Turtles
Painted turtle care guide
Chrysemys picta
A hardy aquatic turtle (5–10 in) that basks often.
Aquatic — water volume and floor area first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Painted turtle enclosure size
Aquatic — water volume and floor area first. An adult painted turtle should live in at least 48" L × 18" W × 18" H; we build toward 72" L × 24" W × 24" H (6 × 2 × 2 ft, roughly 12 sq ft of floor and about a 180-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 30" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 18" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 48" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 30" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 72" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 18" W × 18" H
Temperature and heating
Halogen over the basking dock; submersible heater with guard only if the room is cold.
- Basking / warm surface
- 90–95°F at the basking dock
- Warm side (ambient)
- Water 72–76°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- —
- Night
- Water no lower than 68°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: UVB required (T5 HO 6% or ShadeDweller). Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target Not critical — aquatic. The water provides humidity; keep the basking dock fully dry.
Substrate and depth
Bare bottom or large river rock (too big to swallow). Depth: —.
Water and filtration
- Water depth
- At least twice the shell length
- Filtration
- Canister filter rated 2–3x the water volume, plus a 25% water change weekly
- Basking dock
- A dry, easily climbed dock under the heat and UVB lamps
Diet and feeding
Commercial turtle pellets plus insects, fish and aquatic plants; more plants as adults.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Painted turtle FAQ
How big should an adult Painted turtle enclosure be?
At least 48" L × 18" W × 18" H, and we recommend building to 72" L × 24" W × 24" H — about 6 × 2 × 2 ft, or a 180-gallon glass equivalent. Aquatic — water volume and floor area first.
What temperatures does a Painted turtle need?
Basking or warm surface 90–95°F at the basking dock, warm side Water 72–76°F, cool side —, night Water no lower than 68°F. Halogen over the basking dock; submersible heater with guard only if the room is cold.
Does a Painted turtle need UVB?
UVB required (T5 HO 6% or ShadeDweller). Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Painted turtle need?
Not critical — aquatic. The water provides humidity; keep the basking dock fully dry.
What substrate is best for a Painted turtle?
Bare bottom or large river rock (too big to swallow), at a depth of —.
How big does a Painted turtle enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 30" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 18" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own painted turtle record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.