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Turtle basic care




     Please note- the turtle species that I currently keep is the Box Turtle. Please don't write to me asking for specific care information for any other species because I likely will not be able to answer your questions. Instead please visit my Reptile and Amphibian Care Sheets page in order to find very specific care information for the type of animal that you are interested in learning more about. Thank you!

Index

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE Macrochelys lemmincki

  • RATING: intermediate
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, beef, vegetation ...
  • WATER: filtered, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 82 F ( 27.7 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 72 F ( 22 C )
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: not necessary but clean white sand or large gravel may be used as long as it can not be ingested
  • NOTES: approx 24+" in length , Needs very large tank with small land area, largest fresh water turtle in the world


AUSTRALIAN SIDE-NECKED TURTLE Chelodina longicollis

  • RATING: intermediate
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: filtered, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 81F ( 27.2 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 75 F ( 23.8 C)
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: not necessary but large gravel may be used as long as it can not be ingested
  • NOTES: found in swamps, lakes, slow moving waters, needs small land area for basking.

Box Turtles

General Guidelines for Terrapene carolina (Eastern); ornata (Ornate)

  • RATING: intermediate to expert (ornata)
  • FOOD: Fish, worms, small mammals, crickets, endive, escarole, dandelion greens, fruit, veggies, dog food ...
  • WATER: Change daily, water should be deep enough for turtle to soak up to half it's shell height
  • DAY TEMP: 82 - 86 F ( 28 - 30 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 75 F (23.8 c)
  • LIGHTING: incandescent bulbs, and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: bark chips, potting soil- deep enough to burrow into
  • NOTES: Turtles of temperate and northern climates may slow down and stop feeding during winter months- hibernation or a cooling down period may be necessary for healthy turtles. Hide boxes are necessary.



MATAMATA Chelus fimbriatus

  • RATING: intermediate
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: shallow filtered water- head should be able to reach surface of water, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 82 F ( 27.7 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 72 F ( 22 C )
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: not necessary but clean white sand or large gravel may be used as long as it can not be ingested
  • NOTES: approx 16" in length , 30 to 40+ gallon tank with small land area

PAINTED TURTLE Chrysemys picta

  • RATING: novice/beginner
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: filtered, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 80 F ( 26.6 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 70 - 75 F ( 21 C - 23.8 C)
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: not necessary but large gravel may be used as long as it can not be ingested
  • NOTES: 4-10" in length , 1/4 to 1/3 or the tank should be land area for basking

RED EARED SLIDER Chrysemys scripta elegans

  • RATING: novice/beginner
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: filtered, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 75- 80 F ( 23.8 - 26.6 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 70 - 80 F ( 21 C - 26.6 C)
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: not necessary but large gravel may be used as long as it can not be ingested
  • NOTES: up to 12" in length, 1/4 to 1/3 or the tank should be land area for basking


REEVES TURTLE Chinemys reevesii

  • RATING: intermediate
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: half land / half filtered water- change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 72 - 75 F ( 22 - 23.8 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 70 F ( 21 C)
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: Terrestrial tank- land side should have either potting soil and playground sand mix or orchid bark, cypress mulch ...
  • NOTES: Semi-terrestrial, 4- 5 " long

SNAPPING TURTLE Chelydra serpentina

  • RATING: intermediate
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: filtered, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 82 F ( 27.7 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 72 F ( 22 C )
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: not necessary but clean white sand or large gravel may be used as long as it can not be ingested
  • NOTES: approx 18" in length , 30 to 40+ gallon tank with small land area

SOFT SHELLED TURTLE Trionyxmutica ferox; T. spinifera

  • RATING: intermediate
  • FOOD: snails, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, crustaceans, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers, tubiflex, fish, vegetation ...
  • WATER: shallow filtered water- deep enough to submerge but head should be able to reach surface of water, change every 5 to 7 days
  • DAY TEMP: 80 F ( 26.6 C)
  • NIGHT TEMP: 70 F ( 21 C )
  • LIGHTING: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent
  • SUBSTRATE: Clean fine sand deep enough to burrow
  • NOTES: 30 to 40+ gallon tank with small land area for basking





Turtle Books


Reptile & Amphibian Parasites by Eric M. Rundquist

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     Loaded with good information and practical, sensible, easy-to-apply advice. Great for beginners, but even the pros can learn a lot from them.


