Q&A for How to Keep a Turtle Healthy

You'll need a high-quality UV light to keep your aquatic turtle healthy. Place the light 12 inches above the basking area in your turtle's habitat. Make sure you switch the bulb out every 6 months since UV lights become less effective over time.

Turtles can stay on land (or without water) up to two days. But they usually like to have food inside the water. They shift from water to land and vice versa several times for basking and swimming, so it is best to provide an environment convenient for them.

A regular toothbrush is very helpful to clean the shell, just scrub gently.

Yes. A water heater is important to keeping the turtle's body temperature up, as they are cold blooded. However, turtles without regularly access to the sun will still need UV rays that are very important to their growth, development, and health.

Your turtle should always have access to land or a place out of the water. Never leave your turtle for any period of time in water with no access to dry land.

Check that the water temperature is still within a proper range and that the lighting is remaining on for a proper amount of time. Many species of turtle will reduce their metabolism when their environmental conditions trigger a semi hibernation state. Also, be sure to check the age of your UVB light as the bulb will continue to give off light even after the UV feature has burnt out. Most UV bulbs will last a year at most, although they will continue to give off light. If you have checked everything and nothing is working, book an appointment with your vet. Turtles can go a few weeks without eating in the wild so it is not an emergency yet, however try to get the turtle in within the next week.

Not very much--just enough so the turtle can swim. Make sure that the turtle has something so he can get out and sun tan on. If you don't, the turtle's shell will get soft from being in the water all the time.

If your turtle has become extremely overweight, you should cut back on its food. A sure sign that you turtle is getting too much food. You should try giving the turtle less food to see if their body weight becomes more under control.

No, they will need some land and a basking light, even the mostly-aquatic turtles.

This depends on the type of turtle. All turtles need a balance of plant and protein material. Pet stores will have a commercially sold food that provides proper nutrition like pellets.

If you think the turtle's life is in danger you should talk to your science teacher, a principle, or parent about it. This way someone else can check on the turtle to make sure it is being adequately cared for.

You should have a trusted adult watch them. Explain how to feed them and how to clean the water. I don't recommend taking your turtle with you.

Take them to the vet, something might be wrong with them.

Yes. Turtles are cold blooded and require heat to function.

If there are no other signs of sickness, there is probably nothing wrong with the turtle itself, but if it goes without basking for too long, it will become sick. Make sure the water (75-78 degrees F) and basking area (90-95 degrees F) temperatures are okay and the water level (2x the turtle's shell length) is not too shallow so that the turtle will want to bask. If there is no incentive to bask (water is too warm or shallow), the turtle won't do it. If your turtle still won't bask, a visit to the vet might do well.

It's up to your preference, but I would recommend a fully submersible steel aquarium heater with suction cups. Make sure you do not buy one with a glass outer casing - your turtle may break it and be electrocuted if it shatters. A metal, steel or thermal-resistant plastic casing is optimal. Buy a heater with an acceptable wattage for your tank, so that it has enough power to heat the whole tank: 75 watts for 20 gallons, 150 watts for 40 gallons, 250 watts for 65 gallons, 300 watts for 75 gallons, and so on.

No. They need calcium and protein. You should feed it commercial pellets, live or dead bugs, shrimp, berries and vegetables.

You should always take your turtle to the vet it he has eye problems. Eye problems will make them stop eating.

The water and the basking spot are two different things that need different heating systems. The basking spot has to be heated by the lamp, and the water has to be heated by a tank water heater.

It depends on the species. For example, the common red eared slider turtle costs between $15 and $30.

Take them to the vet immediately for help.

Probably not. If you are having trouble keeping the tank clean, then buy a filter.

You should take the turtle to the vet. If the wound gets infected, it will be very painful and possibly fatal. Some pet stores offer cheaper veterinary services, but you should check into how trustworthy those are.

He could be. If your turtle seems to have eye problems, take him to the vet.

Touching your turtle is fine as long as you wash your hands afterwards. If the turtle seems annoyed with the touching, stop immediately.

The shell will look too small, and there will be fat slipping out off the sides. To exercise your turtle, you can put some small feeder fish in the tank to encourage the turtle to chase down its meal.

You'll still need a UV lamp, especially in rainy or winter seasons, even overcast days.

No, a regular lamp doesn't provide UV rays like a UVB bulb would. Turtles need one to process calcium.

No, they are supposed to be naturally long.

Never abandon pet turtles! If you don't want your turtle anymore, please find someone who wants him and will take good care of him.