Pet Turtle : Habitat Cleaning

As mentioned earlier, the importance of a clean habitat can not be over-emphasized. In the absence of natural bio-cleaners, the responsibility of providing a clean and safe habitat rests with you - the turtle owner.

We recommend that the full tank be cleaned:
� Everytime the full tank water is replaced
� Every 35-45 days
� When the water starts changing color or smelling foul
� If any of the turtles/other aquatic life gets diseased (due to a non-dietary cause)
� If you observe too much algae growth in the habitat

For cleaning the habitat effectively, remove all animals, remove all decorations/ equipment and empty out the water completely. Clean all decorations/equipment. For more information on cleaning decorations, click here. Wash tank insides with hot water (don't use boiling water as it can crack the glass). Use a sponge or old newspaper to wipe all the inside surfaces and remove any algae. For corners/edges we recommend using an old toothbrush.

Do NOT use any detergent!

Its normal to follow up with a mild and safe disinfectant. NEVER use any containing phenol or phenolic compounds - and always rinse thoroughly before refilling. Betadine antiseptic solution (or any other Iodine tincture), obtainable from chemists (for INR 10-20), is a safe aqueous antiseptic.

Rinse well, and fit in the cleaned decorations/equipment. Add clean water. You can also add 1 level teaspoon of common salt for every 4-5 liters of water. This prevents the growth of 'bad' bacteria and prevents shell and skin diseases.

Run all equipment for atleast 30-45 minutes, before returning the animals to the habitat.

Caution: Don't clean any habitat decorations/equipment, in the kitchen or any food storage, preparation or consumption areas. Wash all utensils/containers used to clean the habitat with a mild bleach solution afterwards. Throw the old habitat water in the toilet and not the kitchen sink!