How to Set Up a Baby Turtle Tank? 7 Easy Steps to the Perfect Housing

Before you get a pet turtle, it’s important to ensure a suitable habitat for it. Baby turtles have specific requirements when it comes to the environment, temperature, and lighting of their habitat. To help you with this, I’ll uncover how to set up a baby turtle tank. 

First, you need to choose a water tank of appropriate size and arrange sufficient aquatic and land areas within it. Set up UVA and UVB lamps for the lighting and a water heater to adjust the temperature. Finally, prepare a log or large rock to decorate a hiding and basking area for the baby turtle.

Let’s dive in and find out things you should consider while setting up a baby turtle tank. We’ll also share some tips on how to maintain the turtle tank over the years. 

7 Steps to Set Up a Baby Turtle Tank

To create a proper baby turtle habitat, you need to focus on several factors, including the amount of water and basking area. Proper light sources, tank temperature, and water filtration are also some important considerations.

During the arrangement, you must consider the turtle species and its special needs. Here’s a list of items you’ll need for a basic baby turtle tank:

Item Name	Why You Need It	How to Choose
Large water tank	The water tank is a must for the turtle to swim, drink, and stay hydrated	Choose a strong glass tank and fill it with water. Add 10 gallons of water for every inch of the carapace of the turtle’s adult length.
Water heater and thermometer	Required to measure the water temperature and keep the water warm	Submersible water heaters and suction-cup thermometers work well in water.
Water filter	To keep the water clean from turtle waste	A canister filter or a high-quality power filter.
UVA and UVB heat lamps	A must for growth, calcium absorption, and reproduction	Choose UVA and UVB lights with timers.
Large wooden log, platform, or rock	To set up a basking area for resting and drying	Use a large rock, wooden log, platform, or floating dock.

Step 1: Choose the Right Tank

Let’s start with the most important question: where do turtles live? Turtles mostly live in aquatic environments, but terrestrial species are also common. Almost all turtle species, including the aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial ones, require water to keep themselves hydrated. 

Therefore, you need to choose a water tank of the right size and depth that holds sufficient water. You can use a turtle tank or a regular fish tank that’s 6 mm to 10 mm thick. For baby turtles, 20- to 40-gallon tanks are a good pick. 

For precise measurement, add 10 gallons or 38 liters of water in the tank for every inch of the baby turtle’s shell. Baby turtles typically have a shell length of 1 to 3 inches.

Avoid using tanks designed for terrestrial animals, such as reptile tanks. These containers are too thin and not capable of withstanding water pressure. 

As for the material, glass and plastic tanks are the most suitable for monitoring the turtle and temperature control.

Step 2: Fill the Tank with Sufficient Water

While adding water to the tank, you need to calculate the amount of water based on the size of your turtle. As the baby turtle will grow big, consider the average size of an adult turtle of the same species. 

For every inch of the carapace (turtle’s protective shell), you need to add 10 gallons of water. Your baby turtle should be able to swim and submerge in the water. The water shouldn’t be so deep that they can’t reach the surface to breathe. 

Here’s a breakdown of how much water turtles need at different stages of their lives:

• Hatchlings: Newborns should be kept in a shallow dish or container of water that is no deeper than their shell length. It prevents them from drowning. The amount of water should be around 5 to 10 gallons.
• Juveniles: As the baby turtle grows, the tank should be bigger and have a water depth of at least 1.5 times their shell length. The tank will offer enough room to swim and dive without getting stuck. Juvenile turtles need 20 to 30 gallons of water.
• Adults: Typically, adult turtles should have a water depth of at least 2 times their shell length. They require 60 to 120 gallons of water, depending on their size.

Step 3: Set Up the Basking Area

To keep themselves dry and rest, baby turtles require a basking area. You can use a large rock, wooden log, platform, or floating dock that’s easily accessible to your baby turtle. You can also use commercial basking platforms, but avoid using natural wood logs.

