How To Take Care Of A Pet Turtle

A turtle might seem like a fun, low-maintenance pet, but before you bring one home, make sure you know how to take care of a pet turtle and what kind of care a turtle needs. Follow these guidelines to learn how to take care of a pet turtle.

1. The most important thing to know is that pet turtles can carry salmonella, which can make you very ill and can be deadly for young children. If you have any children under age five in your household, do not get a pet turtle.
2. The best place to keep a pet turtle is outside in a pond with an enclosure, where it has lots of room to swim. Make sure there are rocks for your turtle to climb on; they enjoy spending time out of the water and in the sun.
3. If you keep your turtle indoors, you should have a large heated aquarium with water at least as deep as the widest part of your turtle, and a rock shelf where your turtle can be completely out of the water. The water temperature should always be kept at 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Turtles housed indoors should be taken outside regularly for sun exposure.
4. Your turtle can eat fish, feeder goldfish, meal worms and guppies, as well as prepared turtle food from the pet store. Small turtles should be fed every day, and larger turtles should be fed two to three times per week.
5. Keep your turtle's tank clean by removing uneaten food each day. You should also dismantle the tank and scrub it with bleach regularly to avoid disease and infection.