Australian freshwater turtles are among the most appealing and long-lived reptile pets, often living 50 years or more. They are not effort-free - good water quality, correct lighting and a varied diet are essential - but with the right set-up they are hardy and rewarding. This is a general guide; see our individual species sheets for size and temperature specifics.
Turtle, tortoise or terrapin?
Australia has no native tortoises (land dwellers). Our freshwater turtles are aquatic and cannot swallow food or mate unless submerged. They only leave the water to bask, lay eggs or move between waterways, and will dehydrate if kept on dry land. Terrapin is simply another word for turtle.
Housing
Keep most pet turtles indoors in an aquarium where they can be monitored. As a guide, a tank of 120-180cm long with a minimum width of around 60cm suits most species, scaling up with the size of the turtle. Provide a dry basking dock (rocks, driftwood or a commercial dock) under a heat lamp and UVB. Fine river sand is the best substrate - avoid gravel, which can be swallowed and cause blockages. Use a mesh lid rather than a sealed hood, as trapped humidity causes respiratory infections.
Water quality
Clean water is the single most important factor in turtle health. Use a strong canister filter (aim for an output around five times the water volume), and test regularly for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, hardness and salinity, with routine partial water changes. Adding turtle salt and using Calgrit in the substrate helps prevent shell rot and skin infections, buffers pH and maintains calcium.
Lighting & heating
UVB is essential for calcium metabolism and preventing metabolic bone disease - use a quality 10.0 UVB across the tank and replace it every 6-12 months. Provide a basking spot of around 30-32C, and heat the water with a guarded aquarium heater to the range suited to your species. A 10-12 hour day length is ideal.
Feeding
Offer a varied diet of quality turtle pellets, fresh fish, earthworms, shrimp and yabbies, plus live aquatic plants for many species. Feed juveniles daily and adults 2-3 times a week. Avoid red meat and processed turtle dinners, which are unnatural and can harm your turtle.
Health
Handle minimally to avoid stress, and watch for shell rot (soft or discoloured patches), swollen eyes (often a water-quality issue) and lethargy or loss of appetite. In Queensland a wildlife licence is required to keep freshwater turtles.
The team at Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium can help with tanks, filtration, lighting and water testing.
Recommended products
Find everything for your turtle at Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium: tanks & stands, filtration, UVB lighting, heaters, water test kits and turtle food. A reptile licence is required in Queensland - see our QLD reptile licence guide.
