General Care Discussion :: URGENT: BABY CARE FOR RED EAR SLIDER

[joshr82192]

I HAVE NEW HATCHLING THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS OLD! MY FRIENDS TURTLES HAD BABIES I HAVE THE BABY IN A 20 GALLON LONG TANK! AND NO ROCKS OR ANY THING EXCEPT THE BASKING AREA AND THE HEATER! CAN I PUT A FILTER IN THE TANK?AND HOW MUCH WATER DO I NEED TO PUT IN IT CAN I FILL IT LIKE I WOULD FOR A 4 INCH RES?
THANK YOU

[joeybsmooth]

You really need a filter . Normally most people here would suggest one 2xtimes the size of the tank.

I would slowly fill it up higher and higher and make sure he has a place to rest.

[Daniel3507]

read over the main site a couple times. it has alot of good information

[bradmeisel]

BOLD CAPS are rough to take. The turtle likes as much water as possible. Just be careful not to allow the little critter to escape.

[marisa]

If the hatchling is really only two months old (and therefore quite small), I'd not fill the tank up "as high as you can without the turtle being able to escape." I'd start a little less than half way and gradually fill the tank as the turtle grows. Besides the basking area, I'd get some fake plants for the turtle to rest on and hide in.

A filter would be good to circulate water (and make life a little easier for you), but it can be difficult, if the turtle is really small, to find one that's effective and not be so strong that the turtle would get buffeted around (angling the output toward the tank wall, if you can, would help in this regard, though).

[Bumby's Mom]

You need a filter but one that is very very calm. Even the smallest current will blow that baby all over the tank. DON'T fill it as high as you can to begin with. If it is 2 months old it should know how to swim by now but if you aren't sure about it then only fill the tank 1/4 of the way and then wait a few days and fill it half way, and so on. My babies knew how to swim by the time they were 1.5 months old so yours should do fine. Just have a lot of things it can grab onto if it needs to take a break (which they do a LOT).

[mikee]

Yes you need a filter. You need one that will turn the water at least 5 times per hour. If you have a 20 gallon you should pump that at least 5 times per hour. Stick to the temps and lighting requirements and you should do fine. Your hatchling will cool rapidly if you take him out of the tank and that is not healthy. Good Luck!! m.