General Care Discussion :: Three Babies What to do.

[Raph]

A neighbor came over and dropped off 3 baby sliders. Thier shells measure less then 3 inches accross from side to side. They are soo small. My hubby thought it would be okay and dropped them in the tank we have with our Female of 4 years. She is a large turtle. From side to side she measures 13 inches.

Hubby didn't think anything about dropping them in until we can find a home for them. His argument is that at the local pet store there are many in one tank stacked on top of each other always getting along

It is a 150 gal tank that we keep half filled with water with a large basking area.

Raph leaves them alone she has like sniffed them and nosed one up on the lilly pad that floats in the tank. She seams not interested.

I have just read here that they can be quite aggressive when you add an other turtle to the tank. What should be be looking out for.

[TheComputerGremlin]

It will come out of nowhere. One might just swim past your big girl and chomp! You also need to get them out because you need to quarantine new turtles for at least 90 days so they don't get your turtle ill if they have something. Go out and buy a huge rubbermaid container, you know, the ones that cost 10$. Put the babies in there.

[BullDog]

Honestly, there's nothing to look out for. These things can happen in an instant. One of the hatchlings may just swim a little to close to her while she's in a bad mood, and bam, you've got a seriously bitten hatchling.

The other thing is that the hatchlings should have been separated from the big one for at least 90 days, since they may be sick (even if they aren't showing any symptoms). They could transfer the illness to your mature turtle.

The thing with petstores is that you don't know if the turtles are getting along, unless you're at the petstore all day. Also, turtles at the petstore are usually the same size, not giant and bite size.

I would say separate them asap. If you really want them in the same tank (and are willing to put your large turtle at further risk) then at least use a divider in your tank.
A better, cheap alternative is to get a large rubbermaid container and put the hatchlings in there. Since they're hatchlings, the rubbermaid will give ample room for them, and your big gal keeps her own space

[Bumby's Mom]

Get them out immediately. One little snip and they are dead. It has happened before.

[Chrisbarnett]

What are you planning to do with the little ones in the future?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Get them out immediately. One little snip and they are dead. It has happened before.

I totally agree with the above comment.

I also agree with quarantining the babies away from your large turtle regardless, just because the babies could be carrying an illness that you don't know about.

FYI - the Detroit Zoo quarantines ALL reptiles for a full 6 months before adding new reptiles to the existing aquariums with other Zoo-resident animals. If a professional Zoo does this, we can all take that as a lesson that reptiles can take a really long time before they show symptoms of an illness. Don't take the chance.

Also, you can tell your hubby that pet stores don't always have the most knowledge when it comes to reptiles. You wouldn't believe the horrible substandard conditions I have seen in some of these stores. It's amazing any turtles survive at all! I would take the ZOO's word over a petstore any day.....

[Raph]

They are not from a pet store. They are from a neighbor's son's pond. The guy I quess raises them. SHe says they have so many in thier back yard that they wonder away.

I have the babies in Raph's old 55 gallon tank. Is that big enough for the three little ones? They have a basking area and filter system. Raph's tank is mostly water. She stays in the water more then basking.

The babies tank is at 72 degrees. Does it need to be warmer for babies? I have always kept Raph's at 72-75 degrees.

What do we feed them? Can we feed them the veggies and pellets that Raph gets. She also gets brin shrimp on occasion.

[TheComputerGremlin]

The babies tank should be around 78-80. It helps keep them healthy. That should be big enough for a little while, at least. And as long as the pellets are able for them to be eaten, that should be fine.

[Raph]

What is the difference between a hatchling or baby?

[TheComputerGremlin]

I think the term hatchling is used for any turtle less than a year or sometimes less than 4" in shell length. So hatchlings are fed every day and given water temps around 78, then once they are more adults, they are fed every other day and the water temps can be lowered to 75.

[BullDog]

Sounds like a good setup for them
For the pellets, the hatchlings can eat the same ones as Raph, but if they're having trouble with them, you may want to break them in half before feeding.
Also, you can feed them a "head-sized" amount every day, as opposed to every other day.

You can try veggies with them, but hatchlings tend to be more carnivorous, and may not take to them right away.

As Jax mentioned, you should boost the temperature to about 78 or so.

[Raph]

One of my boys is wondering if a turtle is sick if it sleeps alot. One of the babies is sleeping to them alot. The other two get active if someone is around. They are stacking on top of each other even when there is enough room in the basking area. They are soo cute.

Well they have names. The really fast one that sometimes swims into the glass at our faces is Michelagelo. The one that likes to climb and look around is Donatelo and then the one that sleeps and has a bright green shell is Leonardo. They say he is thinking LOL So with Raphael as the mean one I think I have all the Teenage Mutant Turtles in the house.

A house of boys what is a girl to do.