In the wild, the turtles would move into the water on their own — a very dangerous journey — but in a center, the “clutch” of babies is kept together in a shallow water set-up, where they can start to move around and eat. Because turtles are cold-blooded, they must also be provided with a range of temperature options so they can choose what they need at different times. A heat light is set up so that there is always a nice, warm basking spot. An ultraviolet light is also provided, as reptiles are believed to depend on the sun’s ultraviolet rays to activate vitamin D production, which in turn is responsible for allowing the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract.
Failing to provide the right diet, temperature, humidity and light will lead to deformities of the shell and poor growth.
The babies are released back into the environment that their mother came from.