If you plan to acquire a turtle as a pet you are sure to be pleased with this new addition to your household. Just remember turtles are the kind of pets you spend most of your time watching and not handling. These animals do need some special attention and you should learn the basics about pet turtle care before you bring one home. Here are 3 tips that will help you establish the perfect environment for a turtle.

1)Start by getting a lizard that is easy to care for! Many lizards are very demanding in captivity, and those should be left to experienced keepers. Among the best starter lizards are the Australian bearded dragon and blue-tongue skinks, which grow to a total length near 13-inches. They do not become stressed when properly handled, are generally tame, and eat a wide variety of foods, from fruits, vegetables and flowers to insects, moist dog food and small mice. Savanna monitors are also good for beginners, but get a young specimen and raise it to adult size; freshly imported adults may be aggressive, but captive bred/raised specimens are excellent animals for beginner keepers.

Turtles also love to bask, which is why you will need to fit a heating or basking light onto the tank. There are several Terrarium workshop basking lights available in stores. When you install the lights, make sure they focus on the land area where the turtle will rest.

Place your terrarium in a sunny area, away from direct sunlight and observe the changes. The direct sunlight could cause the temperature in the terrarium to be too high for your plants, so ensure your children are watchful.

Mix some gravel and charcoal pieces together to form a shallow layer on the bottom of the vessel. I like to buy decorative gravel at a garden center with supplies for terrariums. You might find stones in attractive natural colors, brightly colored crystals, or tiny pebbles that can be layered. Charcoal is a must, and you can either get it at your garden center or any pet store that sells aquariums. Charcoal is a natural fungicide. The layer of gravel mixed with charcoal will help maintain proper drainage as well as keep any odors at bay.

I read that a true Terrarium Workshops has a top but that top could cause more of a challenge for the plants to grow. We bought a clear glass container with a wide opening. You can usually find these at the pet department in stores such as K-Mart or at a Pet Store.

You should start out by buying a mature plant that is either in the process of blooming or has already bloomed once. That way you guarantee a basic degree of success and should not have an orchid which never blooms. It is your efforts at orchid care which will be rewarded with its next period of flower production.

Just keep in mind when you’re decorating your home not to over do it. If you have a small home with a lot of decor, try rotating some of your decor seasonally. Your treasures will stand out more and look better if they aren’t lost in a mass of clutter.