What to Do with Your Turtles When You’re Away for Over a Week?

Taking advantage of the holiday, I am planning to go out for a ten-day trip. During this period, there will be no one at home. So, how should I properly arrange for the turtles I keep? First, there are two relatively important issues that need to be clarified: one is the temperature of the husbandry environment; the other is your husbandry method.

Husbandry Environment Temperature and Method

In my home, for example, we usually have the heating on, and the room temperature is basically maintained around twenty-three degrees Celsius. Unless there is a heating failure, the room temperature usually does not fluctuate much. In addition, some of my turtles are kept in cold water, while others are kept in heated enclosures.

Cold Water Husbandry Method

Cold water husbandry is relatively simple. You just need to add enough water to the turtle tank to ensure that the water does not completely evaporate within ten days. If a filtration system is turned on, please make sure to turn off the filter’s power before leaving. After all, when you are away from home for a long time, the continuous operation of the filtration equipment may bring unstable factors.

Heated Enclosure Husbandry Precautions

For turtles kept in heated enclosures, I will ensure there is plenty of water and turn off the heating devices, allowing the turtles to rest in cold water until you return home and turn the heating devices back on. Because if the heating devices are kept on all the time, first of all, there are safety hazards with electrical equipment; secondly, high temperatures can cause water to evaporate rapidly. Generally speaking, when keeping turtles in heated enclosures, small boxes are usually used, and the water will evaporate after a few days, and the turtles may die from lack of water over time. Additionally, there is no need to feed the turtles during this period. At an environment of over twenty degrees Celsius, turtles can survive without eating for ten days or even longer without starving.

Long-Term Absence Strategy

This is a method I use to cope with long-term absence, and it has proven to be very effective after several attempts. First, confirm the environmental temperature, ensure sufficient water levels, turn off all electrical devices, maintain a stable resting environment, and do not feed. Under these circumstances, as long as there is water, turtles can live problem-free for ten days, half a month, or even longer.

Applicable Conditions and Exceptions

My method is suitable for friends whose home temperature is above fifteen degrees Celsius and who do not keep tropical turtles. If your home temperature is too low and you keep species such as West African turtles or round Australian turtles and other tropical turtles, then we should honestly turn on the heating devices.