Pet Turtle : Size 'n' Structure

Most turtle habitats are rectangular or square fish tanks (glass aquariums). These shapes are preferred, as they can be set easily against a wall and conserve space. (They are also most conveniently available!). But you can make yours circular, oblong or any other shape as long as you consider the minimum space requirements for turtles (mentioned below).

Size
Whatever shape you tank is you need to calculate the space required based on the maturity size of your turtle. Otherwise, you will need to go in for a new and larger tank every 14-15 months! (Remember that RES grow up to nearly 10 inches from the 2-3 inch animal you brought!)

MINIMUM tank dimensions
Tank length   : 3-4 times the length of the turtle
Tank width   : 2 times the length of the turtle
Tank height   : 1.5 - 2 times the length of the turtle + 8-12inches above the highest level the
                      turtle can reach in the tank (to prevent its escape)
    (for every additional turtle - increase dimensions by 40-60%)

MINIMUM water area dimensions.
Length : same as above
Width   : same as above
Height   : 1.5 - 2 times the length of the turtle

Remember that if you intend to add any BIG stones or any other large tank decorations that may obstruct/reduce the swimming area significantly, make the tank larger!

Now that the tank and water dimensions are settled, lets work the dimensions of the land area. Turtles need land area on which they can haul themselves to dry out and bask in sunlight.

MINIMUM land area dimensions
Diameter: 1.5 times the length of the turtle

We are not suggesting that the land area is circular, but it should have an approximate minimum length and breadth to accommodate a circle of the diameter suggested above. To conserve space this land area can be created just above the water level in the tank. This ensures that additional length/width is not added to the tank. Land areas provide generally 25-35% of the surface area in a turtle tank.

But do make sure that you have an additional height of 10-12inches above the land area height, so that your turtles cant escape!

Dimensions, Volume and Water Content
Once you have decided your tank dimensions, calculate the amount of water it would be able to contain, as you would require that information when buying tank equipment like filters, heaters.
   1. Calculate the cubic inch volume by multiplying (l x b x h). While taking 'height (h)' take the height
       of the water level and not the tank height! Make sure all measurements are in inches.
    2. Divide this by 64 to get the liters of water your tank would hold. (If you want this in gallons,
       divide liters by 3.6)

A Convenient Check: You will know that you have designed a habitat with correct dimensions, if the capacity of the tank (water area, for 1 turtle) is equal to more than 150-160 liters.

Structure
Like we mentioned earlier it's easiest to get the rectangular fish tanks that are made of glass. You can get a piece of glass as big as the required land area stuck just above the water level, and add rocks/gravel to make a basking area for the turtle.

Alternatively, you could different shaped glass (rounds, hexagons, etc.) but these would need to specially fabricated. Most glass used for tanks are either 10mm or above. Don't get a tank made in lighter glass, whatever the shop owner says, as it may break under the water pressure inside!

Other options include getting a pond (indoor pond!) like tank molded in fiberglass. While this provides excellent ornamental value, you will need significantly more space and you will be able to observe your turtles swimming only from the side and from the top.

You could also do a fusion tank like we did. It is rectangular and made of both fiberglass and normal glass. We got an "L-Shaped" piece molded in fiberglass. So the back and bottom of our tank were cast in fiberglass, with a sloped curved land area attached to the backside and supported from the bottom with a 'gothic' pillar! The two sides and front are of 12mm glass.

With this arrangement, we got the ornamental value of fiberglass and the visibility of glass!!