Aquatic Turtle Supplies & Accessories
When you consider that most aquatic turtles can easily live for more than 20 years in captivity, the relatively small up-front costs associated with basic turtle supplies seems trivial.
Nevertheless, there are many turtle supplies and turtle tank accessories that seem useful but really aren’t necessary, which could coax you to part with money that would be better spent on core equipment (e.g.,...
All About Turtle Tank Filters
Turtles produce lots of waste but enjoy clean water, thus requiring a high-quality filter.
We’ve said it before but it bears repeating – don’t skimp on turtle tank filters!
Proper filtration is the foundation of any setup and is normally the weak spot in most peoples’ turtle tanks. This is not the fault of the average consumer, however. If you don’t have prior, extensive...
Best Turtle Basking Platform or Turtle Dock
With the great popularity of basking turtles, it is no wonder why so many people are looking for a a good turtle basking platform or turtle dock. While one can certainly pile up bricks, rocks and use substrates to create a land area, this makes a tank very heavy and displaces a lot of water your turtle could otherwise use for swimming. In addition, submerged rocks and objects needed to create land...
Low-Cost Turtle Tanks
I’m a big fan of using just about anything else that can reliably hold water and resist a bit of scratching for turtle tanks, especially for basking-type turtles like sliders and painted turtles. For me, the greater floor area of those larger, shallower containers all give a turtle what it usually wants most, horizontal movement. Sure, a 55-gallon tank sounds big, but as far as usable space for...
Selecting Aquatic Turtle Food
Besides underestimating the enclosure size and filtration needs of most turtles, misconceptions about turtle food and feeding are the next biggest cause of failure.
What constitutes a “correct” turtle diet is still an emerging question, just as it is with humans, and there is no single answer for all aquatic turtles, since each species is adapted to different food sources that are available...
The Musk Turtle, an Ideal Pet
The musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), sometimes affectionately referred to as the “stinkpot,” does not have the bright colors, bold basking behavior, and the instant name recognition of the more common basking turtles, like red-eared sliders and painted turtles. However, the musk turtle is a fascinating aquatic turtle species that is arguably a much better captive for the average turtle...
Painted Turtles as Pets
The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) is not your average aquatic turtle. This species (including its various subspecies) has the largest range of any north American turtle, and can found in suitable habitats from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast of North America. It is also colorful, outgoing, moderately-sized, and very undemanding. Let’s take a closer look at painted turtles and see whether...
All About Red Eared Sliders
While red eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) are native only to the southern US and northern Mexico, they are undoubtedly the most popular aquatic pet turtle species worldwide. Of course, this makes sense when you consider this specie’s virtues. First off, it is strikingly colored, with attractive striping of the head and neck and a bright red “red ear” that gives rise to this...
Types of Freshwater Aquatic Turtles
I like box turtles and tortoises, but I have a real soft spot for aquatic turtles.
Maybe it’s their color, manageable size, or simply all the fond memories I have of stalking them along the waters edge as a kid. Or perhaps it’s their inquisitive nature – like how much it seems they recognize you when you approach with food. Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that aquatic...
Why Pet Turtles? Turtles as Pets
Pet turtles are part of growing up for many kids, but many adults (cough cough) remain enamored by them as well. This begs the question for many would-be turtle keepers, why keep turtles as pets anyway? The question is a good one, and I hope to do it some justice.
Pet Turtles Are Very Engaging
Turtles – especially aquatic turtles – are some of the most outgoing and inquisitive of all of...
