General Care Discussion :: New RES friend

[JamesOutlaw]

Hey folks!

I am new to this forum. My wife and I picked up a couple RES hatchlings at Repticon Memphis on Sunday. I am new to RES but not to reptiles in general. I have a year and a half old bearded dragon named Bowser and a three year old corn snake named Peaches.

Meet Sheldon & Leonard:


I did my best to make do with what I had on hand but I plan to pick up or order the rest of what I need immediately. I am just looking for some input.

This is what I've got going on right now.


It is a 10 gallon tank with a metal mesh lid. There is a turtle dock for a dry/basking area. I have an old dual light fixture with a compact ReptiSun 10.0 UVB on one side and a 60w incandescent bulb on the other. There is also a small under tank heater.

I am going to upgrade the tank very soon but not immediately. I am planning to buy this submersible heater (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005440HLO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER) and a temperature gun. I know that I need some type of filtration system but unsure about the specifics.

I could just use a little direction, maybe some tips or useful links from people who care and have experience. I haven't had a whole lot of luck with Google.

Appreciate it.

[VeipaCray]

First off, welcome to the forum and thanks for posting. You submitted this thread twice with two different names, so I only approved this one.

If I may make a few suggestions:

1. Move the dock up and raise the water level. RES are excellent swimmers and LOVE water.
2. The metal mesh lid blocks most of the light. Many on this forum are using 1/2" plastic light diffuser aka "eggcrate". It's inexpensive and can be found at most any hardware store in the lighting section by the fluorescent lights.
3. The 10.0 bulb is a bit much for the RES esp at that height. The recommended bulb for RES is a 5.0 (maybe since the mesh blocks so much of the light, the 10.0 isn't too bad???)
4. For a 50 watt heater, the eheim Jager is a much better heater for a dollar more. http://www.bigalsonline.com/fish/temper ... -50-w.html
If you're planning a larger tank, you might want a heater sized for the larger tank so you don't have to buy twice. This thread may help with heating: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=31234


As for filtration... you cannot over filter. Unless you wan't to keep purchasing and upgrading filters ($$$) as your turtle grows, a canister filter is your best bet. RES produce a lot of bio waste and the manufacturer filter ratings listed with the various filters do not apply for turtles. Published filter ratings are for a moderately stocked community fish tank. A turtle will produce more bio waste in a single day than a tank of fish will in a week... and you have 2 turtles.

This thread is our filter reference for canister sizing and media: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

Cute turtles, we look forward to seeing more of Sheldon and Leonard.