A sudden change from clear to crimson red in your pet turtles tank will be alarming and cause you to become confused and even worried. You may think that crimson water means hidden dangers and harm will come to your turtle
This article looks into the real reason why your turtle’s tank water is red
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Why is my turtle’s tank water red?
Red is a beautiful vibrant color but it is also the color of danger so seeing it in your pet’s tank will understandably start to worry you as a turtle raiser.
Here are the reasons why this may be happening with your pet:
It’s the food:
One simple reason why your turtle’s tank water may be turning red may be that dyes from the animal’s food made its way into the animal’s water
The dye in the food may come from natural pigments in foods like beetroot, beets, red leaf lettuce, raspberries, strawberries, and other red foods, or, they may come from colorants in your pets pellets or treats
This pigment will cause a temporary color change in your pet’s water and will fade a few minutes after you remove the food from the water
What to do:
You can confirm that this is the reason behind the color change in your pets by removing the food and then seeing if the water stays clear
If the water stays clear then the food was the reason behind the reddening of the water.
If the water does not change to clear then something else may be the cause of the red water.
Algae:
If the water in your pet’s enclosure is red then this may also be caused by algae growth. If the water in the tank is exposed to high amounts of sunlight, and if there is an excess of minerals in the water, then algae may grow very aggressively.
There are different types of algae, red, yellow, and green algae exist and your tank may simply be overrun with red algae.
What to do:
You can combat this issue by adjusting the position of your pet’s tank to somewhere more shaded, this should prevent too much light from getting into the environment.
Getting a better filtration system for the animal’s tank is also recommended.
Iron-rich water:
If the source of your tank’s water is mineral-rich, if it is high in iron in particular, then this can cause the tank water to turn red.
This happens when the water is not only high in iron but also when the water is exposed to high oxygen levels.
When oxygen levels are high this causes an oxidation of the iron particulars which in turn turns the water red.
What to do:
You may need to switch the source of your tank water, if you’re getting water from your tap then you may need to use a water conditioner in your pet’s water to solve this problem
What may also help is avoiding adding objects or materials that will leach iron into the water.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other turtle/tortoise related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why Does My Turtle Run From Me, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Turning Yellow?, Why Is My Yellow Belly Turtle Not Eating?, Why Is My Turtle In Its Shell?, Why Is My Turtle Standing Up?, Why Does My Turtle Look Fuzzy?, Why Is My Turtle Poop White?, Why Is My Turtle Poop Red?, Why Is My Turtle Underwater?