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Hi. I recently was given care of my sister's 2 RES. Their names are Turtle and Waka. Since they couldn't bring them to their new home, they wanted me to take care of them. I know nothing about turtles but I've been doing my best to take care of them. It was difficult for my sister and her husband to leave the turtles w/ me b/c they have raised them since they were babies. But I am committed to giving them a happy home until they can return to my sister. I hope I can get some help in this forum. I tried to get information on filters from another message board but no one could help me. I hope this forum will be better.

welcome! how big are they now and what kind of equipment were you able to get?

steve wrote:welcome! how big are they now and what kind of equipment were you able to get?

Hi! Turtle is 5 yrs old and Waka is 3. I think Turtle is a girl and Waka is a boy. But I am probably wrong. They are from Japan where my sister and her husband lived for several years. Among the turtles they had, only Turtle and Waka survived. Unfortunately, the other babies didn't make it. They measure them in kg in Japan. Turtle is 1.2 kg and Waka is 0.84 kg. I haven't weighed them since they arrived here. I recently had to seperate Waka b/c of signs of aggression. I am awaiting the arrival of the japan tank (45 or 50 i think) from my sister. Turtle is in a 55 gal tank w/ filters from Japan. I wish I could get Waka the same filter but I don't have that kind of money to go to Japan. Plus my sister moved back to the states. Turtle has a dock to bask w/ a basking lamp and a cave. I can't put any rocks b/c she will eat it. I am trying to figure out what is the best filter for Waka's tank. I wish the tanks here were wider like their old one. Do you have any suggestions of filters? I have heard that Aqua Clear 300 is good but I have yet to hear if this is true? Any info would be great. Thanks!!!

Welcome and Wow! My RES came back from Japan with me as well. From their weights, the turts sound like they're a pretty good size--how long are their shells from the back of the neck to above the tail (don't count the curve of the shells). The tank from Japan is 45 or 50 gallons (I hope it's not liters)? You could get a 50-gallon Rubbermaid storage container to start off with, quite cheaply. I'm curious to know what these fantastic filters from Japan are--the ones I saw were mostly Fluvals (some smaller Eheims) and so much more expensive than if they were bought here.

Read the info on the forums so you know what they need and how you can improve their set-ups. The Aqua-Clear is pretty good, especially for mechanical filtration (getting the crud); they're noisy unless the tank is filled really full.

Hi there! Thanks for replying. The Japan filters are Kotobuki Powerbox 90 & 55. I am no expert but they have used those filters for some time and they have worked well. I will ask them how much they cost. My brother in law knows more than I do. I do remember that he said that the carbon balls are bigger in Japan. I don't think the tank is in liters but I will double check. I will have to get back to you on the exact measurement of how long their shells are. I know they are a little longer than my palm.
Thanks for answering my question about the filter. Thanks for the tip of the Rubbermaid storage container.
How old is your RES? What's its name?

hi matchablast
I have found this forum very helpful and I hope you will also. If you will read the stickys and post you will learn alot,and see alot of very creative people here that get alot done for as little as possible you will know how to sex the turts feed em and so much more. I love this place ha ha I do have a question?How long will you be the turtle setter? how in the world will you ever be able to give your sister these little guys back well good luck and keep us informed

Hi. I have read the site and it is really helpful. I am so relieved that I have found a good RES forum. My sister and her husband are not stationed here at the moment but when they return I will give Turtle and Waka back. So far, they have settled in well and have become very much apart of the family. I will definately keep updating.

My RES is named Tilly and he's about 3 years old. I don't know anything about the Kotobuki filters. Are they canisters or internal filters (or power filters)?

marisa wrote:My RES is named Tilly and he's about 3 years old. I don't know anything about the Kotobuki filters. Are they canisters or internal filters (or power filters)?

They're power filters.