Some prefer using sand and pea pebbles to cover up one side of the tank. Once you’ve found the right items to create the basking area, place the basking platform in the tank.

For maximum safety, make sure the basking area is secure and won’t collapse under the weight of your turtle. Finally, smooth the edges of the basking platform to prevent injuries.

Step 4: Light Source

While searching for a proper location to place the turtle tank, you might ask: “Do turtles need sunlight?” Yes, Turtles need sunlight to regulate their body temperature level. Besides, they require exposure to ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) light to maintain their health and reproduce.

While the UVB is required to produce vitamin D3 and absorb calcium, the UVA is necessary for their breeding. Therefore, turtles need a day-night cycle to mimic their natural habitat. 

So, install a UVA and UVB light fixture over the basking area. Set the lights to be on for about 10-12 hours a day and off at night.

Step 5: Heat Lamp and Water Heater

As turtles are ectothermic or cold-blooded, they depend on their surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. If you don’t arrange sufficient heat for your pet turtle, it can even kill the turtle within a short period.

Hence, you need to set up a heat lamp with a basking bulb or a ceramic heat emitter to provide warmth. Adjust the height of the lamp or the wattage of the bulb to achieve a basking spot temperature of 78°F to 82°F.

During the colder months, the heat lamp alone might not be enough to keep the water warm. Arrange a submersible water heater as well to raise the temperature when needed. Also, place a suction-cup thermometer on the basking area to monitor the temperature accurately.

Step 6: Arrange a Water Filter

Without a proper filter, the baby turtle’s waste can quickly degrade water quality. Proper filtration helps maintain consistent water parameters, such as pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. A water filter will help to keep the tank environment clean. 

So, choose a filter that’s appropriate for the size of your turtle tank. Consider a canister filter or a high-quality power filter specifically designed for aquariums with turtles.

Step 7: Finishing Touch and Placement

If you’re planning to put real plants inside the tank, you need to spread substrate at the bottom. For this, you can use sand, gravel, or fluorite. However, it’s better to avoid adding real plants and substrate in the turtle tank as it makes cleaning difficult.

Instead, you can use plastic leaves, plants, and flowers to decorate the tank. When you’re done, select a suitable place that’s away from direct sunlight to keep the tank. The heat can increase the water temperature and promote algae growth.

Ensure that the chosen location can support the weight of the tank and the water it will hold. Besides, you should be able to easily access the baby turtle and clean the tank as needed.

FAQs

Got more questions? Let’s take a look at some common queries turtle owners often have regarding a tank setup. 

Q. Can you put 2 baby turtles in the same tank?

Yes, you can put two baby turtles in the same tank as long as they are of the same species. You must consider the tank size, maintenance, and feeding for both turtles.

Measure the carapace length of both turtles and size the tank according to the first turtle’s measurements. For each new turtle, add half that size and choose the tank size accordingly. 

Q. Do baby turtles need a heat lamp at night?

No, baby turtles don’t need heat lamps during the night, especially if the lamp provides both light and heat. Turtle tanks should be dark for at least 10 to 12 hours to mimic the natural day-night cycle. 

However, if the temperature gets cold, you need to turn on the water heater to keep the turtle warm.

Q. How often should you clean a baby turtle tank?

If your baby turtle’s tank doesn’t have a water filter, you should clean it every day or at least once every 2 to 3 days. Even with a powerful water filter, you need to clean the tank and change the water once every 2 to 3 weeks. 

Otherwise, the ammonia and nitrate produced from the baby turtle’s waste can pollute the water.

Wrapping Up!

While learning how to set up a baby turtle tank, you need to focus on the turtle species first. It will allow you to easily calculate the water and temperature requirements of your pet. 

A large tank, heat lamp, water filter, UVA and UVB light source, and basking platform are the basic items every baby turtle tank needs. 

Be sure to clean the water and maintain its temperature based on your baby turtle’s needs. If you’re unsure about how to choose the right tank, consult with a veterinarian or experienced turtle breeder.