WAIT! STOP! READ FIRST:
Baby Red Ear Slider Turtles may carry a disease known as Salmonella and handling them should be taken into consideration. After handling any water turtles you MUST wash your hands with hot soapy water to remove any risk of catching salmonella. Adult supervision is required for children safety. More information may be found at FDA's Salmonella Guide.
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Water turtles are classified as, "cold-blooded" reptiles and they will rely on surrounding enviroment for warmth.
1) Water turtles are omnivores. They eat both vegetables, fruits, and protein.
2) Water turtles can live on both land water. Mostly water.
3) INDOOR water turtles don't have to hibernate during winter times (optional).
4) Water turtles are fast swimmers.
5) If any signs of odd behavior or sickness consult with a local veterinarian! www.Waterturlebasics.blogspot.com will not be resonponsible.
Check list on getting started. Most of these item may be found at your local petstore:
1) 10-20 gallon aquatic tank.
2) clean water (water conditioner)
3) water heater 78-80 degree +
4) heating light lamp
5) aquatic tank filter
6) basking station
7) water temperature measurement
8) aquatic turtle foods (pellets)
Visual examples:
10-20 gallon indoor aquatic tank.
Using water conditioner to clean tap water. Note: Use water conditioner that is made for aquatic turtles! Add a few drops of water conditioner (follow instructions) into seperate bucket of water to clean tap water. Lastly fill into indoor aquatic tank.
Heating is important! Do Not Ignore. You'll need a water heater that will regulate water temperature from 76-80 degrees. There are many brands that can customize the heating temperature.
Since your water turtles will not be receiving natural heat from the sun you'll need a heating lamp. Most pet stores will have both light bulbs:
UV-A
UV-B
They are sold together or separately. Be sure to get a dome lamp to house both lamps.
You will need one UV-A bulb - provides heat. UV-A is part of the rainbow of colors that reptiles can see. UV-A helps to increase activity levels, appetite, and reproductive behaviors. Without UV-A they are colorblind!
You will need one UV-B bulb - prevents or reverse metabolic bone disease in captive reptiles. Healthy turtle shells! Also aids water turtles to absorb vitamin D from the food they consume.
Water turtles live on both land and water. They will occasionally come out of the water to dry off under the sun or UV-A lamp. Place a basking station exactly below both lamps. Water turtles should easily crawl onto basking station conveniently.
Turles urinate and eliminate in the water the swim in. Also eat and drink from the water! A filter will be needed to filter the waste to; keep water clear, remove odor, and keep the turtles healthy.
The filter you see in the picture filters up to 20 gallons of water.
You may add a secondary filter if oil builds on top of water surface to agitate and clear. Oil builds up when they are feed any source of protein such as; protein pellets, shrimp, feeder fishes, and crickets. Don't worry, the oil is safe and harmless to the water turtles.
Once your new setup is completed there are future care you'll need to know:
1 change 50% water on a regular basis every 2-3 weeks.
2 feed water turtles once a day.
3 8-10 hours of lights on.
thank you for reading Baby Water Turtles and How To Get Started!
We would like to see pictures of your water turtle tank set up in the comments below!
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