Learn what it takes to properly care for your turtle or tortoise in this pet owner’s guide. In this guide, we provide all the basic information needed to get started for beginners and novice owners of turtles and tortoises.
Go To Care Guides:
Get species specific Information:
Specific Species: Temp, Humidity, & Light Needs
Turtles are found on almost every continent; they can be found in the dry hot deserts to the year around warm humid climates and even areas that have cold harsh winters. All the turtles found around the world have adapted and evolved to survive in their given natural habitat. Each of these unique sub-species has its own specific needs to thrive.
It’s important to know the type of breed you have in order to get the correct information on caring for it.
Things to Consider
It’s important to become familiar with the needs of your turtle species. Knowing this information can ensure that your pet stays happy and healthy. If you fail to do so, it can make your turtle miserable and give it a shorter lifespan than it has potential for.
Some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration before bringing one of these pet homes include but are not limited to the following:
- What air or water temperatures does your species need to stay healthy?
- What percentage of humidity does your turtle or tortoise prefer?
- Does it require any additional sources of land or water to live in?
- What types of food do you need to include in their diet?
- How vast of a living space is required to ensure you keep a happy pet?
Build a Proper Habitat
You have several options for housing your turtles. Depending on where you live in the country and what type of turtle you have, you can create an outdoor pen or even a turtle pond if you have space in the yard. If outside isn’t an option or you would like to house your pets inside during a cold winter, you can build an inside table or even house them permanently in a large aquarium if they are small growing species.
Turtle vs Tortoise
The word “turtle” is often used to describe all turtles, including tortoises. In actuality though, there are 14 turtle families within the order of Testudines (Chelonii). The families share similar characteristics but also have their differences. In simple terms, a tortoise is considered a land-based animal that doesn’t swim. A turtle on the other hand is an aquatic or semi-aquatic animal. Now it gets confusing – a box turtle is in fact a turtle but a land-based one.
Further Reading
Turtle Tanks, Pens & Ponds
Turtle vs Tortoise
Tortoise & Turtle Food
Diagnose & Treat Problems
What to Feed Your Turtle
Every turtle and tortoise has a specialized diet that you need to adhere to. Some turtles are strictly vegetarians that only eat greens and veggies while others are mainly carnivores and require proteins or live meals. Simply throwing in a head of iceberg lettuce is no meal for most turtle; they won’t get the adequate vitamins or minerals they need to stay healthy. Find out what you should be feeding your turtles.
Treat & Prevent Illness
Turtles like all animals are susceptible to a number of diseases, illnesses, or injuries. For starters, the best way to avoid getting a sick turtle is to avoid purchasing one that isn’t healthy in the first place. Furthermore, you can help prevent illness by keeping your turtle’s living space at the most optimal parameters for its breed as well as feeding it an appropriate diet. Sometimes disease and infection are inevitable and unavoidable.
Additional Info
FAQ
- What size of tank or pen does my turtle need?
- What is the best type of bedding substrate to use?
- What types of foods can I feed my turtles and tortoises?
- Can I safely keep a turtle outside in my backyard?
- What types of turtles are there?
- Can I take my injured turtle to a veterinarian?
- My turtle isn’t feeling well, what is wrong with it?
- Are certain plants toxic to turtles
- Do turtles and tortoises hibernate?
- How do you breed and care for baby turtles?
- How long do turtles live for?
Turtle and Tortoise Hibernation
Wild box turtles, aquatic turtles, and tortoises that live in colder climates all hibernate during the cold winter months. As an owner of a pet turtle, you too can choose to hibernate them during these cold periods. Alternatively, you can bring them inside to ride out the winter indoors where it is nice and warm. There are factors you need to be aware of before deciding that hibernation is right for your turtle; sick, young, and under weight, turtles should not be put into hibernation. You can choose to build a box or convert a refrigerator into a place for them to sleep out the winter or you might decide to dig a pit filled with mulch and leaves.
