Turtles are beautiful and cute reptiles. They are calm creatures that make people sympathize with them because of their calmness and slow movements. Therefore, many people tend to raise turtles as pets at home, because raising them is easy and does not pose any danger to young or old. They also add an atmosphere of fun and joy inside the home, especially with young children. Turtles are sensitive creatures that require great care and should not be neglected because they will be exposed to sudden death due to their different lifestyle from other reptiles. Here is this comprehensive guide from teketrek، with all the information about caring for freshwater turtles.
Choosing the right environment for the turtle
Turtles need special care and all their basic needs are provided, such as the ideal aquarium, water, temperature and filtration. Here is how to create a suitable environment for the turtle:
Choosing a large aquarium for turtles
A large rectangular glass aquarium should be allocated for small turtles. The size of the aquarium increases as the number of turtles inside it increases. The glass aquarium should be easy to clean and contain rocks that are slightly higher than the water level because turtles like to lie on the rock after diving into the water. An easy area should also be allocated for the turtle to exit to the rock.
Pure water
The freshwater turtle needs to be constantly present in pure fresh water and cannot live in salt water, so pure, clean water should be placed inside the aquarium and cleaned daily to maintain the health of the turtle and avoid the formation of algae.
Place a water heater
You must be careful to place a water heater inside the tank to regulate the turtle’s body temperature because it cannot regulate its temperature by itself in cold water, which causes health problems for it. Therefore, a water heater must be placed inside the tank. It is suitable for small turtles that prefer to live at a temperature between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius. The temperature must be checked continuously and care must be taken that the tank cover is made of plastic to avoid breakage.
Filter device
One of the things that must be taken into account when raising turtles is to provide a filter device that cleans the water periodically during the day to eliminate all bacteria and viruses present in fresh water and make the water pure for the longest possible period until you clean it again. This filter helps in not changing the water more than once during the day.
Proper nutrition for turtles
Usually, young turtles prefer to eat a lot of meals to grow healthy, and each species has a different type of food and they all agree on eating vegetables. You should consult a veterinarian before providing meals to them when you buy them to raise them. It should also be noted that young turtles like to diversify their food so that they can get the necessary nutrients for their growth in a varied diet. It is a guaranteed way to keep young turtles healthy and prolong their life.
Cleanliness and health for the turtle
It is important to maintain the health of the turtle and provide a suitable environment for it free of diseases and bacteria to avoid exposure to any infection. Its health can be maintained by using a water filter that cleans the water periodically. The vegetables that are given to it must also be cleaned to avoid the presence of any bacteria in them. The health of the turtle can be maintained by using an air pump and placing it in the water, which helps stop the growth of anaerobic bacteria that cause dirt in the aquarium, which poses a risk to the health of the turtle.
Plants should also be placed in the aquarium, which helps in cleaning the aquarium from bacteria, carbon dioxide, and pollutants that lead to the growth of algae, thus preserving the health of the turtle from any disease.
The health of the turtle must be constantly monitored. If the breeder notices that it does not eat its meal completely or that it does not move, this means that it is exposed to a health problem and a veterinarian should be consulted to take the necessary health measures.
How to deal with a turtle
The turtle is one of the pets that adapt to living with humans. It is also social and loves to be petted and shows feelings of affection and admiration. The breeder can strengthen the relationship between him and the turtle by touching the skin around its neck or by touching its shell, as it loves such petting, and the turtle shows its love for its owner by sitting next to the breeder.
In the end, turtles are cute pets that create an entertaining and enjoyable atmosphere inside the home. They are harmless animals. It should be known that taking care of freshwater turtles is very necessary when raising them. You must take care of them and their health by providing a large aquarium with healthy specifications by placing a filter to time the water continuously, and an air pump that purifies the toxic gases in the water to eliminate algae. You must also provide a device that regulates the water temperature and provide appropriate nutrition for the turtle, and know the times and number of times it eats. Through these tips, you will make your turtle live longer.
