Turtle Care Sheets

Our Turtle care sheets section is the perfect place to find information regarding specific turtles. Use the list below to find your species of turtle. If you cannot find what you are looking for maybe we can help you!


African Spurred Tortoise

Natural Location:	Sub-Saharan Africa
Estimated Size:	Up to 30” and 120 pounds.
Feeding & Water
A large portion of your African Spurred Tortoises food should be grasses, weeds, etc as this is usually high in fiber. Ensure that any greens fed to your tortoise do not contain any sort of pesticide. African Spurred Tortoises should not be fed anything like cauliflower, cabbage, beans or tomatoes. These vegetables are too high in protein to be safely fed to this type of tortoise.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
If you are unable to provide unfiltered sunlight through time outside for your tortoise it will be necessary to use a UVB bulb throughout your tortoises development. The UVB light is required for your tortoise to produce Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is important as it is used in shell growth. A temperature gradient of 75 degrees F to 85 degrees F should be satisfactory for your African Spurred Tortoise. This will provide it with a good range of temperature for it to choose. Some sort of a basking light is welcome in the enclosure.
Housing
You will want to provide your African Spurred Tortoise with some sort of a substrate that will allow it to burrow. They do this a lot in the wild and will spend a lot of time doing so in captivity if it is provided with a suitable substrate. While your tortoise is a juvenile be very careful of what you place in the cage because if something were to fall on it your tortoise may not be able to get out. Common Map Turtle Found all over North America, the Common Map Turtle looks like its namesake. The lines on their shells resembles a map. Lifespan: 30 Years or more Estimated Size: 5" to 11" Natural Location: North America Feeding & Water Common Map Turtles will eat both meat and vegetation. Feed them a wide variety of foods, including fish, crickets, earthworms, mealworms, waxworms, leafy green, carrots and even commercially prepared turtle food. Feed your young Map Turtles daily, and adults every second day. Make sure to include a calcium and multi-vitamin supplement to their food. The growth of their shell requires the calcium. Remove all feces from the water as soon as possible. Turtles normally defecate shortly after eating. You may also want to consider placing your turtle in a seperate feeding tank. Temperature & Lighting Provide a large heat gradient ranging from 65 degrees F to 90 degrees F. You can reach this level of heat by using an incandescent bulb or ceramic heat emitter. Your Common Map Turtle will need about 12 hours of full-spectrum lighting. The UVB lighting is extremely important for the healthy development of the turtle. Housing To live comfortably, Common Map Turtles need a fairly large enclosure. This will have to change as well as the turtle grows. Use a screen top on the tank. Provide a shallow area and a dry basking spot. Use rock or large pebbles for the bottom (anything that is too large to eat). Make sure your Map Turtles have a "ramp' to get into the water easily. Desert Tortoise Approximately 95% of a Desert Tortoises life is spent underground in its burrows. Because of this it has become very good at digging into the ground. It is also on the endangered species list. Lifespan: 80 to 100 years Estimated Size: 9" to 15" long, 4" to 6" tall, 8lbs to 15lbs Natural Location: Deserts of south-west USA and northern Mexico Feeding & Water Desert Tortoises will get their main food supply from any grass, weeds and dandelions that it finds in your yard. As long as these have not been sprayed with pesticides or fertilizer they will be safe for your tortoise. You can also feed them a supplement of vegetables such as broccoli, zucchini and romaine lettuce. Turtles have a relatively high calcium requirement, so it is best to sprinkle their food with a calcium supplement every couple days. Temperature & Lighting Lighting should not be a major concern if you are housing your tortoise outdoors. It will get sufficient amount of direct sun rays this way, just ensure that it has an area of shade at all times. That way your desert tortoise will be able to decide when it wants to bask. If you live in a region that is not as warm as where Desert Tortoises are from you will need to bring it in during the cold months or at least provide a house for it outside. If you are leaving it outside an area for your tortoise to burrow must be provided so they can escape the cold. Housing If you wish to have a healthy and thriving desert tortoise it must live outside in your yard. You can fence off a section of your yard for your tortoise, but it is best if you can allow it in the whole yard. Make sure all areas are escape-proof, and any pools are fenced off from your tortoise. Any poisonous plants must be removed from your yard and you will not be able to use pesticides on the lawn.

