Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Greetings from Queens, NY

Drop a post to say hi. Please ask care questions in the forums below.

Post Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:28 pm   Greetings from Queens, NY

:D

Hello, my name is Chris. I'm new to this forum. I got my turtles recently.....9/11/06 to be exact, and I love them ever since. I got 2 hatchlings @ Chinatown and I bought 1 young adult at PetCo on 10/31/06, makes 3 turtles!! The adult one is Shea (yes, after Shea Stadium), one male hatchling is Beltran and the the female hatchling is Delgada. (Yep, after Mets superstars!! I am a big Mets fan.) They are in a 30 gallon tank.....filter that makes the water crystal clear, and a water heater!! My turtles are well taken care of. Hope to hear from some of you soon!! Take care, fellow turtle lovers!!!
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
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Location: Rego Park, Queens, NY

Post Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:14 pm   

Greetings to you Chris! Good to hear from someone who loves his turtles! Do you have pictures? We'd love to see them.

Read up on the general information on this site. Here's a link to start with:

http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_care.html

Then, look at the stickies posted at the top of each section of the Forum. Lots more good info there.

One thing you're going to find is that 30 gallons is probably too small for your three beasties. The rule of thumb is that you should have at least 10 gallons of water for every linear inch of turtle shell - measure from the front of the shell to the back of the shell without counting the curve in the shell. This rule of thumb is especially important in a multi turtle setting because if there's not enough space they will compete and the big ones will pick on the little ones. They can really hurt each other. Sometimes this happens even when there's plenty of space - it just depends on the personality of the turtles!

You might double check on the gender of your little hatchlings, too. No one can really tell the sex of a RES until it's shell is about 4 inches long and it's considerably older than a hatchling. You'll find many threads on here from people who get a surprise when their little girl or boy grows up! Someone may have told you you have a girl and a boy but they don't really know.

Anyway, welcome and good luck!
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SpotsMama
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Post Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:32 pm   

I do have pics, but the thing is I don't have a computer, but I have a Sidekick II. I can take a pic with my camera and email u the pic, if you want. Thanks 4 the info. Right now, they have a lot of swimming space. Maybe in a few years. They're happy now. I don't have that much space in my apartment for a 100 gallon tank.....here in New York City!! = ) Few and far between, Shea (the young adult) will take a nip at one of the hatchlings, but for the most part, they all get along. The cutest thing is that one of the hatchlings would stand on Shea.

I fed my turtles 10 rosies on 11/10 and I still have 6 left. I read some of the posts and some of them are helpful. I also have cuttlebone and my guys don't really care for it.....I could be wrong, they may nibble at it from time to time. I feed them the Wardley sticks w/ calcium and they do eat it.

I love my turtles....they are so much fun. They are so amusing when the look at you when they're under water and when they are basking/ poking their head out for air....it's so cute when "their eye is on you". Lol

Thanks for the reply!! I like to meet new people and fellow turtle owners.
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
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Post Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:20 pm   

you might want to separate them,the bigger one can kill the hatchling,not only that but 30 gallons is a bit small for 2 hatchlings and an adult turtle.trust me when i say this,it is dangerous to keep a bigger turtle with a smaller one,and it may seem like they have alot of space but 30 gallons isnt enough,you might wanna consider a 50 gallon rubbermaid container for the adult turtle....the two hatchlings can go well in a 30 gallon tank but not the adult,a little nip can mean a wound and a wound can mean an infection and it can cause blood poisning and thats a certain death if not taken to a vet.
1.1.0Trachemys scripta elegans
0.0.1Sternotherus odoratus
1.1.0Platemys platycephala
0.1.0Pelomedusa subrufa subrufa
0.0.1.Graptemys pseudogeographica
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xsavingsaturdayx
 
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:42 am   

Really? An adult can kill a hatchling?? Wow. They seem to get along fine. I go to some pet stores and I see huge full grown turtles in the same tank with young adults half its size. I don't have space for a 55 gallon tank for now. I see no wounds on the hatchlings, but thanx 4 the tip. I'll keep it in mind.
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Location: Rego Park, Queens, NY

Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:09 am   

Cute names for the turtles. I don't know if you keep your fish in with the turtles but if you do, you may want to remove him...anything in a turtle tank can become a quick snack for hungry turtles :-).
And, baby turtles grow very fast, mine has grown two inches since I bought him in Chinatown in May of this year so you may want to keep an eye out for a bigger tank, unfortunately it seems baby turtles outgrow their tanks pretty quickly...
2 RES: Leo (f) and Ezra (m)
1 Russian Tortoise: Godzilla (m)
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megcornell
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:32 am   

NO!!!!!!! I keep my Cichlid in a seperate tank. I do have 6 rosies in my turtle tank. Hopefully, the turtles will eat them soon. I bought 10 of them on 11/11.

In regards to the tank, I don't have the space right now for a bigger one......maybe in a few years..
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Location: Rego Park, Queens, NY

Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:47 am   

Oh good, I always feel bad when people lose innocent fish to their turtles. They really will try to eat anything :-)
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megcornell
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:05 am   

Yeah.....

