Adding live, water-based turtle plants are a great idea to spruce and liven up your turtle's habitat. Here's how to do it the right way.
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First of all, let's address a basic question.
Can live plants be added into a turtle tank? Or, are you stuck with those cheap, plastic fake plants that look roughly similar to the real thing, from about 25 feet away...
The answer, quite simply, is yes.
But:
Let's start with some very obvious advantages when it comes to adding plants for turtle tanks.
Advantages:
Unfortunately, it doesn't end there, because if you are thinking of adding live plants to a turtle tank, you need to do it the right way. If you add the wrong plant, or introduce it incorrectly, you could end up either losing the plant or even worst, your turtle.
Let's start with some basic requirements and conditions.
Plant Requirements & Conditions
Before you just throw anything into your turtle tank, you will need to ask a few questions when it comes to plants for turtle tanks.
Let's start with the first question.
Most plants are not going to harm your turtle if or when they are consumed. Turtles often eat a wide variety of plant and foliage when they are in the wild, and they often are willing to try something that looks green and delicious at least once.
That being said, there are certain things that grow in the wild that are just downright harmful for turtles, such as ivy, milkweed and water hemlock. Some plants contain harmful toxins, and if your turtle consumes even small amounts, it can have very damaging effects on your turtle's health.
Here is a list of plants and vegetables that you should never, under any circumstances, feed or let your turtle eat:
Always double-check to make sure that whatever plant you choose will not harm your turtle.
Additional note: All of the live plants listed in this article will be safe for your turtle to consume.
Let's move to the second point.
The decision to add live plants to your tank also depends on the age of your turtle.
For instance, most turtles become more herbivorous as they age. Sliders for instance, typically have a diet consisting of about 75% vegetables and plants as they get older. For this reason it's probably better that plants be added to the tank when the turtles are still young.
Moreover, you will need to be conscious of something else, namely, the ability of any plant you get to be able to grow and mature given the low-light conditions of most turtle tanks.
The reason for this is that most store-bought light bulbs are typically in the range of 1 watt/gallon, whereas live aquarium plants normally require at least double or triple that, from 2-3 watts/gallon. Thus, try to look for live plants that will thrive in low-light conditions. Here is a one of our favorite lights for turtle tank plants.
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So, now that you know the best time to add a live plant to your tank, as well as the fact that it should be able to grow in low-light, let's move on to our recommendations.
Best Plants for Turtle Tanks Recommendations
Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
One of the best live plants to add to a turtle aquarium. It's tough, hardy, cheap and is easily found in most pet supply shops. It can be grown both entirely submersed (underwater) or partially. Best of all, most turtle species will not eat it.
Java Fern is not a plant with naturally strong roots and attachments, so you will have to attach it yourself.
The way you do this is to take some floss and strap its roots to an object like driftwood or some stones in your aquarium, and over time it naturally attach itself.
Java Fern Live Aquatic Aquarium Plant
By itself however, it will just float around your tank. You can buy a Java Fern online here on Amazon.
Any Anubias species
Another good choice for your tank. These are leafy-plants that taste absolutely horrendous to most turtles, meaning they will leave them alone.
They are also incredibly easy to grow and maintain. All that's needed is to tie them to a rock or piece of driftwood and let them sink to the bottom. If you can, cover the base with substrate to make sure it has a solid foundation.
These plants are very slow-growing, and sometimes will be covered by algae.
Turtles also sometimes knock their leaves off. Here are some options if you want to buy an Anubias Species plant online.
Anubias Barteri "Nana" Live Aquatic Plant
Waterweed (Anacharis)
This extremely fast-growing plant cannot be in the same tank with slider and painted turtle species as they will consume them, and consume them fast!
However, if you have other types of turtles, such as a box species, they will probably love them! They look beautiful in tanks, and provides lots of area for a turtle to nestle in and relax.
Compared to the Java Fern and Anubias species of aqua plants, they also will need a bit more light to grow and mature.
The cool thing about this weed is its ability to attach and anchor itself to the bottom (or near anything it can attach itself to) of your tank. Here are some great Waterweed plants.
Anacharis Egeria Densa Freshwater Live Plant
All three of these choices would make the best live plants for turtle tanks.
Whatever you choose, make sure that you have the following to ensure that your plant can grow and thrive in your habitat:
If you have an enclosure instead of a tank, I recommend checking out plants for desert tortoise enclosure.
