Turtles make exciting pets for their ease of taking care of and character. If you are wondering whether turtles smell bad, we get it. No one wants to stay with a smelling pet or item around them for long. A stinky environment is not pleasing, and it’s necessary to know whether turtles smell before you get one.
So, do turtles smell bad?
Turtles do not smell. They do not have a strong natural odor and, thus, naturally don’t smell bad. There are, however, some cases where turtles might smell bad due to poor hygiene in their tanks or when they are not washed well. There are also other pet turtle species that emit a foul smell as a defense mechanism when threatened in the wild.
If you are keen on learning whether turtles smell and, if yes, why they do, we’ve got you covered. We will cover this and what to do if your turtle or turtle tank smells.
Why Do Turtles Smell?
Naturally, turtles do not smell. But if they are not clean, they can have a stinking odor. Food items might get stuck in their scales or shells, ending up rotting and smelling. In the wild, vegetation tends to stick on their bodies. As a result, they emit a stinking odor, so they smell bad.
It is less likely to smell if you have a pet turtle and take good care of it. Here are some of the reasons why a turtle might be having a bad smell.
1. Unhygienic Environment
Utmost hygiene is vital for all animals, including pet turtles. If you do not clean the turtle well, it will have an unpleasant smell. Unhygienic conditions give fungi and bacteria room to thrive, and they end up causing a foul odor.
2. Leftover Food and Algae
Leftover food items also smell if left to sit for long. If the turtle doesn’t eat all the food or some is spilled, it will produce a bad smell. In addition, if you keep your turtle in a hot or warm aquarium, there’s a likelihood that algae will grow quickly and thus produce a foul smell.
3. Excretions
Turtles excrete ammonia, among other waste products. If their enclosure is not cleaned often, the build-up from waste products is likely to make the turtle’s enclosure and the turtle itself stink. The bigger the pet turtle, the more the number of excretions.
4. Molted Shell
As with most reptiles, turtles molt their shell and skin. They shed scutes and body layers as they age. The items being shed can block the tank filter. Therefore, the water in the tank will be unclean due to ineffective filtering, thus getting smelly.
5. Disease
Lastly, your turtle could be smelling because of an illness. Shell rot is one of the most common diseases that make a turtle stink. It results from injury or infection on the reptile’s shell. If you have checked the other causes and your tank is also clean, but the smell persists, you might need to take the pet to a vet for a checkup.
The sooner you go to a vet, the better. If detected early, shell rot can be treated. Treatment may take a while if the illness has penetrated the shell. This is one of the reasons why you should take your pet turtle for examination before taking it home and each year after that.
What Does a Turtle Smell Like?
Now that we know what makes turtles smell, let’s get to understand; what is this smell like?
Turtles end up having a smell due to different reasons. Therefore, we do not expect all turtles with a smell to smell the same; it all depends on the underlying cause. Some people say that their turtles smell like fish when unclean.
Other species emit a foul smell from their musk glands when threatened. Snapping turtle species produce the worst as a defense mechanism.
Effective Tips On How to Keep A Turtle From Smelling
Now that we know what makes turtles smell let’s look at ways in which one can get rid of this smell and how you can keep the pet smelling nice.
1. Clean Their Habitat
Just as with us, humans, turtles, and all other pets need a clean habitat to smell good. Regularly clean your turtle’s aquarium or terrarium. Further, get rid of fecal matter, leftover food, growing algae, and other unnecessary materials in their habitat.
2. Wash The Turtle
Yes, a turtle needs to be cleaned, not as frequently as humans bathe, but it too needs to be given a bath.
Get a soft brush and a shallow water container for bathing your pet. The brush should be new to avoid introducing bacteria to the turtle’s shell or skin. The container should be big enough to fit the turtle and prevent it from wandering off. However, you should only add water to a level below your pet’s head to prevent the pet from drowning, especially if it’s a tortoise.
Start by cleaning your hands to remove any dirt or detergent. Add water to the container or sink. The temperature should be similar to that of its tank. Clean water is sufficient, and you shouldn’t use detergents because they can irritate the turtle.
Always dip the cleaning brush in different water from the one inside the container where you have placed the pet. Gently scratch the edges in a circular motion, then proceed to the carapace, the upper part of the shell. Finish off beneath the edges, ensuring that you remove any algae on it.
Algae, bacteria, and other organisms hide beneath the edges meaning that it is an area that needs a lot of attention during cleaning.
Once clean, you can put the turtle beneath some light to check if there are areas you haven’t cleaned well. If clean, return the pet to its tank. It would be best if you also cleaned the tank before returning the clean turtle inside.
Your cleaning gloves, brush, and container should be disposed of after cleaning the pet. They carry bacteria that you shouldn’t spread in your household.
Why Do Turtle Tanks Smell?
