Algae and soil for an aquarium with a red-eared turtle

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Sooner or later, turtle lovers begin to wonder: are live plants needed in an aquarium with a turtle, can they exist with turtles, and what is needed for this? Even among experienced breeders, this issue has been little studied; live aquarium plants are most often planted in aquariums with live fish, and very rarely with live turtles. Therefore, opinions are divided: some recommend having live plants, since they look better than plastic ones and help to recycle organic waste from water; others believe that turtles will inevitably eat and dig up any plants. So which one is right?

In general, one general conclusion can be drawn. Yes, you can plant live plants in most turtle aquariums when starting out, and it will be very cool! But the success of the enterprise will largely depend on the size of the container, substrate, lighting, water parameters, CO2, the number of plants and their species, the number of turtles, their size and type.

Aquarium for the red-eared turtle: maintenance, care, photo, description.

To keep red-eared turtles at home, you need a properly equipped aquarium of adequate size.
It would be more accurate to call it an aquaterrarium, since such a reservoir contains not only a body of water, but also an island of land. You can buy housing for turtles in special. stores or do it yourself. Since the reptile is quite demanding about its place of residence, you need to know how to properly set up an aquarium for a red-eared slider.
Your pet's home should be as close as possible to its natural habitat. Only in this case will your ward be healthy and happy in his own way.

Aquarium volume for a red-eared turtle

You need to approach the choice of an aquarium based on the size of your red-eared pet or (if you have a young individual) take it right away “for growth.” Keep in mind. that in a few years a tiny turtle the size of a peach pit will turn into an adult the size of a saucer.

The optimal size of the aquarium depending on the size of the turtle:

• babies from 3 to 10 cm – 50 liters;
• young turtles from 10 to 16 cm - 80 liters;
• large turtles from 17 to 25 cm – 150 liters;
• adult animals – from 150 liters.

In order to prevent the red ear from escaping, the top of the aquaterrarium should be closed with a lid that allows air to pass through well.

Reproduction and sexual differences of red-eared turtles

Red-eared slider breeding

Red-eared turtles reach sexual maturity at the age of 4–5 years in captivity and 6–7 years in the wild. Turtles living in terrariums mate without paying much attention to the season, while in nature the mating season takes place from March to July.

Males are generally smaller than females and have a long, thick tail. However, if the red-eared turtles are of different ages, then it is not always possible to determine the sex only by size , in this case the following factors must be taken into account: the male’s eye spot is more pronounced, the claws on the front legs are longer, the lower part of the shell is concave (in the female flat).

The mating process is accompanied by a mating dance. The male approaches the female's head. The female swims forward, and the male swims backward, stroking the female’s chin with his long claws. If the female is not against mating, she accepts these advances, otherwise the male is driven away, even to the point of using physical force.

Pregnancy of a red-eared turtle lasts for 2 months, but the period can be extended if the female cannot find a good place for laying.

To lay a clutch, the female needs to dig a nest on the shore of a reservoir. Interestingly, it can move long distances, up to 1.5 km, in order to find the best place for a nest. The nest has the shape of a jug up to 12 cm deep. Depending on age, red-eared turtles can make up to 6 clutches per year with a total number of 30 eggs (which is from 6 to 11 per clutch). The size of the red-eared turtle egg is about 4 cm. The incubation period lasts for 59 - 150 days, because Hatching time directly depends on temperature. So at temperatures from 22 to 30 ° C, the incubation period ranges from 55 to 80 days. The temperature in the nest directly affects the sex of turtles; females are born at temperatures of 29 °C and above, and males are born at 27 °C and below.

To get out of the egg, newborn red-eared turtles pierce the shell with an egg tooth, which falls off after an hour. All babies have a small pouch on their abdomen with the remains of incubation provisions: when it falls off, it leaves a quickly healing wound.

Temperature

The recommended water temperature for the red-eared turtle is 23-28 °C. The temperature on a shaded (cold) island of land should be 23-25°C, and on a brightly lit (warm) area - 28-32°C. This is an absolutely ideal option for arranging the most suitable temperature conditions for the red-eared turtle.

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To create such temperature conditions, heating is necessary. The main heating is carried out using a special lamp, which is fixed above one of the islands. If the temperature when heating with a lamp is insufficient, then additional heating is used.

You can use a heater in the form of a long glass tube that is immersed in water. Particular attention should be paid to its location: the turtle should not be able to accidentally bite the electrical wire or damage it with its shell.

