An aqua-terrarium combines an aquarium and a terrarium. It is a space that provides both land and water areas.

We are going to give you some tips to recreate as closely as possible the conditions a turtle can find in nature. This way, your turtles in the vivarium will feel as comfortable as possible. 

Several factors need to be taken into account.

Obviously, you will need a tank to set up all the elements of the aqua-terrarium. Make sure it is in good condition and does not leak.

Light.

You will need to provide sufficient light, either naturally or with a lamp. The terrarium must be completely lit. This way, the turtles will benefit from maximum light. Because if you do not use a lamp or place the terrarium in a well-lit room,  the turtles' shells will become warped, as they will not be able to develop properly.

Temperature.

The second factor is temperature. The terrarium must be kept at a suitable temperature for the turtles' development. 

You can choose a heater or simply let the sun shine directly on the terrarium glass, producing heat. 

Note that the water temperature for aquatic turtles must be maintained between 25 and 26°C.

For the water, you need a submersible heater, and for the environment, you can choose between a heat lamp or a UVB lamp.

Substrate.

Another important factor is the substrate.

Black sand as a base layer, followed by sawdust or wood chips, soil from your garden, etc. For the substrate, you can make a mixture of a little soil and potting soil to place where their home will be. And use plain soil for the rest of the vivarium. 

You can, of course, add rocks, preferably black ones, so that when the sun shines on them, they will absorb heat and release it, as you will see the turtles basking in the sun in the afternoons, mainly on the rocks.

Sand should be avoided, because as soon as the turtles start eating or, well, ingest it, it will cause blockages and you will have many problems. 

Turtles are very hardy animals that have evolved over millions of years. So, that is not a concern. 

For decoration, you can add some features to keep them occupied during the day, especially if you put your turtles in a terrarium and they do not have much space.

Waterer.

The waterer should be refilled every two days so that it contains fresh water. Even though turtles get most of the water they need from the food you give them. 

Next, to make the terrarium as natural as possible, you can plant some plants in it.

But be careful with the plants you plant. Make sure to plant plants that can also serve as food for the turtles. 

Turtle food.

Regarding food, from time to time, the turtles will eat any plants that fall, for example here or there, and this will provide a supplement to the food you give them. But you can also give them suitable supplementsand incorporate them into their food.

To help keep the terrarium clean and maintain a healthy environment for your turtle, make sure to feed them from separate containers. Also, remember to siphon out the droppings from the terrarium.

We hope this article has shown you how to create a terrarium that is as natural as possible, with suitable lighting and all the factors to take into account.