Pet Turtle : Water & Land Area

Turtles are avid swimmers, feeding only in water, and are religious baskers. Therefore equal amount of attention has to be paid to both water and land areas. Land area should be equivalent to 25-35% of the water area. (i.e., if the water surface area [l x b] is 800 sq. inch, then the land area can be anything between 200-280 sq. inch).

Water Area
The water area should allow for unobstructed swimming, so most equipment and decorations should be placed along the edges. For space as well ornamental considerations, it is recommended to distribute equipment along the corners, or below the land area, hiding it behind tank decorations. You can place a couple of clumps of plants in the center of the tank to break the monotony of empty water.

Tall decorations should be put ONLY in the edges. Avoid putting high decorations (especially solid ones like rocks, plants being flexible are fine) in the middle of the tank.

Land Area
Land area can be made of glass, acrylic, thick wood plastic, or merely a large stone! We personally recommend land areas that can be anchored above the water level, so that the space below them can be used as water area. If you place a large stone or a series of large stones from the base of the tank to above the water level, they might look nice, but would eat into the water area, requiring you to increase the overall tank dimensions.

Land areas are generally designed as flat pieces of glass/plastic anchored to three sides of the tank, half an inch above water level. This give them three-sided support which is essential to bear the weight of stones and turtles. Often a 2-4 inch high wall is stuck on the side opening into water, so that the turtles don't manage to shove/throw any stones/gravel over the side into the water! But you could create a more natural wall by sticking together a few medium sized stones with strong, waterproof adhesive.

Alternatively you could design a gently sloping land area, by providing a slight tilt towards the water to the flat glass/plastic piece. A thin layer of stones and gravel can be stuck/placed on this. This would provide the turtles a gripping surface to pull themselves out of the water as also a partially submerged area, on which they can rest at their discretion.

Based on your tank design, the land area would be partially submerged in water or fully above it. Eitherways it is critical to ensure that the turtles have easy access to an area that is completely dry. They need this area to completely dry and bask in sunlight. It is best to place a large flat smooth rock on which they easily clamber to dry and bask.

You could landscape the land area as creatively as you want! Just make sure there are no sharp edges on any decorations. And avoid gravel less than 1.5cms in diameter.

Water to Land Area Ramp
If you haven't designed a sloping land area, you need to provide a way for the turtles to climb out of the water area onto the land area. (You don't expect them to fly though the air, do u ?!)

A curved/sloping log or plastic piece can be stuck to the land area from one side, with the other side partially submerged in water. Use gentle slopes/curves to ensure that this is easy for the turtles to clamber on - you don't want to create an obstacle course for them!