Blog - Shell Sanctuary

The First Week Checklist: 10 Essential Tasks for Settling in Your New Turtle

Week 1 10-task checklist habitat setup heat/UVB, water, feed, basking, safety, health checks, cleaning, enrichment, daily checks.

7-day checklist before you buy a turtle: care needs, housing, diet, costs, legality, sourcing, long-term commitment.

Decide between an adult turtle or hatchling: care, habitat, diet, costs, lifespan, vet needs, and long-term commitment.

One Month In: assess health signs, shell/eyes, diet, UVB, temps, water quality, enclosure, and vet-ready checklists.

Compare UVB Mercury Vapor, Compact Fluorescent, Linear Tubes for turtles: UVB output, heat, lifespan, cost, setup, safety.

Build a safe stock-tank turtle habitat: ramps, non-slip floor, filtration, heating, UVB lighting, water depth, basking, upkeep.

Senior Turtle Care: practical tips adjusting diet, habitat, lighting, water quality, enclosure, and vet checks for aging turtles.

Safely supervise a turtle's free-roaming at home: identify hazards, turtle-proof areas, set supervision routines and safety tips.

How to re-home or surrender your turtle ethically: prep, choose shelters or rescues, proper transfer, and legal tips.

Compare turtle-sitter vs boarding for vacation care: costs, safety, feeding, routines, questions to ask, and how to choose.