Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: hey, the names rudy

[thenamesrudy]

hey im from michigan and i came down to visit south carolina because my girlfriends parents live down here. i had turtles in the past but i let them go where i found them cause they got a little to big for my tank that i had at the time. i always wanted to get a turtle at a pet store in michigana and they only sell big red ear sliders. when i came down here me and my girlfriend went to a pet store and they sell baby red ear sliders so i bought one, the thing is it doesnt eat just like most baby red ear sliders!
I have a 40 watt daylight blue reptile bulb so he can get his heat and so it can stimulate normal feeding behavior in the turtle. I try feeding him zoomed's hatchling food but he wont eat, so bought tiny feeder fish! he chases them around but when he has the chance to eat e'm he doesn't. i might be moving down here but should i just leave him? i dont want to take him cause it may couse stress to the res! it's a long way back! what should i do??

[sarah]

They sell baby res? Isn't that illegal?
Well, welcome to the board....
People will be here soon to tell you what to do.

If you don't mind my asking, how long had you had the other res when you let it go?

[sonyj]

Rudy, first welcome to the forum. I hope you will read up on all the requirements that it takes to raise a hatchling RES until adult-hood to give your new friend a very happy, healthy life. It's a big undertaking and should not be started unless you plan to complete it. Releasing a captive turtle or one held in captivity is never the right thing to do. Please seriously think about all the things you'll need to provide for him over the next 30+ years and do what's best for him.

You will find all info needed here on the forum if you read through and on the main site as well. If you have specific questions, please ask.

Transporting a RES in winter is difficult but can be done. There have been several posts on here pertaining to this and the proper way it should be done. If you decide to take him with you, will the correct habitat be waiting to place him in when you arrive? He will need to go into his new home as soon as possible upon arrival.

Many RES will not feed immediately upon being purchased. They need to adjust to their surroundings. Also the proper setup contributes to them eating as well. If the water temperature and the basking area temperature isn't correct it would cause him not to eat (78 for water/88-90 for the basking area). A balanced diet of pellets and veggies is the best for him, and after he's adjusted to his surroundings, you should strive to get him eating what he should. There are lists of what to eat and what not to eat in the feeding section. And there are many posts here with tips on feeding as well.

[thenamesrudy]

yeah they sell baby res turtles! i thought it was illegal also. the turtles i have had in the past were snapper turtles, the reason i had them is becouse they're shell didn't look in good condition to me! ive cought many turtles that i have could of brought home, but i didnt. the snapper turtle that ive had got a little bigger over a year and a half, i found him in a pond so i thought about putting him back but i did alot of research on the snapper and it was better to let it go in a stream or river, so i did. thank u for the information sonj! but im leaving on the 5th of january and not arrive until the next day! im thinking he will be use to his habitat by then (hopefully). so im just gonna leave him here and have my girlfriends sister take goog care of him until i come back.

[TinySlider2]

Welcome....We got our first two RES from Myrtle Beach. They were baby's too. Only one store had them that we could find and other stores told us they were illegal. Good luck with the baby!

[marisa]

Welcome. What size container do you have him in? A 40-watt blue light doesn't sound very warm. What temp is the water (should be about 78F)? Too cool and the turtle won't want to eat. Read up on his care on this site and if you have specific questions, post.

Try Reptomin Baby in addition to the Zoo-Meds. Also live foods like earthworms (cut in pieces). They like smelly foods and foods that move.

[thenamesrudy]

i want to go to myrtle beach sooo bad!! i have the res in a 10 gallon tank for right now, i new i should have got a 60 watt bulb but the lady that owns the store said that the 40 watt is good enough since he's a baby. im not sure whats the temp in the water but ill find out. ill also try to find Zoo-Meds reptomin baby food, and i will try to feed him cut up earthworms. anything to get him to eat!! THANK YOU!

[jenaero]

making sure the water and basking temps are warm enough will get him to eat. Temps are vital to a turtle.

[thenamesrudy]

yeah you guys are right!! it was the water, it was to cold. i took him out and tried playing with him and he didnt come out of the shell, he also felt cold. then i put him in a container with warm water and he started to be really active!! he hasnt eatin yet but im still trying. thanks alot!!!

[sonyj]

Get a fully submersible heater as soon as you can and a couple of thermometers. Water temp for hatchlings should be a constant 78 with the basking temp at least 10 degrees warmer or around 88-90. Temps are extremely important for RES especially hatchlings.

[thenamesrudy]

i'll try to get a heater asap! how much are submersible heaters??

[marisa]

Depends on the brand and wattage. Conservatively, allow 5 watts per gallon of water. For a mostly filled 10-gallon tank, a 50-watt heater would do. But if you're going to upgrade any time soon to a 20-gallon, go bigger and get a 100-watt one. Make sure it's fully submersible (it should say so on the package).

Your turtle also needs a UVB light in addition to that heat/basking light.