Understanding Reptile Parasites : A Basic Manual for Herpetoculturists & Veterinarians by Roger Klingenberg

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     An important manual for the reptile breeder. This manual takes the reptile owner beyond the simple task of care into the subject of why to prevent and how to treat parasites in our reptiles. The manual explains in simple terms the complexities of reptile parasites. It goes into the how-to of fecal floats, parasite identification and treatments. It takes the mystery out of the vet's back room. One of the shortest yet most useful chapters is "Hygiene and the Herpetoculturist". An important read for all reptile keepers and breeders.


The Tortoise Trust Guide to Tortoises and Turtles Andy Highfield

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      This guide provides factual information and advice on keeping tortoises, turtles and terrapins. Suitable for the newcomer to the subject, this book aims to give a general introduction to the topic.


Idiot's guide to Turtles and Tortoises The Complete Idiot's Guide to Turtles and Tortoises (Complete Idiot's Guide To...) by Liz Palika

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     Another instalment in the wildly popular Idiots Guide series. Very comprehensive information on every aspect of turtle care is presented in an easily accessible, quick, fun format, with care tips, pitfalls and interesting trivia bits throughout. Turtles and tortoises are the most popular reptile pets and differ greatly from other reptiles in their needs, yet there is very little available that is devoted exclusively to them.


Turtles & Tortoises for Dummies by Liz Palika

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     Easy to follow, practical guide to caring for turtles and tortoises.


The Tortoise and Turtle Feeding Manual A.C. Highfield

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      This text collates detailed articles and papers on the dietary management of tortoises and turtles. It addresses the problems that every keeper faces when attempting to provide optimum diets in captive situations. The topics covered include: the causes and prevention of "lumpy shell syndrome" and bone deformities; calcium and the D3 metabolism; protein and energy requirements; miscellaneous trace elements; the role of vitamins and supplements; wild foods for captive tortoises; grasses and hay for savannah species; feeding box and wood turtles; and growing perfect hatchlings. The photographs show the incorrect and correct development of tortoises and turtles.


Turtles and Tortoises: Caring for Them, Feeding Them, Understanding Them by Hartmut Wilke

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Eat this Bug Eat This Bug : A Guide to Invertebrate Live Foods for Reptiles and Amphibians by Lynn Davis


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     This book is a guide for owners of reptiles and amphibians who feed insects and other live foods to their pets. Advice is offered for selecting , ordering and raising your own supply of live invertebrate foods. More than a dozen species of live foods are discussed. The book includes instructions on keeping cultures of insects, and recipes & diets for insects.



Turtles in the Terrarium by Gerhard Muller, Gerhard Mueller

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Practical Encyclopedia of Keeping and Breeding Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles by A. C. Highfield

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     A practical guide to maintaining and breeding both rare and common tortoises and turtles. Chapters on natural habitats, reproductive biology, artificial incubation, designing accommodation, water quality, dietary management, and diseases give information applying to semiaquatic, aquatic, and terrestrial species. Includes colour and b&w photos, illustrated species accounts, a glossary, and a list of organizations. Written by the founder of the Tortoise Trust.


Turtles and Tortoises : Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, and Behaviour (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) by Richard D. Bartlett, Patricia P. Bartlett (Contributor), Michelle Earle-Bridges (Illustrator)

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      Provides a wealth of information.


Turtles & Tortoises of the World by David Alderton, Alderton

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      A concise yet comprehensive book on this diverse and fantastic group of animals. The author has succeeded in giving us an overview of almost all species of turtles in very readable text, even for the layman.


Popular Tortoises General Care and Maintenance of Popular Tortoises (The Herpetocultural Library Series) by Philippe De Vosjoli

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     A good introduction to what it takes to live with a tortoise. Quick overviews of each species and good care instructions. Especially good on outdoor enclosures.