Filtration

The health of the turtle directly depends on the state of the water in the aquarium, so it must be kept clean. For a terrarium, it is better to use external aquarium filters of any type.

The better the filter works, the less often a complete water change will be needed.

To maintain ecological balance, regular weekly replacement of half the volume of water is necessary. Before replacing, the water is allowed to settle.

Incandescent lamp

An ordinary incandescent lamp (an energy-saving lamp will not work) is installed above the island at such a distance that the air temperature above this area of ​​land is 30-32 ° C. At night it is turned off.

UV lamp

Some owners of red-eared turtles neglect to install a UV lamp. However, this is a vital component of a reptile’s home. Its absence often leads to the development of diseases that can be fatal. Ultraviolet light is extremely important for the health of the red ear. It has a beneficial effect on metabolism, improves the condition of the reptile’s shell and skin, and helps the absorption of calcium. The UV lamp is placed at a height of at least 30 cm above the shore. It should burn for at least 2-3 hours a day.

Today you can purchase special lamps for terrariums with the required wavelength in almost any specialized store.

How often and at what time to feed turtles

It is recommended to feed your turtle at the same time. For the first three years of life, they are fed once a day, mainly with food of animal origin. As they grow, the need for such food is lost, so plant foods and dry food become the main part of the diet.

Adult turtles are fed once every 2-3 days. In summer, turtles eat more often, but in small portions, and in winter they may not eat for several days, and then happily consume an increased portion. During the cold season, it is recommended to supplement the turtle’s diet with vitamin and mineral supplements.

After feeding the turtle, any remaining food is removed from the aquarium. At subsequent feedings, fresh food is supplied. You should not feed your reptile spoiled foods, as they can cause poisoning to the body.

Aquarium decoration

The main principle of choosing decorations is safety. Do not use items made from environmentally hazardous materials or with sharp corners or edges.

For young turtles, you can plant green plants and introduce fish. Adults do not need soil, and they can eat or damage plants and fish.

In an aquarium with red-eared turtles, artificial plants made of plastic or silk would be appropriate. They are secured in the ground using weights. You can also install artificial vines on the islands.

To decorate the terrarium, you can use a variety of driftwood, grottoes, unusual stones and other elements. The driftwood should not be fresh, as it will release harmful substances into the water. It is better to take pieces of wood that have lain in the water of a body of water for a long time. The bark needs to be removed from them.

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Keeping a turtle at home

To keep a turtle you will need a spacious aquarium from 150 liters to 200 liters. If you keep it in a smaller volume, it will tighten and become distorted. Such requirements may seem inadequate at first, but it is worth remembering that the animal is growing and needs a place to live. The aquarium must have an island where the turtle can crawl out to warm itself. The island must occupy ¼ of the aquarium and meet the following requirements:

• The temperature on the artificial shore should be 10 degrees higher than in the water.
• One side of the island should be slightly submerged.
• Be safe, that is, do not emit harmful substances when heated.
• The island must be stable so that the animal cannot turn it over.
• Have a textured surface.

The presence of soil in the aquaterrarium is not necessary. It is placed only as decoration. But, under no circumstances should you use fine soil, as the animal may choke on it and die.

Note!

There are aquariums in which red-eared sliders cannot be kept:

1. Small turtle tanks with a volume of up to 50-70 liters. They can only be used for temporary housing of animals. If a turtle lives in such a container for a long time, then it develops skin infectious diseases, dystrophy and softening of the shell.
2. Aquariums in which the land is made of plastic.
3. Aquariums in which it is impossible to set the desired temperature, as well as ultraviolet light and filtration. The absence of all these conditions leads to illness and death of turtles.

Thus, caring for a red-eared slider, like any other pet, requires some effort. But a terrarium in which the water is clean, the bottom is picturesque, and the animals are healthy is a fascinating sight that is worth the time and effort.

The presenters of the Karusel TV channel will tell you how to properly equip a terrarium for a red-eared turtle:

Priming

For the red-eared birds themselves, the soil in their home is not particularly important or necessary. Another thing is that owners usually try to decorate their pet’s habitat. Of course, the aquaterrarium should look aesthetically pleasing. But do not forget that not all materials are suitable for this purpose.

Large stones without sharp edges or pebbles at least 5 cm in size are suitable as soil. The reptile can swallow small pebbles, which will lead to serious health problems, and the sharp edges can injure the reptile.

