Keeping turtles can be a fun and relaxing experience. However, you also need a lot of responsibility in setting up a proper aquarium for your new friend. A good turtle aquarium has both watery and dry areas, and conditions in the aquarium should be maintained with good lighting and filtration.
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Method 1 of 2: Part One: Basic Structure
Step 1. Choose a large and strong glass aquarium
Your tortoise will need a glass fish tank that can hold 38 to 57 liters of water for each 2.5 cm tortoise.
- If you don't have an adult tortoise, calculate the average size of your tortoise's development to maturity.
- Do not use a reptile aquarium designed for land reptiles. The glass of the aquarium is too thin and can break under the pressure of the water. The glass used for turtle aquariums is at least 1 cm thick.
- If you have more than one turtle, measure your tank based on the size of your first turtle, then add half the original size for each additional turtle. The end result is the final result of the size your aquarium should be.
- Keep in mind that your aquarium needs to be larger in depth than it is wide. Otherwise, your tortoise may not have enough room to turn its body if it accidentally flips over.
- For many turtles, the length of the tank should be three to four times the length of the turtle. The width of the aquarium should be twice the length of the turtle. The height of the aquarium should be one and a half to two times the length of the turtle. However, you should make sure that at the top of the tank there is more than 30.5 cm of the highest part the turtle can reach, to prevent the turtle from climbing out.
Step 2. Provide an explanation
You can use a light that is attached to the aquarium or you can install a light that is separate but leads to the aquarium.
- The light itself should illuminate the part of the aquarium you are aiming for as a basking area for the turtles.
- Turtles need full spectrum light, so you will need to use two bulbs, UVA and UVB. UVB light stimulates the production of vitamin D3 and maintains a natural environment. UVA light makes turtles more active and makes them more eager to eat. UVB bulbs should be used as primary lighting.
- You should also consider turning on the lights using a timer to stimulate a natural light cycle. Most tortoises require a cycle of 12 to 14 hours of light, then 10 to 12 hours of darkness.
- Important addition, you also need to locate your aquarium in a good place. You can place the aquarium near a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight or in a shady place, but do not place it in a place that is exposed to direct sunlight. Bright sunlight can roast and kill your turtle.
Step 3. Consider using a water heater
Use a fully submerged water heater to maintain a consistent temperature for one year. This water heater attaches to the side of the aquarium with a suction.
- You need to hide the water heater behind a wall to prevent the turtle from damaging the wall when it is swimming.
- Before installing a water heater, make sure your tortoise does need one. The temperature required will depend on the species of your tortoise. Tortoise species that prefer room temperature usually don't need a water heater, but a water heater may be needed for turtle species that need more warmth.
Step 4. Buy a good filter
Filters are an important tool for the cleanliness of your aquarium, but it can be difficult to choose the right filter. Turtles produce more discharge than fish, and you will need to change the tank water daily if you don't have a filter installed.
- Large canister filters are the best filters to use. The filter may be expensive, but the size of the filter will make it less likely to clog. As a result, your aquarium will stay clean and your turtle will stay healthy. The canister filter also saves you from having to clean your aquarium frequently. Finally, although the price of the canister filter is higher than other types of filters, the long term cost of you is not having to change the water too often and replacing a cheap broken filter will be more profitable.
- If you are using an internal filter instead of a canister filter, use the largest internal filter and install two instead of one.
- Even if you use a good filter, you will still need to change the water at least once every two weeks.
Step 5. Look for an aquarium cover
Choose a heat-resistant metal cover to cover the top of your aquarium. While this is not strictly necessary, a cover will protect the tortoise from potential hazards, such as a broken light bulb.
- Since light bulbs used to light turtle habitats can easily get very hot, they can break easily if they are splashed with water, making them a serious threat.
- You may also need to clamp the top of your tank cover to prevent the turtle from climbing out.
- Do not use glass or plexiglass aquarium covers, as these materials absorb the UVB rays that turtles need to survive. Otherwise, these materials can easily break or melt.
Step 6. Purchase the equipment you need to check water conditions
Water conditions can change slightly when left unchecked, so you need to check and maintain water conditions regularly to keep your tortoise healthy.
- Use a thermometer to check the water temperature and the temperature of the sun/dry area. Most turtles prefer a water temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a dry area temperature of 27 to 29 degrees Celsius.
