Your easy start to keeping water turtles A guide for beginners

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1 Your easy start to keeping water turtles A guide for beginners For more information:

2 A unique world of wonder There are many species of reptiles that inhabit various parts of the earth, some primarily terrestrial, others aquatic. Water turtles are one of the most commonly kept semi-aquatic species. If you re looking for a more exotic pet to add extra interest for you and your family, water turtles could be the ideal choice. These fascinating creatures are fun to observe in nicely set up surroundings, as they are very lively and active. So, to help you decide about keeping these amazing animals as pets, this guide will provide all the information you need. 2

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4 Which species make the best pets? There are many different species of water turtles and not all of them are suitable for keeping at home. There are several important considerations when choosing the right species for you: 4 The size the water turtle will grow. Some species may reach a size of 30cm. This is one of the main reasons water turtles are either given to animal shelters, or far worse, are released into ponds and lakes nearby. This is prohibited as the local eco system can be disrupted. 4 The lifespan of the turtle. Some water turtle species can live for many years, some reaching 50 years! 4 The species protection laws. Some species are threatened with extinction. It s best to purchase a water turtle from your local aquatics store where you will get the reliable advice you need on the national and international species and wildlife protection laws. This way you can be sure to comply with species protection rules and take home a healthy animal. Whatever type of turtle you pick, you re assured of entering this fascinating and unique world of wonder. Children love water turtles Keeping a water turtle is great fun and educational too. Like all pet keeping, adult supervision is needed. 4

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6 Getting started Before going ahead and purchasing your water turtles you need to set up a suitable home for them to come back to. This is known as a vivarium or aquaterrarium and there are some easy ways to ensure it s a healthy and happy home for your turtles. Position of the tank A filled aquaterrarium is heavy, so thinking about its position now will avoid the need to move it around at a later date. An ideal position would be: 4 In a reasonably quiet area, away from sudden noises. 4 Well supported, to take the weight of the aquaterrarium (a litre of water weighs 1kg). 4 Near to an electric supply to plug in equipment, but far enough away to avoid any danger of splashing. 4 Away from areas of very high activity. 4 Away from sources of heat or cold (e.g. radiators). 4 Easily accessible, to allow for any maintenance. 4 Out of direct sunlight, to prevent algae growth and overheating. 6

7 Size of the tank The basis of your aquaterrarium is a suitably sized water-tight glass tank which should always be purchased at your local aquatics store. Size is very important because your water turtles will not only need room to swim comfortably but also an area of land to bask. It is also important to consider how much your water turtle will grow and the space it will require as an adult. Ask your local retailer about the right size to make sure your water turtle will be happy and healthy. Layout The layout of your tank should take into consideration how much time the water turtles like to spend out of water. Ensure there is enough land to accommodate all the occupants at once. Large flat and stable rocks emerging out of the water are ideal; the turtle must be able to haul itself out of the water and onto the land easily. To add variety and interest to the surroundings which reptiles will enjoy, use Tetra ReptoDecoArt Stones The realistic looking interlocking stones are easy to stack and lock together to build caves, basking and feeding platforms, or steps. Sets contain four easyto-clean, different sized stones that perfectly match the Tetra ReptoDecoFilter (see page 9). 7

8 Essentials for a happy home Shopping List: Keeping any pet means providing a comfortable environment to live in, so there are certain essentials needed to create a happy home for your water turtle. With a little thought and planning this is easy to achieve and your local retailer will be pleased to help. 3 Tank (tank stand optional) 3 Spotlight (for warmth and UV) 3 Filter 3 Heater 3 Décor including flat rocks and plastic plants 3 Food 3 Water conditioner Filtration Good filtration in your aquaterrarium is essential to remove your water turtle s waste and it will make maintaining the aquaterrarium easier in the long run. The filter needs to be able to remove solid waste particles and break down dissolved wastes. Larger aquaterrariums, or those with a considerable depth of water, will be best filtered by a large external canister filter, such as a Tetra EX Filter. 8

9 Filtering water in smaller set-ups, or those where the depth of water is shallow, has traditionally been more difficult. Tetra has overcome this problem with the Tetra ReptoFilter and ReptoDecoFilter. The ReptoFilter is suitable for aquaterrariums up to 100 litres in size. The larger Tetra ReptoDecoFilter is designed to blend into the rockwork décor of the aquaterrarium. It can be used in shallow water with a depth as low as 10-15cm and will filter up to 200 litres of water. Maintenance of both filters is extremely easy and involves simple removal of a filter pad every two weeks, and replacing with a clean one. 9