In principle, it is not forbidden to use sand as soil. The only “but” is that cleaning an aquaterrarium with sand is not very convenient.

Large shells will not only decorate your pet’s home, but will also saturate the water with calcium.

It is prohibited to use various plastic and glass pebbles for aquariums.

Plants in an aquaterrarium

There is no point in planting plants in the red-eared home. Without thinking twice, your pet will eat them or dig them up. You can try decorating the aquarium with commercially available artificial plants, securely fastening them to the bottom. You can do without plants altogether by decorating the aquarium with various driftwood, unusual stones, etc. But keep in mind: you should only take driftwood that has been in the water for a long time. Fresh wood is not suitable.

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An interestingly designed aquarium for red-eared turtles will add zest to any interior. But do not forget that when choosing decorations, first of all you need to think about the safety of your pet.

Artificial feed

Pet stores provide pet owners with a huge selection of food for land and aquatic turtles. It is sold in capsules, granules, tablets and flakes. The large amount of food produced by manufacturers does not always meet the needs of a particular species. Often, turtle food is modified fish food. Some animals are irritated by the pungent smell, and they demonstratively turn away from it. There are foods in which the content of calcium, protein and vitamins does not meet the needs of turtles. But some animals are happy to eat only food. Of the manufacturing companies, JBL, Sera, Nutra Fin, Tetra have proven themselves well.

How to equip an island?

The red-eared turtle leads a sedentary lifestyle, spending a lot of time not only in the water, but also on the shore, so the aquarium must be equipped with at least one, or preferably several, land areas per turtle (one in a shaded place, and the other in a brightly lit, warm place ). On land, the turtle receives oxygen and enjoys UV rays.

What is important to consider?

• The land area should occupy at least a quarter of the entire bottom area.
• Land areas should have a sloping shore that smoothly rises from the bottom. Steep cliffs are not allowed. You can build a ladder or a mini-ladder, put a large stone or a grotto with gentle walls.
• The surface of the islands must be made of high-quality materials and be rough. If there is soil on the island, it should not crumble into the water.
• If there are several turtles, then the land must have such a total area that all individuals simultaneously have access to it and can fit.
• If there are several islands, then some of them may not be completely dry, but covered with water by several millimeters.

The island should be located approximately 30 cm below the edge of the terrarium so that the animal does not get out and run away.

Plant food

In order to properly maintain reptiles, it is worth including in the menu not only animal food, but also plant food mixtures. Plants can be fed to young and adult individuals, and with age the amount of this food should increase.

When keeping a turtle in an aquarium, the menu must include the following herbal components:

1. Various types of grass. Amphibians should be fed plantain, clover, leaves and flowers from dandelions, and rhubarb. Turtles are especially fond of coltsfoot leaves, sprouted grains of oats and barley;
2. Reptiles will happily eat plums, banana pulp, pear slices, juicy pitted peaches, mangoes; it is advisable to cut all these fruits into small pieces. You can also give orange, tangerine, pieces of melon pulp;
3. Freshwater animals can eat aquarium vegetation. In the aquarium you can plant duckweed, spirogyra, water beetle, and pond algae;
4. Vegetables must be included in the menu. The most favorite vegetables include bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkin, radishes, celery, legumes, carrot roots, and beets. But white cabbage and other varieties of this vegetable should not be given;
5. Once every 7 days, the turtle can be given pieces of mushrooms such as boletus, champignons, and russula.

Important! Is it possible to give reptiles food from the human table (bread, cheese, cottage cheese, sausage, cereals and others)? In no case, it can negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system. Also avoid feeding pet food, citrus peels, and berries with seeds.

Prohibited aquariums for turtles

The following aquariums should not be used for aquatic turtles:

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• Having a volume of 50−70 liters. If a turtle lives in such a small space for a long time, then over time it develops infectious skin diseases, degeneration and softening of the shell.
• In which the sushi island is made of plastic.
• In which it is impossible to install lighting, ultraviolet lamps and filtration. Their absence leads to the death of turtles.

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Thus, caring for a red-eared turtle is still not very easy. Only compliance with all conditions of proper maintenance makes the life of turtles long and happy.

