I need info on what to buy for a pet turtle?

Question

i would like to buy a pet turtle and the lady told me i needed a 20 litre tank and will need a huger one in two years! from the research ive done this isnt the case can anyone help me and give me the info of stuff i need for a pet turtle thanks

Answer 1

Red eared sliders are commonly found in pet stores... It's true, they do get very big (dinner-plate sized) and if that's what kind of turtle it is then it will need a bigger tank in less than 2 years!  A full grown one needs at least a 90 gallon tank.

Turtles are also quite dirty; you need a really good filter for the water and you need to do 100% water changes at least once a week.

You'll need a UVA light (for heat) and a UVB light so the turtle can metabolize calcium (which he'll get from his food) so he doesn't get weak bones and a soft shell.

You'll need to create some kind of area for the turtle to get out of the water and catch some of those rays.

Besides that you'll need a little turtle water conditioning block, food (obviously...), and that's about it.

All of this info kindof depends on what turtle you get, though!  What I said here is mostly for the Red eared sliders, which (where I live, anyway) are the most common turtles in pet stores.  

Good luck

And by the way, if anyone tells you that a turtle will only get as big as his tank will allow, it is NOT true.  They will, however, be severely stunted and unhealthy.  It would be like a person living their whole life in a portable toilet.  Small and dirty.

Answer 2

well, it would depend on what type of turtle you were thinking of purchacing. some get quite large!

Answer 3

get a musk turtle they stay pretty small and for now i have a 10 gal for him but wen the get old the smallest u can get is a 20 gal :)

Answer 4

Dont listen to this stupid people saying 10 inches per shell. pfft

As long as the turtle has room to swim and space to turn around and stuff it will be fine.However when it grows your gonna need a 30 gallon tank Good luck with your new friend

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Answer 5

Turtles produce a lot of waste.  Even with a filter, unless you are going to change the water every day, you need as large a tank as possible.  Also, these guys are very active and need swimming room.  The 10 gallon per inch of shell rule of thumb does not mean 10 gallons of water, it means size of tank.  A 40 gallon tank is not too large for a 4 or 5 inch turtle.  Keeping large turtles, such as RES in a 20 gallon tank would be inhumane.  Just because it has survived does not mean it has a good quality of life.  Reptiles can survive quite awhile in the most awful conditions before they die.  

Get expert advice here:

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/

Answer 6

I suggest a 50 to 100 gallon tank. The bigger the better. If u buy a big enough one now, then u will save money by not having to buy a new one in a few years. U will also need a basking light, this is their heat source, and a UVA/UVB light, this is for their vitamins and nutrients, as well as to keep their shell hard and healthy. They need to be where they can reach some kind of dock or piece of wood big enough for them to bask on.