Getting a turtle as a pet is only for those people who have an interest in these animals. But, when acquiring an animal, it is necessary to study information about its appearance, requirements for keeping and feeding. It is advisable to prepare the turtle aquarium and equipment for it in advance. It is also necessary to take care of the location of the enclosure, its arrangement and have free time in order to care for the animal and observe it. What kind of aquarium does a turtle need to have an active, healthy and contented life?
For such a pet, it is necessary to try to create living conditions that are most appropriate for the natural environment of its habitat. Freshwater and aquatic turtles are often kept as ordinary pets in freshwater aquariums or in special paludariums. The aquarium for the turtle, which will serve as its home, should be selected depending on the size of the pet, its habits and lifestyle. Vivariums in which several animals can live are very impressive.
Aquatic turtles should only be kept in aquariums or aquatorrariums. Life in a small container or on the floor is unacceptable, as this will lead to the death of the animal. A tortoise will look much more spectacular in a beautiful terrarium than in a box under a sofa. The entire volume of the aquaterrarium, which is at least 100 ml, is divided into parts: 2/3 should be occupied by water and 1/3 is allocated for land. Of special devices, a water heater, a filter, an incandescent lamp, which can be replaced by a ceramic or infrared heater, are necessarily purchased. An ultraviolet lamp is sometimes placed to simulate sunlight . The temperature should be maintained within the range of 26-30 ° C. In such conditions, the turtle will absorb calcium well, the carapace will be even and solid.
The future owner will have to purchase not only an aquarium for the turtle, but also think over a convenient arrangement of islands of a suspended structure. These animals need a small heated island, a stretch of dry land. They breathe atmospheric air, so they need rest, without such a place the animal can drown. It is above the island that the incandescent lamp should be located. The shore for turtles, on which they dry and bask, can be bought at pet stores or made on their own using stone, plastic, glass or wood.
Your pet will love it if you make underwater shelters for it. Soil is not required for him, it is often laid out more for aesthetic reasons.
The turtle aquarium may contain other inhabitants, most often these are fish and snails that serve as additional food. Algae will look spectacular in it.
Fresh turtles also need a spacious aquarium. You should not buy a small aquaterrarium in which its inhabitants will not be able to dive under water. For small red-eared turtles, a volume of 100 liters will be sufficient. As the animal grows, given that land with airspace is also added to this volume, a larger aquarium will be needed.
In one terrarium it is unacceptable to contain several turtles, different in size. You should also be aware that not all of their species are able to get along well with each other.
A special aesthetic pleasure is delivered by the paludarium - an open aquarium. This design combines an aquarium, a terrarium and a greenhouse. The paludarium artificially creates an ecosystem of the habitat of marsh, aquatic and near-water animals and plants requiring high humidity. This is an amazing harmonious combination of flora and fauna in a humid tropical environment. But maintaining such a biotope is not so simple.
However, such an aquarium for a turtle will deliver many pleasant minutes when observing the behavior of its pet. To warm her body, she climbs the trunks and snags, stretches her legs and head to the light. And then it rushes into the water - into its safe haven, if you frighten it away. After a few minutes, she was already pulling her head to the surface again, checking if it was possible to get ashore and warm up or the danger had not passed yet.
The behavior of the turtle is interesting and entertaining, but it will be different from the behavior of the usual pets. She does not respond to human concern, does not emit either sadness or joy in human society. Although many owners of turtles claim that they and their pets perfectly “feel” each other and feel good together.