General Care Discussion

I have just recently bought a RES Baby turtle about 2 days ago.
I bought him at a flea market not knowing that I needed to buy so much to take care of him.
The problem is that I'm only 13 years old and I don't have any money and my parents don't know anything about turtles.
I've looked on this website on how to care for the turtle etc. but it seems to be a lot of money.
Here is some info about my turtle and what he is currently in:
- His shell is about 1.5" in length.
- He hasn't eaten a single thing since I bought him 2 days ago.
- I am trying to feed him ZooMed Gourmet which has turtle pellets blended with dried shrimp, mealworms, and whole cranberries.
- What he is in currently is a very small clear plastic container which is 6.5"L x 4"W.
- There is only a big rock and about an inch of water in it.

After looking online, I feel terrible for buying him. He must be miserable and I really don't know what to do.
I asked my parents if they would buy me the items necessary to make him healthy and happy but they just seemed really annoyed when I asked since they don't want to spend money. My dad said he would take me to Petsmart this week to buy items for him.

I would like to know:
- How big the tank needs to be considering his shell is only 1.5" in length.
(I would like the tank to last a few years & I know he will grow but I still need a cheap priced tank)

- What I should feed him so that he will actually eat.

- Around how much would everything cost?

The things I know so far is he needs a nice tank, a water heater, water filter, a UVA/UVB Lamp, Heat Lamp, Thermometers, and a basking area.

If you could add things and specific items I need to take care of him that would be great.
Thank you.

There are ways to cut down costs, it just might not look as nice as some of the pictures people post. If you're able to make this into a family project, it'll be a lot easier too.

Can you get boiled chicken meat? Or canned tuna in water? See if he'll be willing to eat a little of that.

First of all, don’t feel bad – a lot of people don’t know how much care these turtles require until after they get them. At least you are doing your research.

For a tank for a turtle that size, I would suggest a 40 breeder. It has low sides and a large floor space, holds a good amount of water and will probably last you a couple of years or so. Your turtle might be about 5” in 2 or 3 years (it’s hard to predict) and at that point, I would personally upgrade to a 75 gallon or more. You can have your parents help you shop on Craigslist for a good deal on a used tanks. Plastic totes and stock tanks are another inexpensive alternative. Even filters can be found used on Craigslist – but again, involve your parents… I don’t want any 13 year olds contacting people online for any reason. Back to filters – this is where I’d “spend the money” so to speak.

Shop around. How much can a person spend on turtle tanks? I have two 75 gallon turtle tanks that I set up within the last year. I’ve probably spent over $1,000 between the two. I’m sure it could be done cheaper, then again, I’m sure others have spent more to. For used 75 gallons on CL, I’ve spent from $100 – $150 for tank and stand. I use Fluval 405’s which I bought new at around $250 or so.

Make sure you look at the main site if you haven't already. Most of the information you need is there and is VERY helpful. Checkout this link for startup costs. You can get away with only spending about $140 for minimal stuff.

Don't feel bad about buying him! He is with you now and you sound like a determined owner to get him a good home that he deserves.

As said above, at least you're doing your research, which is more than some people do when they buy a turtle all of a sudden. I am also in your position. I recently saved a turtle without realizing all the costs that are involved but I got through it with help from this wonderful forum and it's owners, so don't fear! I don't have all the answers to your questions but I'll try and help, based off the answers I have got.

He is small right now but will grow, as said above, to maybe 5" in a couple of years. Because of this, you will want to get a bigger tank NOW so that you don't have to spend more money later to upgrade to a bigger tank. I would also suggest a 40-50 gallon tank, that way when he's 5" it will still be enough room. Going to a pet store and buying new will be very expensive and most likely overpriced. I would suggest looking online, with the help of your parents, for a used tank on craigslist or any other website that allows people to post their stuff for sale. If you don't want to buy a bigger tank you can get a 20 gallon tank, however you will have to upgrade to a bigger tank quickly and in the end, it will cost you more money.

An even CHEAPER alternative to an aquarium is something called a stock tank. They are meant to hold water for animals (like you see on farms) so they are big, inexpensive and will get the job done. You can also buy big rubbermaid tubs. You have to make sure you enforce the sides and check it regularly as they aren't meant to hold water and can break easily. This would be your cheapest option. It doesn't look the greatest but hey, it gets the job done!

As said above, invest in the filter. This is what will keep the water clean so it's a really important one. The cost will vary depending on the brand and how big you get your filter. It is suggested that you get a filter that is rated three times the size of the tank. So if you have a 50 gallon tank, get a filter that is rated for over 100 gallons. The best bet for filters is finding a canister filter. This will be expensive and will cost you over $100 if you buy it new.

ZooMed makes turtle docks and this will be easiest to get at a pet store. I got a large one for $30 so they are affordable. It is also possible to get a little crafty and make your own dock, either on the tank or in the aquarium. Check out the Habitat - Indoor subforum for some examples of other owner's basking docks!

Turtles also like to swim so make sure, with whatever tank you end up getting, you fill it up as high as you can make it so that you can get the most swimming room.

I'm not sure what to feed baby turtles so I'm sure someone else can help you with this.

When I got my little turtle I made a thread and asked lots of questions just like you. I also got very informative answers in response so you might want to check out my thread here! It might answer some of your questions.

Best of luck! :mrgreen:

Thank you all of you. Currently I'm trying to make some money and I've found some really cheap 40-55 gallon tanks online.

I have a question since he is still not eating, can I feed him some chicken broth? I'll just cook it and then take out the chicken and give it to him?

Did you try the suggestions I posted earlier? If you want to give him a soak with some nutrients, try a diluted soak with pedialyte (I believe its a 50:50 solution with water).

Rains- Sounds like you have a good idea on what he needs. When purchasing the filter use gph as a guide. It needs to pump at least 5 times the volume that you have in the tank. A little more is ok. Don't let the pet store try and sell you on doubleing a size or use the term "Times" It does't mean a thing. The key thing is at least 5 times the volume and use gph. Do a little research on the net.

steve wrote:Did you try the suggestions I posted earlier? If you want to give him a soak with some nutrients, try a diluted soak with pedialyte (I believe its a 50:50 solution with water).

I haven't gotten the chance to go to the store yet but I'll go out and buy some canned tuna, and this might be a stupid question but what do you mean by a soak with nutrients?

A soak with nutrients means that you add to the water he is in, and he can absorb/drink some nutrients from it. Like pedialyte- it's designed to rehydrate the body and has nutrients in it, so using 1/2 pedialyte and 1/2 water and soaking the turtle in it is good for him! I did that for mine when it escaped and i couldn't find her for a whole day.

You could also try to feed him while he's in the soak, that way he might drink more of it with the food.

EDIT- Also, what is the room temp? Turtles like it warm and generally won't eat much if it's too cold because they rely on ambient temp for their matabolism. So when you go shopping check the pet section for thermometers- the kind for fish tanks. Some grocery stores will have them. Then you can check the water temp to see if it is warn enough for the turtle to eat in.

General Care Discussion :: Bought my very first turtle but I am not prepared

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