| A turtle terrarium is ideal if you want to show off | | | | 45 days, at least. To keep the water clean between |
| your pet and decorate your house at the same time. | | | | each change, you can use a water filtration system |
| You will be providing your turtle a habitat, and adding | | | | instead. |
| to the natural feel of your home. | | | | You can also add a teaspoon of salt in every 4-5 |
| Step 1: Get a tank | | | | liters of water to prevent harmful bacteria, and shell |
| You will need to get a tank large enough to | | | | and skin diseases. |
| accommodate your turtle when it reaches its | | | | Step 4: Decorate the tank |
| maturity. The minimum turtle terrarium dimensions | | | | Make the turtle's habitat a bit more homely by adding |
| should be 3-4 times the length of the turtle, twice | | | | decorations to it instead of leaving it bare. |
| the length of the turtle in width, and 1.5-2 times the | | | | Remember to wash and sterilize things you pick up |
| length of the turtle in height. Add 8-12 inches above | | | | from the road before you put them in the tank. Do |
| the highest level the turtle can reach inside the tank | | | | not add decorations that are sharp, pointed, or so |
| so it cannot escape. | | | | small that the turtle can swallow them. |
| If you have more than one turtle, increase the tank | | | | You can add commercial decorations, driftwood, |
| dimensions by 40-60% per turtle. | | | | gravel, plants, shells, and stones to your turtle |
| The tank for your turtle terrarium should preferably | | | | terrarium. |
| be Plexiglas, since regular glass produces glare. | | | | Step 5: Provide proper lighting |
| Step 2: Prepare the water and land area | | | | Turtles also love to bask, which is why you will need |
| Try not to obstruct the water area so that the | | | | to fit a heating or basking light onto the tank. There |
| turtle can swim freely and not bump into or be stuck | | | | are several basking lights available in stores. When |
| on decorations. Place the decorations along the | | | | you install the lights, make sure they focus on the |
| corners instead, covering other turtle terrarium | | | | land area where the turtle will rest. |
| equipment like filters. | | | | Aside from heat, turtles also need UV light rays for |
| Turtles love to bask, so they will need land area to | | | | their calcium metabolization. UV lamps are also |
| rest on. This can be made of acrylic, glass, thick | | | | available in stores. |
| wood, plastic, or a large stone. Anchor the land area | | | | Step 6: Situate the tank in a convenient corner |
| above water level, with a ramp sloped so the turtle | | | | Do not place the tank beside a window. Even though |
| can climb on. | | | | turtles need natural sunlight, windowpane glasses filter |
| Avoid sharp edges or decorations that will block the | | | | 95% of the UV rays. Exposing the tank water to |
| turtle's path. Also, do not use gravel or other | | | | direct sunlight will also cause algae to grow faster, |
| materials that are less than 2 centimeters in diameter. | | | | which means you will have to change the water |
| Step 3: Make sure the water you use is clean | | | | more frequently. |
| Turtles spend a lot of their time in the water. It is | | | | After you have followed those simple steps, your |
| where they swim, eat, drink, and release their waste. | | | | turtle terrarium is now ready. But before you put in |
| Over time, the water will become dirty, and this will | | | | your turtle, test the environment first by letting small |
| make the turtle susceptible to diseases if left | | | | fish live in the water for a while. This is to check if |
| unchanged. | | | | the water is clean and free of diseases. If all is OK, |
| Changing the tank water in a turtle terrarium is a | | | | you can set your turtle inside the tank. |
| tedious job, and is recommended to be done every | | | | |