General Care Discussion :: Need Advice.

[Pedromman]

I was Planning on Getting a RES, But all of the sudden my parents dont want me to get one even tho im paying for it...There excuse is that it will smell to bad...
Can someone Please give me some Advice of what to tell them so that they will allow me to have one?

I will be so glad if i can persuade them...
Thanks in advance.

P.S, i found a 80 Gallon Tank on Craigslist.com for 75 Dollars and it has a Stand...this a good deal?

[octpusgirl8]

If you keep the water clean your turtle will not smell at all. It's not hard, just make sure you buy a good filter. And about the tank, that seems like a pretty good deal to me as long as it's in good condition. Good luck convincing them!

[squirtles mom]

Well the turtle itself doesn't smell bad, but if you don't keep up with maintaining the tank and have the proper filtration, their tanks can smell very bad, like sewage.

They are very messy eaters and poopers, but with proper maintenance and a good filter you should be okay......

That is a great deal for that size of a tank, If you are able to make sure you check it out before you buy it for cracks and that they both are in good condition.

[redearninjaturtles]

just DONT GET SMALL rocks because food and poop gets under there and its hard to make sure you got all of it. (trust me i had the experince so i took out the rocks)

also get a baby RES, my parents think they are very cute and enjoy watching them! escpecially when they beg.

i got mine at a chinese store for only $10!

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I would adopt one, not buy one from one of those little pet stores that keep them in a small tank with a dozen other RES. There are tons of RES out there in need of a good home, adoption is the way to go.

[Starchick]

I clean Napoleon's tank every other week and clean the filter weekly, and it does not smell at all.

[octpusgirl8]

xsavingsaturdayx is on to something with the adoption idea, you could tell them about all the poor lonely turtles out there that just need someone to adopt them and love them. If they're at all animal lovers that might be a good angle to work. Besides, you would be doing a wonderful thing by taking in a turtle that needs a good home.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Regular water changes & good filtration will help prevent smell. The only turtles that smell bad are the ones that aren't taken care of.

I've got an adult RES (9 inch long shell & her poop is very large!) and she doesn't smell at all. I do complete water changes once a month, and change her filter media once a week. Plus, I add some enzyme waste degrader to help break down her large poop (you don't need waste degrader if you have a small turtle).

Make sure you also set aside some extra money in case your turtle gets sick. I would set aside about $100 (you won't necessarily need that much, but it is a good estimate to include the visit plus medications). Money for a vet (or other supplies) is usually a bigger problem than a smelly tank.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

xsavingsaturdayx is on to something with the adoption idea, you could tell them about all the poor lonely turtles out there that just need someone to adopt them and love them. If they're at all animal lovers that might be a good angle to work. Besides, you would be doing a wonderful thing by taking in a turtle that needs a good home.

Yup, and another plus is that animal shelters take realy good care of their animals. Meaning you can dodge the whole:

"i got my turtle from a pet shop near my house, they kept him in with a dozen other RES in a 10 gallon tank, he seemed okay until now. Now he isnt opening his eyes and he swims crooked, WHATS WRONG!?"