General Care Discussion :: RES Baby Turtle Questions

[Shinigami]

1. Should i feed it daily even if it its ALL of its pellet food?
2. What kind of Vegies should i feed it?
3. Is it normal for my baby RES Turtle liking to crawl under blankets and pillows to sleep?
4. Are Fishes allowed in turtle tanks?
5. Is it normal for my RES to swim when the filter is blowing?
6. Should i leave my Filter ALL day and ALL night?
7. Is it OK to pet my RES on the Yellow Belly?
8. Is their anywhere else i can pet my RES?

these are some questions i had,it be'd nice if someone can answer one,some,or all of these lol thanks in advance!

[jenaero]

1. Feed it once a day, the amount the size of it's head. After a year you can switch to every other day

2. There is a "what to feed" list at the top of the Feeding/Nutrition section

3. I'm not understanding what it's doing out of the tank to begin with. Keep him in the tank, please. Taking it out to roam can scare the crap out of a turtle.

4. sure, if you don't mind them being eaten. Best fish to feed are guppies and rosey red minnows. Steer clear of goldfish (too fatty)

5. The filter should always be running. Some turts like to swim in the current.

6. Yep

7. RES are 'look but don't touch' pets. Most don't like to be taken out of the tank, played with or to be pet.

8. Mine seems to like me petting her on the chin but who really knows. They'll let you know if they're scared by tuckin into their shell or trying to bite.

[missibsu]

1. For hatchlings, your turtle should be fed pellets once a day the amount the would fit in his head if it were hollow. This doesn't include the neck area.

2. Veggies should be offered daily too. It may take awhile for your turtle to get the hang of veggies, but don't give up. There is a feeding list sticky in the nutrition section.

3. I believe most people have RES who sleep in the water, although some sleep on the dock. Why does your turtle have a blanket and pillow as an option? Turtles who esacpe from their tanks often find places like these to hide. If you are traveling with your turtle, you can cover him with a towel so he can sleep, but when you are at home, your turtle should be in his tank to sleep.

4. Fish are fine in the tank with the understanding that anything that goes in the tank is likely to become food. Feeder guppies, minnows, and rosy reds are all good choices. Goldfish tend to be fatty with no nutritional value.

5. and 6. Your filter should be on all the time and your turtle shouldn't have any reason not to swim when it is on. Your turtle may be scared at first, or have trouble swimming by it, but it won't take too long for your turtle to build it's strength. What kind of filter do you have?

7. and 8. Generally RES are see and not touch pets. There really is no way of knowing if your turtle likes to be petted anywhere. You can usually tell if they don't like it because they will draw into the shell, but just because they don't draw into the shell doesn't mean they are enjoying it. The shell can be a sensitive area.

[Shinigami]

well my turtle likes coming outside of the tank ALOT and he likes sleeping under my blanket when hes on my bed or under the pillow then he closes his eyes and goes to sleep for a long time and when i pick it up and pet its belly it relaxes and spreads its legs and arms out and enjoys it. btw thnkx for the quick answers!

[Ozzyy]

how does he get out of the tank?

[Shinigami]

when he pokes his head out looking at me i pick him up

[jenaero]

That's not really good for him. Most reptiles get stressed out when handled. You should really just leave him in the tank.

[megcornell]

also, baby turtles can carry salmonella and you really don't want that all over your bedding

[KellyP]

also, baby turtles can carry salmonella and you really don't want that all over your bedding

Yeah I agree, don't put him near your bedding. He could make you very sick. And always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap when your done handling them. But as a rule you really shouldn't handle your turtle on a regular basis.