Turtle tanks are not supposed to smell, but under certain circumstances, this house for your turtle might stink. All these are circumstances that can be avoided if not dealt with. Is your turtle’s tank smelling? Below are the reasons as to why this might be happening.
1. Poor Filtration
Turtles generate a lot of excretions, and they can be messier than most pets. Due to this, the water in the tank gets dirtier, resulting in a stinky smell. If you do not clean the filter every month, organic matter and bacteria are likely to build up, thus making the tank smell.
In addition, an old filter might no longer be as effective in filtering the water tank. The inefficiency means it will not filter well, leading to a stinking smell from the unfiltered organic matter.
2. Old Food
One of the critical reasons why your turtle tank is stinking could be because of leftover food. A turtle is bound to spill or drop some food items when eating. Unlike other pets such as cats, where spilled food ends up on the ground, this ends in water for turtles.
Food particles, especially greens, are likely to block the tank’s filter. This means that the filter will be inefficient in its work. When left for long, the smell will not only affect the tank, but it will also extend to the filtration system, making it even harder to get rid of.
In addition, leftover greens go bad very quickly and will make the tank smelly when they start rotting. Turtle food pellets also disintegrate when left in water for long. The decaying matter contributes to a smelly tank. The good thing is that decaying food often floats, so you will quickly know when the tank has some.
3. Old Skin
Turtles’ skin and shell do molt just like the way a snake sheds its skin. The process is natural and does not harm the turtle, so you shouldn’t be worried about your pet’s well-being. However, the peeled old skin floats in the water, and if not removed, it can potentially clog the filtration system.
With time, the tank will smell because of the inefficiency in the filtration system.
4. Small Tank Size
Some turtles grow very big, and if you had not factored in how giant your turtle is likely to grow, you might buy a tank that will soon become too small for the turtle. For this reason, you should research how big the turtle is likely to grow and buy a tank that will accommodate the turtle even when mature.
Turtles excrete a lot of waste. When a turtle tank is too small, the waste products accumulate faster, and the tank becomes unhygienic and smelly even when you clean the tank regularly.
5. Algae
If a place has sufficient water, then algae can potentially grow there. As such, you shouldn’t be surprised if algae start growing in your tank; they don’t need much to grow. The poo produced by your turtle aids algae’s rapid growth. This is because the poo has various nutrients that support algae growth.
While minimal amounts of algae won’t make the tank smell bad, you should be on the lookout for a rapid increase because a lot of algae will make the tank look ugly and give it a foul odor.
How to Get Rid of Smell in a Turtle Tank
We have seen some of the most common reasons why your turtle tank is smelling. After this, the most important thing is knowing how to get rid of the odor and prevent it in the future. So, is it possible to get rid of the smell in a turtle tank? How can you get rid of the turtle tank smell?
Yes, it is possible to get rid of a stinking odor in a turtle smell. These tips and measures will not only help keep the tank hygienic but your turtle too.
1. Proper Filtration System
A filtration system is crucial in maintaining proper hygiene in the turtle’s tank. You need to get a powerful system that will do the necessary job. If you currently have a small one and have been having the challenge of a persistent stinking tank, then you might need to purchase a bigger one to reduce the smell.
It is also essential to change the filter regularly. It acts as a breeding zone for bacteria and thus should be changed often.
Choose filter rated and recommended for more than the gallons you use. Go for double or triple the number of gallons. You can also get an aerator which is a small pump-like item that pumps oxygen bubbles in the aquarium.
2. Do Not Overfeed the Turtle
It is important to feed the turtle with enough amounts of food only. Overfeeding the turtle means there is a higher likelihood of spilled food and leftovers. In addition, remove excess food from the water to prevent it from getting into the filter.
You should also remove uneaten food. Adult turtles are not fed daily. This means that it should not be a demanding task to clean the tank after the pet has eaten. Use tongs or skimmer nets to remove any food particles left in the tank after the pet has eaten.
Further, you can use a dish to feed the turtle to avoid the challenge of having leftovers in the tank.
3. Clean Molted Shell
Collect the floating skin shed by the turtle and dispose of it. When you notice that your turtle is undergoing a molting process, keep checking the tank regularly to avoid accumulation on the shed materials, which can block the filter. This will go a long way in combating the turtle tank odor.
Further, removing the shed materials and leftover foods extends the lifespan of your filter.
4. Combat Algae Growth
Algae make the tank messy and stinky. By preventing and controlling its growth, you will prevent the tank from smelling.
Another thing is ensuring that you don’t keep the UV light on for 24 hours. In fact, 12 hours a day is enough for your turtle’s needs. By switching off the UV light, you deny the algae this light that largely contributes to its growth.
In terms of controlling algae growth, a good filter removes waste that aids algae growth and also keeps the water flowing.
