Mike’s Fish Tank – Turtle Care

A lot of people ask me about turtle care. Water turtles and tortoises are quit different. Tortoises are mainly a land turtle. If you look at their feet, they are more like an elephants foot. A water turtle has bebbed feet because thery swim in water a lot.

Water turtles need aplace to get out of the water, a heat lamp for sunning themselves,and in the Winter, a heater so the water does not get too cold. Day temps should be in the 80’s and night temps 65 to 70 degrees. It’s crucial that water turtles have a place to get out of the water so they can get dry. If not, they can get shell rot or shell fungus. It’s important to have a true UVB bulb which simulates the rays of the sun. This will help keep the turtles shell hard. A true UVB bulb is always flourescent. Screw in bulbs are mainly for heat. White or blue bulbs are for daytime and red or black are for night time.

Water turtles like insects or small fish, worms and many of the prepared turtle foods, such as dried crickets, dried worms, pellets, sticks or freeze dried foods. On the other hand, tortoises such as sulcatas, greek, red foot or russians like veggies and fruits. Feed dark leafy greens such as, romaine, escarole, red leaf, endive and also things like carrot, melon, squash, grapes and berries. The land turtles need a nice big tank with a dish of water for drinking For bedding you can use things like Zoo Meds repti bark, forest floor or even the reptile turf. They also make a prepared diet for tortoises. They come in a variety of shapes, colors and styles. The grassland diet by Zoo Med is great for sulcatas.

Again, a true UVB bulb is a must for tortoises. Some of these guys can live up to 60 years. You want to supply them with the UVB rays, so their shell will stay hard and the tortoise will stay healthy. Same temperatures apply to the tortoises. It’s probably a good idea to give your tortoise a warm bath once in awhile. It’s good for their skin and shell. Add calcium powder to your turtles food a couple times a week. This will keep their shell nice and hard. There are foods such as collard greens which are high in calcium. Feed these often. Water turtles have to be 4 inches in diameter to be legal to sell in NY state.

Pets A Plenty is located in the Blockbuster Video Plaza, Rte 281 Cortland, 753-9213. Open 7 days a week. We now have a website. www.petsaplety.biz. check it out. I post care sheets, coupons, new animal arrivals, contests and more. Any questions, email me at friskyy@hotmail.com

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