Aquatic Turtle Outdoor Habitats
The following guidelines are for adult aquatic turtles. If housing juveniles, considerations will be made based on smaller their size; however, adopter must demonstrate ability and willingness to upgrade and expand habitat once the turtle reaches adulthood.
- 10 gallons of water per inch of shell length (measured from behind the head to the base of the tail.)
- Absolutely no small pebbles as substrate. If it can fit in the turtle’s mouth, it is too small. (However, thoroughly rinsed sand is acceptable.)
- Adequate escape-proof basking area (with nesting area if the turtle is female)
- Shade must be provided over at least a third of the tank/pond, and water temps should be monitored regularly to ensure the turtle(s) isn’t getting too warm.
- The tank/pond must have a drain so that it doesn’t flood in rain
- They must be provided adequate filtration to keep the water clean without constant need to do water changes. The filter must be rated for at least twice the number of gallons of water that you will have. (If adopting baby turtles, the filter will also need to have a screen or other protection so that the turtle isn't sucked into the intake.)
- Tank or pond must be 100% escape-proof. The turtles we adopt out are not releasable and should never be allowed to wander off from their home into the wild. This could mean the slow death of the turtle, transmission of disease to wild turtles, or the introduction/propagation of non-native species.
- Must provide predator protection on all sides and overhead. Examples of acceptable predator protection include:
- Locking wire/screen lid
- Combination of multiple methods including: sonic deterrents, light deterrents, electric fencing, motion activated cameras with alarms and/or motion activated sprinkler systems.
- Males must be housed alone – OR with at least 3 females. If housing with females, we must pre-approve your plan for eventual offspring. We do NOT adopt turtles for the purpose of using them to breed, whether you intend to sell the offspring or not.
- Turtles are NOT social creatures and do not enjoy being kept together. Fighting, even between females, can occur. You must have an adequate plan in place for separating this turtle from the other(s) at the first sign of aggression, bullying, or intimidation.
- Baby turtles should be fed daily. Adults should be fed a quality commercial pellet every 2-3 days and nutritious dark leafy greens in between.
The following are examples of appropriate outdoor aquatic turtle habitats:
At CMTR, we have greenhouse structures that house and protect multiple outdoor tanks. The photos below are of some of our structures and some of the tanks within.
Aquatic Turtle Indoor Habitats
The following guidelines are for adult aquatic turtles. If housing juveniles, considerations will be made based on smaller their size; however, adopter must demonstrate ability and willingness to upgrade and expand habitat once the turtle reaches adulthood.
- 10 gallons of water per inch of shell length (measured from behind the head to the base of the tail.)
- Adequate escape-proof basking area (with nesting area if the turtle is female)
- Absolutely no small pebbles as substrate. If it can fit in the turtle’s mouth, it is too small. (However, thoroughly rinsed sand is acceptable.)
- They must be provided adequate filtration to keep the water clean without constant need to do water changes. The filter must be rated for at least twice the number of gallons of water that you will have. (If adopting baby turtles, the filter will also need to have a screen or other protection so that the turtle isn't sucked into the intake.)
- Tank or pond must be 100% escape-proof. It can be very difficult to find a lost turtle in your home and can be very dangerous for the turtle.
- Turtle must be protected completely from children or other pets in the home. To that end, the turtle should either be housed in a room to itself with no access by children or other pets, or the enclosure should have a secure, locking screen lid.
- Males must be housed alone – OR with at least 3 females. If housing with females, we must pre-approve your plan for eventual offspring. We do NOT adopt turtles for the purpose of using them to breed, whether you intend to sell the offspring or not.
- Turtles are NOT social creatures and do not enjoy being kept together. Fighting, even between females, can occur. You must have an adequate plan in place for separating this turtle from the other(s) at the first sign of aggression, bullying, or intimidation.
The following are examples of appropriate indoor aquatic turtle habitats: