Caring for Turtles means choosing proper housing for turtles, strictly adhering to the turtle diet and finally making sure that they stay healthy. Hence, here are few tips on how to provide proper housing for turtles so that you can take the best care of them. For starters, it's safe to have a large water tank that will measure up to the length of the turtle after it grows up. Secondly, it's important to maintain the temperature of the water and finally, you must check the chlorine level of water. However, caring for turtles doesn't end here. This is just the beginning. Read on to find out how to provide proper housing for turtles.

Caring for Turtles

Choose a large enclosure

If you buy a juvenile turtle of 4 inches (10 cm) then your enclosure should be at least 55 US Gallon (208 Ltr). This is because sooner your turtle will grow in size. Suppose it becomes 10 inches (23 cm) in a few months, then you'd thank me for buying this large water tank. For a turtle with a length of more than 8 inches (20 cm), a 125 US Gallon (473 Ltr) water tank should be the most appropriate choice.

Create a Basking Zone

Creating a basking zone for your turtle is extremely important. This will allow you to create a temperature gradient within the tank - which we will talk about further- and also allow your turtle to enjoy his or her cozy corner. To make the basking zone use sand and soil. Make sure you use one corner of the tank to create this zone. You might also create a hiding spot for your turtle in this basking area so that your turtle can enjoy his private time.

Check the Water of the Tank

You can use tap water for the tank, But, don't forget to check the pH level of the water before you pour it into the tank. Also, keep in mind that the chlorine level of water shouldn't be high. In case your tap water has chlorine higher than zero, you can always purchase a dechlorinating agent.

Take care of the Lighting

Lighting is crucial to caring for turtles. Turtles need UVA and UVB lighting for normal functioning. You can kee these lamps over their basking area. UVB lights provide vitamin D3 while UVA light helps in reproduction and natural behavior. The temperature at the basking spot should be no more than 90F (32C) while the temperature of the surrounding water should be at least 10 to 20 degrees less. However, keep in mind that as you shut the lights at night the temperature might fall. But, keep in mind that the temperature of the water tank cannot go less than 65F (18C). You must use an aquarium heater for this purpose.

Don't forget about the Filter

Keeping the water tank clean is a huge step in caring for turtles. Hence, I recommend having a separate tank for feeding. This will ease off your workload in the long run. Choose a filter that is for a size larger than the volume of the tank. You might also have to use a net to clean off the debris regularly.

So, these were the steps that you need to keep in mind while providing proper housing for turtles. Remember caring for turtles is easy but should be done consistently. You cannot afford to forget about any of these steps listed above. All of them are equally important if not more. I hope you found this article helpful & informative.