The common name “painted turtle” refers to these turtles’ elaborate, seemingly painted shells. They go by the name Sun turtles as well. They span a vast geographic area, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The eastern painted turtle, the midland painted turtle, the western painted turtle, and the southern painted turtle are only a few of the painted turtle subspecies.
Although they are easy to care for, you must keep an eye on their food supply, temperatures, and the water quality in their cage.
Care as a Pet
Habitat
The majority of the time that painted turtles spend in the water is in the water. This species favors freshwater environments with aquatic flora, places to sunbathe, and soft bottoms.
Enclosure
The painted turtle requires a water environment with sufficient opportunities for basking. The enclosure doesn’t have to be fancy. To begin with, the depth of the water must be nearly twice as wide as the turtle’s length. Although you can add some substrate, the turtle doesn’t need it. The water must have a capacity of 25 to 40 gallons. For a single adult, the bare minimum tank size should be 20 gallons. The water must have a high carrying capacity because adults swim frequently. A water volume of 10 liters should be plenty for infants or hatchlings. Get a 20-gallon tank instead of a 10-gallon one, and fill it with 10 gallons of water. 5 liters of water should be added for each extra baby.
Heat
It might not be essential to install a water heater because they are acclimatized critters. The water must be hotter than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ideal water temperature is somewhere around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The surrounding air must be at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The installation of a heat lamp will help you reach this temperature.
Feed
In the wild, painted turtles are omnivorous, while adults tend to eat more plants and young tend to eat more meat.
Feeding sources for painted turtles include water plants, crabs, insects, and tiny fish. They eat carrion as well. Even though they lack teeth, they can grasp food with their powerful jaws and horny plates. They can eat in water as well.
Painted turtles are omnivores and will eat both plant and animal stuff. They certainly appreciate being fed, and it’s a great way to build relationships with them.
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