Malayan Box Turtle

Malayan Box Turtles are highly sought after in the food and medicinal markets in China.
Natural Location:	Asia
Average Lifespan:	30 to 40 years
Estimated Size:	8" to 10"
Feeding & Water
Malayan Box Turtles are mostly carnivorous, however they will also eat some greens. You may find that if you have live plants in their enclosure that they will snack on them throughout the day. Common meat includes worms, fish and snails. Be sure not to overfeed Malayan Box Turtles, especially when they are young. If you feed them too much their body can outgrow their shell and result in a potentially fatal situation. Some sort of a calcium and Vitamin D3 supplement is recommended for Malayan Box Turtles which are housed indoors. If they are housed outdoors you most likely do not need to provide them with additional Vitamin D3, but the calcium supplement is still recommended.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
A water temperature in the 75 degrees F to 80 degrees F range is sufficient for Malayan Box Turtles. They enjoy basking throughout the day, and their basking spot should be approximately 90 degrees F. A full-spectrum fluorescent bulb should be used in the enclosure to provide enough UVB light for your turtle.
Housing
Malayan Box Turtles spend most of their time in the water. They do however come out frequently to eat and walk around. When they are young you should not have water which is any more than about 2 inches deep. This will allow the juvenile malayan box turtle to keep its feet on the ground while still being able to breathe above water. It is important to provide your Malayan Box Turtle with a dry basking area under a heatlamp. Aquatic turtles must be able to dry themselves off after being in the water, or serious diseases can occur. If housing Malayan Box Turtles outdoors in non-tropical areas beware that they do not hibernate. You will need to either bring them in during the winter or ensure that they have a warm place to stay.

Mud Turtle

Description	The large popularity of the Mud Turtle is mainly due to the fact that they are one of the easier turtles to care for.
Natural Location:	Mid North American to Central South America
Average Lifespan:	30 to 40 years
Estimated Size:	Up to almost 1'
Feeding & Water
Feeding for adult mud turtles should take place no more than 2 or 3 times per week. Since mud turtles are mostly carnivorous feed them items such as worms, crayfish, snails, fish and even some insects. The remainder of their diet can be made up of dark green leafy vegetables. A calcium supplement is necessary for all mud turtles. If your turtle is housed indoors provide it with vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is vital to the growth of your turtles shell and without direct sunlight exposure it will not receive an adequate amount.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
An air temperature of approximately 80 degrees F to 85 degrees F and water temperature of 70 degrees F should be maintained in the enclosure. A basking spot of 90 degrees F is a good idea for mud turtles. If your turtle does not make it outside very often it is a good idea to use a full spectrum UVB bulb to ensure your turtle receives adequate vitamin D3.
Housing
The water in your Mud Turtles aquarium should not be deeper than a few inches. This will allow them to easily reach the surface to breathe. A dry area such as a pile of rocks will be necessary so that the Mud Turtle will have a basking spot. You can also place some aquatic plants in the enclosure to help your mud turtle feel more safe and secure. To reduce the risk of your turtle becoming ill, ensure that a high water quality is maintained. Frequent water changes and a good filtration system are the best way to keep the water clean. Mud Turtles can be housed outside during warmer weather and is often recommended. Just be sure to secure the area to avoid having your turtle escape.

Musk Turtle

Musk Turtles are named for their 2 pairs of musk glands. This causes them to have a distinctive odor.
Natural Location:	North America
Average Lifespan:	30 to 50 years with proper care.
Estimated Size:	Up to 7"
Feeding & Water
Juvenile Musk Turtles feed primarily on small insects and are carnivorous. As they become older the start to feed on anything that is available causing them to become omnivorous. Common food for musk turtles includes worms, leeches, insects, minnows, tadpoles and frogs in addition to plant life.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
Musk Turtles that live in the northern states and Canada are forced to hibernate during the winter. Down south where it is warmer they are sometimes able to be active all year long. Normally temperature for your Musk Turtle should be in the 74 degrees F to 79 degrees F range. It is important to provide them with some sort of a temperature gradient within their enclosure so they can choose the optimal temperature. Water temperature should be between 70 degrees F and 77 degrees F.
Housing
An enclosure with dimensions of 24” x 18” x 12” should be sufficient for your Musk Turtle. It is important to frequently observe your turtle within its enclosure in order to better determine its preferences and environmental needs. Make adjustments slowly to not disturb them.