Important Tips

• Feed your red-eared slider in a separate container of warm water. The pet does not produce saliva, so it chews and swallows moistened food. It eats sloppily, tearing prey with its claws and beak, leaving a lot of fragments. Jigging will help in the fight against uneaten remains.
• Don't overfeed. If you haven't eaten it within 30 minutes, return it to the jar.
• Do not allow waste to accumulate. Dirty water provokes skin diseases.
• If the food is frozen or refrigerated, warm it to room temperature. Turtles are susceptible to colds.
• Do not allow people to use dishes after the pet. Red-eared insects are carriers of salmonellosis. Follow the rules of hygiene when cleaning the aquarium.
• Take your pet for a walk once a week. Walking protects against obesity, but control is necessary. The animal hides in the apartment, demonstrating extraordinary agility. Without water, the red-eared fish will not survive even two days. Walking on the street lawn is advisable, but contact with predatory pets is undesirable: the result is unpredictable, predatory reptiles do not hesitate to attack cats and dogs.
• Do not handle turtles unless necessary. An unformed shell and skeleton are vulnerable. There is a risk of dropping, which threatens the small pet with death.

Soil selection

It is not necessary to line the soil for the red-eared slider. The animal can do without it, since it does not feel the need to dig in at the bottom. There is no need to stop using it. Soil is needed in an aquarium as a natural filter, as it traps small particles of dirt at the bottom. Bottom covering is necessary for some types of algae. It affects the development of beneficial bacteria, which is important for the formation of healthy microflora in water.

If you lay the soil in the shape of a slope from the back wall of the aquarium, or choose larger stones for the far part, the container will appear larger.

When choosing soil, you should pay attention to its composition. It is not recommended to use artificial substrate. Toxic substances can get into the water from plastic elements. For the same reason, you should avoid colored mixtures. Pets can break glass balls in their beaks and injure themselves.

Natural floorings that are best for a tortoise include:

• sand;

• rounded pebbles;

• shell rock;

• marble.

Limestone soils release potassium into the liquid. This may increase water hardness. When there is an excess of elements, a white coating forms on the reptile’s shell and the surfaces of the aquarium. Therefore, shell rock, marble and coral sand should be used carefully.

You can put an even layer of river sand in the red-eared turtle's aquarium. It is worth considering that grains clog the filter and can cake and rot. Such soil complicates the care of the aquaterrarium, but is safe for the reptile.

Suitable soil stones should be:

• without sharp edges and edges;
• rounded;
• more than 5 cm in diameter.

Small turtles can get stuck under large rocks, so it is best for young turtles to avoid using them.

Before laying the flooring on the bottom, it is recommended to rinse it under running water. It is more convenient to process large volumes in portions. The procedure is repeated until the water flows clear and clean. Non-certified materials can be disinfected before washing. To do this, boil the soil for 40 minutes in boiling water, or keep it in the oven for an hour at a temperature of 100 °C.

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Do turtles need mineral and vitamin supplements?

In young animals, the bone skeleton is formed and the shell is being built, so they need calcium.
Ground bone meal should be added to food daily. For a small turtle, one pinch will be enough; for older specimens, add 1 tsp. in Week. Bone meal can be purchased at a pet store. If this is not possible, the calcium requirement can be met by adding crushed eggshells.

Special vitamins for turtles are recommended to be mixed into food in the doses or quantities indicated on the package.

Vitamin feeds have a short shelf life. Therefore, you should not give them to turtles after the expiration date.

Do you need live flora?

Some of the plants may be poisonous to pets, while others may be beneficial. Algae are essential to red-eared turtles' diets because they contain minerals, vitamins and iodine, but many of them can become a nuisance weed. Young individuals are indifferent to grass, so they will not interfere with the development of spirogyra. It interferes with the development of other plants and quickly covers the bottom. Little turtles can get confused in the green carpet.

Some algae, such as blue-green algae, are classified as pests. Their occurrence usually occurs without human intervention, when the requirements for lighting and water purification are violated. Staying in an infected aquarium is harmful for your pet.

Older red-eared turtles eat algae more readily. They enjoy eating spirogyra and cladophora and have a favorable attitude towards plants. It is difficult to place delicacies in an aquaterrarium, since reptiles absorb greenery faster than it has time to develop. Many owners prefer to grow duckweed and other plants for their red-eared turtles in a separate container.

Reptiles are active in water. Even when plants are not attractive to the red-eared slider as food, they rarely take root in the aquarium. The pet digs up those that take root in the ground and tears leaves and stems with its beak. Green debris settles on the filter and contaminates the water, causing you to have to clean it more often.

