General Care Discussion :: Urgent Help Please about RES New Owner!

[brrrreeee]

My family and I are in Hilton Head for the week and when we stopped at a small shop around the corner, we could not resist the turtles they had inside. My cousin and I decided to get one, and asked some questions about taking care of the turtles. They told us what temperature to keep them in, how much to feed them a day, how big they get, and a little sheet explaining the rest. They are very young (about 2 and a half inches long) and are only in a small tank (about 6x6). We are here until saterday and we had gotten them on sunday. We bought the food pelets and our turtles have not been eating since we have bought them. I am really worried that maybe we don't have them at the right temperature because we have no way of telling. We also have them in a small tank and I was wondering if I should get a big tank right away and how big. I have a feeling they aren't eating because we are handling them too much, not aware of how much we should handle them until I fould this site. Obviously, the little sheet they gave us left out a lot of information. Please someone help with basic care, I am worried!

[WyredHardware]

It is very likely that your turtles are stressed out. New surroundings and strange people playing with them. Give them time to be alone and calm down. For now resist the urge to play with them. You may have to give them some food and leave them alone. They may eat when you have left their sight. Remember to offer veggies. http://www.redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html They may not eat it right a way but offer veggies every day. Sooner or later they will start munching them.

As for basic care .. http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_info.html

Your turtle will end up getting quite big. Females (RES) can grow up to 12inches in length. As for a tank get the biggest you can afford. Look out things get expensive fast so shop around. For your turtle at 2.5inchs (shell length) you need about 25 Gal tank minimum. Keep in mind you need a filter that can filter twice the size of the tank (20gal tank.. a filter rated for 40gal). Remember lighting as well. UVB is very important.

Basking and lighting needs...

http://www.redearslider.com/index_lighting_basking.html

I also recommend reading this site top to bottom there is lots of great information.
Welcome to the site and make sure to post a pic of your new turtle... we like to look at them and go.. AAAAAAAAAAA

PS.. I am assuming you bought a RES right??

[megcornell]

http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_care.html
This tells you the basics on RES care. As it's midweek now it's your call on whether you buy a set up there or at your hometown. Either way you should definitely stop handling the turtles as it's stressing to them. Do they have a dry place to get out of the water? At the very least they'll need that for the rest of the week. It's not unusual that they aren't eating as they're going through a stressful time now.
When you do buy a set up, get the largest tank you can. You'll need to buy a filter rated for a tank that is 2-3x as large (so a 40-60 gallon filter for a 20 gallon tank), two lamps (one with a housebulb for UVA, and one UVB bulb), water heater, and basking dock. You can also buy plants and other decorations for the tank.

[marisa]

Welcome to the forum. If you're vacationing far from home, I wouldn't buy a complete set-up. I would, however, go shopping and buy a largish Rubbermaid or Sterlite storage container to give them more room (6 inches X 6 inches? They must be falling over each other...) temporarily, get/make a basking area for them and put a heat light on them (can be a regular lightbulb). You could bring them outside for sun a few times during your stay for sun (UVB rays). It sounds like they need to get used to their new home, and they'll probably have a period of adjustment when you get them into a more permanent home after your vacation.

Any pet stores where you are (or even a Walmart)? You could buy a thermometer to check the temp just to make sure it's ok...

[RunninWideOpen]

Ditto on what every one else has said! I'm with Marisa, get a rubber maid temporary container. Otherwords you would have to be replacing the water in the 6x6 thing every day or a couple times a day to keep it clean (turtles dirty it up quickly) and that would be very hard to get/keep the water temp right and it means you have to handle them more. Your turtle really needs time to settle down and get comfy right now without much going on.

Once you get it home and in a permenent setup and get into a feeding routine and all your turtle will (slowly, over months) get to know you and get more comfortable with you. But for right now, you need to let him be still and calm as much as possible.

Congrads on your new turtle!!! They're so much fun and relaxing!