Photo Gallery :: TINKERBELLA

[bradhart]

Check out the stickies under feeding/nutrition. You turt is getting 100% protien, he should be getting around 25%. The feeder fish, crickets etc.. you're feeding are also very very high in protien. A UVB bulb is also necessary. You'll need an additional bulb for basking, no UVB florescent bulb gives off enough heat.

[marisa]

Actually, hatchlings need more protein than adult turts, and 25% of the total diet isn't that much. I don't know what "high protein" is in the food you're giving them--is there a percentage on the container? Reptomin Baby is about 39% protein. How much are they getting? For the pellets, a head-size amount daily for each is a general rule of thumb. Supplement with other foods, and offer some plant matter daily as well. Try the aquatic plant "anachris"--most turts love it.

The regular sunlight sounds like their UVB needs are being met for now. When you get a UVB light, look for the Reptisun brand (UVB lights give off some UVA as well). UVB flourescents don't give off much heat, and you can use a regular lightbulb to heat the basking area to high80's - 90F.

[TinySlider2]

Hey everyone this is Kelly, We do have a UVA light on our tank. I have been looking at those reptisun lights. How much wattage should we get? The fluorescent light we have is just for more light down in the water because the UVA light is pointed right at the dock. We do not use feeder guppies all the time nor do we give them treats all the time. They do get fed their regular food every day. Even though every time we walk by the tank they are right there begging for more lol. The water in the tank is at about 85 F. The temp. on the dock is about 90 F. These little guys are like our babies so they are very well taken care of. I can't go to the store with out coming back with something for them. lol

[cam722]

The water in the tank is at about 85 F. The temp. on the dock is about 90 F.

Is it true your water temp is 85?? that's way too warm. The temp difference between the water and basking should be about 10 degrees or so. Get the water down between say 75-78 with the basking area around 90.

[bradhart]

the watts on a UVB bulb doesn't matter. Get one that has 5 or 10 % uvb output. they don't give off any (or very little) heat.

[TinySlider2]

I read some where that is was supposed to be about 82F. Its hard to make the temp stay right at 82F. So I thought 85F would be fine.

[cam722]

You may want to check the sticky on Indoor Habitats..

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15

[TinySlider2]

You have no idea how much stuff I have read on Red Eared Sliders. LOL. They all say something different.

[cam722]

LOL oh yes I do realize... I've read tons and tons of webpages... most of them don't have very reliable info from what I've found. They are as bad as petshop workers..

You may want to check out Austin's Turtle Page - care sheet for RES.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-slider.htm

this is another page with some good info, although they recommend higher water temps. Also remember, that UVA lights generate heat and will heat your water up during the day.

http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

[TinySlider2]

I think that is why ours is 85F some of it is from the UVA light.

[bradhart]

you may have to adjust your heater to get teh right temp. Mine is set at 68 degrees to be around 75

[TinySlider2]

the watts on a UVB bulb doesn't matter. Get one that has 5 or 10 % uvb output. they don't give off any (or very little) heat.

We have a UVA clamp light. Should we get that UVB in a clamp light to or should we get one that goes in the hood light?? It has been really sunny here that past couple of day so we have been putting our RES out in their kiddie pool. We have done that about 3 times this week. I got up this morning and put them out there.

[STRAYKINGFISHER]

I think that is why ours is 85F some of it is from the UVA light.

There was someone that made a box that fit over the tank that he used as their basking area, it had a ramp that the turtles could climb to get to the box, that way most if not all of the heat from the bulb would be caught by the box and not be transfered to the water, it looked like it might be a good idea, if I find the string, I will post it here.

[TinySlider2]

Ok thanks. We worked on the heater's again last night. Its either to low or to high. lol But we are trying.

[bradhart]

as for the uvb light-- if you have a hood, i'd suggest getting a florscent UVB bulb. there are UVA/UVB combo lights, a murcury vapor bulb, but they're super expensive, and get super hot, so you need a ceramic socket (a metal one will melt). So a florscent one might be your best bet. A 5-10% FLORSCENT Bulb is around 20 bucks. murcury vapor bulbs are upwards of 80