Why Does My Turtle Tank Stink?

Do you have a dry tank for keeping a tortoise?

Have you removed any uneaten food from your turtle tank?

Have you cleaned any molted turtle shell skins?

Are you maintaining the optimal temperature in the tank (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit)?

If you have a dry tank with a tortoise or box turtle, use reptile sand or dirt scoop to regularly remove feces and uneaten food from the tank. Add a replacement substrate as needed and wash and replace the entire substrate every few weeks.

Use a skimmer net to remove any leftover food floating on the surface of the turtle tank at the end of the day. Greens in particular can clog up the filter and prevent adequate circulation. They can go bad quickly, making them smell and making them unhealthy for turtles. Turtle food pellets often disintegrate if they’re in water too long, as can brine shrimp and small feeder fish.

Turtles regularly shed the skin from its shell or skutes. Unlike other reptiles that shed in an entire piece, shedding turtles look like they have thin, tissuelike fibers peeling from their bodies. This is normal for turtles, but the extra skin floating in the tank will clog the filter just like excess food. When turtles are going through a molt, make sure to dispose of the shed materials.

Do a partial water change at least once a week by removing about a quarter of the water and replacing it with non-chlorinated water of the same approximate temperature. Ask your vet about using nitrifying bacteria to help break down turtle waste and reduce smells. Do a complete tank cleaning every few weeks, removing the old substrate, washing the tank with a reptile-safe cleaning agent, and hot water.

Make sure your turtle tank is at the right temperature. Most semi-aquatic species thrive on a water temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, paired with a dry, light-heated basking area where they can dry out their shells periodically. A tank that's too hot will begin to grow algae quickly, which can contribute to bad smells, and the overly warm environment can contribute to shell rot.