Other Turtle Discussion :: Baby red-eared sliders

[krend]

Hi! We just bought 2 baby red-eared sliders from the flea market yesterday. After getting home and doing some research, I realized I probably purchased illegal turtles.
I want them to have the best quality of life they can possibly have, so I have been reading non-stop since we got them, to make sure that I create the best habitat, feed them well, and make sure they are comfortable.
They are probably only 2.5-3 inches long. I believe one is a boy and the other a girl. My daughter named the boy Coconut and the girl Banana. hmmm. Kids.
Anyway.. I went to the store and bought stuff to accomodate the 10 gal. tank I already owned.
They didn't want to eat the turtle pellets I dropped in the little water pool, (which I know they will outgrow) but devoured a rouge house fly that I managed to swat down. Worried about their eating, since I read they are mostly carnivorous when young.
Also, bought them a lamp, to provide a basking ground, and to pose as some atmospheric heat, and they seemed to like it, but no basking yet. They slept on top of one another last night. And today, after mulling around and refusing to eat any of the new pellets I provided in their freshly replace water, they promptly dug a spot under the reptile chips and went to sleep. Haven't seen hide nor shell since. (3-4 hours)
They don't hibernate this early, right?
Confused by the behavior.

Here's some pictures:
Coconut (you can see Banana in the back)



The Setup (for now)

[BullDog]

First off, I'd say fill that tank up with water. RES's are aquatic turtles, so just a little water pool is pretty inadequate. That could be part of why they aren't eating right now. Also, when turtles are first introduced to they're new habitat, they'll be pretty shy and may not eat for a few days.
When they're that little, you can't tell whether they're male or female. Usually you have to wait until they're at least 4 inches long (they are measured from the front of the shell to the back, not including the curve.
Once you fill up your tank with water (as much water as possible without them being able to escape out the top) I'd keep an eye on that gravel, or just remove all together, as turts can and will eat it. It needs to be bigger than their heads so they don't eat it. Does your basking log float? If so, you'll want to anchor it to the side of the tank so it stays under the basking light. If it doesn't float, then you'll need something else to put under the light.

It's good that you've only got the screen on half of the tank, as the uvb light doesn't go through screens with openings under 1/2".

It isn't really a good idea for captive RES's to hibernate, but they can if the water temp gets too cool, and it can be harmful to your turtle.

Also, if you haven't already, browse through the main site for tons of info

[cprcheetah]

Get rid of the pebbles, they can eat them and get impacted. Fill that tank up as much as possible with water. RES are water turtles and loves swimming. You will need a filter as well. Please read the basic care on www.redearslider.com as well as all the stickies on the forum...it has greatly helped me, and I know it will help you as you learn how to take care of Bananna and coconut. Also you won't be able to tell their sex until they are at least 4" long. You measure their shell from end to end no including the curved part. They are cute little turtles.

[Ozzyy]

does thelog float? when you fill it up ,if it floats the right way they can still use it to bask... cute turtles though

[CountryGirl68]

To add to the above posts, make sure that you are providing UVB lighting as well as heat to prevent shell rot.

Get rid of the gravel, and instead of having that much dry area and the small pond, reverse it - make the basking area big enough for both of them and the rest should be water. To start, most beginners will fill the tank with enough water that the turtle is covered if he were standing with about an extra inch. As they get used to swimming around, you can then gradually increase the amount of water in the tank.

Good luck.

[Kallistos]

Don't completely fill it up, you have very small turtles, like country girl said, slowly fill it up as they get used to water.

[krend]

Thank you for all your responses! I will do my best to make the tank more suitable.
I am a first-time turtle owner, and it would be devestating to the girls if something happened to them by my hand.
Will post more once I get things switched around.

Hey, what about the nesting area, etc.? They seem to really like the wood chips that they buried themselves in - should I incorporate them into the new setup?

kat

[krend]

Here's some shots of Banana - they decided to come out of hiding for a swim.

Banana

...............

[BullDog]

So cute! ^^

You don't really need a "nesting area" until they're at least 3 or 4 years old, and only if you have a female. A female will lay eggs with or without a male present.

[missibsu]

Just to add to that nesting area bit...you won't be able to tell genders of your turtles until they are 4 inches in shell length. I thought I had two females until right at 4 inches...now I have a boy and girl.

[steve]

Hello krend, I don't think that basking log you are using is intended to be submerged in water. You might need to look for a different kind of basking area as you rearrange your tank. Also, "full-spectrum" does not mean UVB (it's usually a big marketing lie) but you are giving them UVA and heat. You need to keep that tank away from direct sunlight, which can heat up that amount of water quickly.

[krend]

Steve:
The window the tank is by never gets direct sunlight - only ambient light. (Faces North) The log is not real, looks real, but isn't - has holes in it, so when you fill the tank, it sticks to the bottom.

Fixed the tank Everybody. Turtles seem to like it. I'm not particularly happy with the land area, seems to me they need more dry and less water - but I'm not a turtle. Take a look and let me know how I did.



I added: new basking rock, fake foliage, water filter, water heater (regulated to keep water around 75 degrees constant), temp gauge on glass, new bulb (I think this one is UVA, but not UVB?) 60 watt (the 100 watt "full spectrum" was WAYY too hot).

I removed: the gravel and the turtle pool.







You can see Banana swimming around in this one - she/he doesn't like the flash on the camera...



Here's where Coconut has decided he likes to sleep... between some foliage and the glass.



And Banana likes to sleep floating in the water, atop some more fake plants.

[BullDog]

Looks GREAT! What's the basking area made of? It looks really neat!

[krend]

It's a plastic rock that they sold at Pet's Mart. Cost me 25 bucks.

[krend]

They must be happy, or in the very least, exhausted. Here's some shots of they little guys sleeping.

Coconut finally makes up to the rock.



Banana sleeps in the water, barely touching a fake plant.


Shot from underneath. Cool mirror effect.