Painted Turtle

Painted Turtles live in ponds, marshes, swamps and creeks. Painted Turtles hibernate during the cold months by burying themselves in soft mud.

Lifespan:	15 to 25 years
Estimated Size:	6" to 8"
Natural Location:	Eastern USA
Feeding & Water
Feeding for Painted Turtles should only be done every other day, even if they seem to be begging for food in between. A Painted Turtles diet should consist of approximately 70% meat. The meat portion can come store-bought turtle food and fish. The fish should not be frozen, so either fresh-caught or live fish will do. Any sort of leafy, dark green vegetables will suffice for the remaining 30% of the Painted Turtles diet. Some sort of a multi-vitamin supplement containing Vitamin D3 can be applied to the food once or twice weekly to ensure a healthy turtle.
Temperature & Lighting
Air temperature should be kept between 85 degrees F and 89 degrees F in the basking area of your Painted Turtle. Even though Painted Turtles need an aquatic habitat, they still will need to come out of the water and bask in the light. This is important so that they can completely dry off and avoid diseases such as Shell Rot. Water temperature should be in the 70 degrees F to 75 degrees F range.
Housing
For painted turtles you should provide them with an aquatic habitat. The minimum recommended depth of its water is approximately the width of the painted turtles shell. You do not need to worry about a substrate as changing the water becomes very difficult with a substrate. Having some sort a filter in the water will maximize the allowable time between water changes.

Red-Eared Slider

Red-Eared Sliders have been one of the most popular pet turtles over the last few decades. They are named for the red stripes running horizontally across their faces, and their hurried movement when frightened.
Natural Location:	Eastern USA, Northern Mexico
Average Lifespan:	Up to 25 Years
Estimated Size:	6" to 12" in total length
Feeding & Water
Red-Eared Sliders require a varied diet of vegetables, fish and feeder insects. Make sure all insects are gut-loaded with healthy foods. Leafy vegetables and non-toxic plants will be eaten, so make sure to offer a variety of them. Small feeder fish and commercial turtle food should also be fed to your turtles. The majority of their diet should be vegetables and commercial food, keeping the animal protein level around 25% of their overall diet. Feed your turtles once a day, making sure to remove any waste immediatly, in an effort to keep the tank clean.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
Your Red-Eared Slider should be kept within a heat gradient ranging from 90 degrees F to 70 degrees F. The heat should be given using an incandescent bulb, mixed with a ceramic heat emitter. Your turtle will also need full-spectrum UVB lighting for 12 hours a day.
Housing
Your Red-Eared Slider needs a tank appropriate to their size. As they grow, increase the size of the tank. They need enough room to swim around and a dry part to bask. Make the dry area easily accessable, using a ramp like walkway from the water. The water area should have a deep end, and a shallow end. The turtle needs to be able to rest in the shallow end, leaving it's head sticking out of the water. The deep end doesn't need a substrate, but if you use one, make sure what you use is too big to be swallowed. Large pebbles or rocks work well.

Russian Tortoise

Natural Location:	Asia (Russia, Ukraine and parts of China)
Lifespan:	Up to 100 years
Estimated Size:	8" to 10"
Feeding & Water
Fruits contain a high level of sugar which has been known to cause digestive trouble in Russian Tortoises. For this reason fruits should be fed sparingly. Grasses such as dandelions and clover make up the primary food source for Russian Tortoises. Red leaf, and romaine lettuce are also excellent choices. Russian Tortoises require a large amount of calcium and fiber with low protein levels.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
A temperature gradient of 70 degrees F to 80 degrees F is recommended for Russian Tortoises. At night the temperature gradient should fall up to 5 degrees. During the day they will also need a warm basking area. As with all reptiles heat rocks are not the best idea for warm in the habitat as they can easily result in burns to your turtle. As with all turtles UVA and UVB light are an integral part of proper bone and shell development. Consequently, Russian Tortoises should receive 10 to 12 hours per day of direct UVA/UVB light.
Housing
While in the wild Russian Tortoises generally live in relatively dry conditions. You should attempt to mimick this in their captive habitat. Any sort of dry substrate such as newsprint or outdoor carpet will be adequate.

