Before you buy a blandings turtle for sale, make sure you know how to take care of one, including what to feed it and how to set up its habitat.

The Blandings turtle, also called “the turtle that smiles,” lives in the most northern parts of the United States, as well as in Ontario and Nova Scotia. There are small groups of these turtles in New York and New England, but most of them live in the area around the Great Lakes. Adult Blanding’s turtles are between medium and large in size, and males tend to be a bit bigger than females. The shell is usually between 7 and 10 inches long and dark green to black with yellow spots, rays, and flecks.

This turtle is unique because, like a snake-neck turtle, it has a very long neck. The head is not held to the side like in other North American emydids. Instead, it is held straight forward. The head is kind of flat and has big eyes that look like frogs. The jaws show a big smile. The neck and chin are a bright yellow that can be seen from far away. The rest of the head and neck are dark and have few, if any, markings. On the top of the head, like on the carapace, there are sometimes yellow spots. The front limbs are dark and covered with yellow scales.

They have big, sharp claws. Both the front and back feet look like those of the box turtle, which can make it hard for people to tell them apart. The Blandings turtle looks like a box turtle because its legs are like those of a box turtle and its plastron is hinged. But Blanding’s can’t close up all the way like the box turtle can. Males have a concave plastron, a longer, thicker tail, and sometimes a slightly trapezoidal shape. Their heads may also be bigger and wider than those of females.

Caging

When they are young, Blanding’s should only be kept inside. A 20-gallon aquarium is big enough for one to three hatchlings. Even better is a 40-gallon breeder, and Rubbermaid totes also work very well as cages. Also, they’re easy to clean. Once the turtles are at least 4″ SCL, they are no longer as vulnerable and can be moved outside. We suggest putting a pond in the ground outside. These turtles need both a place to swim and a place to walk.

They spend a lot of time on land, where they keep looking for food, unlike other turtles that spend some time in water. These turtles can climb well, so make sure you take the right steps to keep them from getting away. The water area should be more than 18″ deep and made of 45 to 65 mil fish-friendly pond liner. This is where the turtles will spend the winter, so it’s important that the water is deep enough so that it doesn’t freeze solid.

Lighting, Temperature and Humidity

Sunlight from the outside can’t be beat, and even baby Blandings turtles should spend some time outside in areas that keep out predators. But there are several ways to use light to keep them inside. Today, keepers can use mercury vapor bulbs, daylight spot bulbs, infrared bulbs, and fluorescent tube lights. We like mercury vapor bulbs because they give the turtles both UVA and UVB. 100- to 150-watt bulbs placed over a dry spot of driftwood or cork bark work well.

Don’t put a water heater in an aquarium with a Blanding’s turtle. They must be kept in water that is between 70 and 75F. They don’t like too much heat, and during the night, the temperature can drop well into the low 60s and high 50s without any extra heating. Turn on the lights in the morning and leave them on for 12 to 14 hours. It’s important to turn them off at night so the turtles can experience a more natural daily cycle, like they would in the wild.

Substrate

Indoors, I don’t like to use any substrate because the enclosures are easier to clean without it. This is one of my favorite things to do because I don’t use filters. Instead, I choose to change the water in my Blanding’s turtles’ tanks often. If you want to use something as a base, pea gravel is a good choice. Outside, there should be a 12–24-inch layer of peat and mud around the pond for the turtles to dig in and for the plants to grow roots in. Leaves will help the turtles get ready for hibernation if you let them pile up in the pond in the fall.

Food

Emydoidea blandingii like to eat a lot. They like to eat meat and will take a wide range of things. Baby Blandings turtle will eat any of the turtle pellets that are sold commercially. Adults like fish, frogs, tadpoles, mice, beef heart, chicken parts, crayfish, and other animal matter. Blandingii are funny and aggressive when they want to eat, and they will follow you around hoping you have something for them.

Be careful not to feed them too much. They will never stop eating. They are known to eat so much that they have to throw up.

Temperament

This kind of animal is very responsive. They will quickly think of their keepers as food, which will make them act aggressively. Our Blandings turtle will be able to see us from far away and will move toward us. They swim fast and can almost jump out of the water to get to something that might be food. They get over their fear of people pretty quickly. To say the least, they are a very fun turtle to work with.