Common species include the River cooter , red-bellied cooter , and the Peninsula cooter. Since turtles are semi-aquatic, they require an aquarium or a pond. The aquarium size that a turtle requires is down to the size.
Small 4 inch turtles can thrive in a gallon tank. However large turtles, with carapace lengths of 10 inches, need a gallon tank. You can also keep turtles outdoors. The cost of an aquarium generally depends on the tank size. Most pet turtles will do just fine in a gallon tank. Large turtles may require a gallon tank.
If you plan on keeping a turtle outdoors, then you need a pond. Having a pond installed can be quite expensive.
Box turtles are terrestrial and do not require a pond. Substrates can even make the tank harder to clean. If however, you must have substrate, I recommend river pebbles. I recommend the Exo Terra Turtle Pebbles. To ensure the aquarium water is always clean, you must install a filter. It is best to install a filter marked for at least double the size of the enclosure. I recommend the SunSun HW The chlorine in tap water makes it unsuitable for turtles.
To neutralize the chlorine or chloramines in the water used for the aquarium, you must add a water conditioner like this one from Zoo Med. In order to bask, the turtle must get out of the water first. A turtle ramp or basking platform provide the turtle with a place to bask and dry off. You can also build a homemade platform if you have large specimens.
Since turtles are cold-blooded, they regulate their body temperature by basking. A good basking lamp is a must. If the water temperature is lower than the turtle can tolerate, you need to increase the temperature by installing a submersible heater.
In addition to heating, the turtle needs a UVB lamp. With turtles, you need a thermostat for the heat lamp and a separate thermostat for the water heater. Some thermostats can regulate several heating devices at the same time.
However such thermostats are quite expensive. As primarily carnivorous animals, a large portion of their diet should be made up of animal protein such as crickets create a cricket farm , earthworms, feeder fish, chicken, and tilapia. Acquiring the needed foods can be complicated. Rather, I recommend that beginners feed their turtles packaged commercial turtle diets. Additionally, they are supplemented with major nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. In addition to the commercial diets, they also accept greens such as pondweed, duckweed.
Endive, escarole, kale, anacharis, and many others. You can learn more here about what turtles eat. There are several factors to consider when adopting a turtle. Some of these factors include time commitment and expenses. Expenses include the cost of the turtle, the cost of setting up the enclosure, the cost of food, and many more.
Of course, initial expenses are usually the highest. Continuing expenses are much lower. However, unplanned occurrences such as injury or illness can be problematic. You must factor in the unknown. I hope that this article gives you a ballpark number to work with. If you have any questions or additional information, I encourage you to leave them in the comment section below. Table of Contents. Sulcata Tortoises. Greek Tortoise. Indian Star Tortoise. Average baby turtle cost is about half of the average adult turtle cost.
Eastern Painted turtles are some of the most commonly sold semi-aquatic pet turtles in pet stores. Many turtle enthusiasts wonder how to buy a turtle. It is best to buy the turtle tank and accessories first and have it all set up before buying the turtle. The tank and accessories will vary in price depending on the type of turtle that will be added. Pet turtles are usually purchased from a pet store, but can also be bought from breeders and from the classified ads.
Having a turtle as a pet is a big responsibility. Part of caring for turtles is ensuring they have a safe and healthy environment to live in.
Aquarium turtles need to be fed, and cleaned out regularly. Average monthly turtle costs include food, filters, electricity from running the filter and lights, and water. Turtles have long life spans — they can live anywhere from years depending on the type of turtle. Before buying a turtle, prospective owners should be sure they are up to such a long term commitment. Most people buy their turtle from a pet store. However, turtle enthusiasts who want a more rare type of turtle will probably have to go to a breeder.
Turtle breeders can be found on the web and will usually ship to out of town customers; customers will have to pay any shipping costs. Turtle prices from breeders tend to be more than prices found at a pet store.
Second, if you are living in North America, most of the more common pet turtle and tortoise species are rather easy to obtain. People who live outside of North America and other Western countries may find it more difficult to obtain certain breeds, outside of extremely common ones like red-eared sliders and general box turtles.
Essentially, sliders are found throughout a large part of the US, and they can easily and bountifully reproduce. However, if you are looking for a rarer species of turtle or tortoise, expect to drop at least a few hundred dollars.
Here is a general price range for some of the more common types of turtles and tortoises if you are based in North America. It is important to note that the turtle will most likely not be the most expensive item. Usually, the turtle tank is what burns a whole in your pocket. In my opinion, the best prices turtle tank is the Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit. One last note.
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