General Care Discussion :: need advice about moving turtle to new tank, new environment

[mrhappy]

long story short. I have had a red eared slider turtle living in a 15 gallon tank at work for the passed 2,3 years. it grew up in there from the size of a quarter to about 7-8 inches now. He is "mean", skittish on the platform, doesn't like to be touched, etc. But is completely at home inside his small tank.

His new 75 gallon tank will be ready in a few days, but I'm going on vacation for 7 days after that.

Do I...

#1, bring him home to his new tank, go on my 7 day vacation during which time he wont' be getting fed, but will be left alone to get used to his new home, or

#2, just wait until I get back from vacation.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I would say leave him somewhere he's safe, familiar with, and being fed. Adding him to a new environment, something could happen to him while you're gone. As for feeding, you could buy an automatic feeder. But I think 7 more days of "suffering" is better than something bad happening while you're away.

[Vivi]

you could also stick some fish in there for him.

[mrhappy]

hmm.. If I put fish in, then he won't need to go hungry.. and there won't be anything in the tank but his platform anyway so it's kinda hard for something to happen to him while we're gone.

[Vtolds]

If you want to put him i his new tank before you leave you really need to put something in he can eat while you are gone. You can add feeder fish or live plants like anarchis or get a automatic feeder large enough to handle turtle food. I would not suggest leaving him alone and hungry for 7 days that it is bad.

[Bascomb]

unhappy -- If he has been a tiny 15 gallon tank for three years, 7 more days will not hurt. I assume that he is getting fed and cared for at work. Besides making a big environmental change, which is a shock to your turtle, you want to make sure that you keep an eye on your new set up. There are a lot of things to consider like heater, uvb and uva lighting, and filter pump issues. There is a good chance you could experience new tank syndrome, which could throw your water chemistry all out of whack. After a couple of days you may need to make a 50 percent water change or more.

[marisa]

A healthy turtle the size of yours won't die without food for a week (he won't be happy about it, though), but can't you get some anachris and put a few carrot peels in the tank so he'll have something to munch on while you're gone? Put his lights on timers if you haven't already. Be prepared for a poopy, messy tank when you come back. If you're not comfortable with the layout of objects in the new tank and/or if you've just bought some new equipment and aren't familiar with it, I'd wait the week and put him in his new tank then.

[mrhappy]

I'm leaning towards waiting until I get back from vacation now ... I don't think the tank will be ready for him before then anyway.

[DocShay]

Well technically, humans can go a week without food. Doesn't mean its right...put yourself in his position.

Please get some underwater plants, feeder fish, or an automatic feeder while your gone. Or ask someone to feed him during the middle of that 7 day vacation.

[Turtle_Turtle]

turtles can last for 7 days without food because how would they hibernate(in the wild)? But you should still try and get something for them to eat

[focus12221]

Hibernation is a whole different thing in of it self, hibernation slows the body down considerably hence the long time before they need to eat, but hibernation is NOT recommended for a captive RES because the water will need to be Cold and you shouldn't bother him while he is in hibernation, also sand or something would be needed for him to dig himself into. So all in all not the best thing.