General Care Discussion :: turtle ok?

[frog]

the turtle i got lived in a tank under 20 gallons with no heater, no filter, no light, gravel and water only about an inch deep. the water was dirty and cold, and he ate wardley food.

with me he has a 20 gallon tank with water about 5 inches deep, (he can get completely under it but doesnt seem to be a good swimmer) a 100 watt heater, a basking spot, (which kinda doubles as a hiding spot) and a heat bulb(still gotta get a MVB). i dont know if it may be too hot for him though because he isnt basking (he sorta is, he will sit near the basking spot squeezed in between the wall and the basking spot under the light. ) he doesnt move around much and is in a spot were i cant really feed him. is he ok? im kinda worried.

[taylor_a]

If he is lethargic and isn't eating well, it's quite likely he's sick. What are the temperatures like? If you don't know, it's strongly suggested that you get some, one for the basking area and one for the water. Depending on whether your turtle is a hatchling or an adult, water temps will vary. However basking temperature should be in the low to mid 90's.

How big is the turtle? 5 inches of water in a 20 gallon isn't going to be nearly enough, if you are worried about him not being able to swim well though...get some underwater platforms where he can rest.

Also, UVB is imperative to the health of your turtle. Get one get one get one!

[megcornell]

How long have you had this turtle? New turtles take a while to adjust, especially if they come from less than ideal conditions.
That being said, if you've had him a few weeks and he's still not eating I'd suspect he's ill. Does he float unevenly or show any other signs of illness?
Try giving him more water and see if with the additional space if he can swim better. Also, check your temps. The water should be 78 and the basking should be 10 degrees warmer. If the basking area isn't warm enough the turtle won't bask.
Finally, a MVB bu,b is way to strong for a 20 gallon tank, it would fry your turtle. Look into either a larger tank (50 gallons + for MVB) or buying a separate 5.0%UVB bulb.

[frog]

How long have you had this turtle? New turtles take a while to adjust, especially if they come from less than ideal conditions.
That being said, if you've had him a few weeks and he's still not eating I'd suspect he's ill. Does he float unevenly or show any other signs of illness?
Try giving him more water and see if with the additional space if he can swim better. Also, check your temps. The water should be 78 and the basking should be 10 degrees warmer. If the basking area isn't warm enough the turtle won't bask.
Finally, a MVB bu,b is way to strong for a 20 gallon tank, it would fry your turtle. Look into either a larger tank (50 gallons + for MVB) or buying a separate 5.0%UVB bulb.

i have had the turtle since last friday, less than a week.

the water temp is 77-78. i have a water thermometer.
i need to get a MVB online, much cheaper, but im at my mothers, my turtle lives at my dads house.

the only reason im using a 20 gallon tank is because that is all i have available. i dont know of a place for cheap tanks, my pet store sells the largest size 40 gallons, and it is 113 dollars.

[SpotsMama]

He is brand new. He may still be feeling shy and that's why he's reluctant to eat and seems to be hiding. Try giving him plenty of peace and quiet and privacy. You can put cardboard around the sides of the aquarium for awhile - that may make him feel safer.

Is it possible he's eating when you're not around? Do you notice that any pellets are missing when you've been away from the tank for awhile?

On the other hand, lethargy and poor appetite are usually signs that a turtle doesn't feel well. If he's still not eating after a few days, offer him some of the really good stuff that you usually only offer a turtle for occasional treats - tuna, boiled chicken and shrimp. If that doesn't tempt him, then it's vet time. And once you decide he's sick, don't waste any time getting to a vet. The sooner they are treated the better their chances are.

On the tank, have you considered a rubbermaid tub as an alternative to a glass aquarium? They are very inexpensive (I got a nice 50 gallon one for $18 from Lowes) and they make good turtle homes. You can get one now and, someday in the future, if you want to upgrade to a big aquarium, you can.

[zoologist]

here is a link for a good, cheap UVB/heat bulb. http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-100 ... b-lamp.php

i agree with the rubbermaid tub. think about getting 2 and doubling up so the water doesn't make the tub bow and spill. the turtle may also be more content if you can't watch his every move. He may feel safer until he gets used to your presence.

[frog]

i tried feeding him today and he did, yay! i guess he is just a bit scared, but he wont get stared at since im at my mothers house. my dad will feed him and move on lol.