Gravels are the most suitable option for a substrate to be kept in the turtle tank. Gravels are eye-pleasing and very attractive. So, most of the turtle owners keep gravel inside their turtle tanks. But do you know that these gravels can trap waste and debris?
Yes, an excessive number of gravels can lead to the trapping of waste and debris, which can worsen the tank’s condition. Without gravels, the water is much easy to maintain in the turtle tank, but if you can keep the water clean, then gravel is the best substrate for the turtle tank.
Finding the best gravels for you is an overwhelming process. Here we have made it very simple for you as we have listed down the best gravels you can use for your turtle tank.
Related Article: Best Plants For Your Turtle Tank
Best Gravels for turtle tank
The Best Gravel for the turtle tank depends on the size of your turtle. Choose a size greater than the size of the turtlehead so that they don’t eat the gravel. Also, make sure to choose a good color and shape to look attractive in your tank.
Below are some of the best gravels you can choose for your turtle tank.
| Image | Product | Price | Purchase Link |
|---|---|---|---|
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CRMADA Gravel River Rock (18 Pound) | $28.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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GASPRO River Rocks (8 Pound) | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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FANTIAN Mixed Color Pebbles (5|40 Pound) | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Royal Imports River Rocks (5 Pound) | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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SACKORANGE Aquarium Gravel (2 Pound) | $13.79 | Buy on Amazon |
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M–jump 1″ – 2″ Gravel (2 Pound) | $12.79 | Buy on Amazon |
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OUPENG River Rock Stones Pebbles (2.7|5.7|9.7 Pound) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Galashield River Rocks (2|5 Pound) | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
CRMADA Gravel River Rocks
These attractive river rocks are lightly polished for a smooth effect. These rocks are available in a variety of colors. They are also available in different shapes and sizes. You can use this in your turtle tank as it does not have any sharp edges to break the tank glass or hurt the turtle.
GASPRO River Rocks
These are precisely polished and eco-friendly rocks, making them an excellent choice for the turtle tank. The size of the pebbles varies in shades and sizes from 1/2 inches to 3/4 inches. These rocks are available in different colors with different shapes as these are natural rocks.
FANTIAN Mixed Color Pebbles
These are the polished mélange rocks and are used widely for turtle tanks. They are very smooth and do not contain any powder or dust attached to them. There are no sharp edges to these stones, and hence there is no harm to your beloved turtle. These stones are natural and non-toxic and come in various colors to add beautification to your turtle tank.
Royal Imports River Rocks Decorative Gravel
These are another set of river rocks that turtle owners love. They don’t have any sharp edges and are very smooth and round. These are high-quality natural stones. These stones are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Also, they are eco-friendly and non-toxic and hence preferred by many people.
SACKORANGE Aquarium Gravel
These pebbles are lightly polished river rocks, and the color does not fade with time. These are natural rocks and includes different shades, shapes and sizes. These pebbles are great for your turtle tank as they give a natural and attractive look due to their light color. Stone sizes range from 0.5 inches in diameter to around 1 inch. These are non-toxic and can be safely used for your turtle.
M-Jump Gravels
These gravels are long-lasting and natural, perfect for your turtle tank. They are white in color, giving your turtle tank a beautiful look. These stones are large enough so the turtle cannot eat them. The size of the stones varies from 1 inch to 2 inches. They are round and polished stones with a smooth finish.
River Rock Gravel
These gravels are one of the best choices for your turtle tank. They are available in different sizes so that you can choose from them depending on the size of your turtle. They are polished and coated in pure paraffin wax to enhance color and shine. There are no additional fillers, dyes or oils in these stones. These are natural river rocks lightly polished for a smooth effect and are available in various color options.
Galashield River Rocks
These are natural river rocks available in different sizes, shapes and colors. All rocks are polished and do not have any sharp edges, making it the best choice for the turtle tank. The sizes of these pebbles range from 0.3 inches to 0.6 inches, 0.8 inches to 1.6 inches, 1.6 inches to 2.4 inches and 2 to 3 inches.
Does a turtle tank need gravel?
Gravels are the most common substrate for the captive aquatic environment, such as turtle tanks. However, as the turtles do not require gravel to survive, so keeping the gravel in the turtle tank is not mandatory.
They are suitable for turtle tanks as far as you can make sure that your turtle does not try to eat them. You can pick large rocks to avoid turtles trying to eat them by considering them their food.
They are functional and decorative for aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles. Gravels include various stones such as pebbles, cobbles and boulders that are classified according to size. A pebble can be as small as 2 millimetres and as large as 64 millimetres or 2.5 inches, that are more than double the size of a red-eared slider turtle and half the size of many pet turtles. You need to check for the size of the stone you are purchasing for your turtle tank as it is very important for the turtle.
The turtle can swallow anything it finds in the turtle tank, including the pebbles, if small enough to swallow. If they do this, it can lead to serious health issues like intestinal blockage and might require surgery. Make sure the size of the pebbles is bigger enough so that the turtles do not swallow them.
How many gravels should you put in a turtle tank?
The number of gravels for your turtle tank depends on the size of the turtle tank. If you have a bigger size tank, you need more gravel. If the turtle tank is small, you need comparatively less gravel. If you multiply the capacity of your tanks in gallons with the number of inches of depth, it will give you an approximate number of pounds (gravel) you need.
Do not keep too many gravels inside your turtle tank as it traps dirt and debris. Use large stones instead of small ones as the large gravels will not trap as much debris as smaller ones. Also, it is less likely for the turtles to eat larger gravels than small ones. Hence, even if you keep fewer gravels in your turtle tank, you need to clean them regularly.
You can keep the turtle in some temporary container and thoroughly clean the gravel. You can also do this by sweeping the gravel with a siphon-style aquarium vacuum. Make sure to press the siphon deep into the gravel to suck up the polluted water.
Conclusion
Gravels are the most commonly used substrate by turtle owners. Gravels are eye-pleasing and add an attractive look to your turtle tank. You can use gravels in a tank but ensure that the turtles do not swallow them. If the turtle swallows the gravel, it can lead to serious health issues in the turtle. Make sure to choose the size of the gravel properly, and it needs to be larger than the size of the turtle head. The smaller pebbles trap more dirt and debris than the larger pebbles. You need to clean the gravel regularly to keep the turtle tank’s environment clean.