Read more about
How to Care for Baby Turtles
When you keep turtles of both sexes in the same habitat and they are of breeding age, they will likely begin to breed. Pregnant females will need a suitable area to deposit their eggs into a nest. Both land species and aquatic species need a loose moist substrate for this. You can then decide to leave the eggs where they are or take them inside and hatch them in an incubator. Once they have hatched, you will need to learn how to feed these tiny size turtles or tortoises.
Read more about how to
Useful Resources and Links
Reviewed By: Tim Winter
Tim Winter has a strong affection for pets and wildlife. His years of experience caring for various types of pets has led him to share his knowledge with others on the best practices in pet care. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications.
More About Turltes
Can a Snapping Turtle Bite Your Toe or Finger Off?
Can they bite a finger or toe off?There are no recorded cases of it but do you really want to find out the hard way? They are called ‘snapping’ turtles for a reason. It’s not the force of the bite that you need to worry about, it’s also the sharp beak like mouth that’s meant ... Read more
Mastering the art of reptile care – Top Tips
Although reptiles are fascinating to watch, many people find that there is a lot to learn about taking care of them. Reptiles may look scary, but there are quite easy techniques to become an expert pet keeper. To keep your scaly companion safe and well, this blog post will provide suggestions backed by experts that ... Read more
Why Do Ducks, Geese, and Other Birds Migrate?
Many species of bird migrate seasonally, usually along a flyway. In many cases, the flyway is defined by natural water barriers such as oceans, rivers, and seas. Bird migration has been going on for a very long time. Many ancient cultures noted this phenomenon and even recorded it. The same patterns continue to date, although ... Read more
Survival of the Fittest: How Animals Adapt to Their Environment
The natural world is constantly changing and evolving, and animals play a vital role in adapting to these changes. Survival of the fittest is a concept that has been around for centuries, describing how only the strongest and most adaptable creatures can thrive and survive in their environment. Adaptation is a crucial component of an ... Read more
Can plz anyone help me with my turtle I lost her suddenly ..as after her gestation period she was feeling restless as for mnth nd it was my first experience to see my turtle hatching eggs so I thought it was all nrml .. i thought that after hatching eggs may turtle release their waste as …it was seen by me ..that my turtle secret stinky colorless or sometimes green color liquid …nd 1 week before she released blood little bit …as I m totally owe my mistake to not take care of her properly …but can anyone plz tell me what happened to her …bcoz of which I lost her
Hi can any one help please i have a tutule we think it is
but how can you tell. pregnant. It keep diging all the time but never goes back to the place it dig.
A friend gave me a turtle, it was in a shoe box, not sure how long but it barely fit, its been about 12 hrs since i had it, i dont even know if it needs to be in water or not, i really need help…
Does the turtle have webbed feet with claws or does it have what appears to be toenails. If it has webbed feet, it’s likely a water turtle. Take a look at these pages to see if you can identify it – Otherwise, send a pic to tim @ caringpets.org (no spaces). In the mean time, add a shallow water dish so it can soak in water. All turtles and tortoise would benefit from a soaking dish.
Box Turtles
Aquatic Turtles
Tortoises
I have a aquatic turtle I’m so worried I want to keep it indoors and I also want to know its favourite diet PLZ help
You can find diet info in our section on food and diet for aquatic turtles. 🙂
I got a new pet box turtle the other day and need to to know how to take care of it. Should I keep it in doors in an aquarium or can I let it live in the backyard. I’m worried it might escape if I leave it outside. Any advice would be great. Thanks.
You should avoid using a glass aquarium since they don’t vent well and sometime turtles get stressed out by being able to see through the glass. Many owners opt for a turtle table that is wide with sold walls. Box turtles would love to be outside but if you do, you should build a pen that is secure. One to keep the turtle in and two, to keep predators out. Take a look at our sections on housing box turtles and tortoise.
I think that it is interesting that you bring up that a glass aquarium does not work well with turtles. A friend of mine wants me to babysit her turtle. I am not sure exactly how to take care of it besides what she told me. She keeps her turtle in a glass aquarium though, and so far it seems fine.
is it a box turtle of an aquatic turtle. I’m sure there are exceptions and some box turtles might not have issues with the glass and if the tank is well ventilated, the possibly gas build doesn’t become an issue.