What do I need for a Turtle?

Question

What kind of stuff do I need to get a turtle, does it have to be fed every day, what do I feed it? Were is the cheepest place to get a turtle but it will still be a good one and a small one.

Answer 1

Depends on the type of turtle, but in general you need a tank, water, filters, plant life, docks, lighting, food, and a vet.

If you are considering a "land turtle" (tortoise) you will need a tank, substrate (I use sand mainly), lighting, a "hide", food, space, and a vet.

Again, that's just in general. I mean if you want to start setting up before you get a turtle, that is where I would start. Call around for vets that are familiar with turtles, get a tank and all the lighting.

Answer 2

musk turtles are pretty small.   reaserch them and see if they are good for you, they can live forever in a 35 gallon tank"of cousre if the musk turtle somehow gets too big, he'll need a biger thank. they need a basking spot "thought they dont use it much" only 6 to 8 inches of water.  a water heater, and a basking light. it has not been proven that musk turtles benifit from a uvb bulb, so it's not needed. they eat fish, crickets, sime veggies, and  of course turtle food,  but turtle food should NOT be a staple diet, it should be 60% meat "small feeder fish, crickets" then types of veggies then turtle food. for more information visit this site.. http://www.chelonia.org/articles/sternot...  for a plce to buy it  some people recommend turtlesale.com, some dont, some love that site, and some absolutly hate it!     you can but musk turtles cheap there.  if you want to buy a turtle from there. go to http://www.turtlesale.com/home/index.php...

Answer 3

If you're looking for cheap you'll want to stay away from turtles. Just for the initial setup you're going to need a few hundred dollars. Turtles under 4 inches are illegal to sell in the US, so you're probably going to end up with a bigger one. With a turtle that's 4 inches long you're going to need at least a 40-50 gallon tank. But you'll need to upgrade as the turtle grows. A tank that size is going to cost you at least $50 dollars, but probably closer to $100. Double that if you need a stand for it. Then you're going to need a submersible heater to keep the water at a constant temperature between 75-85 degrees. All that water is going to need a filter, and a water conditioner. And you're going to need some gravel, rocks, or a dock so the turtle can get out of the water. A basking light over the land area is absolutely necessary, the turtle can die without it. Then you'll want a net, calcium supplement tablets, decorations, pellet food, and maybe some shell conditioner.

A juvenile aquatic turtle needs to eat every day. If your turtle is under 5-6 inches long you should feed daily. They should get as many pellets as they can eat in about 5-10 minutes once a day every day. Offer fresh fruits and veggies daily. The produce is the main diet of adult turtles so get them started on it as early as possible. Then you'll want to give protein a few times a week. Adult turtles should have access to fresh fruits and vegetables daily, pellets every other day, and protein maybe once a week. The quantity and variety of a turtle's diet adds up in cost quickly, so you'll want to consider that too.

Protein: live feeder guppies and rosy reds (stay away from goldfish), shrimp, meal worms, krill, wax worms, blood worms, beef heart, earth worms, cooked chicken, crickets, beef, and liver

Produce: carrots, dark lettuce, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, zucchini, dandelion greens, squash, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato, apple, banana, papaya, melon, grapes, berries

As for where to get a turtle, it's hard to say. Look around at stores and animal rescues near your house. Compare prices. And be sure to examine the turtles living conditions and if it looks healthy. The habitat should look clean, so should the animal. There should be no discharge coming from the eyes or nose, eyes should be clear and open, the shell should be strong. Hope I could help!

Add: You won't need a separate container for feeding. Turtles can only eat in the water so all food should be placed directly in the water. It does get messy but that's what the filter's for. And you'll need to do monthly water changes and cleanings anyway.

Answer 4

get a tropical turtle

Answer 5

A turtle will need a large aquarium, decor (place to get in and out of water), heat source (probably a head lamp and water heater), fluorescent fixture with UVB light, water filter, water dechlorinator, separate container for feeding (keeps tank much cleaner), and a variety of foods (plant and protein).

Most turtles will need to be fed daily, but it depends on the age and species.

It is illegal to buy a turtle under 4" in the US.  The best place to buy one would be a high quality pet store or reptile enthusiast.

Answer 6

no turtle is cheap and no turtle stays small.

the turtle itself will probably cost you around $10-20. the set up will need to be a large aquarium, a filter, a UVB bulb, a UVA/Heat bulb, a thermometer, a place to bask, substrate, a water heater, decorations. you're looking at $200-$300 if you do it the right way.

the turtle will be small to begin with, especcially if you get a red ear slider (small, round, green and cheap). however that turtle will grow to be about 8-12 inches depending on the s*x.

it needs to be fed everyday when it is a hatchling and should be fed pellets and feeder fish. when it is an adult it should be fed veggies.

unless you're willing to provide completly for your turtle for a very long time (they can live 40 years) a turtle is not for you...

however, if you can, they make awesome pets! they're so much fun to watch when they swim.