What should be an aquarium for a red-bellied turtle

The aquarium for the red-bellied turtle is a small ecosystem that can be created in the house with their own hands. When choosing the size and type of the aquarium, it is necessary to take into account the size of the adult animal and the characteristics of its organism. It is a floating reptile, which, in addition to water, is vital for drying, where it will bask and get an ultraviolet tan. Land must be at least 25% of the area of the terrarium. It should be securely fixed, and it is better to glue to the base of an artificial pond, especially if there are several turtles.

The volume of water in the aquarium is one of the most important moments, which must be treated with special attention. Red-eared turtles move and swim mainly under water, there they feel safe, sometimes spending a long time on the bottom. In addition, the smaller the volume of water, the faster it becomes contaminated, resulting in the terrarium loses its decorativeness, and the turtle can simply get sick. For young individuals up to 10 cm in size, 100 liters of water are sufficient. And taking into account land and air space the volume of the terrarium should be about 150 liters. As the animal grows, the aquarium for the red-bellied turtle will have to be replaced by a larger one. The more water there is in the pond, the longer it will keep clean and transparent, and the more comfortable the tortoise will feel.

To the arrangement of the land plot also need to be approached with due attention. When creating an islet for the red-bellied turtle, it is desirable to provide a convenient approach to it. The shore should not abruptly break off, it is better if it is equipped with a ladder or a miniature ladder with a rough but not scratching surface. It can also be a large stone or a grotto, the slopes of which gradually flatten out to the very bottom of the aquarium. Above the land is an ultraviolet lamp, under which the tortoise will dry the shell, warm and sunbathe. If the optimal water temperature for the red-bell turtle is about 25-280C, then over the land it should be a couple of degrees higher. The islet should be located about 30 cm below the edge of the terrarium, otherwise the animal can escape and escape.

Making an aquarium for red-bellied turtle, you need to choose safe materials without sharp edges and corners, presenting a potential danger to the health of the animal. Ground covering the bottom should not be too small, as the turtles sometimes swallow it, and, in addition, it becomes more dirty and poorly cleaned. It is better to use a pebble fraction of 5-6 cm. Live plants in such terrariums should not be used, since the turtles quickly eat them. They try to chew and artificial algae, but realizing that it is inedible, quickly lose interest in them. Therefore, in the underwater part you can install plastic or silk plants with loads at the base so that the turtles can not tear them from the ground. In the above-water part, artificial lianas can also be placed. In addition, the adornment of the terrarium can serve as a variety of driftwood, grottoes, quaint stones and other elements that will make the pond more picturesque and natural.

The aquarium for red-bellied turtle must be kept clean, since the health of the animal depends on the state of the water. For water purification various filters are used, which allow maintaining its quality in a normal state. In terrariums, it is better to use external filters, as the internal ones quickly become clogged with suspensions and lose effectiveness. In addition, to maintain the ecological balance in the aquarium, it will take a regular (once a week) replacement of half the water volume.

Caring for the red-bellied turtle, like for any other pet, requires some effort. But the terrarium with clean water, picturesque bottom and healthy animals is a fascinating sight, which is worth the time and effort.