How to Clean Your Turtle Tank
Cute turtles can make for great pets! They don’t need to be walked (unless you’re into that sort of thing), they won’t take up much space, turtles can’t go around tracking dirt into the house or knocking over furniture, so they are a winning choice for a companion. Like any other pet, they’ll need to be cleaned up after so that the tank remains hospitable and will not smell up your house. It doesn’t have to be a hard task to clean up after them, however, and here are the steps to accomplish that task.
1. In order to clean the tank you’ll have to set up a little vacation spot for your turtles to relax in while you deep clean their home. A kiddy pool with warm water (around 75 degrees) would make a fine place to set them aside. Don’t let them get cold while they are out of their normal environment!
2. With a siphon hose, vacuum out the dirty water from the tank into the place of your choice, such as out of the window onto the lawn or into the bathtub. Be careful so as not to slosh it all over and make a mess.
3. If there are any accessories in the tank such as toys and rocks, take them out of the now waterless tank and clean them well with white vinegar and a toothbrush, scrubbing off the algae and waste buildup. Rinse and then rinse again in order to get all traces of vinegar from the toys before putting them back in to the tank.
4. The filter needs to be rinsed out as well at this point. Now wash down the tank walls with some of that same white vinegar and a paper towel so that it will sparkle and provide a fresh home for your reptile friend.
5. You can go ahead and refill the tank with warm water for your pet’s comfort. Replace his toys inside and add a bit of waste decomposer that can be purchased from your area pet shop.
6. End your little pals vacation and put them back in the tank! Don’t forget to feed them; they’re probably hungry from all of that moving and whatnot!
This deep cleaning should be done once a month while regular weekly maintenance such as clearing away debris and algae can be done to offset nasty smells or discomfort. You and your turtle friend should get along just fine once this regimen is implemented!
