General Care Discussion :: New turtle questions

[DEBRAHG5]

Hello-

Today, I got a red slider turtle from my nephew and I have no knowledge at all about how to take care of it. I have read lots of info and still don't know what to do. I read the sites, but don't understand some of the lingo.

This turtle is 7.5 inches long and it has lived in a 30 gal tank it's whole life. It has not had a heater or UV light ever. Has had a fish filtration system that dumps water like a waterfall. I would like to do the right thing here, but wonder if I should attempt to change it's normal lifestyle?

I know he needs a bigger tank, but from there I am at a loss. I went to Petco today and the manager (?) said she wasn't sure what I needed or wanted to do. I told her I didn't either, but she was of no help what-so-ever.

Also, his shell looks like it is peeling or wants to peel.

The only reason I took the turtle was because he was going to let it loose at the park. I might have bitten off more than I can chew, but I am really excited at the thought of giving this little gal a new life.

Any help appericated.
Debra

[Vtolds]

Get the biggest tank you can afford 55 or bigger would be best. For filter you would need to get something that can handle 3 times the water that is in the tank so a filter that is built for 100+ gallon tank would be fine. You will need a heater rated for that tank size usually says it on the box. Most people like the Repti Glo 5.0 UVB Compact Fluorescent bulb, and you will need some kind of heat lamp it can just be a 75 watt house bulb from any store. The turtle needs some way too get out of the water to dry off and bask, so either a very large floating dock or a homemade basking area. Hope that helps, read the help sections for some more specific info.

[flyjawn]

debra - i was in your shoes about 6 weeks ago. a few hundred dollars later and now my turtle is living in luxury.

getting a bigger tank sounds like a priority.- craigslist is a good place to look because people are often selling their used tanks for reasonable prices.

take a look at canister filters like the Rena XP3. after you get the tank, get a heater that's rated for the size of your tank. and look for a 5.0 UVB bulb - the 2 is too weak and the 10 is too strong.

i know it's daunting... i'm still figuring it all out but i now have a very happy, healthy turtle that my kids and i love.

[mikee]

De-bra -- If your turtle is 7.5 incnes you need at least a 75 gallon tank with a filter/pump that will pump 5 times the volume of your tank. You will need larger lighting, heaters for your new set up.

[TheComputerGremlin]

1) So, as others have said, first and foremost is the tank. Get the biggest one you can, probably a 75, 90, or 120 gallon tank. You'll probably need a stand for that! Look on Craigslist, or you can look into a stock tank, or a glass one from a pet store.

2) Filtration. This can be a little expensive, but it's well worth it. You'll want one of the bigger Rena or Fluval systems. I have a Rena Filstar XP3 and am very happy with it, although it might be on the low end for what you need, you might need the Rena XP4 or the Fluval 5 something or another. These are canister filters, which mean they use multiple canisters filled with multiple media (foams, carbon, bacterial, etc) to filter out the water. The better the filter, the cleaner the water, and the less often you'll have to do any major cleaning.

3) Water heater. For that size tank, you will probably need a 300 watt or two 200 watt submersible heaters. You can get whatever brand, I think people on here have anything and everything.

4) Lighting. You'll need a basking light and a UVB light. With the tank you will need, you can also get an mercury vapor bulb that does double duty, just read up on how to install it, else you can bake the turtle!

5) Basking area and other. You'll need a basking area, with your turtle's size, you might need a homemade one. There are lots of examples on here, but you can be creative. Generally it takes some combination of PVC pipe, plexiglass, aquarium glue, slate, and/or tile, or something different altogether. You may think, hey, I want to put some pretty pink sand or gravel on the bottom. DO NOT. The turtle can eat it and need to see a vet, which are few and far between. The bottom is often left bare, with some plants or other aquarium decor scattered about.

Lastly, just because the turtle has *survived* in those conditions doesn't mean those conditions are good for the turtle. Think of it this way, you've got one great little trooper on your hands, now you want to make sure that she gets a good life.

Also, if you are sure that it's a she (no huge front nails and a shorter, stubbier tail), you'll need to be ready to provide a nesting area if she becomes with eggs. But that's a whole other topic altogether.

[industrial_girl_2000]

First off, those pet store people usually don't know anything about turtles so don't listen to them. If you have specific questions, then just ask here!

Start off with one thing at a time: first off, you need a bigger tank. For your turtle, ideally, a 70 gallon tank is the minimum size you would need to allow him to move freely in the water. Start with that. Make sure you get a good tank stand to put under the tank.

2nd step: get a underwater water heater. It looks like a long glass tube with a electric cord attached that plugs into the wall. Get one that is made for a 70 gallon tank (the heater packaging always tells you what size tanks it is made for so you can buy the right kind). Get a tank thermometer so you can make sure the tank water is set at around 76 degrees Fahrenheit (that's 23 degrees celsius, just in case you needed the conversion!).

Once you set that up, then post a picture, and we can help you from that point on.

Remember, turtle care-taking is a process of learning and none of us had the entire turtle tank set up over night. Start with the basics first: the tank & the water heater.

DON'T add gravel to the bottom of the tank. Turtles may eat the rocks & the rocks can get stuck in his digestive tract.

[DEBRAHG5]

First off, thank you so much to everyone that replied to my post!! I have been learning a lot and going to make some changes for my turtle.

I am going to put her a 55 gal tank. I know it is still going to be too small, but a friend has one I can have now. I want to get her into a heated, bigger tank right away, then I can take some time to really get myself "turtle smart"

Again, thanks so much. I will probably be posting way tooooo much and asking way to many questions, but hey I guess that is why we are here, right??

Enjoy your day-
Debra