10 Essentials for a happy home Light Water turtles originate from warmer parts of the world so they require warm water and sunshine. They are also cold-blooded and use heat to regulate their body temperature. Suitable lighting should be provided over the basking area, which prevents deformity of the shell and bones. Your retailer will be able to give you advice about the most suitable lighting. Warmth Depending on the species, the water might also need to be heated. This can be done using a standard aquarium heater such as a Tetra HT Heater, which comes in a range of different sizes. Remember to place it in a position where it cannot be damaged by your turtle. Decoration Keeping the aquaterrarium design as simple as possible is best as this allows ease of cleaning. But a sparse-looking tank can be made more interesting by the addition of plants. Turtles like them too, as a hiding place! Real plants will be either eaten or destroyed by the turtles, so instead use synthetic plants which are now amazingly realistic. Tetra ReptoDecoArt Plantastics are natural-looking plants which are easy to set up, clean and maintain and suitable for all aquatic terrariums. They are available in two floating varieties, Vine Philodendron and Japanese Maple. Fixed plants are available in a choice of Giant Bamboo or Giant Adiantum. 10

11 Water care The water you use to fill the pool in your aquaterrarium must be free of chlorine and heavy metals to avoid harming your pets. Fortunately this is very easy to achieve by using Tetra ReptoSafe which instantly conditions tapwater to produce species-appropriate, safe and natural conditions. Cleaning Water turtles need a clean living area to stay healthy. The water in the aquaterrarium should be replaced regularly to prevent illnesses which is easy to do just using tap water and Tetra ReptoSafe. Adding Tetra ReptoFresh removes unpleasant odours, creates clear water and accelerates the natural breakdown of waste helping to keep your aquaterrarium odour-free. Do s and Don ts Do Make sure that the rock décor is not so high that your turtle can climb out of the aquaterrarium. Don t For water changes do not use a hose to suck out the water, instead always use a Tetra Gravel Cleaner. Perform regular and frequent water changes to keep your aquaterrarium clean. Do not feed from the hand, as your turtle may bite. 11

12 12 Feeding your water turtle

13 A balanced diet is crucial for a turtle to live a healthy life. Turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat both animals and plants but most prefer animals. The Tetra range offers a complete balanced diet for your turtles. Base the diet on a good complete food. Tetra ReptoMin is a stick food which provides all essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Tetra ReptoMin Energy is not only ideal for juvenile water turtles, which benefit from extra protein and energy in their diet, but also helps adult turtles fight off diseases. Tetra ReptoMin Baby contains smaller sticks for baby turtles. Variety can also be provided with Tetra ReptoMin Menu which contains three different foods in one. While ReptoMin is a complete food for turtles, it is important to offer them a range of other foods; treat foods such as Tetra ReptoDelica and Gammarus will be both gratefully accepted and will enrich their diet. To give your animals extra variety, you can feed with worms, insects and freshwater fish as well as suitable plants and fruits. Ask your local retailer about the right alternatives for your type of turtle. Young water turtles need to be fed every day while older ones have fasting periods. Avoid over-feeding your water turtles. Accumulated uneaten food should be removed from your aquaterrarium. For details of our range or for more information about keeping water turtles please check out our website at 13

14 Handling your water turtle Cleaning your aquaterrarium is the ideal time to check the health of your turtles, so it s important to learn the best way of handling them. Like all pets, water turtles should be handled with care. Turtles should always be picked up from the back because they can bite. They should be held quite firmly as dropping them causes damage to both the shell and soft tissue of the head, neck and limbs. If the turtle is upset or stressed it may struggle. Don t frighten it with quick or sudden movements. Tip! Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap after any handling or aquaterrarium cleaning. It s a good idea to consider wearing gloves when performing maintenance. 14

15 About Tetra Tetra was founded 60 years ago by Dr. Ulrich Baensch. His early work resulted in the world s first complete flake food for fish - TetraMin. Two decades later this was followed by specialist foods and treatments for reptiles. Tetra s success as the global leader in its markets has been built on a commitment to quality and innovation. By continuously improving its range of products and services, Tetra makes it easier than ever to create the ideal aquaterrarium for your water turtle. To support this commitment, Tetra invests more into Research and Development than any other company in the industry. Taking Responsibility As market leader, Tetra considers it a duty to treat the world and its resources responsibly. Through constant improvement of the products, in packaging, logistics and service, Tetra not only meets the needs of the business but also protects the environment at the same time through a continuous programme of sustainability. 15

16 Expert assistance Mat.-Nr. T DME_ENG Tetra GmbH Herrenteich 78 D Melle For more information: