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[kipluck]

SO, I have WON a Baby Red Ear Slider. Part of me is mortified at a drawing for a living creature. The other part of me is picking out names already! Luckily, I have my big aquarium, though I will have to do a little re-decorating to make it turle appropriate.

Well, he's here! Poor little guy came packed in wet scrap paper like a vase... in a butter dish in a box. He came MINUETS before I had to go to work and I am just getting home. No all night petstores and WalMart had no lily pad thing so I didn't think it was safe to put him in the big tank. So tonight he is in a foot deep tupperware thing with a bowl standing in the water as a makeshift island.

I used to have a firebellied newt but I am totally new to turtles. I assume he (she?) needs a water heater and a cave or something... but I really need some help.

Would it be better to have a terrarium with a pond thing or an aquarium with a floating island? Like how much time do RESs spend on land?

I guess I shouldn't expect answers here, this is just an intro. I will get into your forum and try to learn more!

As for an Intro, I am first and formost, a Sugah Mama... I have 4 sugar gliders. I also have 2 gerbils and several fish... and now a turtle!

I live in Utah in a rental house with 2 roomates and work nights. I am single, like long walks on the beach... wait, wrong intro... hee hee.

[sonyj]

Welcome to the forum... My advice is to do a lot of reading to find out what your RES needs. The main site has some great info and care sheets as well as what you'll find on here.

RES love to swim so fill the tank up and get him a basking dock that floats on top. Being able to haul out of the water and completely dry all of his shell is extremely important. Be sure to provide the correct size tank as he grows, 10 gallons per inch of shell length.

A water heater to keep the temp at 78 for hatchlings and 75 for older turtles.

You will need an UVB bulb that emits 7-10% UVB rays as well as a heat bulb(can be a regular household bulb) over the basking area. The basking temp should be around 88-90 degrees. The lights should be on a day/night cycle being on between 10-12 hours.

If he isn't over four inches SCL (length of shell from tip to tip not including curve) then you will not be able to tell if it's a boy or girl. So until then you'll just have to settle on a name either that's suitable for both or easily changed/shortened when you find out what gender your turtle is.

Be sure to read up on his nutritional needs as well. A balanced diet is very important to his health. There are "stickies" under the feeding and nutrition on what to and not to feed.

[marisa]

Welcome. After you've gone through the forums, if you have specific questions, just post. What are you going to name your new friend?

[kipluck]

Today I made a MAJOR Petco run. Captain Michaelangelo Tortuga (size ONE inch at MOST) is for NOW in just a 20 gallon aquarium but will be in a 40 eventually. He's got a heating lamp, a moss filled "dock," pellets (seems to enjoy them), a little celery, a pump, a cave...

but I am getting mixed answers from Pet Stores and Websites (I have sugar gliders so I am REALLY used to that!). Some say more terretium style while he is little or he will DROWN! Others say more aquarium but with a lilly pad type thing at the top. Well, for saftey till I know more he has a smallish dock and water, but only a few inches deep. He seems to prefer the water to the land though, ALL the time. Can he REALLY drown?

[kipluck]

hmmm... maybe I will put this query elsewhere.

[sonyj]

Ok, my opinion and most every other member on here, DON'T listen to the people at petstores. I don't mean to sound rude, but 90% of the time they do not know what they are talking about in regards to RES. RES are aquatic turtles and will not drown unless they are too weak or ill from being in bad health for a while, but that's a long shot and you'd know if they were that ill. Please read through the main site and the forum and look through the photo gallery to get ideas on the correct setup. Please ask if you have specific questions.

[kipluck]

You don't sound rude... you sound RIGHT. My sugar gliders have taught me that most pet stores know enough to keep thier animals ALIVE for about 2 weeks to get them sold. I just gave Captain Tortuga a dock from ZooMed and filled his tank up. MUCH better. GEEZ!

[gammeragirl]

Welcome Kipluck and Captain Tortuga! Really all the best info for caring for your new bud is on this forum. I do want to say tho, be careful not to overfeed your turt, I think I made that mistake and my turt (Sheba) grew too fast (too much protein). They like to beg, and it makes you think they are starving! Sounds like Captain will have a good home!

[JessicaTS]

Welcome to the forums kipluck