Planning to keep your turtle indoors? Here are some tips to help you prepare your turtle tank.
- Make sure the tank capacity is forty gallons or more. Think of forty gallons as your minimum size.
- Your turtle will need a land area and a water area.
- Your turtle will need a sun lamp and basking spot.
- Try to place the tank in a room where the lighting does not change often.
- In general, the tank should be a kept at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night — however, specific temperature requirements will vary from one breed of turtle to another.
Just like with aquarium preparations, you will need to treat the water for your turtle tank — or use special water, like natural spring water or de-chlorinated water. Chlorine and fluoride in tap water can throw off the pH balance and create health issues for your turtle. Use a shallow dish or pan that is large enough for your turtle to lay in and easy to get in and out of. A kitty litter pan can be sunk into the substrate for a pool — just make sure your turtle has a ramp for climbing in and out of the pool.
The land area can be made from plain, sterile potting soil — make sure there is no perlite or vermiculite mixed into the soil. Mix the soil with plain fir or shredded orchid bark, or alfalfa. Avoid coarse materials like sand, gravel, or rocks. Avoid tree bark and wood chips — your turtle may eat them, leading to digestive problems. Tree bark and wood chips can grow mold and fungus easily.
The land area should also include a shelter for your turtle. A hide box filled with alfalfa hay, a large branch, a cardboard box with a door cut into it, or a slab of cork bark can make a cozy shelter for a turtle who needs to get out of the open.
Your turtle tank will need two heat sources — a heating pad underneath the tank to heat the substrate and water and a spot light for basking. You may also need a water heater for the pool if the heating pad isn’t enough. Use aquarium thermometers to keep an eye on the temperature in your turtle tank. Your turtle will also need full-spectrum lighting to mimic sunlight and provide essential vitamin D to your turtle. The light needs to be on at least twelve hours every day.