I got two baby red eared sliders about a week ago and set them up in a mini Critter Keeper, probably has about one gallon of water in it. It's maybe 18" long and 6" wide, water height about 2" tall. I cleaned up a nice, flat but slightly elevated rock from outside and placed it inside and it was just the right height to allow 2/3 the surface clear of water and dry for basking. Since it's winter now the house is chilly, thus the water is chilly, so I focused a reading lamp ontop of the rock, probably 4"-6" away. It's warmed it up a bit. Nearly but maybe not quite as warm as the 40 gal. with a heater in it where Speck resides. I was planning on moving the two in with Speck but I would lose them in that huge tank, so I figured I'd wait a couple months, get a schedule of eating and such. I haven't picked names right now, so I'll just refer to them as 1 and 2.
So, Turtle 1 has adjusted well. He basks for 50% of the day, and swims for the other half. I feed him daily inside the main tank, which yes, does cause a mess that I completely wash out and refill every other day. I feed him Tetra ReptoMin pellets, except since they're fairly long I'll break each pellet into fourths and I feed him maybe 12 a day, which he doesn't eat all but he does swim to it and start eating after staring and contemplating it for half a minute or so. He appears to be doing fine.
Turtle 2 is my main concern. He is only slightly smaller, and I mean slightly. Maybe by a millimeter. Anyways he seemed fine the first few days, in fact he seemed better than Turtle 1. Neither ate for those first few days but Turtle 1 started eating later on. I would put the food in separate corners and Turtle 1 will eat his, but Turtle 2 never gives it a second thought. I left him in a separate tank for an hour with water from the 40gal. tank with 8 1/4pellets but came back and he hadn't eaten them. Lately he has been spending all his time on the rock. In the morning, hours before I turn the light on at 10am he will be on the rock. He is on the rock after I turn it off at 10pm as well. He will not move if I get close, eveb intentionally try to spook him, as Turtle 1 jumps off his back immediately. Turtle 2's eyes seem like they are always closed. They are always closed when he basks, as the rest of his limbs are tucked into his shell. I pick him up and put him in the water several times a day and he keeps them shut for another 20 seconds. He has been floating as well. I used to be able to push him to the bottom but today all he will do is float, which I believe is lack of food. He is definately alive right now, but just barely.
Not quite sure what to do here. Please respond ASAP.
Thanks,
Peat
