interested in getting a turtle... advice for a newbie?

[Alice0324]

I've wanted a turtle for as long as I can remember.... and never gotten one... I am thinking of getting one, and since I live in Oregon, if I want to get an aquatic turtle, I have to go out of state, they don't sell them here.....

I have no idea on how to get started, like what kind of turtle to buy, what type of tank to put the turtle in, and what to put in the tank, what to feed... ect..

anyone have any suggestions for a newbie?

Thanks!

Alice

 

[Ryeseen]

I would.just go to WA

 

[Meagan.Marie]

Alice, I have been looking into a turtle too.

Let me share what I have discovered.

Overall Habitat.

• 10 gallons for every inch of shell
• filtration should be double what the tank size is (not how much water you have in the tank but that actual size)
• Canister filters work best
• sand is the best substrate
• sand is hard to clean, river rocks are a good replacement
• you must have uva and uvb lighting
• basking area is a must
• aquatic plants will get eaten
• fake plants torn out of the substrate (turtles like to redecorate)
• water must be heated
• basking lights should be on 24/7
• heat lamps should be on 12 hours a day

Feeding

• variety of plants and animals
• bugs
• feeder fish
• lettuce (not iceberg)
• meal worms

General Care:

• make sure there is a vet near you to treat your turtle
• monitor water levels
• do often vacuuming of substrate and water changes
• clean the filter often (it will get stinky)

Make sure you are ready for at least a 30 year commitment, sometimes 50 or 60.


also males are smaller than females!

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Look at this link you can put in the different turtles to see what each one needs. http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheets.htm

Plus play around with the site and you'll find a ton of great info

BTW I ordered mine from www.turtleshack.com

 

[Convict2161]

Now... Andy....WHY would you post that?! lol.


Turtle time!!!

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Here is mine it's a stinkpot musk turtle