| The home of your turtle is referred to as the | | | | Never consider placing any rough stones in the |
| housing or habitat, one of the vital necessities of | | | | aquarium, for they may potentially injure your pets. |
| your pet. There are two main types, namely indoor, | | | | Select smooth stones instead. Stones which are |
| referred to as a turtle aquarium, and outdoor housing, | | | | found on roadsides must be sterilized before placing |
| often a garden pond. Although the indoor enclosure | | | | them inside the tank. All other store-bought |
| has similarities with the fish aquarium, it is not the | | | | accessories should be cleaned every week to ten |
| same. Novice turtle keepers should keep this | | | | days. An easy way to stick to your cleaning schedule |
| information in mind. | | | | is to take out and disinfect the accessories when |
| One of the most important differences between the | | | | you change your tank water. |
| two is the water level containment. Fish are aquatic | | | | Create an elevated place to allow your turtle to bask, |
| creatures surviving in water alone, while turtles need | | | | either by piling smooth rocks or aquarium gravel on |
| both land and water. For this reason, fish tanks are | | | | one side of the turtle tank. Other materials to use to |
| filled completely with water, while turtle tanks are | | | | create or enhance this basking area are |
| only half filled. Different turtle species require their | | | | Styrofoam(TM) or floating cork, to improvise a |
| own precise amounts of water according to their | | | | bridge or plastic raft. The other side of the tank |
| size, and these amounts must be accurately | | | | should be used for swimming holes. |
| calculated and rigorously maintained. Watch your | | | | A proper filtration system is likewise a necessity. |
| turtle - it should have a high enough level of water to | | | | When you make sure that the cleanliness and |
| enjoy swimming, but the turtle should also be able to | | | | sanitation of the tank are maintained, you insure the |
| stand in some shallow areas of water, and have a | | | | health of your pet. An ideal power filter, which you |
| rock or log to climb out and bask on to dry off. | | | | can submerge in the water, is recommended. This |
| When purchasing a turtle aquarium, make sure that | | | | submersible filtration system makes use of foam as |
| you consider the size your turtle will grow into as an | | | | the means of filtering. Rinse the foam using cool and |
| adult. Turtles normally grow three to even four times | | | | clean water every week. |
| their infant length as they mature. Therefore, the | | | | The purchasing and setting up of the turtle's |
| most ideal aquarium size for your pets is three to | | | | aquarium are the most important tasks for beginner |
| four times the length or size of the biggest turtle. | | | | turtle keepers. Make sure that before you acquire a |
| The tank width must be twice as large, and the | | | | pet turtle, you are ready to give it proper housing |
| height should ideally be 1.5 to two times its length. | | | | the moment you bring it home. Remember, the best |
| Furthermore, choose a tank which is eight to 12 | | | | habitats for turtles are the ones that meet their daily |
| inches above the highest point the turtle can reach in | | | | needs by mimicking their habitat conditions in the wild. |
| order to prevent it from climbing out and escaping. | | | | Your turtle needs space, soil, plants, food, water, and |
| When buying turtle tank accessories, make sure that | | | | proper temperature control to ensure a long and |
| the welfare and safety of your turtle is prioritized. | | | | healthy life. |