General Care Discussion :: General suggestions for new RES

[Nistle]

I just got my RES today. His shell is about an inch. I setup a small plastic swimming pool for him. (about 5 feet in diameter) I have a couple of big rocks for basking.

Any suggestions for the habitat, his diet or just any thing that will be helpful would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[missibsu]

I suggest reading through the main site and getting as much info as you can. It also helps to go back and read old posts.

Do you have your kiddie pool where there is shade for your turt? Also, make sure you have it protected from any preditors, such as raccoons and dogs.

For a hatchling, diet should include a known brand of turtle pellets daily, and start offering fresh veggies. See the feeding and nutrition section, there is a sticky on what to feed and what not to feed.

[Nistle]

yes it has shade. i was considering putting in the water a small tree limb with a lot leaves. would you recommend this?

i am feeding it reptomin pellets. what kind of veggies would you recommend? lettuce? what about a cricket?

i am very concerned about preditors. i have the pool on a gated porch but this will not keep out birds racoons or anything else. do you have any suggestions for keeping these out?

thanks

[missibsu]

Like I mentioned before, there is a feeding list in the nutrition section. It's in a printable form so you can take it to the store with you. Certain kinds of lettuce are fine. Be cautious of a diet that is high in protein, it can lead to health problems.

As for keeping your habitat preditor safe, you will be best to browse the photo gallery, or check the section on outside set ups. I keep mine indoors, and mine only go to the kiddie pool when I am there to watch them.

[steve]

Here's some basic info:
http://www.redearslider.com/res-guide.pdf

Since you have a hatchling, I would probably keep him indoors, though that is up to you. You need to maintain water temperatures at 80F, so you'll need a water heater regardless if this is used indoors or outdoors. If the habitat is outdoors, you'll need to make sure that the water does not get too warm.

For a "lid", you can use something like hardware cloth (the metal or plastic variety).

[Nistle]

yea i would really perfer to keep him inside but right now i am not able to.

would it be ok if i completely covered it at night with like a piece of plywood?

[sonyj]

...would it be ok if i completely covered it at night with like a piece of plywood?

How would he breath if you completely covered it? He will need an indoor setup by winter anyway, so I'd start working on one now if I were you. Remember when acquiring his indoor habitat that the recommended size is ten gallons per inch of turtle, and he'll be growing quite a bit before reaching maturity so go as large as you can now to save money in the long run.

[Nistle]

yes i will have a tank by winter but for now im just tryin to keep him safe outside

[fishandcandy]

If it was covered by plywood, there would still be plenty of space between the top of the water and the lid, right? That sounds okay as long as you remember to take the lid off first thing every morning. Like as soon as the sun comes up.

[steve]

Here is how someone has covered their stock tank:



This will not protect against larger, more determined animals like raccoons, though you could create a stronger barrier.

[TinySlider2]

Hey Steve, I like that set up. (now I need to go find my husband and show him this is how we could do ours)

[industrial_girl_2000]

I just got my RES today. His shell is about an inch. I setup a small plastic swimming pool for him. (about 5 feet in diameter) I have a couple of big rocks for basking.

Any suggestions for the habitat, his diet or just any thing that will be helpful would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

OMG, how cute! One inch??? Adorable. I can't even imagine. My turtle has been a big monster forever (it seems).

Be prepared that the babies need *way* more nutrition than the adult turtles. Make sure you add calcium to the water (or feed them cuttlebone) every time you change the water (which should be very frequent since it is a baby!). Pay attention to the water temps too (should not be too cold) & give them a good UVA/UVB light source. Read the main website for more info (and good suggestions) on the above. This is by far the best website I have ever seen on turtle care & prevention is definitely the best medicine because once they get sick, it is VERY hard to make them well again (and can take an extremely long time before they show improvement....in the meantime you have to watch them suffer which really sucks).

Also, make sure that every time you handle your turtle (or his tank water), make sure you wash your hands with soap & water. This can not be emphasized enough. Even the healthiest/cleanest turtles still carry some salmonella in their digestive tract. It's normal for them, but can make us sick (and there is no way to get rid of that). So be very careful, in particular if you have little kids around.

If you want them to get used to you, make sure you spend some time near the tank every day! It helps a lot. Also, hand feed them when possible so they associate you with food!

Enjoy! Turtles are great pets.