In a wide aquarium, you can fence off a small area with a net, and plant algae behind it so that the pet can reach some leaves, but cannot destroy the stems and roots.

Since algae is not necessary for the red-eared slider, many owners refuse to grow live flora near the reptile. Pet stores offer plastic and silk analogues of plants. Herpetologists do not recommend installing artificial greenery to prevent bitten plastic from getting into the esophagus.

What to feed baby red-eared turtles

What a little turtle eats determines its future health. The diet of young animals must include seafood. It is useful for armored babies to hunt aquarium fish. Turtles can be given clams and pieces of shrimp, but the food is always served raw. You cannot feed small red-eared turtles with products of plant origin - such food will not bring the desired benefits.

The first year of life of red-eared reptiles is very important for the formation of the skeleton and strong shell. For the healthy development of the body, babies need calcium and vitamin A, which is aimed at renewing skin cells and creating keratinized tissue. The turtles are fed daily, adding bone meal to the portions. In addition to fresh fish, you can purchase combined dry food for young animals at a pet store, after consulting with the seller.

What plants can be planted in an aquarium?

When choosing flora for a red-eared turtle's pool, you need to consider the effect of each plant on the reptile's body and the aquatic environment. There should be no poisonous herbs in the aquarium, even if the pet is indifferent to them.

Elodea is poisonous, but often inhabits turtle aquariums. Toxic substances are contained in the sap of the plant, but their concentration is low. Elodea is a bad neighbor for the red-eared turtle, although a small amount of leaves eaten is not capable of causing serious damage to the body. It is not recommended to trim the plant in water to minimize the release of juices into the aquarium.

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Edible plants that suit the same conditions as turtles:

• hornwort;
• cabomba carolina;
• Eichornia is excellent.

An important parameter of plants for companionship with a pet is practicality. Hygrophila Schisandra in the aquarium of a freshwater reptile receives favorable conditions for growth. The plant is safe for turtles and does not have a negative effect on the water. If your pet does not show interest in the green leaves of lemongrass, you can safely grow it. Eichornia blooms beautifully and has a high ability to neutralize the metabolic fruits of the inhabitants of the aquaterrarium. Water hyacinth does not tolerate proximity to active reptiles and rarely takes root.

Floating plants for turtle tanks

Floating plants are plants that float on the surface of the water and have roots that extend into the water. They can absorb all the nitrates that your turtle tank produces through the nitrogen cycle.

In addition to absorbing all the waste from the tank, they also help reduce unwanted algae.

Limnobium laevigatum or Amazonian frog duckweed

A beautiful plant with broad leaves, it looks beautiful, has a smooth texture and is quite hardy. This is a really good option for a turtle tank, and an ideal floating plant for beginners.

Water Lettuce

Water lettuce is another great option for your turtle tank. These are floating plants resting on the surface of the water. Their lighting needs will definitely be met due to the fact that they are on the surface and therefore will be able to absorb a large amount of UV rays.

Moreover, turtles love to eat lettuce, and it also provides good shelter. This is a fairly hardy plant that will have no problems surviving in a turtle aquarium environment.

Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is also a great floating plant option. Except for its appearance, it is very similar to water lettuce. It floats on the surface of the water, so it easily receives air and light. In addition, it is also a very hardy and resilient plant, so keeping it alive is not a problem.

Turtles love to eat water hyacinth, so it makes a tasty snack. It also looks very beautiful, especially when its flowers bloom.

Everything about aquaterrariums for red-eared turtles

Turtle aquaterrariums are a vessel with a microclimate that includes aquatic and surface environments. Usually purchased or home-made aquariums with an island organized inside are used.

An aquarium for turtles should not be high, length and depth are more important: they create space for swimming and surface area. Freshwater red-eared turtles are common in aquaterrariums.

Freshwater red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) is the accepted Russian name for a reptile, a subspecies of the red-eared turtle. The English name is “Red-eared slider”. “Red-eared” are called because of the red lines behind the eyes; there are no ears.

Its natural habitat is stagnant ponds and swamps of the subtropical southeastern United States. Having spread throughout the south, it is crowding out local inhabitants.

DIY aquaterrarium

It is not always possible to select an aquaterrarium for the red-eared turtle with the required parameters. Many people remake a vessel from a pet store or order one. Experienced aquarists make their own jars.

