The Correct Turtle Tank Temperature (Beginners Guide)

Despite their rough-looking exterior, turtles are very sensitive to their environment, and one of the most important aspects is the temperature of the tank. IF the water is too hot or too cold it can lead to health problems, so it’s important to get the right temperature for the tank.

On average the temperature of a turtle tank should be between 72 and 77°F (22 to 25°C). And the temperature of the basking area should be between 85 and 95°F (22 to 35°C).

But, this is just the average, and while this will work for most turtles, you should know that each turtle species has slightly different temperature requirements. So we will split this article into two parts, one for water temperature, and one for basking area temperature, and we will start each one with a list of temperatures for some of the most common pet turtle species

List of Turtle Tank Temperatures for Different Turtle Species

Once very important thing to remember about this table is that those temperatures are meant for adult turtles, not baby or juvenile turtles, as they have slightly different requirements.

Turtle Tank Temperature for Baby Turtles

If you own a baby or a juvenile turtle you should know that they require slightly warmer water than adults do, but not by much, usually an extra 5° should be enough.

But to make things easier here is another table for baby and juvenile turtles:

How to Get the Correct Turtle Tank Temperature

Now that we know what is the correct temperature for turtle tanks, let’s see how we can get that temperature.

To be able to control the temperature of the water in the tank you are going to need a water heater, but not any water heater will do. You need a water heater that:

• Has a heat guard – so that your turtle won’t get too close and burn itself
• Is sturdy – turtles tend to break things in their tank, so you need a heater that won’t break easily
• Adjustable temperature – not all heaters are adjustable, so make sure that you get one that is
• Has enough power – turtles need big tanks, and not all heaters are able to heat a turtle tank, as most of them are designed for smaller fish tanks.

If you want a recommendation, here is a link to the tank heater that I’ve been using for the last 5 years: Submersible Aquarium Heater. I don’t have too many things to say about it, it’s a good and reliable heater, it comes with a guard, and you can easily select the temperature, it can heat up a 100-gallon tank, so everything that you want from a heater.

List of Basking Area Temperatures for Different Turtle Species

And here is a table for juveniles and baby turtles.

How to Get the Correct Temperature in the Basking Area

In order to get the correct temperature in the basking area you will need to use a heat bulb.

Heat bulbs are similar to normal light bulbs that we use around the house, the only difference is that those bulbs create a lot more heat than a regular light bulb.

Bulbs come with different wattages, from 50 watts to 75, to 100 watts, and up to 150 watts. And each wattage is good in certain situations. I have an in-depth guide on how to choose the right heat bulb for your basking area, that you can find right here: Turtle Basking Light Wattage (Illustrated Beginners Guide). Here is an extract from that article that will cover the basics:

In short, there is no best wattage, a 50-watt bulb can be as efficient as a 150-watt bulb. It all comes down to the way your basking area is set up, more precisely, it comes down to how far away your bulb is from your turtle.

Here is a chart that I made showing what temperature you should expect to achieve using different powered light bulbs at certain distances.

To make this chart I used a laser thermometer and the average temperature of the room was 75°Farenheit (24°Celsius), so you might get slightly different results depending on the temperature of your room, but unless the difference is massive the temperature of the basking area should be similar.

As for the bulbs, I’ve been using these bulbs for a few years, but from my experience, all heat bulbs are very similar, so you can use whichever you like the most. But, make sure to avoid halogen bulbs, I will explain shortly why.

Final Thought

So, the average temperature of the water in the tank should be between 72 and 77°F (22 to 25°C), and the temperature of the basking area should be between  85 and 95°F (22 to 35°C).

From my experience with turtles, I’ve learned that temperature is important, but it’s not something that you should stress yourself too much. In the wild turtles don’t always get to live in water with the perfect temperature, and the basking temperature is very rarely as hot as they need.

So as long as you stay in the ranges mentioned in this article your turtle will have no problem with the temperature.

I hope this article answered all your questions regarding turtles and what temperatures they need in their tank and basking area. If there is anything else that you would like to know, feel free to use to the comments section below and leave your questions there, I will do my best to answer them as soon as I see them.

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