• Swampy water is natural habitat for many aquatic turtles.turtle image by marc from Fotolia.com
  
  

Many Turtles Naturally Inhabit Swampy Water

• Different species of turtle vary in natural habitat, but many water turtles thrive in muddy, stagnant waters. In fact, less-than-clear water is favored by some species for the cover it provides. As long as your turtle tank is free of spoiled food that will culture bacteria, cloudy water is of little concern for your turtle. Tank size relative to turtle size is also relevant: A tiny turtle in a large tank can do with very little cleaning.
  
  

You May Want a Clean Look and a Clean Smell

• If you have a turtle so you can watch it swim, you will want clean, clear water. Though a swamp might smell nice to your pet, it probably does not smell nice to you. More regular cleaning can reduce unpleasant odors. If you have a large turtle in a relatively small tank, more frequent cleaning will be necessary.
  
  

Bottom Line

• There are many variables that contribute to how often you need to clean the water in your turtle tank. Among these are personal preference, size of the turtle, size of the tank and amount of food. Because there are so many variables, there is no consensus on an absolute time frame. Clean your turtle tank whenever it is too unclean for your liking.