You can make or purchase an aquarium from silicate or organic (acrylic) glass. Traditional glass is durable. Acrylic is prone to scratches, which makes it difficult to clean algae from the walls. Poor thermal conductivity makes it easier to create a microclimate. Organic material is impact resistant. Can be machined. With the same capacity, the structure weighs half as much. Plastic products are usually installed in public places or if there are children.

• Turtles hatched from eggs have an average size of 3 cm. During the first year of life, they grow up to 10 cm. An aquaterrarium of 50 liters or more is suitable.
• By the third year the size will exceed 15 cm. Water volume: 80–100 liters.
• Aquaterrarium for a red-eared turtle 3 years old (20–25 cm) - from 100–150 liters.
• An adult (30 cm) red-eared turtle is kept in an aquarium of at least 200 liters.

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Choosing an aquarium

Aquariums for red-eared turtles are chosen to be strictly parallelepiped in shape. In some cases - with a lower front side height. The width of the dwelling should be from 6 longitudinal dimensions of the shell for free swimming. The depth of the aquarium is comparable to the height.

The height of the aquarium for an aquatic turtle is chosen above the water (land) level by 20–30 cm. Red-eared turtles crawl out of the container. To make efficient use of space and prevent water evaporation, it is recommended to cover the vessel with a fixed glass or plastic lid with a grille under the lights.

• The level is no less than the transverse size: the turtle must be able to roll over freely.
• Acidity: pH 6–8 (tap drinking water).
• Hardness: not regulated. Increased carbonate “hardness” kH is useful as an additional source of calcium.
• Temperature: 24–28 °C. When the temperature drops to 20 °C, red-eared turtles catch a cold. Equip the aquaterrarium with a heater with a thermostat. Place the device in the corners: damage from the shell is avoided. Take care to protect the wire: curious animals try everything to their teeth. Heater power - 1 W per 1 liter of water. An external thermometer is preferable. Red-eared turtles are playful and will smash.

Water filtration is required. Red-eared turtles are voracious and excrete copious amounts of feces. To prevent water blooms, the appearance of unpleasant odors and the development of algae, replace 1/4–1/3 of the volume weekly. Biofiltration is advisable.

Intensive filtration is required. External (canister) filters are preferred. Capacity: 6–8 vessel volumes per hour.

Do not allow food residues or feces to accumulate. Siphon the turtle cage at least once a week.

Replace 1/3 of the volume weekly. Use settled water. Increased chlorine content provokes eye and skin irritation.

Soil and plants

For soil, use 6–8 cm rounded pebbles (to prevent injury). Red-eared turtles swallow small pebbles and get sick. A sandy substrate is impractical, since there is no point in planting plants. They will be pulled out and eaten. Before placing in a jar, rinse the soil and boil for an hour.

Large shells in the ground are recommended. Increases the concentration of calcium in water.

Red-eared turtles eat almost no plant food until they are one year old. They are not interested in plants. Greens absorb harmful substances and help balance the composition of water. Tropical and subtropical plants are suitable.

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As they grow older, the proportion of plant food increases. If there is an herbalist or conditions for growing fast-growing plants that float in the water column, add to the turtle. It won't eat everything, but the water will become cleaner.

• Hydrocotyla white-headed or upright.
• Java moss.
• Fontinalis.
• Guadalupe naiad.
• Indian fern.
• Brazilian pinnate.

Elodea will not work. The poisonous sap is harmful to the inhabitants.

Alternative: set up an aquarium for your red-eared turtle with a corner for plants separated by a perforated wall. Lay the soil preferred for plants.

Disinfect plants from outside sources before placing them. Soak for 2 minutes in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate (“potassium permanganate”).

Arrangement of the island

Decorating an aquarium for a red-eared turtle with an island or shore is mandatory. The pet spends most of its time underwater. Land is required for rest and warming up.

• The surface of the shore (island) should not be slippery.
• Dimensions - 3-4 dimensions of a turtle. For several individuals - 2 turtle dimensions per inhabitant.
• Provide “sunny” and “shady” beaches.
• The location of the land is strictly above the water level. The turtles need to dry out.
• The beach is fixed. Must be able to withstand the animal with reserve.
• Do not use suspicious non-food materials. Red-eared turtles are prone to poisoning.

Setting up a terrarium for a turtle is not difficult. If you don’t have the time or desire, pet stores have ready-made designs. Models with suction cups are interesting.

