Contrary to popular belief, terrapins are not exactly easy pets to care for. But they do make great animal companions if you are not into furry pets. Plus, we think it’s pretty therapeutic to watch them move about and interact with one another.

Here are the top 4 things to take note of for your pet terrapins’ well-being:

1) Feeding Your Terrapin: What They Need to Thrive

Like us, terrapins need variety in their diet. Good quality pellets or dry food form the bulk of the diet but you should also provide supplements. Feed pellets together with thoroughly defrosted freshwater fish or shrimps. Feeding them different kinds of freshwater fish also provides variety. For additional nutrients, feed them live insects (e.g. blood worms and locusts), vegetables like sweet potato and carrots, or plants such as pond weed. You can also mix vitamin supplements into their dry food. Just remember to follow the quantity recommended by the manufacturer.

Frequency of feed is around every two days and you should offer only as much as they can eat within 5 minutes. Remove any uneaten food from the water which can rot and foul the water.

Try to weigh your terrapin regularly as well so you can be sure they are not putting on weight too fast.

2) Setting Up the Ideal Home: Space and Water Tips

You can house young terrapins in large tanks. How large? We recommend that you start with a larger tank that can accommodate an adult terrapin so you can save cost and time on upgrading. Males grow up to 21cm in length, while females can reach up to 25cm. Terrapins also have long lifespans in captivity of up to 30 years.

Your tank should also be large enough to house both water and dry areas. Make sure you have enough water for them to swim without touching the sides or bottom of the tank and to be fully submerged. Terrapins produce a lot of waste, so good mechanical- and bio-filters are necessary to keep the water clean.  In combination, these filters provide optimal conditions for good bacteria to grow and break down waste.

Weekly water changes (no more than 20-30%) will help dilute the waste which your filter cannot break down. A reminder to add anti-chlorine to help the good bacteria and your terrapin to thrive.

Treat your terrapins like fish. Because water quality affects their welfare even though they occupy wet and dry areas. The Nitrogen Cycle applies to terrapins as well because dirty water can make them sick. - DDr. Arman Chen, BVSc (Qld.), BSc (Leic.)

Other things that pollute the water include uneaten food. So be careful not to overfeed your pet. One way to check water quality is to use a test kit (which you can buy from any local fish shop) for ammonia and nitrites.

*Note: For safety, you should cover the tank with a wire mesh to prevent escape and provide better ventilation.

3) Light, Heat, and Comfort: Keeping Terrapins Cozy 

Terrapins use their environment to warm up or cool down their bodies. This means you need to provide different areas for your pet to absorb warmth but also cool areas to reduce heat.

If your terrapins are housed indoors...

Create a dry basking area (between 30 - 35°C) using a UV lamp and make sure you provide easy access for them to go from this basking area into the water. So when they needs to cool off, they can simply slide into the water. The ideal water temperature should be maintained between 22 - 25°C.

Don’t rely only on water for your pets to cool down. Provide another dry platform or area in a shadier part of the tank (away from the UV lamp). Use plants and rocks etc. to create shade and a hiding place for them to feel happy and secure.

The UV lamp also helps terrapins make Vitamin D3, which is crucial for them to store and use calcium. Don’t keep the light on for 24 hours because terrapins use light to regulate their day and night patterns. So be sure to provide a balance of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness for your pets.

If your terrapins are housed in the sunny outdoors…

Make sure you have a cool shaded area for them to hide in. The more terrapins you have, the larger that area needs to be. You can also include floating plants and secure large rocks in the water. These provide shade and security for your pets to investigate and hide.

4) Terrapin Health: Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

It is nice to have more than one terrapin so they can have some company.  Just make sure there is enough space e.g. basking spots, more volume of water for swimming and food for everyone. This will prevent aggressive behaviour, which can surface if they feel overcrowded.

Terrapins also shed their skin and shell plates. Provide sufficient dry areas for them to climb out of the water and shed will prevent fungal infections.

They are also prone to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. For instance, Metabolic Bone Disorder can occur from lack of calcium due to insufficient Vitamin D3. Symptoms include swelling around the mouth or eyes, shell becoming uneven etc.

Eye problems are also common in terrapins. This could be due to lack of Vitamin A. So feed them foods high in beta-carotene e.g. shredded carrots or small pieces of sweet potato.

Lack of appetite can also happen and this could be due to internal parasites or mouth rot. Bring your terrapin to a vet for treatment if you notice drastic changes in appetite or sores.

As always, Gaia Vets are here for you if you need any advice on terrapin care. Our vets are experienced in handling pet terrapins and turtles. Call us at 6950 4533 (Jalan Besar) or 6727 7511 (Parksuites, Holland Grove Rd) to book a consultation.