Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: New owner of a baby RES

[Az^FolkSinger]

Hi,
Great site very informative since we just got our RES on New Years Day while our group "Turtle Magnet" was on stage preforming in Tempe,AZ
I am going to purchase a tank tomorrow and am looking for input on how much water to put in tank, verses a dry area. We don't know yet if it is male or female but is about 1.5 inches and was caught in the river bed here in phoenix.az. was thinking of buying a 20 gal tank to begin with. also how fast do they grow in a year? I am looking forward to belonging to this group and watching our newest member to the family growing happy and healthy.
Peace love & light
Carey

[steve]

Hi! Before there are other posts, I should let you know that most people on this forum (and other turtle forums) are against keeping wild turtles (as well as releasing captive turtles into the wild) with the general advice the you should return him/her immediately.

There are valid reasons against keeping healthy, wild turtles: they are less sociable, may be carrying parasites/disease, stress of a small tank, they are widely available (especially RES), etc. Unless the turtle's life was in danger, I believe this will be the response you will receive. That said, if a wild turtle is going to be kept, then I suggest you build a very large outdoor pond for it and replicate a natural environment.
With that out of the way, please read the main site and the forums for some more insight into turtle keeping and welcome to the forum.

[Az^FolkSinger]

Hi
Thank you for your input. I am unsure of where these kids found the baby res. they said they found it on the river bottom which is dry for the most part... I don't know if its life was in danger or where it was at or how long they had had it before selling it to my mom.
but now that it has come into our lifes I do want to make the best home for him/her.
I do plan on building a pond area in my back yard this next fall which was already in the works before she/him came into our lifes <have been saving the money>. with that being said. I welcome any an all input thank you
Peace love & light
Carey

[TinySlider2]

Welcome to Turtle Talk!

[Az^FolkSinger]

I would like to thank you again for the extensive website you have here. It helped me greatly... just to update actually bought a 10 gal tank today (will keep eye out for a 50 gal one) and got live plants an a couple of little fishes and a cool dock and filter system Torteko <that is what we have name him/her) is adjusting nicely, loves the floating dock i have with the uvb light i also purchase today.
Again thank you
Peace love & light
Carey

[marisa]

Welcome. The 10-gallon will soon be outgrown, as you probably have already read (the 20-gallon would actually have been better for the size the turt already is). Sounds like you're off to a decent start, though.

Is the turtle eating? If so, what are you feeding him/her (you won't know the sex until the shell length is around 4 inches).

What does "Torteko" mean? (The word turtle in another language?)

[Az^FolkSinger]

Welcome. The 10-gallon will soon be outgrown, as you probably have already read (the 20-gallon would actually have been better for the size the turt already is). Sounds like you're off to a decent start, though.

Is the turtle eating? If so, what are you feeding him/her (you won't know the sex until the shell length is around 4 inches).

What does "Torteko" mean? (The word turtle in another language?)

Hi yes i know but all i could afford this week was the 10 gal... but i am actually keeping my eyes open for a 50 gal so I will have a while before upgrading to a 125 gal... on the name I actually spelled it wrong my mom corrected me here is the correct spelling Tortuqua and it is spanish for turtle. yes Tortuqua is eating quite well I am givin him/her zoo meds' Aquatic turtle pellets and the turtle treat (which i am only giving her some yesterday from reading will only do that like once a week or every couple> and i have fresh water plants some duckweed? what you all have recommend here. and then we are giving her a little lettuce and some carrots, also have the cuttlebone in there. Tortuqua enjoys hiding in the plants, also have a couple of i think they are called red fishes not to big incase she wanted to try them. or play with them.
next week i am going to get some of the clear shrimp they have been talking about on here help keep the tank clean and also if T wants to have a snack. will keep ya updated
Peace love & light
Carey

[marisa]

The duckweed in particular is good.

(I always thought turtle in Spanish was "tortuga")

[Az^FolkSinger]

Humm will check with mom she speaks spanish fluently that was how she had it spelled on the note...

[marisa]

Maybe "qu" is pronounced like "g".

[Az^FolkSinger]

I will ask her she should be home around 330pm today its about 230pm right now

[cam722]

Just a silly FYI kind of thing..


Turtle in:

French - tortue
Spanish - tortuga
German - Schildkröte (try saying that fast 5 times haha)
Dutch - schildpad
Italian & Portuguese - tartaruga

[Az^FolkSinger]

Oh kewl thank you cam mom says she was close lol she thought it was the other way
don't know if i could say that one 5 times fast having a hard time just saying it one time lol

[sonyj]

Welcome to the forum... and while you all are at it.... I'll add the only foreign word for turtle that I know :

Tagalog(Phillipino) - Pagong

[Az^FolkSinger]

Oh kewl sonja thank you
I can at least say that one right LOL