Front caption: How to care for Turtles and Small Alligators. Cold-blooded reptiles such as turtles and alligators cannot thrive in captivity during the winter months without a temperature of 75 to 85 degrees. They require permanently warm water and also a dry place upon which they can crawl to enjoy the heat of the sun. Some kinds of turtles feed only under water, but for most of them the water need be only a few inches deep. Alligators and snapping turtles are flesh eaters and may be provided with minnows, frogs, tadpoles, worms, grubs, crayfish, shrimps, small crabs, either live or dead. They will also eat chopped meat, fish, clams and oysters. Many kinds of turtles will eat the above foods,as well as snails, small aquatic mollusks and insects. Others like tender green vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, celery and various water plants. The wood turtle, box tortoise and other kinds usually found on dry land, eat berries and mushrooms as well as many of the foods already mentioned. Turtles should be supplied with a variety of foods until those most suitable are ascertained. A Madagascar tortoise at the New York Aquarium has long been fed on bits of apple, peach and banana. Turtles and alligators will feed freely enough when their quarters are kept permanently warm. They need access to sand, earth, warm water and sunshine.