General Care Discussion :: feeling horrible about my turtle care

[dupras2453]

Well, i have had my two turtles for about 5 years now, they are both females. One is 5" long and the other 6" long. Up until a few months ago i have been completely ignorant about turtle care. They were kept in a 20 gallon tank with 4 inches of water, no filter, a basking bulb with no UVB bulb, and have had a diet of only turtle pellets. After reading through this website i have been horrified and angry at myself for being such a terrible care giver for them. I have recently upgraded to a 55 gallon tank (that has just sprung a small leak so now i am getting a new one on Monday) with a large external canister filter. I have also added a water heater and some river rock (1/2" to 3/4" in size) that i am debating about removing. They both appear healthy besides some moderate pyramiding on one of them and they both are really active and get along very well. I realize that the tank is still a bit under sized but it seems like for now they have plenty of room to swim around for at least a year. I just started reading up on the laying of eggs of female turtles and i wasn't aware of how they can lay eggs that are unfertilized so now i have that to worry about. On Monday i plan on going out and getting a UVB bulb to go along with everything. I want care for these turtles the best i can and i was wondering if there was anything else that i need or any extra tips or general comments. I have read through the website and everything but i am just really paranoid now that i might loose one or both of them due to my previous poor care.

thanks,

Ben

[BullDog]

Welcome to the forum. It's OK. A lot of turtle owners start out not understanding the needs of their RES.

Since you're in the market for a new tank, I would recommend getting the largest you can afford. The bigger the better. If you've got two females, they've still got a lot of growing to do. In the long run, it's better to go big now, rather than buying multiple setups down the road. You can also look into stock tanks, which you can find at farm supply stores. You can get big ones (100 gal+) for a good price, $100-150). If you want to go the glass tank route, check out craigslist, kijiji, and your local classifieds, since you may get lucky and find a good deal on a used tank.

Sounds like you've got the basics covered. If you've got any specific questions, just ask, and the forum members will help you out as best they can.

[EmperorTunaFish]

^^edit: doh beaten. ninja post wasn't there when i started

Welcome to the site. Instead of beating yourself up, be happy that you're able to accommodate your pair of terrapins. Many people start in the dark regarding the level of gear/requs turtles require.

Gear wise, a lot of people will suggest getting the biggest tank you can get your hands on; whatever you put in the bottom of it shouldn't be able to fit in a turtles mouth. There's a big thread on GCD about gravel/small rock and all the terror it brings.

[joeybsmooth]

Hey,

Nice to have you along. For some reason people do not understand how to take care of turtles, or they think they know and past false information . So just be happy and know that you are now one of the few people that know what to do for your little guys. um little gals .

One thing that I like to tell people is that turtles are not smelly, if you smell your turtles than you are doing something wrong lol.

[Azfar]

One thing that I like to tell people is that turtles are not smelly, if you smell your turtles than you are doing something wrong lol.

Yeah~! I agree with dat.. hihi

[Rubicon]

Most of us were down the same road.

[dupras2453]

thanks guys, now i am just puzzled how they got along so long without the UVB light with them not being in sunlight much if at all.

[novroz]

Dupras, welcome and join the club I used to be like you.

I think you should make time to let them out once in a while (with you wacthing over them, of course!!) they really enjoy sunlight and wouldn't stop walking around. Mine has those walking in the sun time at least once every two weeks (most often once a week)

[Bascomb]

dup-53 I went through the same thing when I started out. There was no internet had to learn from trial and error. The pet shops at that time and now know very little about turtles. I lost a couple until I went to a herp meet at a local university. You are on the right track. The suggestion that you get a tank as large as you can afford is a good one. Ten gallons per inch of is the norm and or the rule of thumb. Your filter should turn the water at least 5 times per hour. You know the rules by now --. Good Luck. b.

[mackadocious]

depending on where you live (or where you may be visiting) you may be able to purchase a glass tank for real cheap from a company that makes them custom...i know of companies in tennessee and california for sure....

as for eggs, if they haven't started laying them yet, they might not ever...i had two females, just a lil bit bigger than yours (had to give one away recently ) and they didn't start laying till they were about 4-5 years old and laid eggs that one season/year and it's now going on 2 years with no more eggs....when the eggs were goin on, i tried in vain to provide adequate nesting areas but which ever girl it was they both turned their noses up at it and would lay ONLY in water.....site info says that's bad and a last resort, but i did lots of research, including even soil mix, but they didn't care.....

i think the egg thing is prolly THE most paranoia invoking item with turts tho plenty on this site to make you paranoid

anyways, hope they don't ever lay eggs for your sake...good luck!

[trudykurz]

dupras, I got my female RES the day Hurricane Ike hit us on the Gulf Coast. This poor girl was approximately 2 years old and in horrible conditions. She still doesn't have the best setup but I'm working on it. Just know that you are giving the best care you can and keep working towards a final setup, everyone here is right, the bigger the better!