smithee1 wrote:How should I introduce it to him and what should I start with? I read that you should feed them before they bask.
You want veggies to become a staple and protein items are for treats, only. However, until your turtle grows a little, they are carnivorous moreso. So stick with a head-sized amount of pellets every day. It may seem like you are starving him, but you aren't. And it will prevent pyramiding in the future. Don't worry about feeding him before he basks, but finding a good consistent time for feeding is helpful.
smithee1 wrote:Do I feed him on the basking area?
Nope, turtles need water to digest their food because they don't produce saliva. Just drop anything you are feeding into the water for him.
smithee1 wrote:I'm also not sure how often to feed him. He's a little ole thing. Maybe an inch or inch and a half.
Once per day is fine, if you want to feed more often, it's best to set aside a head-sized amount in something like a pill box and only feed that amount over the day.
smithee1 wrote:
His shell looks great but I put a big rock in there for the basking area and I'm noticing some algae building up on it. What should I do?
He is in a 10 gallon tank with a 5-15 gallon filter. He also does get quite a bit of sunlight through the windows.
The direct sunlight will cause algae growth and due to the filtering of the glass, your turtle will receive no benefit from it. You can actually do more harm than good. Try to find a different place for the tank. Some algae is normal, I've got the brown type growing in my tank.
smithee1 wrote:Last but not least I'm still kind of unsure what kind of light bulb I need. I'd prefer to buy the kind that offers all of what he needs. Any suggestions?
The only dual-purpose bulb available is called an mercury vapor bulb, and you cannot use it unless you have a tank of 50 gallons or more. Right now, you'll need two bulbs or a larger tank! You'll be needing that 50 gallon before the next year or two anyways, so if you come across a deal, scoop it up. Until then, many of us have either ReptiSun or ReptiGlo compact fluorescent bulb 5.0 26W and I use a 60W household bulb for heat.
What is your setup like? That 10 gallon is already probably too small, so you'll want to get a bigger tank. Also, make sure you have a water heater. Without warmth, the turtle's metabolism will take a nose-dive and they'll basically starve to death. You want a water temp of around 80 for such a small turtle.
And most important: MANY MANY turtles, when purchased under 4", are sick already and frequently do die. Please be ready for any such illnesses or emotional strain on your child. You can get lucky, I did, my turtle ended up fine. But we have a lot of hatchlings on the board die. So keep a close watch on him, esp. for the first few months, make sure he's growing well and eating well and not lethargic at all. It has nothing to do with inexperience on your part (well, sometimes it does), but it is from the poor conditions the baby turtles are kept in.
Any other questions?!?
T
. THEY'RE MISLEADING, we know! I bought a 10 gallon when I first started RES keeping... what a mistake! RES need 10 gallons of water PER every inch of shell. a 10 gallon will only do you justice for the first couple of months. UNLESS you have no way of forking up $$ for a bigger tank or the space to accommodate it, I highly recommend starting off with a big tank. captive RES (within proper care/feeding) can grow up to 4-5" during the FIRST YEAR! as if that isn't enough, male RES can reach up to 8" while females can get up to 11". thats 80-110 gallons of water! 
