General Care Discussion :: O.K newbie turtle owner...don't get mad!!!!

[chrissy]

I just adopted 3 turtles RES

(well they were left in my new condo..strange but true)

One is quite large then they go down a shell size each...

I have some questions!!!!

How much water should be in the tank? I have it 1/4 full and it is a 90gallon.

I have the corner with a basking spot and the red light on them 8/h day.

No heater but the water is at about 76

No plants

No bottom rocks

I would like to get some plants

I would like to get some rocks but I hear they can choke? What about larger pebbles?

This is just the beginning of everything and I want this tank to be a haven for them..I will be reading through the site for any info I can gather also.

Any thing you can think of, pictures, ideas let me know!!

[SpotsMama]

I'm practically a newbie too, but I'll answer what I can. Some of the veterans will have to answer the rest.

There should be as much water in the tank as it will hold EXCEPT THAT you should not fill it to the top because the turtles will escape. They are master escape artists. They climb like monkeys. Fill the tank to within 5 or 6 inches of the top to allow a safety margin.

On the corner with a basking spot, is it sufficient for all the turtles to bask long enough to completely dry out each day? They need to be able to do this for the health of their shells.

I don't know about the red light - sounds like a heat lamp. A heat lamp is good over the basking area - that's what motivates the turts to bask - but you also must have good UVA and UVB light sources. The turtles won't be healthy without good light. Read up on light in general information and in the sticky notes, then do a little research using the "search" function. Then see what questions you have and ask them here.

Water temperature sounds about right but it needs to be almost constant for an indoor habitat. Is the ambient air temperature always 76 degrees? If it's more than a few degrees cooler you'll need a heater to maintain water temperature. Too cool is bad bad for the turtle's health.

Plants are good if they are the right kind. Look at the stickies in the Nutrition forum for a list of good and bad plants for turtles. Be forewarned - the turtles will eat the plants but that's good for them!

A few big rocks in the tank are good for the turtles to play with and to make the tank more interesting but they aren't essential. If you use rocks, be SURE they are pretty big so there is no way the turtle could eat them - and a turtle can swallow a surprisingly big rock. Just get a few rocks - if the bottom is covered with rocks, turtle poop and other junk will get trapped in the cracks and make keeping the tank clean a nightmare.

There's a ton of other stuff to know - about filters, tank cleaning, egg laying, etc. Welcome to the world of turtles! A fun and interesting world.

[missibsu]

What size are your turtles? Correct measurements would be from shell end to shell end, no head or tail, and don't include the curve. If there is a major difference between the smaller of the turtles and the largest one, then you may not want to keep them together. Larger turts can unknowingly harm smaller ones.

You can leave your lights on a little longer if you want. It's recommended that you try and mimic the patterns of the sun. So shorter hours in the winter and longer in the summer.

SpotsMama provided a lot of useful information. Don't forget to check out the main site too, it's full of things, and even slightly overwhelming. Just ask if you have questions!

[grey goose]

You've got a tank, that's one hurdle you won't have to jump over.....
You didn't say anything about a filter. If you need one, go big, especially with three turts in one habitat. Things can get messy....I use fluvals, but for a beginner, I suggest a rena filstar xp3 canister. Easier to set up and maintain. You're gonna need a heater, at least a 250 watt..300 would be better, if you can find one. Tronic, Stealth, Ebo-Jagger are all good choices. Also get the water level up to at least 3/4 full, more if you have a basking area that will allow it. And a screen top (turts are master escape artists).
Lighting: Heat lamp first, once the basking area is set, get a dome type lamp with a regular 60-75 watt (depending on distance) light bulb. Some keepers just place the fixture on top of the screen cover, others use a clamp and attach it to the tank. You'll also need a UVB light, Zoo-Med 5.0 or 10.0, and a fixture to go with it. Both lights should be arranged so they are focused on the basking area. The heat lamp needs to be positioned so the temp on the basking area reads around 90F. The UVB light should be placed 10-12" from the basking area. (If you go with a 10.0, no closer than 10 inches) Get a timer and run them 12 on, 12 off (day/night cycle).
Most of this stuff can be had @ Big Al's http://www.bigalsonline.ca/
Welcome to the Forum and the wacky world of turtle keeping! Feel free to ask as many questions as you like.
Now if I could just have a few minutes with the person who abandoned those turts.......

[chrissy]

OMG... what did I get my self into??

O.k.

When my digi cam is back from the shop I am going to post a picture of what I have...

Tomorrow I am going out to get a heater.

The filter I have is a whisper. 10 30i

Basking area is always dry but I will have to re build the area to allow the rocks to remain higher and dry so I can make the wather level higher.

The red light is a UV I believe or UVA (difference?)
I will be adding more water tomorrow after I add the heather.

I have kept chameleons so I know I have no heat lamp. Next on the list.

Yes.. They (the abandoners) were from India and I guess they had over 20 people living here and slept in the garage also!!! They went back home and left a lot here to be cleaned up along with the pets.

The neighbour has a strong Italian accent and he said " they looka likea sheep comming out everymorning" HAHA picture 20 people comming out of the house every day.

The landlord had enough and put it up for sale and I was the lucky new mommy, I have a cichlid tank with an aquatic soft-shell who is living well after a year in the 55 gal tank but do you think I can have them all together???

I seen some pictures on here with them combined, I would like that and I wouldn't cry if one if the RES had a snack.

[grey goose]

Yup, you're definitely in for an adventure.....I don't know about putting everybody together in the same tank, three RES turts, even juveniles, could cause some stress as far as room goes, and you could end up with a brawl on your hands.
On lighting for turtles lookie here:
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/care.htm#Lighting

And that Whisper filter? It'll be screaming after a week trying to keep up with three turtles.....you need something bigger.....much bigger.

[chrissy]

That is what I thought about the filter.. It's dirty already but it was the only filter available at the store at the time.

I am going to be in a hobby aren't I

Not that I mind, hell better spending on them then my slef!!

[Boogerbutt02]

Yes you are going to be in a hobby... but it is very rewarding... I love my turtles...

Everyone gave great adivce to you... I would like to add some thing... DON'T put any fish that you are attached to in with RESs.... They will eat anything you put in their tank including fingers...

Good luck with your new turtles... and thank you for taking the time and energy and interest for these wonderfull creatures...