- You will also need to check the humidity of your aquarium, so you will need a hygrometer to measure this. The appropriate humidity level will depend on the species of your tortoise. You can also change the humidity level in the aquarium by adding or removing substrate from dry/sun areas.
Method 2 of 2: Part Two: Habitat
Step 1. Spread the substrate on the bottom of the aquarium only when needed
Generally, you don't need to cover the bottom of your aquarium with substrate. However, you will need to cover it with substrate if you decide to grow live plants in the aquarium.
- The substrate can make the aquarium more difficult to clean.
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If you decide to use a substrate, the best choices are sand, gravel, and good fluorite.
- Sand is difficult to clean, but some turtles enjoy digging.
- Pebbles can make a great appearance, but you need to make sure your gravel is more than 1.5 cm in diameter; otherwise your tortoise will try to eat the pebbles.
- Fluorite is a porous clay gravel that provides many nutrients for plants. Tortoises don't usually eat fluorite, but you should still use a large amount of fluorite to stay safe.
Step 2. Make the area dry
Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles both need a dry area in the tank. Most semi-aquatic tortoises need a dry area that takes up at least 50 percent of the aquarium space. Most water turtles need a dry area that takes up less than 25 percent of the aquarium space.
- Turtles use this dry area to bask and dry themselves.
- The diameter of this dry area is at least one and a half times the length of the turtle.
- There are many other options you can consider. You can buy a special dock for turtles at a pet supply store or you can use rocks or sticks. Floating docks are usually preferred because they adjust to the water level and don't take up valuable space in the aquarium.
- Do not use stones or sticks from nature because they can threaten the health of your turtle. If you are using something from nature, first boil it separately in a pot of water to kill any harmful algae, germs or micro-organisms.
- If you want to use something as a dry area but it doesn't have a weight on it, stick it to the sides of the tank using silicone aquarium sealant.
Step 3. Apply water to the dry area, if needed
Turtles need a path to climb into dry areas and the area must be slightly inclined to the water. If not, you will need to install a ramp.
The ramp itself can be made easily. For example, slanted wood can be glued to a dry area from one side, with the other side submerged in water. Thick plastic can also be used in the same way
Step 4. Choose the right decoration
Turtles don't need a lot of decorations to survive, but adding a few decorations can make the aquarium look nicer and make your tortoise feel more secure.
- Add logs, fine stones, and land plants to serve as hiding places over dry areas. You can also use a wooden fence. Just make sure your tortoise still has plenty of room to walk around in the dry, empty areas.
- Real plants will look beautiful, but remember that turtles will bite them, so you need to choose aquatic plants that are non-toxic to turtles.
- Decorations with sharp edges can harm your tortoise and you need to avoid them.
- Decorations purchased at a pet supply store don't need to be sterilized, but decorations you pick up from nature need to be boiled separately to kill harmful germs.
- Never use decorations less than 2.5 cm in diameter as the tortoise will try to eat them.
- Avoid decorations that look like cages as your tortoise will get trapped in them when swimming under them.
Step 5. Place decorations and equipment carefully
All foreign objects in the aquarium must be placed on the sides so that the turtle can swim freely. You can also place the equipment under a dry area to hide it.
- If you want to place something in the center of the aquarium, choose plants. Plants will not interfere with swimming space for turtles. Place tall or stiff decorations only on the sides of the aquarium.
- Make sure you don't have to build anything like cages or cramped passages that your tortoise can get stuck in when you install equipment and decorations in the aquarium.
Step 6. Fill the aquarium with clean water
Fill the tank with enough clean water for the turtle to swim comfortably. Most turtles need 10 to 15.25 cm of water.
- You need to make sure that the depth of the water is at least 3¼ the size of the turtle. This depth will be able to make the turtle turn itself over if it accidentally tipped over in the water.
- The majority of pet turtles are freshwater creatures, so you will need to provide clean water from your tap or from a pitcher filled with distilled water.
Tips
- Another thing you need to consider is food. Do some research on what type of food is best for your turtle species. Some turtles are carnivores and some are omnivores. Look for the nutritional needs of your tortoise, then set up a balanced diet based on those needs.
- Keep in mind that both aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles usually eat underwater, so you don't need a food bowl. For food that cannot be submerged in water, you can place it on a dry area without using a separate bowl.
