Whether turtles need a water heater or not depends on the species and the environment. Hardy turtle species survive without a heater if the water doesn’t get too cold. However, most turtles need a heater, at least in the cold months, to avoid hibernation and to fall sick if the temperature falls.
Let’s talk about this in more detail now.
Why Is Turtle Habitat Temperature Very Important?
Turtles are cold-blooded or ectothermic animals.
It means that these animals cannot maintain a constant body temperature on their own.
Their body temperature is affected by the temperature of their surroundings.
When the environmental temperature falls, they begin to feel cold.
So, they turn to the heat sources in their surroundings to keep warm. In the wild, the only heat source available is the sun.
Now, if you observe turtles, you will notice that they spend a lot of time basking in the sun.
However, turtles may not have direct access to the sun in captivity. To compensate for this, turtle owners use basking lights.
One of the most important benefits of basking is that it enables turtles to increase their body temperature and maintain normal metabolism.
Do All Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Two main factors will help you decide if your turtle needs a water heater:
- The type of turtle and its natural habitat conditions, and
- The conditions of the tank where you keep the turtle.
In general, healthy adult turtles that come from cool, temperate places do best in temperatures of 73°F to 75°F.
Tropical turtle varieties prefer temperatures between 75°F and 80°F.
Hatchlings and sick turtles need warmer temperatures above 75°F.
If the surrounding temperature of a turtle’s enclosure falls within this recommended range and it does not fluctuate, your turtle will do well even without a heater.
However, if the surrounding temperature drops suddenly, it can trigger adverse reactions and cause illnesses.
To avoid these conditions, you should use a heater.
Exposure to cold temperatures for even short durations of time can make your turtle ill or force it to hibernate.
Constantly monitor the temperature of their tank and the water they swim in to make sure it is optimal.
Now, let us try to understand the different types of turtles and whether they need a water heater or not.
Do Painted Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Painted turtles don’t need too much heat. Nonetheless, they do well when their water is warm.
Not only will they eat better but also be more active.
Their optimal living conditions include water temperature between 75°F and 80°F and temperature of the basking area between 85°F and 95°F.
You can use a heater to maintain the temperature at this range constantly.
These animals will suffer if the temperature falls below 73°F.
Do Musk Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Musk turtles need warmth to survive.
They will be fine when the air temperature is above 75°F, and their basking areas have a temperature of 82°F to 90°F.
These animals are mostly aquatic. Hence, it’s important to keep the water in their tank warm with a heater.
When the water temperature drops, they stop eating and become lethargic.
Do Snapping Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Keep snapping turtles at temperatures between 75°F and 85°F.
Although they can tolerate the cold, it’s ideal to keep the water in their tank in the range of 78°F and 80°F.
Hatchlings will need a temperature of at least 78°F to survive and grow.
Do Baby Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Most varieties of baby turtles need warmth. Hence, a proper heat source is a requirement for their optimal health.
Until they are at least six months of age, they are very vulnerable.
They cannot adjust to cold temperatures and become sick or even die when subjected to extreme cold.
Baby turtles do best when the temperature of their enclosure is 78°F or more.
You should maintain the air temperature of their enclosure as well as the water temperature at a comfortable level.
Do Aquatic Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Aquatic turtles spend most of their time in the water and short periods on land.
So, it’s important to keep the water temperature at 78°F for these turtles.
Making the water too warm can affect their metabolism and promote bacterial growth in their tank.
However, they will become inactive or sick if the temperature falls too low.
You can use a submerged water heater to maintain the water temperature of their enclosure within permissible limits.
Do Red-eared Slider Turtles Need A Water Heater?
Red-eared sliders don’t usually need a water heater.
If you provide these animals a comfortable basking site with a high temperature, they will not need a heater in their tank.
However, if they are ill or their enclosure becomes cold, these animals will need the extra warmth that a heater provides.
You will need a heater for these animals if the water temperature falls below 60°F or the surrounding temperature reduces below 70°F.
In these cases, your turtle can end up becoming sick.
What Happens If A Turtle Is Exposed To Cold?
In the wild, turtles are vulnerable to the weather.
When the temperature falls and the sunlight is unavailable in winter, they cannot find enough heat to stay warm.
In these circumstances, they hibernate.
By slowing down their activity levels and becoming immobile, turtles go into a restful state.
As a result, they need minimum energy and manage to get through the winter in this manner.
When the weather improves, and summer begins, they awake from their long winter sleep and resume normal activity.
The life of a pet turtle is different from that of turtles in the wild.
These animals depend on their owners for all their needs.
They cannot go searching for a heat source to stay warm or find a place to safely hibernate when it gets too cold.
So, it becomes necessary to use a heater to keep the turtle warm if its surroundings become too cold.
By warming the water and maintaining it at the optimal temperature, you can prevent your pet from becoming sick.
