A Painted Turtle is adaptable to any weather condition, and it makes a beautiful pet in your home or garden. Everything you need to know about them is contained in this article.

Painted Turtle - Facts

1. Description:

   A Painted Turtle is a reptile that is found widely in North America in ponds, rivers, and lakes. These are small reptiles that make good pets in your house or garden.

2. Varieties:

   The Painted Turtle has four sub-species, which are the Eastern, Southern, Midland and Western Painted Turtle.

3. History:

   Painted Turtles live up to 10-years in the wild, but can live up to 20-years in captivity.

4. Physical Traits:

   The head, neck, and the lower shell of the Painted Turtle have yellow markings, and the limbs have bright red markings.

5. Other Defining Characteristics:

   The Painted Turtle was named because of the red markings on the shell that look as if it is painted.

6. Habitat:

   These turtles are usually found in lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes. The Painted Turtle is a commonly found turtle throughout North America.

Painted Turtle - Concerns

1. Benefits:

   Painted Turtles are quiet and calm pets. They are adaptable to any conditions and can be raised in a house or in gardens. They are very beautiful to look at.

2. Liabilities:

   You will have to get bigger tanks in case you have several turtles. The water in the tank and garden pond should always be kept clean. The water needs more attention when you have adult turtles, which some people find a tiresome chore.

3. Health Issues:

   Painted Turtles suffer from calcium and vitamin A deficiency, dystocia, and ulcerative shell disease.

4. Specific Care Needs:

   The water in the tank, or the garden pond, should always be kept clean to prevent diseases in the turtles. You should provide a dry place for the turtles for sunbathing. You need to always wash your hands after you handle a turtle.

5. Reaction to Children and other Pets:

   Children might get diseases when they handle the turtles, as turtles carry many bacteria. You need to make sure that children wash their hands after they handle a turtle.

6. Special Household Needs:

   In case you do not have a garden pond, you will need a tank to keep the turtles. You should make sure that the tank is big enough to maintain your turtles. You need to take special care when you are handling and feeding the turtles, as they might scratch you with their sharp claws.

Painted Turtle - How to Choose

1. What to Look for:

   The turtle you choose should be a healthy one. You need to avoid taking turtles with soft or rotting shells and puffy eyelids. These are indications that the turtle has health problems.

2. Supplies:

   You will need the food these turtles commonly eat. UV heating bulbs are needed to maintain the temperature in the tanks. You will also need filters to clean the water in the tank.

3. Expense:

   A painted turtle can cost around $20 to $25. Maintaining a painted turtle is not very expensive venture.