5. Get an Appropriate Tank Size
Baby turtles can grow and thrive in small tanks of about 20 gallons. But as they grow bigger, they need a bigger tank. When getting a baby turtle, it is best to get a big enough tank that will still be appropriate even when your pet is mature.
For every inch in a turtle’s length, go for an extra 10 gallons. Say if a turtle measures 5 inches in carapace length, then your tank size should be a minimum of 50 gallons.
Water quality becomes easier to manage when the tank is bigger. Bacteria in the water are also less concentrated, thus reducing the chances of the tank stinking. Appropriate tank size is also one of the most effective ways of preventing algae from growing in the tank.
6. Maintain Appropriate Temperature
Ensure that your turtle tank is at the recommended temperature. In general, this should be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The basking area can be slightly more heated to help the turtle dry out their shell when necessary.
Appropriate temperature not only aids the turtle’s growth but also helps in keeping bad smells at bay. When the tank is too hot, it facilitates algae’s rapid growth, which ultimately makes the tank stink. In addition, extremely high temperatures contribute towards shell rot which also makes the turtle and tank smell.
7. Clean the Tank
Lastly, yet one of the most effective routine exercises for preventing the tank from stinking is simply cleaning it.
Some of the essential items you need for this include disposable gloves, warm water, a brush or fabric for cleaning the tank. You can also use ingredients such as detergent, soap, shampoo, and bleach. All these items should not be used on the turtle directly because they can block its shell, thus limiting its oxygen and sunlight intake.
Change the water weekly by removing at least a quarter of it and replacing the amount with non-chlorinated water of approximately the same temperature. You may consult the vet on the effectiveness of using nitrifying bacteria to break down the waste and eliminate the smell.
Spot clean the tank every week. This is an easy yet effective way of maintaining proper hygiene in the turtle’s tank.
Deep cleaning is intense but necessary. Doing so every month or two is sufficient. They maximize the hygienic state of the tank. Start by moving the turtle to an ideal temporary container. Remove the filter, rocks, and other big items. Clear any substrate in the tank and empty the water.
The next step of deep cleaning is thoroughly cleaning the tank, rocks, and any other substances, but don’t clean the filter. Allow the items to dry, then return them in their usual spots. Dispose of the cleaning gloves to avoid spreading bacteria to other parts of the house.
Deep cleaning is a lot of work, but if you are keen on a nice smelling turtle and tank, you need to plan this activity effectively.
If your pet turtle is a terrestrial species, use a dirt scoop to remove leftovers and feces from the enclosure. Top-up substrates regularly and replace them entirely every few weeks.
Turtle Smell as a Self Defense Mechanism
As discussed earlier, some turtle species produce a stinking smell as a form of self-defense. These species are small-sized, rarely exceeding 6 inches in carapace length even when mature. Thus they are at a higher risk of predators.
The turtles emit a foul smell from glands beneath the carapace to avoid being killed by predators. The turtle species that does this is known as an Eastern musk or stinkpot. In Latin or scientifically, it has the name Sternotherus Odoratus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Turtle Stink?
Clean and well-kept turtles don’t stink. If your turtle is smelling, the chances are that there is a hygiene problem with the pet or its habitat. It could be due to a dirty tank, a poor filtration system, or that the tank is too small. If you rule out these possibilities and the turtle is still smelly, then you should consult a vet because your pet might be ill.
How Often Should I Clean My Turtle Tank?
Every day you should perform a certain type of cleaning, such as removing food particles. On a weekly basis, you should clean the tank and replace water. As for deep cleaning, which involves cleaning the substrates, basking spots, etc., you can do it every month or so.
Do Pet Turtle Like Dirty Water?
Clean water is important to the growth and health of your turtle. The turtle will thrive if the water remains clean, but if left to accumulate dirt, your turtle will be affected and might get ill. As such, it is crucial to maintain clean water in the tank.
How Do I know If My Turtle Has Salmonella?
There is no visual method of telling if your turtle has Salmonella. If you want to know, you would have to take its fecal samples to a veterinarian for an examination. Salmonella is, however, present in most turtles, especially juveniles.
When transmitted to humans, it can cause serious illnesses. Symptoms of salmonella infection include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever within 6 hours to 6 days of infection.
Conclusion
A turtle does not smell unless external factors cause this. These factors include an unclean tank, rotten food, and poor hygiene in general. When left for long, they make your pet turtle and its habitat stink, which is something we are sure you don’t want.
Cloudy and smelly water or smelly turtle is not surprising in a turtle tank, but it should not be acceptable. It is essential that you establish why your turtle or tank is smelling. Implement appropriate measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Simple routine steps such as removing left-overs, maintaining appropriate tank temperature, replacing the water, and spot cleaning the tank weekly will go a long way in maintaining proper hygiene in your turtle’s tank and preventing the turtle and turtle tank from smelling.