Tortoises: Natural History, Care and Breeding in Captivity by Jerry G. Walls

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      A handbook on keeping and breeding tortoises from the HERPETOLOGY series. Offers advice for the amateur herpetologist on caring for tortoises in captivity, with details of their natural history and habitat.


Mediterranean Tortoises by Pursall, Brian Pursall

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     Information on diet, behaviour, breeding, incubation, growth, hibernation, temperature control, and housing. Excellent photography.


Practical Care and Maintenance of the Redfoot Tortoise Geochelone Carbonaria in Captivity Mike Pingleton

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      A comprehensive guide to keeping the popular South American Redfoot tortoise. The book includes detailed information on housing, feeding and breeding, with special emphasis upon how to provide an appropriate environment. It is full of observations based on years of experience with this species and is aimed at anyone who has, or who is thinking about, keeping a Redfoot tortoise as a pet. The information provided in the book has been endorsed and recommended by The Tortoise Trust, the world's leading organization for tortoise and turtle enthusiasts.


The Sonoran Desert Tortoise: Natural History, Biology, and Conservation

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Tortoises and Box Turtles by Hartmut Wilke

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      This handsomely illustrated book presents a wealth of information on the purchase, housing, and general care of tortoises and box turtles. Books in the Complete Pet Owner's Manuals series present basic information about pets for new or soon-to-be owners, as well as detailed information for other animal hobbyists. Advice and instruction covers purchase, equipment, general care and maintenance, and much more. Texts emphasize the basics and are easy for all readers to understand, but most titles in this series also presents facts that even experienced owners and hobbyists will find new and useful. All books in this series are filled with high quality full-color photos and instructive line drawings. Length averages between 64 and 104 pages.


Box turtle Manual The Box Turtle Manual (The Herpetocultural Library. Series 300) by Philippe De Vosjoli, Philippe De Vosjoli, Philippe De Vosjoli, Roger Klingenberg (Contributor)

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     Comprehensive basic information regarding the care of several box turtle species. Good for beginners to intermediate owners.


North American Box Turtles: A Natural History by C. Kenneth, Jr. Dodd

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      Native to the United States and Mexico, the box turtle is so named because of its box-like appearance. A once familiar backyard visitor, the box turtle is also the focus of both conservation efforts and biological research.North American Box Turtles is the first book-length natural history of the twelve species and subspecies of the terrestrial box turtle. It includes comprehensive information on the species' systematics, evolution, habitat use and activity patterns, behavior, courtship and reproduction, diet, population structure, and disease. Each chapter discusses conservation applications as well as the need for long-term data, monitoring, and viewing box turtles within a landscape context. Special features of this book include: *color photos of all species and subspecies and habitats *a simplified identification guide to both living and fossil species *a summary of information on fossil Terrapene and Native uses of box turtles *end-of-chapter sections that highlight future research directions *a glossary of general natural history terms *a bibliography of literature on box turtles All royalties from the sales of this volume will go to the Chelonian Research Foundation, a nonprofit foundation for the conservation of turtles.


Box Turtles Box Turtles : Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity by Jordan Patterson

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     Discusses the physical characteristics, behaviour, health, and breeding of box turtles and provides information on keeping them as pets.



Box Turtles by Richard D. Bartlett, Patricia Pope Bartlett

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      Most box turtle varieties are poor swimmers, and prefer both natural and terrarium environments where waters are shallow. Here's is detailed advice on all aspects of their care and maintenance. Books in this series give hobbyists basic information on reptiles' anatomy, life cycles, and traits, as well as specific instructions on care and breeding. There is expert information on selecting good specimens, determining sex, providing proper caging, nutritious feeding, and health care. All books are heavily illustrated with full-color photos.


Red Eared SlidersRed-Eared Sliders (General Care and Maintenance of Series) by Philippe De Vosjoli

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     When kept properly, red-eared sliders will delight their owners with their beauty, intelligence fascinating behaviours, and a lifespan of up to 25 years or longer. Learn how to simulate aspects of a pond or lake in your home vivarium, how to determine the sex of your turtle, how to breed red-eared sliders along with proven techniques for feeding, heating, filtering the water and the use of plants. You'll be amazed by what you didn't know! Colour photos of different morphs and other popular freshwater turtles.


