A quality dried terrapin food should be used alongside thoroughly defrosted freshwater fish and live invertebrate foods. Read more about creating a suitable environment in our Terrapin care sheet (PDF 326KB). We advise using water testing kits to ensure the water is low in ammonia and nitrite. Terrapins need constant access to clean water so you need a powerful filtration system. The output of UVB (essential for your terrapin to store and use calcium) decreases over time so the lamp must be replaced regularly. You should fit a 7-12% reptile lamp over two thirds of the tank to create a wide area of UV. You must check the temperatures at least once a day. The heated zone should be provided by a heat lamp with a thermostat at 30-32☌. More information on terrapin care is available in our Terrapin care sheet (PDF 326KB).Ĭreating a comfortable environment TemperatureĪ terrapin will require a temperature gradient with a 'basking zone' where they can absorb warmth along with an area where they can cool down. Terrapin tanks must be secure and free from hazards, children and other pets.

Terrapins should be housed in large tanks / aquariums or secure outdoor ponds with adequate heating and lighting. How big do terrapins get?įemales are the larger of the species at 25cm. The lifespan of a pond terrapin/slider is around 30 years in captivity, so it's essential that any keepers are able to provide the care they will need for the animal's entire life. They are a type of hard-shelled, small turtles.

Pond terrapins or 'sliders' ( Trachemys scripta) include red-eared sliders, yellow-bellied sliders and Cumberland sliders.

You can learn more in our Terrapin care sheet (PDF 326KB). Here you'll find some basic information on how to ensure your pet's setup mimics their natural habitat as much as possible, to keep them healthy.

The caring and keeping of you pdf