aquatic turtle species, including ours, require a basking area. Turtles require a UV source to synthesise calcium in the body - in the wild the sun would provide this, so it must too be provided in captivity. Without the UV source the turtle does not receive Vitamin D which leads to calcium deficiency and often death.

Our basking area is a light-weight cork platform:

Cork floats in water and lasts up to a year before it needs replacing, making it ideal for this purpose.

Our UV light is built into the lid of the aquarium as seen here:

Only the actual bulb requires replacement after around 9 months - remember whilst the bulb may still be lit after this time, the UV source may have run out. Our light is left on for around 12 hours a day to replicate a natural day-night cycle. When searching for a bulb, remember aquatic turtles require 5% UVB.

6. Maintenance & Cleaning

To keep the water fresh between water changes we use a turtle water freshener:

This product helps with the 'fishy' smell and helps prevent algae formation.

We clean the tank at least once a week or more if required using the following:

The cleaning equipment includes a syphon (with built-in gravel cleaner), a net, a sponge and towels. I personally wouldn't bother with partial water changes - I find that without removing all the water (especially from amongst the gravel) the tank water remains cloudy after adding fresh water.

The easiest way of cleaning the tank I have found is;

• Remove as much water as possible using a syphon (empty into a bucket)
• Using a sponge wipe the aquarium walls and floor to remove algae
• Sift through the gravel using a net - any debris should cling to the net
• Use a flannel to wipe any water from the outside of the aquarium to prevent mould
• Refill with fresh water

When cleaning the tank, the filter needs to be thoroughly cleaned by removing the filter sponges. When the sponges become slimy and start to flake apart replacement sponges are needed. Any ornaments, plants and basking platforms should also be swilled with clean water before returning to the tank.

...And where do we keep our turtles when we clean their tank?

In there!

Cute video: