The most common type of turtle in pet stores is a Red Eared Slider. Before you buy one, remember that turtles require a lot of care.
Setting Up the Aquarium
Keep the turtle in a watertight plastic aquarium. If you have one turtle, you need a 10 gallon tank; if you have 2 turtles, you need a 20 gallon tank (10 gallons per turtle is the rule of thumb). The aquarium has to be set up properly so the turtle can both swim and crawl out of the water to lie on a dry surface.
The best setup is to use one end of the aquarium as a basking area, about 1/3 of the space. Place large rocks in the basking area, and to make it easier for your turtle to get out of the water you can make a ramp of wood or plastic.
Many people put large gravel pieces or small stones on the bottom of the aquarium. Do not use aquarium gravel because the turtles can eat it and get sick. Be sure to cover your tank if you have a cat or dog.
The aquaruim water must be filtered. Canister filters are recommended, ie what you would use for tropical fish aquariums. Even with a filter, you still must clean the tank once a week and the filter once a month.
Turtles need a UV lamp to keep them warm when resting on a dry surface. The lamp also keeps the turtle's skin healthy by helping it dry off. Be careful not to leave the lamp on too long or the tank will get too hot - the temperature in the basking area should not exceed 90 degrees F.
The water must also be kept warm and an aquarium heater is the best way to keep the water at a constant temperature, between 75 and 80 degrees F.
Feeding a Turtle
Pet stores sell food pellets made especially for turtles. They can be fed daily or 2-3 times a week, depending upon their age and size. In order to keep germs out of the tank, you may remove the turtles from the tank and feed them in a box or a large plastic bowl. If you do pick up a turtle, be sure to wash your hands with an iodine-based soap (e.g. Betadyne), available at pharmacies.
Red Sliders also eat vegetables like chopped carrots or romaine lettuce. You can also buy containers of dried tubiflex worms or cuttle bone at the pet shop.
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