Two out of three of my turtles are lean mean eatin' machines. I don't overfeed them. Beltran, the smallest turtle, I think is not eating because of Shea (young adult) and Delgada (bigger hatchling) eating Beltran's (the runt) food. It seems that Beltran is somewhat aloof. He does swim in the tank and then he basks. When I feed my beasties, (I read this in another forum), I try to scatter the food throughout the tank WITHOUT overfeeding the turtles and dirtying their tank so that everyone gets their fair share. I have seen Shea and Delgada swim about and attempt to eat Beltran's share of the food. Actually, Shea did eat Beltran's food this morning and then Shea hid under the basking log trying to be slick, trying to hide from me. I feed them the Wardley sticks w/ calcium and they love them. I'm going to introduce Romaine Lettuce and other leafy greens to them very soon. I've read what to and not to feed my turtles. Hopefully Beltran will eat his veggies!! = )

Oh, also....I use a Duetto Filter and it does a GREAT job keeping the water clean. I do weekly water changes and use Reptsafe Water Conditioner and Turtle Clean......just to keep the water crystal clear.

Until next time!! = )
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Location: Rego Park, Queens, NY

Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:11 am   

While you may not have the room for a 50 gallon tank, or 100 gallons, the time will come quickly. I have two turts and within the first year they went from 10 gallons to 75.

Anyway, welcome to the forum!
Missi

2 RES, 1 cat, and a spoiled rotten pug.
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:28 am   

Wow!! They grow that fast?! = )

For now they have adequate space. I have a friend who has 2 adult RES and he keeps them in a 30 gallon tank, too, and they r happy. I may get like a 50 gallon in about a couple of years, if need be; but for now, they r fine.

Thanks 4 the tip.
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Location: Rego Park, Queens, NY

Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:52 am   

FanOfTurts wrote:Wow!! They grow that fast?! = )

For now they have adequate space. I have a friend who has 2 adult RES and he keeps them in a 30 gallon tank, too, and they r happy. I may get like a 50 gallon in about a couple of years, if need be; but for now, they r fine.

Thanks 4 the tip.


The least you could do is look into getting some type of large rubbermaid. I got a 46gal for $10. You should also separate the hatchlings from the adult. She doesn't have to nip at them to hurt them. She could very well hurt/kill them accidentally.

I was trying to think which of those sentences bothered me most, but it's a tie. They do NOT have adequate space right now. Your friend is obviously misinformed or just uneducated on turtle care. The turtles may be alive but that doesn't equate to happiness. They can survive in those conditions but it is our responsibility to make sure they thrive rather than merely survive. A 50gal in a few years 'if need be'?? I'll let you in on a little secret.. 'It be'...and 'it be' now.

It bothers me to see people ask for advice then slough it off and say 'thanks but they're fine'. Why ask....
The things that come to those who wait may be the things that were left by those who got there first - Steven Tyler
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jenaero
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:05 pm   

jenaero wrote:
FanOfTurts wrote:
The least you could do is look into getting some type of large rubbermaid. I got a 46gal for $10. You should also separate the hatchlings from the adult. She doesn't have to nip at them to hurt them. She could very well hurt/kill them accidentally.

I was trying to think which of those sentences bothered me most, but it's a tie. They do NOT have adequate space right now. Your friend is obviously misinformed or just uneducated on turtle care. The turtles may be alive but that doesn't equate to happiness. They can survive in those conditions but it is our responsibility to make sure they thrive rather than merely survive. A 50gal in a few years 'if need be'?? I'll let you in on a little secret.. 'It be'...and 'it be' now.

It bothers me to see people ask for advice then slough it off and say 'thanks but they're fine'. Why ask....
:x

I appreciate the tips....but I came to this forum to get advice and to meet fellow turtle owners, not to get attacked by a moderator who posted 2795 times like I'm some sort of moron.

)= (
Chris = )

2 RES Shea and Delgada
(R.I.P. Beltran 1/21/07)

2 Peach-Faced Lovebirds Napoleon & Veronica

And some fish!!!!!!
FanOfTurts
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Location: Rego Park, Queens, NY

Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:08 pm   

If you appreciate the tips, and came here for advice, you'd take the info you're receiving into consideration rather than just saying 'thanks' and going on your way. I'm not attacking you. Just telling it like it is. Did you stop to think that maybe some of the members here are giving you good advice because they know what they're talking about?

The current conditions for your RES are unsuitable.
The things that come to those who wait may be the things that were left by those who got there first - Steven Tyler
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jenaero
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:14 pm   

FanOfTurts wrote:
I came to this forum to get advice and to meet fellow turtle owners, not to get attacked by a moderator who posted 2795 times like I'm some sort of moron.



Not to be rude, but this comment is just as moronic as you seem to think of 2795 posts. For what it's worth, Jen is quite respected on this forum, and you coming here and making comments like that will just get everyone else on this site thinking negatively of you. If you want to be respected by others on this site, then respect those of us who are already here.
Missi

2 RES, 1 cat, and a spoiled rotten pug.
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