Spider Tortoise

Spider tortoises get their name due to the unique pattern on their shell resembling a spider web.

Lifespan:	Up to 50 years.
Estimated Size:	Up to 6"
Natural Location:	Madagascar
Feeding & Water
A Spider Tortoise requires a 100% herbivorous diet. You can feed them just about any type of fruit or vegetable that has been diced into small pieces. Tomatoes, berries, squash, apples, mushrooms and lettuce all make great choices. A large variation of food should be provided to give your tortoise a good selection. Clean water must always be provided for your Spider Tortoise to drink from. They will also use it to bathe in so it must be changed regularly.
Temperature & Lighting
An average humidity level of 77% is recommended for all Spider Tortoises. The hardest part about maintaining a Spider Tortoise is providing the proper humidity and temperature levels. In the wild these tortoises experience large temperature variations. To care for them properly means you must also mimic these temperature variations, but that can be very difficult to do in captivity. The lower end of the temperature scale would be about 55 degrees F all the way up to 85 degrees F.
Housing
In comparison to other tortoises and turtles, Spider Tortoises do not tend to need a large area in which to live. You can easily house a half dozen or even more in an enclosure the size of your average bathtub. As mentioned above it is incredibly important to provide Spider Tortoises with an appropriate temperature gradient and a relatively high humidity.

Star Tortoise

Description:	Star Tortoises have a yellow or tan head. Females are much larger than males and have a shell which is much broader.
Lifespan:	Up to 80 years
Estimated Size:	Up to 12"
Natural Location:	India
Feeding & Water
The best way to feed your Star Tortoise is to allow it long periods of grazzing time. It will happily forage around your yard for several hours a day. If you are going to allow your tortoise to graze in your yard you will not be able to use any sort of pesticides on your lawn or in your garden. Greens such as turnips and collards can be fed a couple of times per week. In addition, carrots, potatos and squash can also be offered, although this should not be done more than once per week. Some fruits such as apples, peaches, bananas and strawberries work well in smaller quantities to offer a variety in the diet of your Star Tortoise.
Temperature & Lighting
The optimal temperature for Star Tortoises is between 75 degrees F and 85 degrees F during the day and between 75 degrees F and 78 degrees F at night. Since Star Tortoises are not supposed to hibernate in the winter, you must provide them with a warm enough temperature that they do not attempt to do so. In the winter ensure that the daytime temperature does not dip below 70 degrees F during the day. A drop in nightime temperature is acceptable as long as it is not more than about 5 degrees F.
Housing
If their enclosure is too damp it can easily lead to skin infections in Star Tortoises as they are not adapted for wet conditions. Although Star Tortoises are not that large, they require a fair bit of room to graze as they like to move around a fair bit. Keeping your Star Tortoise outside will provide it with plenty of room to move about. Star Tortoises are not known for their digging capabilities however you should still ensure that their enclosure does not permit escape.

Wood Turtle

North American Wood Turtles are diurnal and generally very docile in nature. A proper environment is required for Wood Turtles in order to make them good pets.
Natural Location:	North America
Estimated Size:	7" to 8"
Feeding & Water
Wood turtles tend to eat just about anything that is edible. In the wild they have been observed to eat almost anything that will fit in their mouth. Given a choice they seem to prefer worms, beetles and other insects as well as fish. In terms of plant life they tend to prefer berries such as strawberries and raspberries.
Temperature, Lighting & Humidity
An air temperature gradient of 70 degrees F to 80 degrees F for your wood turtle seems to work well. The water should be slightly cooler; between 60 degrees F and 70 degrees F.
Housing
In the wild Wood Turtles rarely leave an area of water. They prefer the cooler water in the shade. Adults should have an area of water that is approximately 2 feet deep. About half the area of the enclosure should be land with the remaining being water. Wood Turtles in general should be housed outside. Juveniles and near-adults can be housed indoors, but ultimately will need to be moved outside.