General Care Discussion :: new turtle owner

[aargre]

Hello fellow turtle lovers!

apparently somebody at my fiance's place of work decided they bit off more then they could chew and we are now the proud owner of three turtle!

YAY!

a few quick questions so that I know they are safe and then I will start posting more information and we shall get to know each other very well!

First young turtles I don't know if they are yearlings yet but the previous owner said they are.

Right now we own a "small" tank I think it's a 10 gallon. They look crowded to me but I can just be imagining things. we have a plan to eventually get a bigger tank but right now most funds are tied up in wedding.

Secondly I am normally a warm person I like having cool place to live. In my readings I have heard that they like it to be 75. I have no problem buying a water heater but again funds are very tight. how much wiggle room do I have here.

Finally, my father used to be the proud owner of a RES and my most fond memories was watching it chase and eat feeder fish. Right now their mouths aren't big enough but I was wondering how soon can i start and is it recommended in such crowded surroundings?

Thank you very much in advance for you speedy and thoughtful response I look forward to speaking with all of you. Pictures to follow soon but i can't seem to find my camera.

[VashTCP]

Hi there! You can find info on proper tank size and water temps via stickied posts here: http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6

You can find some insight on feeding in the Feeding and Nutrition forum http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=8

[BullDog]

Welcome!

How big are they? If their shells are less than 4" in length, then there is a good chance they are under 1 year old.

You're not imagining things, a 10 gallon is crowded. The rule of thumb for turtles is 10 gallons of water per 1" of shell per turtle. So three 1" turtles would be happiest in a 30 gallon tank. If your turtles are already getting large, a good option is a rubbermaid storage bin. You can usually get a 50 gallon bin for $10-15.

A thermometer and a usually a heater are essential for your new turtle's health. If they are less than a year old, you'll want the temp to be 76-78*F. An older turtle, you can go 72-76*F. A water heater will not only keep your temperature up, it will help keep it constant, since a small tank is very likely to cool down over night. You should be able to find a heater for cheap, usually around $20. You could even check craigslist or kijiji for a used heater, and pick one up even cheaper if you're lucky.

Feeder fish are not necessary, but should only be given as a treat (not more than once a month). Don't for feeder goldfish, as they're fatty and often carry disease. Stick with lean fish like minnows or guppies.

If you haven't already, read through the main site (www.redearslider.com), and that'll give you a good idea of what you'll need to know. Also check out the "stickies" on the forum. Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask

[theartbook35]

Because there are three turtles, a 10 gallon is a tiny bit too small. I would upgrade to a 15 or 20 gallon tank.

You got the temperature right.

[TheComputerGremlin]

"Yearlings" implies a year old, right? At a year, each turtle should be around 4", and that equates to a 120 gallon tank, which will be outgrown in the year. They could end up needing a 360 gallon tank by full-grown.

If this doesn't sound do-able in terms of funds and whatnot, I would recommend downsizing your turtle family now before you get too attached. Turtles are perfectly happy being the sole turtle in their tank. Also, due to possible aggression or mating, you may have to separate them for life at any point, and that will be additional everything (tank, filter, lights, heaters, etc.) 3 turtles are a lot, even for experienced keepers.

Look on Craigslist and your local newspaper, as it's spring cleaning time, and you can find larger tanks for a deal. Make sure they are water-tight before payment. Another option would be a stocktank, which you can get at a feed store. The more space you can offer, the less likely aggression will occur, but it's not always effective.

Heaters are the cheapest component to the tank, and crucial. If the water temp is below the mid-60s, the turtles will not hibernate, but they won't eat, and so they'll starve to death. You want 72-75 degrees if they are over 4", 75-78 degrees if they are under. Wattage will depend on your tank size, you want 3-5 W per gallon of water you'll be heating. Since you said you like it cooler, you might want to look into the 5W. They are like $20 at the pet store, even for a large wattage one. You want one with an adjustable dial as well, that way you can change it to meet your needs.

I will warn you that the initial investment in everything for the tank will run you $400-1000, so funds being tight worries me. You won't have much wiggle room with the necessities (large tank, so you don't have aggression; UVB and basking bulb and basking area, needed for turtles to metabolize their food; water heater, needed so they continue to eat normally; filter, needed so you don't have to clean the tank daily). Everyone on this board has needed to spend a lot of money all at once to get their turtles set up. I was a college student when I needed to spend $500 in one weekend to buy a proper setup, which is basically one of my whole paychecks ... After you get them setup, though, you will only have to pay for food and filter media replacement, which is cheap.

[theartbook35]

TheComputerGremlin- I agree.