Habitat - Indoor :: HABITAT INDOOR

[CARISUE71]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the turtle community I love my little guy.. I think I spend more time with him than my husband. I would like to know away to set up his tank that he would be more comfortable he doesn't get out on his floating dock I have a rock in there too he just pops his head out?? He has a basking light he just doesn't bask and I get worried he doesn't bask. Please help me..

Thank You
Cari

[sonyj]

First off, how long is your turtle and what size of tank with how much water do you have for him?

What is the water temp and the basking temp?

Do you have a UVB light as well as a basking light?

If you could give us a few more specifics on your setup, this might help solve his basking dilemma. If you haven't had him long, he may still be adjusting to his new environment which is common after getting a new turtle or changing their existing setup. If his environment such as tank size, amount of water, water/basking temps aren't correct this also can cause a turtle not to bask. Posting a pic of his current setup might also help.

And welcome to the forum...

[marisa]

Welcome to the site.

1. How long have you had your turtle? How big is he (shell length w/o the curve)?

2. What is your set-up like currently? (Tank size, water level, lighting--UVB and basking lights, filter, etc.).

3. You said he won't bask--what are the water and basking area temps?

4. The floating dock--it's anchored? Is it easy for him to get on? Does he have privacy when he basks?

[CARISUE71]

Hello,

My little guy is about 2.5 inches long. I have had him about a month, With a 10 gallon tank and a under gravel filter and a filter that attaches to the inside of his tank. His water temp is 78 - 80 degrees. His basking Temp I am not sure? It has a UVB bulb in it I try to take him out in the yard once a week for an hour to get extra sun. He has a floating doc that attaches to the side of the tank. He has about 7 inches of water in his Tank. Do turtles eat alot? He wants to eat all the time. He has grown alot since I got him? Hope this helps.

Thank You,
Cari

[JessicaTS]

For a 2.5 inch turtles, you may want to get him a 20-30 gallon tank. But don't count on it, as they grow bigger, the tank will need to get bigger as well

Try to lower the water temperature to about 75-77. Basking temps should be 10 degrees higher. Do you have a UVA light with the UVB?
Turtles will eat alot but make sure he doesn't. What and how much are you feeding him now? Pellets should be given the amount that will fit inside his head, every other day. Offer veggies such as romaine, redleaf, kale, escarole, carrots, squash, as well as aquatic plants such as anacharis, water hyacinth, water fern, amazon swords, frogbit.

How much has he grown?

[CARISUE71]

When I got him he was itty bitty. now pretty big, about an inch bigger. I feed him pellets as well as meal worms, he has feeder guppies in his tank now he has eaten a few of them, I bought him some little crickets he ate those so quick. I give him his pellets twice a day. I lowered his temp to 75. I will definetly look into a bigger tank. I saw a pvc dock in the forum I really like that. will have to get the hubby to make it when I get the bigger tank. No I just have a uvb bulb. Do I need to get another? will have to try the veggies with him do you just put it in the water?

[JessicaTS]

Feed them the amount of pellets that will fit inside his head, twice or three times a week.
The UVB bulb emits vitamin d3. The UVA bulb will give off heat (basking area should be 10 degrees higher than the water temperature) So a UVA bulb is very important to have.
You can let your turtles graze on the veggies by leaving them in the tank.

[marisa]

The UVB rays emitted by the bulb will be metabolized by your turtle into Vit. D3. But the bulb doesn't give off sufficient heat to make your turtle want to bask. For this purpose, you can use a regular light bulb (UVB bulbs give off some UVA rays, and your turtle will also get them from the light around him). I wouldn't spend money on a special UVA light (but this is up to you). A good temp range for the basking area is 88-90F. Check the temp with a thermometer (put it on an object the height of your turtle in the place where he basks, wait about 20 min. and check the temp).

[CARISUE71]

Thank you so much for the great info I will definetly go do that. I moved some things in his tank to give him more room. I reall appreciate the great information.

[CARISUE71]

YIPPEEEE!!!! My little man is now basking himself!!!! I cleaned his tank and moved some stuff around adjusted his dock added more water and changed his light bulb... I am soo happy you guess really helped me..


Thank You
Cari

[CARISUE71]

I still am concerned about his eating.. do they loose skin like peel when they grow??? his legs look like he is loosing skin? like molting??? Is that normal??

[sonyj]

YIPPEEEE!!!! My little man is now basking himself!!!! I cleaned his tank and moved some stuff around adjusted his dock added more water and changed his light bulb... I am soo happy you guess really helped me..


Thank You
Cari

Just had a question, when you said you changed his bulb, did you mean that you removed the one you had (the UVB bulb) and replaced with the heat bulb or just that you added the heat bulb? The reason I wanted to clarify this is that it is essential for turtles to have both these bulbs while they bask.

It is normal for turtles to shed their skin as well as their scutes, but it shouldn't be excessive or prolonged.

How are you still concerned about his eating... that he is over-eating? You are the one in control of his food intake and you will have to cut his diet back because he will continue to eat whatever you put into his tank even when full. It does sound like he's getting too much protein in his diet which can lead to health problems. Foods high in protein (feeders, crickets, worms etc) should be given in moderation and occassionaly while pellets should only be given once a day the amount that will fit inside his head for hatchlings (every other day for turtles a year or more). Cut back his protein and add veggies to his diet to help steady his growth. The amount he's grown in a month seems too great. If he continues to over-eat and grow at a fast rate, he will develop serious health related issues and his life will be shortened.

And remember as he grows so must his home.... I would start researching for larger aquariums/containers now. You can find some good deals in classifieds if you look at the right time. And plan ahead as you upgrade so you can keep cost down later.

[marisa]

Good on the basking!

Normal shedding is wispy and translucent, and they will shed as they grow (along with their scutes). How long has your turtle been shedding?

[CARISUE71]

I have just noticed the shedding not long ago. I had went and bought him some veggies I will just give him veggies and pellets for a while how often should I give him crickets? He loves those.. I just his bulb I will have to go get another clap on light for his other bulb (UVB). I will go do that tomorrow. I reannged his tank he seems to like it. He hasn't touched his guppies. maybe there to hard for him to catch? I have been looking in the classifieds for a bigger tank. I am hoping he will eat the veggies he swam to the top like I was going to feed him and went I put the red leaf lettuce in he gave me a weird look. It was priceless! Hopefully he will eat it. he is use to me giving him worms at night.

[marisa]

Your turtle may not be that enthusiastic over veggies if he's a hatchling (they usually are more interested in animal matter when young and become more interested in plant mater as they grow). But don't let that stop you from offering them, especially leafy greens like dandelions, red leaf, romaine lettuce, etc. He may surprise you.

When my turtles were hatchlings, I used to give them each two small crickets every week - week and a half, on those days, no pellets (but some veggies). You can make them more nutritious by gut loading them--feeding them calcium fortified cricket food for a day before you feed them. What kind of worms are you giving him? Mealworms aren't that good, so if this is what you're giving him, it would be good not to give them too often or that many at a feeding, for that matter. Earthworms are good, I give my turts cut-up ones about once a week. I can't speak about the guppies, though. Someone else can probably help you with that.