How To Take Care Of Baby Water Turtles [With Video Guide]

The care for baby turtles is very demanding. The moment you get a baby turtle, you sign up for responsibilities. One of the responsibilities is always to make sure that your baby turtles are healthy. I have heard different people say that baby water turtles care is more difficult compared to land turtles.

This, therefore, calls for more attention when caring for baby water turtles. As we know, aquatic turtles will spend most of their time in the water and will only get on land to bask. This should be reflected in the environment you get for your baby water turtle. In this article, we will be looking at how to take care of a turtle baby.

So, how should we take care of baby water turtles? 

Well, it is quite simple. All we need to do is to provide them with an environment that replicates their natural environment. It is important to ensure cleanliness in their habitat. The most important thing to keep the baby turtle healthy is to check on their diet. Diet is extensive, and you need to give the turtle a variety of food for healthy living. 

Baby water turtles like I have mentioned, require more care and attention if they are to grow and thrive. The first thing to keep in mind is that baby water turtles should not be put together in the same aquarium with grown-up turtles. This is because most of the time, the bigger turtles will think that the baby turtle is fighting for food with him. The bigger turtles will, therefore, end up hurting the little one.

The other thing is that younger turtles require higher temperatures, unlike the bigger turtles. Keeping them in the conditions favoring the bigger turtles is not recommended. Many reasons will make care for baby turtles more demanding; you just need to ensure cleanliness in his tank, provide a proper environment, and check on the diet.

How To Take Care Of Baby Water Turtles?

Aquatic baby turtles’ care is very simple. You can follow these simple steps to ensure that your baby water turtle is healthy. The first thing to do is to set up the environment. You will need a large rectangular or square aquarium that has enough room for the turtle to swim around. The minimum width of the tank should be two times the length of the turtle, and the length should be 4 times the length of the turtle. Just get a big size to avoid inconveniences when the turtle grows.

Ensure the environment has a water heater to keep the water at the right temperatures. The tank should also include UVB lights as well as a basking lamp. The baby turtle will not survive without these lamps. Ensure that the tank is covered at the top to avoid dirt from getting into the aquarium. You should also ensure that the water is also at the right depth. For small turtles, keep the water level at 1 inch deeper than the size of the turtle’s shell. 

Also, ensure that there is enough room for the turtle to get out of the water completely. The area should be large enough. One other thing is to include a filter in the tank to help you manage the number of times you will need to change the water. Include substrates and plants to the aquarium. These will serve as decorations and will help to mimic the natural environment. The other thing is to keep the environment clean and feed your turtle healthily. I will discuss the diet below so stay tuned,

Ideal Water Temperature for Baby Turtles

Turtles are very sensitive animals, especially baby water turtles. I have mentioned that you cannot put them together in the same tank with a grown turtle because they require a slightly higher temperature. These temperatures will need the right temperatures for their survival. Although these temperatures differ from species to species, they all revolve around the room temperature.

Since these creatures cannot regulate their temperature, you must ensure that they get the right water temperatures. This can be done by making use of water heaters. The ideal water temperature for most baby turtles should be in the range of 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Check with your vet to confirm the perfect temperature for your baby turtle.

How Much Water Should I Put In My Baby Turtle Tank?

Another thing to pay attention to is the depth of the water in the tank. The amount of water you put in the baby turtle tank should allow the turtle to swim freely. The general rule of thumb is that the level of water should be an inch deeper than the size of the turtle’s shell or, in short, add 10 gallons of water for every inch of the turtle. Only use this after adding 20 gallons for a hatchling turtle. With this, the water will not be too shallow or too deep.

How Long Should Baby Turtles Bask?

It is difficult to know just the right amount of basking that a turtle needs, whether big or small. This is because sometimes, the turtle may bask for 2 to 3 hours and other times up to 9 hours. I think when it comes to this question, the turtles will know when it has absorbed enough UVA and UVB radiations. What you should do is keep the lights in the tank for 12 hours, just like the sun stays up for 12 hours. This will let the turtles decide when they have gained enough. Do not limit them. Read this post to find out perfect basking platforms.

How Long Can Baby Turtles Stay Out Of Water?

Turtles are known to be aquatic animals, and they need to be in the water. They also get out of the water when basking. So you might ask yourself how long baby turtles can stay out of water. Turtles can remain for very long out of water. They can even go for days out of water. It just depends on the atmospheric temperature, the humidity, and also the species of the turtle. As a turtle owner, you should ensure that your turtle does not stay out of water for long. 30 minutes is enough. When they are out of the water, keep an eye on them.

What Do Baby Water Turtles Eat?

Diet is a very major requirement for turtles to thrive. With diet, you should understand that variety is key. The more types of food you feed your pet, the more nutrients the pet gains. Different foods have different nutrients. You should feed your baby turtle commercial foods as well as fresh foods. Give them vitamin supplements. The fresh foods include leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, romaine, carrots, mustard greens, collard, kales, zucchini. Give them fruits as well, such as strawberries, apples, bananas, and melons. More on the subject what to feed a turtle you can find here.

How Often Do Baby Turtles Eat?

Baby turtles eat more often than adult turtles. They require food for their growth. Every three times a week, you should ensure that they get vitamin and calcium supplements. Feed them when they are most active. These are around the morning hours. Turtles should be fed about two times or three times a week.

RELATED QUESTIONS:

Can A Baby Turtle Live With A Big Turtle?

It is not recommended that a baby turtle lives with a big turtle in the same tank. There are several reasons behind this, but the 2 major reasons are the two turtles will require different temperatures, and the bigger turtles will injure the smaller turtle, thinking that they are fighting for food.

Can A Baby Turtle Drown?

The answer is yes. Not only baby turtles but also big turtles will drown. As we know, turtles can hold their breath for a long time, helping them to stay submerged in water for long, but the truth is turtles cannot breathe in water. They are not fish. Therefore, if they stay in the water longer than they have to, they will drown. Dive also into this post to find out more.

Pin this pin concerning How To Take Care Of Baby Water Turtles on your turtle related board on Pinterest.