How long can a box turtle stay under water?

Answer 1

Depends on what kind of turtle it is my painter sleeps underwater

if u have any other questions here's a few more helping tipsCatching a painted turtle is illegal in some places, so you might want to check the area you live in before you try to get one.All aquatic turtles need water in order to stay happy and healthy; they also like to eat under water. The minimum depth of water is as high as the turtle is wide so that it can move freely, but I recommend giving it as much water as you can. Aquatic turtle spend most of their life in the water, and they are far more agile while swimming. This isn't to say that they don't need a place to climb out though.

Turtles are predators during their younger years, but switch to a mostly vegetarian diet in their older age, so what you feed it will depend on the turtle you have.

Earthworms, large beetles and small fish are great for a youngster, but you can still give them the store bought turtle pellets to round out the diet (they need the vitamin d supplement to stay healthy). Older turtles have larger appetites and may still eat meat, so I don't recommend keeping any expensive fish with them. Some people might find feeding turtle live fish as barbaric, but this is how they eat in the wild and it gives them much needed exercises. It also makes the tank seem less empty.

Keep in mind that if you do keep fish in the tank you will need something to keep it oxygenated, and turtles are very messy eaters, so you will have to scoop fish parts out with a net every now and then. Turtles can also eat bits of ham and such, but that isn't really a part of their diet. In fact they will eat almost anything that moves. Older ones "should" eat lettuce and vegetables, but they might be picky, so you'll have to find out what yours likes.

Sadly, many reptile pets including turtles can carry salmonella, so you should make sure to thoroughly clean you hands after handling them or their water. They can also be aggressive, so keep you hands away from their face or they may bite you.

When picking up a turtle, try to get a hold of the turtle form behind, if you grab them by the side, their legs can get a grip on you and scratch you; large turtles have pretty sharp claws.