Cut the glass (acrylic) to the required area. Treat sharp edges with whetstone or sandpaper. Lubricate one surface with glue and sprinkle with sand or rounded pebbles 4–6 mm. After drying at the desired height, glue it to the walls of the jar. Use only aquarium sealant!

Prepare a driftwood or stump with a hollow of the required height. Cook wooden materials for 5–6 hours in 5–6 batches, changing the water. Soak until the medium stops coloring and becomes negatively buoyant. Resinous rocks and oak are not suitable (they color the water). Glue or pin (titanium or plastic) the glass or plastic pad. The site is processed as indicated above.

If the water layer is small, lay out a kind of grotto or bridge from flat stones or ceramic tiles. Use aquarium sealant for gluing. Avoid massive structures. Excessive load on the glass is unacceptable. Suspended (on a fishing line, for example) structures are successfully used. Bank elements made of stainless steel (grades 12Х18Н10, 12Х18Н10Т) are acceptable.

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It is necessary to equip the sushi with ladders (ladders, slopes with a slight slope) to allow the red-eared turtle to comfortably crawl to the surface. Rigid or semi-rigid structures are made from rubber with reinforcing elements or plastic. At home, they are covered with fragments of bath mats or plastic gratings.

Lighting and heating

Vitamin D3, which is vital for the red-eared turtle, is produced when the body is heated by the sun's rays. In aquaterrariums, sunbathing is simulated by incandescent lamps and ultraviolet (UV) light.

Incandescent lamps are used: ordinary and halogen. Halogen ones are twice as effective due to the increased temperature of the coil. Ordinary power - 40–60 W. The optimal temperature for heating the shell is 30–33 °C. The distance from the light source to the surface is determined experimentally.

The lamps are used with an external reflector located inside the lamp bulb. The beam angle should be sufficient to cover the entire surface of the pet. The service life of incandescent lamps is 1000 hours.

When water gets on the bulb, the lamp bursts. Ceramic lamps without a visible light component have no disadvantage.

Provide areas inaccessible to heat lamps. The temperature in the “shade” is 25–28 °C. determined more by the temperature of the water.

Use ultraviolet lamps in the UVB range (wavelength 280–315 nm). The maximum production of vitamin D3 was recorded at 297 nm. Irradiation with light from 315 nm causes the breakdown of cholecalciferol. From 320 nm - breakdown of vitamin D3. The recommended illumination is 7000–9000 lux (lumens per m2).

A reflector for UV lamps is required. Radiation with a wavelength of up to 400 nm is not recognized by the human eye, but has a harmful effect on the cells of the fundus of the eye. Silicate glass blocks 90% of ultraviolet radiation. Metal mesh - 10–20%, depending on the cell size.

UV radiation is invisible to humans. Causes light-colored and phosphor-treated objects to glow.

The ultraviolet source is mercury lamps or light-emitting diodes (UV LED). LEDs are preferred: service life - from 50,000 hours, energy efficient.

Conventional lighting is provided by fluorescent or LED (color temperature from 7000 K) lamps. Luminous flux - 40–60 lumens per 1 liter of water. The length of daylight hours is 8–10 hours.

Ventilation

Red-eared turtles breathe air. If the vessel is closed, ventilation is provided by holes in the lid. In cans of 800 liters or more, water is purged with air or an exhaust hood.

As the ambient temperature rises, forced ventilation will cool the aquarium by a couple of degrees. Due to energy consumption for water evaporation.

Article on the topic: Setting up an aquarium for a red-eared turtle (equipment and design)

Decoration features

They use massive stones, driftwood, and artificial plants. Experienced aquarists call plastic buildings “kitsch” with an unknown chemical composition, and they avoid placing them.

The decorations also serve as shelters. Young turtles especially need shelters. Decoration with artificial plants is necessary. Red-eared turtles eat natural greenery.

Decorative elements should not have sharp fragments. Animal skin is easily damaged.

Reptile Neighborhood

The peaceful appearance of the animal contrasts with the aggressive nature of an active predator. Red-eared turtles and fish are incompatible in the same aquarium. First he will eat small fish, then slowly move on to large ones. The same will be done with other reptiles and mollusks. Easily chews snail shells.

Males of the same species conflict. In conditions of a limited vessel it is fatal. Gets along with the female. The red-eared turtle does not need company. Enjoys searching for food and communicating with the owner.