Generally speaking, turtles aren’t complicated to care for. However, they do need more than just a tank and an occasional feeding! Properly cared for turtles can live for decades — so keep in mind that the tiny terrapin you take home today may be with you for a long time to come.
Whether you keep your turtle inside or outside, he needs enough room to live in. His living space needs to have light and shade, moisture, clean water, and a basking lamp — remember that turtles are reptiles and rely on external temperatures to regulate their internal temperatures.
Turtles do hibernate naturally. If you keep your turtle in an outdoor pen, they will do as nature intends and dig themselves in to sleep away the colder fall, winter, and spring months. Don’t expect to see your turtle reemerge until late spring if he goes into hibernation, and don’t let curious children or pets dig him out before he’s ready!
If you’ll be keeping your turtle indoors, don’t try to force him to hibernate by lowering the temperature. There are too many things that could go wrong — a sudden rise in temperature could be fatal. An indoor turtle will need a large living space; plan on a 40 gallon tank or more. Give him a land area and a water area and a basking spot. In general, the tank should be kept at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 70 degrees during the night — ideal temperatures do vary by breed.
Feeding time should be during the warmer day hours — give your turtle a few hours to warm up before offering breakfast. Younger turtles can be fed daily; adult turtles can be fed every other day. Each meal should include both plant and animal products. A varied and colorful diet is important because turtles are motivated by sight and smell.
Appropriate plant products include: carrots, orange squash, green beans, mustard greens, dandelion greens, collard greens, flowers (like hibiscus, rose petals, and geraniums), sweet peppers, strawberries, cherries, plums, cantaloupe, raspberries, and blackberries. Just about any leftover vegetable or fruit from your meal is okay as a treat. The majority of the diet of an adult turtle should be plant products.
Appropriate animal products include: finely chopped cooked chicken, raw beef heart, king mealworms, earthworms, night crawlers, slugs, snails, crickets and small pinky mice. Adult turtles should get animal products as only ten percent of their diet.