| Origin: Western United States (ponds, lakes and | | | | a little bit of bleach should do the trick. Just be |
| marshlands) | | | | careful to rinse it thoroughly and not put your turtle |
| There are two sub-species: | | | | back in the tank until the bleach smell is gone. |
| Northwestern Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata | | | | Diet: Like most pond turtles, these guys are |
| marmorata) and | | | | omnivores. This means they will eat both meat and |
| Southwestern Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata | | | | vegetable matter. Variety is the key to a healthy |
| pallida) | | | | diet. There are lots of pre-packaged turtle foods on |
| Adult Size: usually up to 8 inches (shell length) | | | | the market. Some are better than others, depending |
| Lifespan: unknown, most likely 30+ years like other | | | | on the amounts of certain ingredients like protein and |
| pond turtles | | | | phosphorus. Sticking with a higher-end brand is your |
| Temperament: Not as territorial and aggressive as | | | | best bet, as proper nutrition is very important with |
| many other turtles. You can keep a few of these | | | | reptiles. |
| turtles together as long as they have enough space | | | | Crickets, red worms and superworms are among the |
| to swim around. | | | | most popular live foods available at pet stores. Dust |
| Set-up: This is an aquatic species, so the enclosure | | | | these with powder supplements (both calcium and |
| needs to be mostly water. Your turtle will need a | | | | vitamins) just before feeding, or "gutload" them 24 |
| place to get out of the water and bask, such as a | | | | hours before giving them to your turtle. Other good |
| well-positioned rock or pile of rocks, or a turtle dock | | | | live foods, mostly available online, include silkworms |
| found at your local pet store. Use sand or gravel to | | | | and phoenix worms. Avoid waxworms and |
| cover the bottom of the tank and decorate under | | | | mealworms due to their high fat content, general lack |
| the water with aquatic plants or driftwood to keep | | | | of nutrition and the difficult-to-digest shell of the |
| your turtle feeling secure. | | | | mealworms. Remember not to feed your turtle any |
| The minimum tank size recommended for one of | | | | insects you find outside. Some may be poisonous |
| these turtles is a 20 gallon long. Bigger is ALWAYS | | | | (lightning bugs are deadly!) and wild insects are likely |
| better. Other containers can be used, such as large | | | | to carry parasites (an expensive vet bill you'd rather |
| Rubbermaid bins, as long as the container is able to | | | | avoid!). To add some extra calcium to the diet, it is |
| safely hold about 20 gallons or more of water. Fill the | | | | also recommended to let a piece of cuttlebone float |
| tank at least half way. Water conditioner or | | | | on the water (available in the bird section of pet |
| dechlorinator is not necessary unless you are using | | | | stores). The turtle may occasionally nibble on the |
| extremely hard water (like State College tap water | | | | bone and as it dissolves in the water it may also be |
| J), in which case a water conditioner made specially | | | | beneficial, not only to the turtle's nutrition but to the |
| for turtles should be used. | | | | health of its skin and shell. |
| Lighting/Temperature: This is a diurnal species, | | | | Live fish can be given as an occasional snack. They |
| meaning it is active during the daytime when the sun | | | | aren't very good for your turtle nutritionally, may |
| is out. The UV in natural sunlight is used by the | | | | stunt its growth and are very fatty. Think of it as |
| turtle's body to make Vitamin D3 from the Calcium in | | | | going to McDonalds for dinner. One meal there |
| its diet. Fluorescent UV bulbs made especially for | | | | probably won't have much of an effect on your |
| reptiles are available at pet stores to keep your turtle | | | | health, but it shouldn't become a regular habit! Luckily, |
| healthy. Although usually passed off as a waste of | | | | there are some healthier, and parasite-free, |
| money to make "the fanatics" happy, this light is | | | | alternatives to live fish for your turtle. Most grocery |
| extremely important, and if you don't provide it | | | | stores carry a variety of fresh seafood, which is not |
| (along with enough calcium), it will seriously affect | | | | too expensive when purchased in small quantities. |
| your turtle's health and quality of life. | | | | Shrimp, squid (both the filets and tentacles), tilapia, |
| A basking lamp is also needed. Position the light | | | | catfish and shark steak are all popular with turtles. |
| above the rocks or land area in your tank to create | | | | Stick with the "white meat" species of fish because |
| a warm basking spot. Use the appropriate wattage | | | | they don't leave your water as messy, and make |
| heat bulb and position the light to create a basking | | | | sure you feed as much variety as you can. You'll also |
| temperature around 90-95 degrees F. Many | | | | find a lot of freeze-dried or frozen foods at your |
| thermometers are available to measure the | | | | local pet store that your turtle will like to snack on. |
| temperature inside the enclosure, but just remember | | | | These aren't as nutritious as fresh raw seafood, but |