Red Eared Slider Turtles by Jordan Patterson

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      This book adequately covers the essentials of owning a turtle: housing, feeding, breeding, and diseases. The section on breeding is a little more extensive than in other intro books. A plus is that most of the pictures are in color.



Cooters, Sliders & Painted Turtles by Jerry G. Walls

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      Great pictures make this book very useful for figuring out exactly what type of turtle you have in that tank in your home. In addition, the information on longevity and disposition is helpful in understanding these animals, both at home and in the wild.


Map Turtles and Diamond Back Terrapins by W. P. Mara

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Turtles of the United States and Canada by Carl H. Ernst, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Roger W. Barbour

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      A comprehensive reference that summarizes the current knowledge about the 56 turtle species of the US and Canada, of which 13 are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Each of the species accounts includes sections on recognition, karyotype, fossil record, distribution, geographic variation, confusing species, habitat, behavior, reproduction, biology, growth and longevity, food habits, populations, and predators. The authors also include a discussion of turtle anatomy, a key to species identification, a pronunciation glossary for scientific names, and an extensive bibliography. Illustrated with color plates and b&w photographs of each species, anatomical line drawings, and distribution maps


Turtles by Hartmut Wilke

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      Here are detailed instructions on turtle care, safe handling, feeding, health care, and general maintenance. Books in the Complete Pet Owner's Manuals series present basic information for new or soon-to-be owners. Advice and instruction covers feeding, housing, health care, training, grooming, and much more. Texts emphasize pet care basics and are easy for all readers to understand. All books in this series are filled with high quality full-color photos and instructive line drawings. Length averages between 64 and 104 pages.


Laboratory Anatomy of the Turtle by Laurence M. Ashley

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      Drawings and text guide the student in the dissection of the turtle.



Turtle Conservation by Michael W. Klemens, Nat B. Frazer

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      American conservation and wildlife specialists analyze threats to turtles and tortoises worldwide, charting the successes and failures of past conservation programs and offering suggestions for future conservation efforts. They argue that turtle and tortoise conservation should be integrated into broadly focused, local land-use projects.


The Year of the Turtle: A Natural History

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     Acclaimed naturalist David M. Carroll guides readers through the yearly cycle of the freshwater turtle. With lyrical yet factual prose observations, Carroll also includes more than 100 of his carefully executed full-colour drawings.



About these mini care sheets

      The following mini care sheets are meant to provide only basic care information. In order to provide the most accurate and up to date data I searched for and cross referenced information about the following herps on the internet, through herp magazines, and through specific herp care books. If you come across information that is inaccurate or out of date please write to me with the correct information.

      The only turtles that I currently keep are ornate and eastern box turtles. I receive many letters asking me for advice or to help identify the particular turtle or tortoise that they have found. To tell you the truth- I probably wont be that much help other than with basic, general care guidelines, most of which can be found on this page. :) If you need help identifying a turtle- either take it in to a reptile store where the staff may be helpful, call your local herpetological society, or look through a book that contains many pictures of different reptiles and amphibians and see if you can identify it in the book. :) You can also join the turtle and tortoise mailing list, turtle-l and ask your question to the many experts and knowledgeable people already subscribed to the list. :)

      You might also want to visit my Reptile and Amphibian Care Sheets page to see if I have listed any links to specific reptile or amphibian sites that you might be interested in visiting.

      In addition to providing the basics of care as listed below, any new animal in your collection should be kept in a separate enclosure (quarantined) for one to six months and monitored for illness, mites or ticks, internal parasites, and treated accordingly during this period.

      Please take your new herps to a qualified reptile vet for a check-up when you purchase them - or, at the very least have a fresh stool sample tested for parasites in the first week or two of having your new pet. If you don't know of a reptile vet in your area you can visit Melissa Kaplan's Herp Societies/Vets Page: http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html for American and international vet listings, or you can visit my Canadian reptile vet page: http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com/canrepvt.htm for Canadian Reptile vet listings.






Last updated
Mar, 19, 2010

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