Cowabunga! Welcome to my blog

Are you looking for the perfect pet for your fast paced life? Are you a fellow turtle owner looking to follow the story of another? Are you a noobie turtle owner looking to find your way?  If your answer is yes to any of these then you have come to the right page. This blog will cover some essentials like HOW to care for an Eastern Painted Turtle, but focus on the STORY of a turtle owner.

It was November 4th 2012 when we first got our hearts set on the idea of our new pet. I didn't write this date down or anything, I just happen to remember watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Giants that day and was able to find the date from espn.com

Oddly enough my inspiration for buying my turtle was a night at a Chinese buffet with my wife.  I had been contemplating what the perfect pet would be for a young couple like us and our fast moving life.  For a moment it seemed as if all fish in the tank started to untidily form a synchronized swimming circle around the turtle. *ahhhhh-ahhh* Cue dramatic music............

Before I decided to make a purchase I made sure to do plenty of research.  This is essential for most things in life and pet care is no exception.  I'm only going to cover Eastern Painted turtles in this blog, but if you are interested in another breed then please do specific research according to the type.

Cowabunga! Can't remember if it was before or after I got my turtle, but pretty early on I knew he was going to be named after a Ninja Turtle.  This was a childhood favorite of mine, and the only thing left to be determined was which turtle he resembled most.

Before you buy your turtle

If you do a quick google search you will see hundreds of frantic, unprepared turtle owners desperate for answers on what kind of equipment they should purchase for their new pets. Don't add to the chaos.  Know the amount you want to spend, the size of space you have, and seriously consider the spare time you have BEFORE you decide on which turtle breed you will buy.

SIZE.  The first thing to consider is how much space you have.  Your turtle will need 10 gallons of tank space per 1 inch of shell size (i.e. 4 inch turtle should have 30-40 gallons of room). You need to find out how big the turtle will be as an adult.  If you have limited space like me then a male Painted turtle is the way to go.  Adult females can grow as big as 10 inches, so unless you have room for upwards of 90 or 100 gallon tank, then you want to get a male. Adult males typically range from 3-6 inches in length at full size. Using the previously mentioned rule of 10:1 this means your tank will need to be 30-60 gallons in size. I personally have a 30 gallon breeder tank which is about 3 feet in length and 15-18 inches in width.  If you don't have at minimum that amount of space for your turtle to occupy then look for another kind of pet.

AMOUNT. I purchased all my supplies from craigslist originally, but you may not be as lucky to find a deal like this.  Also, considering the un-reliability of used items it may be in your best interested to buy new. This Zilla Kit  will cover most of the basics that you need to get started and is priced at $179.99 In addition to this you will also need to regularly buy food and snacks, and of course the turtle itself! Bought mine from a local breeder, and would highly recommend this to anyone else.  This can range anywhere from $10-$60 for a young Eastern Painted.

=$300 is your ideal starting budget. 

TIME.  We can of course never have enough time for the amount of reading, observing, and maintaining our animals.  Keep in mind this blog is directed towards busy people like my wife and I. I care for my animal in a minimalist fashion. You will need a dedicated 1-2 hours every two weeks for tank up keep.  This includes changing of the turtles water, and any necessary scrubbing of the tank.  Also you will need a few minutes each day for feeding, and skimming the water of junk. Turtles are pretty simple. They don't need hugs, cuddled, or taken on walks.  Feed your dude and he will be happy. An awesome thing about having a turtle for a pet is you don't need to hire a sitter or take him to a kennel if you have a short vacation.  With a nifty little auto-feeder you can easily be away for 7+ days and your turtle will stay well fed. Another key to saving your time will be having an outlet with a timer, but to begin there's nothing wrong with taking a few seconds in the morning and evening to start and end your turtle's sunlight.

If you can satisfy all three demands then keep reading!!

Equipment for the turtle's habitat

There are a million ways to manage your turtles habitat, but perhaps only one that is perfect for you and your pet. On this page you will find just the basic necessities, with a few added amenities to complete your turtle's habitat.  I want to keep emphasizing that you want to have all of these purchased BEFORE you ever get your new turtle.  This way your turtle doesn't have to float inside your sink, bathtub, or toilet while you get everything assembled. (Keep in mind you have the option of purchasing a kit, but I will break everything down individually)

1. Turtle Tank. Look for a 30 Gallon Breeder.  Breeder's will have more surface space and less height than tanks.  Contrary to many youtube videos, your turtle does not need 2 feet of water.  Turtles like to stand on their hind legs and reach their faces outside of the water.

2. Water Heater.  It's important to maintain a steady water temperature so your turtle can digest his food and stay health.  Especially during the winter months a submersible water heater is essential.

3. Basking Platform. You need to have a dock/platform so your turtle can climb completely outside the water and dry off.

4. Heating lamp.  Above your basking platform hang a heating lamp.  Your turtle will spend hours "hanging in the sun."

5. UVB light. MMMmmmmmmm..... Vitamins.  Artificial sun.

6. Filter. Turtles are messy. You may at first buy a cheap filter to save some money.  After it breaks down you will probably buy a better one.  Once you realize your filter is not cleaning and aerating as much as you'd like it to, you will probably buy a canister filter :)

7. Cleaning supplies. A small net with a handle will do great for skimming un-finished food and big poops. Also a small brush is helpful for built up algae or junk stuck to the tank walls or floor.

If you are a true hardcore minimalist you can stop here.  These 7 items will allow your turtle to lead a happy healthy life.  However if you lead a fast paced busy life, and like the idea of taking vacation without bringing your turtle then you'll want to keep reading.

8.  Time Regulated Outlet. This product is essential if you plan to be away for a day or two.  You can set what time the turtle's "sun" will rise, and what time it will "set".   This will be auto-regulated each day and also save you from having to wake up at 6am if that's when you want your turtle to start his day.

9. Auto-feeder. Unless you plan to have a friend or family member feed your turtle when your away, you will need one of these.  My personal product can time release 14 meals.

10. Tank Stand.  I haven't seen too many owners that leave their turtle tank on the floor. In light of this you will probably want to put something under your tank that can hold A LOT of weight.  Buy a sturdy stand and you wont be disappointed.

And the Results will look something like this:
(Oops! the UVB light is missing, mine is broken currently and needs replaced.)

Mmmmm.... Turtle food

 

There are few things that your Eastern Painted turtle doesn't like to eat. Like take for example... uhh... bubble gum? Pretty much they will eat most meats, vegetables, fruits etc. that you care to feed them.  However, if you experiment with their food they may get stuck on a certain diet and turn their noses up to staples like pellets. This is what has happened with our turtle Michelangelo.  It all started when we decided to add a few "friends' to his tank.  About 5 small gold fish shared the tank with him for almost a whole month.  That was until we decided to take out the cave, bridges, and other props the fish were hiding under... for cleaning one day. (see video below. rated pg-13 for fish brutality)

How do you know when your turtle is hungry?  It's really easy - they will tell you.  My turtle even before becoming 1 year old was already 'tapping' on glass when he was ready to eat.  This would often happen when I got home from work. He would then proceed to eat pellets for the next minute or two.  Once he stops it's a good time to skim out the leftovers so they don't turn to mush and clog up your filter.