[Illustration: {Turtle aquarium}]
Baby turtles are very easily kept as pets and require little care. While
in captivity, Turtles will forget their time schedule and will not
hibernate. Any round or oval bowl, an aquarium or a flat pan with a rim
sufficiently high to prevent the turtle from crawling out, is an
adequate home. In this container, place white or colored pebbles, and in
the center a flat stone. Fill the container with clean water of room
temperature (60 to 80 degrees, fahrenheit) but see to it that the stone
is not covered by the water for it will serve as an “Island” and thus
give the turtle a chance to leave the wet element when desired. The best
place for the bowl is in a light place, but special care should be taken
to see that the bowl is not exposed too long to the direct sun. Ant
Eggs, commonly packed as “Turtle Food” will mainly be their diet but
lean raw beef, which is finely scraped, will be an appreciated change.
The same applies for green lettuce, rainworms, etc. A variation in food
and sunshine will prevent blindness, but should a turtle get a white
film over its eyes, a few drops of Cod liver Oil forced by a medicine
dropper in its mouth, might help. Boric acid swabbed over the eyes will
also be beneficial. Turtles will not feed “on land” therefore all food
should be placed in the water. Water should be changed two to three
times weekly.