Aquatic turtles make great pets if Aquatic turtles make great pets if you're into reptiles. In 2010 we decided to add a Yellow Bellied and a Red Belly turtle to our family. It wasn't a spur of the moment decision, as it took us weeks to determine to prepare. After unnecessary worrying and finally getting our pet turtles settled in, we realized that caring for the Yellow Belly turtle isn't as tough as anticipated. With that said, allow me to provide some tips for first time owners.
So how much room should my pet turtles have?
Both the Red Belly and Yellow Belly slider turtles can grow up to around 14 inches in length. When you first bring them home, more than likely they will be just a few inches. At this stage in the turtle's life it'll be okay to house them in a ten gallon tank. As adults you better plan for an upgrade to an environment north of 45 gallons.
So what's the deal with the water level?
Contrary to what you may have heard about pet turtles, they're surely fond of swimming. I know our Yellow Belly turtle does. After setting up your pet turtle tank, you want to make sure that the water level is no more than 3-4 inches from the top of the tank. This was something I wasn't aware of when we got our first Yellow Belly turtle.
What about my aquarium decor?
Our Yellow Belly turtle likes to chew at its surroundings, particularly plants. Many people value their aquatic plants so if you're one, get artificial ones. Also, your Yellow Bellied turtle will need places to hang out on and bask. Try to add some makeshift platforms or floating apparatus to your turtle aquarium. You don't want to overcrowd, however. It already has to toil around with that bulky shell.
Avoid over feeding your aquatic turtles
We wouldn't dare feed our Yellow Bellied turtle those generic green floating sticks. I wouldn't suggest that you feed your pet turtles that either. When feeding, our food of choice is Zoo Med's Gourmet Aquatic Turtle Food. Search for that verbatim; you'll find it. This medley comes complete with a well-rounded diet. Look at the ingredients and you will notice components like dried shrimp, meal worms, fish, and even cranberries! This medley also contains calcium, but it won't hurt to buy an extra calcium tablet to help prevent the softening of their shells.
But what about my turtle's tank mates?
In our ten gallon turtle aquarium, we have a Red Belly turtle, a Yellow Belly turtle, and a small shoal of Tiger Barbs. These fish are considered by the industry to be semi-aggressive fish. I can tell you that when they see our pet turtles coming, the go the other way. These aquatic turtles are docile and sociable by nature, so don't lose sleep over their tank mates. Feel free to throw some newts, guppies, and Plecos in there.
... And let there be light
Like other reptiles such as snakes and iguanas, your Yellow Belly turtle will require daily light. Not just any light, but of the UV-A and UV-B spectrums. You may be able to find one bulb to provide both types, but I had two invest in two separate lights. The first, which is a spot lamp, emits the heat for basking. The other is simply a fluorescent light strip. You know, the type you normally find underneath a stove top range. True, it doesn't give much heat but it's spectrum is required to maintain your pet turtle's pigmentation.
I think you're ready now. So, in conclusion...
Relax. I know your kids have begged you for a pet turtle for months. Yellow Belly turtles make marvelous pets. They're not like fish because they will actually make eye contact and interact with you. Feeding two aquatic turtles are much more entertaining to watch than feeding several fish. Change your water frequently. A simple partial water change each week will suffice. It will keep your turtle aquarium smelling fresh, and it won't give viruses a chance to cultivate. Lastly, check out the Tetra ReptoFilter; it works really well.
Kevin Timothy is a simple guy that likes to write about the simple (often overlooked) things in life. To learn more follow him on Twitter.
