The Fish Room
Central Ornate Wood Turtle (Painted Wood Turtle) Care
CHOOSING YOUR
CENTRAL ORNATE WOOD TURTLE
(PAINTED WOOD TURTLE)
Captive-bred Central American Wood Turtles are rarely available, though it is still possible to find quality specimens. For this reason, these turtles have won the attention of dedicated hobbyists, thus improved their interest while forced higher prices for the healthier ones.
COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS
As with any turtle, the painted wood turtles are hardy. As such, they are hardly unwell and hardly ever suffer from any health issues. Healthy turtles have smooth shells, clear eyes, and skin that is free from irritation and infection. Parasites such as roundworms are not easy to identify and are rare to come by. Imported turtles may, however, harbor several parasites.
HOUSING
If you opt to keep your Central American Wood Turtles in an outdoor location, make sure to prepare a backup enclosure indoors. This will help in keeping your turtles even at nighttime, especially with the harsher conditions in winter becoming severe.
Central American Wood Turtles are semi-terrestrial, which means that you need to prepare an enclosure that mimics the environment familiar to them, that of a marshy pond, but a bit drier. These turtles thrive in an outdoor area, provided that the enclosure is spacious enough, with an approximate size of 8 inches by 8 inches.
A wide and long enclosure that is covered with a screen lid is preferred compared to an aquarium tank, though if you want to keep your turtle inside a tank, the recommended size is at least 75 gallons. For each additional turtle, add 50 gallons to make them comfortable.
Wood turtles are semi-aquatic, which means that they love soaking in water for several hours on end. They will love having a “swimming hole” at one part of their enclosure by inserting a plastic or glass partition to create both land and water locations. A hole can also be drilled right into the bottom of the water area to serve as a drain when cleaning. As an alternative, you may want to prepare a wide tray that measures up to 6 inches in depth, serving as a water area. It should be lifted out easily for cleaning.
LIGHTING
A UVB light bulb can be positioned right overhead inside the enclosure, together with a 100-watt light bulb right above the basking area. A temperature that is recommended and comfortable for your turtle is anywhere between 76 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though slight fluctuations will be tolerated at night, the temperature needs to be kept over 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature for basking should be within the range of the high 80s and low 90s Fahrenheit, while the water temperature needs to be about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity level should also be set to around 60%.
*PLEASE DO EXTENSIVE RESEARCH PRIOR TO OWNING A CENTRAL ORNATE WOOD TURTLE (PAINTED WOOD TURTLE)
FEEDING
Central American Wood Turtles love digging for food. They have also been reported to listen for invertebrates that may be present beneath the soil.
Central American Wood Turtles are omnivorous, which means that they usually love eating earthworms, redworms, and crickets. They also need to be provided with a lot of salad to boost their health. This salad should also be filled with shredded fruits and vegetables, including banana, mango, cantaloupe, apple, zucchini, squash, and kale. To provide your turtle with all the nutrition needed, you can dust their food with high-quality calcium and multi-vitamin supplement powder.
As these turtles are omnivores, they also eat fresh vegetables and fruits, such as collard greens, bananas, melons, as well as smaller mammals like mice. They also love invertebrates such as beetles, grubs, and earthworms. If you prepare a good setup that will allow your turtles to dig some of their food, it will make them healthier.
There is also a need to provide your turtle with a paint tray or a pan that is filled with clean, fresh, and filtered water. Water needs to be regularly changed to ensure its overall cleanliness. Piles of leaves, hay, and sheets of bark can also be provided to give your purple some hiding places to make them safe and secure while on land.