Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This might be a dumb question, but can Western Painted Turtles live in pond? Or do they have to have land?

Do most turtles, except for box turtles, live in water?

As you can tell, I have limited knowledge of turtles.

Hey thats okay to ask a question like that occasionally, you have to start somewhere lol As far as Western Painted turtles, just like Florida, Mid-land and Eastern Painted turtles, they are aquatic turtles that like and need to bask. Most aquatic turtles will bask for reasons such as minimizing parasites on the shell and skin and also for thermal regulation, not to mention the vitamin benefits afforded them from the exposure to natural sunlight (this by the way is the number one reason for full spectrum basking lights used with turtles).
Box turtles although primarily terrestrial do spend a fair amount of time in the water and also in marshy areas. I have found them frequently soaking in salt water marshes on hot days and have seen them myself, swimming across salt water bays.
Hope this helps a little
Remember, if your thinking about keeping something that you'r not that familiar with, research it every method available to you first ~ it will make your experience considerably better.
Thanx, Leo
Skin & Scales