| that all of the stick-on and dial-type thermometers, | | | | they make great snacks and help to add variety to |
| although still helpful to have, measure only the | | | | the diet. |
| ambient temperature (temperature of the air) and will | | | | Letting healthy leaves (like collard greens, turnip |
| not give you an accurate reading of the basking spot. | | | | greens, mustard greens or dandelion greens) float on |
| For basking temp, you should pick up a digital probe | | | | the water provides your turtle with entertainment |
| thermometer (available at most hardware and garden | | | | and also a healthy snack. They will also enjoy endive, |
| supply stores, and not as expensive as you think!). | | | | escarole, pieces of zucchini or yellow squash, |
| The digital probe measures the surface temp, the | | | | cucumber, carrots, occasional bits of apple or banana, |
| temperature the basking rock is actually heating up | | | | etc. Avoid lettuce and celery, and don't feed too |
| to and providing the proper belly heat for good | | | | much fruit. Turtles can get upset stomachs and |
| digestion. | | | | become dehydrated from eating these. Also avoid |
| An aquarium heater is a good idea. These guys do | | | | kale, broccoli and spinach due to their nutrient-binding |
| best in warm water and should be kept in water | | | | qualities. You can probably find much more detailed |
| temperatures in the 80s F. A submersible heater is | | | | diet information online if you look in the right places. |
| the only way to go, since the tank will not be filled to | | | | We recommend you start out on Melissa Kaplan's |
| the top. These turtles are notorious for breaking their | | | | website, Just remember not to leave vegetables, |
| heaters, so we recommend you look into a Titanium | | | | fruits or uneaten bugs in the water too long. Letting |
| or "unbreakable" glass heater to prevent problems. | | | | the food go bad makes the water dirty and can also |
| Filtration and Maintenance: Aquatic turtles are very | | | | make your turtle sick. |
| messy, so a good reliable filter is important. There | | | | Health: Turtles are susceptible to all the same |
| are a lot of different types of filters out there, | | | | common health problems as other reptiles. Metabolic |
| though none is particularly better than the others. It's | | | | Bone Disease (MBD), calcium and vitamin deficiencies |
| a matter of personal preference really, whether you | | | | or toxicities, liver and kidney disease, impaction |
| want to go with a submersible filter like the Fluval, | | | | (intestinal blockage), dehydration, fungal and bacterial |
| under-gravel, powerhead or Hydrosponge, or you | | | | infections, stress, respiratory infections, parasites, |
| want an external type like the hang-on-side waterfall | | | | etc. Most of these ailments can be dealt with by |
| type or canister filter. Whichever manner of filtration | | | | changing something about your care regimen, or with |
| you choose, just remember to have LOTS of it and | | | | the help of a qualified reptile vet, but are easily |
| clean it often! | | | | avoided because they have a lot to do with diet |
| Regular tank maintenance is a must with aquatic | | | | nutrition, temperature and lighting. This is why it is so |
| turtles. The water gets dirty fast, and consistently | | | | important to have the proper set-up from the |
| dirty water can have a really negative effect on | | | | beginning. A turtle that is well cared for and living in |
| turtle health. How often to change the water or | | | | the right environment should live a long and healthy |
| clean the filter depends on how many turtles you | | | | life with minimal problems. Another health concern |
| have relative to the size of the tank, and also how | | | | with turtles is their shell. Apart from normal shedding, |
| much filtration you have and how much or how often | | | | sometimes the shell can become very flaky, oily or |
| you feed them. Cleaning the tank isn't much different | | | | even gooey. This usually has to do with poor water |
| than cleaning a fish tank. A good aquarium siphon will | | | | quality and/or insufficient UV exposure, and there are |
| be a tremendous help and is the easiest way to | | | | some helpful products available through your pet |
| remove all the waste and debris from the tank | | | | store to help keep the shell healthy. |
| bottom. Drain as much water as you need to get the | | | | An important side-note regarding MBD and other |
| tank clean. Turtles are not sensitive to the | | | | similar problems: if your turtle and its shell seem to be |
| by-products of the nitrogen cycle like fish are, so you | | | | growing at different rates, or your turtle's legs or |
| don't have to worry about cycling or being careful | | | | face seem to be deforming, your UV bulb may be |
| with the filter, and this gives you a lot of freedom as | | | | long-overdue for a change or your turtle may not be |
| far as cleaning the tank. Just remember never to use | | | | getting enough calcium in its diet. This is a serious |
| soap! There are spray cleaners available through your | | | | health issue and veterinary attention should be |
| local pet store that are safe to use around reptiles, | | | | sought immediately. |
| and if you're really worried about the tank being dirty | | | | |