General Care Discussion

Alright, it's time for us to make our great migration North. 1200 miles, 2 RES's, 1 cat and 2 people and a bunch of stuff we can't seem to part with!!

Anyhow, I'm looking for some suggestions from those that have moved with their turtles be it a far distance or short and input from anyone with some ideas!

Schroeder and Klaus are ~11 months now but they rarely travel outside of their domain so this will be 22+ hours riding in a moving truck for them, so it should be interesting. The plan is two separate shoe boxes filled (not packed) with shredded news paper and lots of ventilation holes. Seeing as it's a hot climate we're leaving (110* today) I'm going to run a digital thermometer into each shoe box to keep an accurate eye on the temps. Ideally I'll try to situate them at ~78* which is what they've lived at their entire lives.

So here's where I need your help, anyone with suggestions? tips? other ideas? I'll post some pics of the set-ups in the next week as we finalize things and get ready to move. And help is appreciated!!!

What you have planned now sounds good but for 22+ hours they can dry out, I would suggest misting them as well so that way their skin stays moist during then trip. Also changing the newspaper after a day since you'll be misting it the newspaper, it being so thin in all, will absorbed a lot of water and become all grimey.
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Hope this helps

http://redearslider.com/transportation.html
this page has all the info you will need!
also bring some food or a clean ping pong ball for them to play with as well.

good luck!

I would say check on them after the first hour or so. If they've been awake during this time, they might be a little stressed and have pooped a lot in their container.

As long as the ambient air temp isn't cool (as in air from the AC), rather than the shredded paper, I'd put each on a damp hand towel/face cloth for humidity and put a cloth over each to burrow under. If you're traveling in dry heat, I'd bring a mister to spray them periodically (and redampen the cloths they're on). A few extras on hand might be good in case they soil them. If you're going to put the boxes on the floor of your vehicle, I'd put some padding down to minimize vibrations.

I would suggest that you use a plastic container with damp or wet towel. I would not let them get over 80 degrees and I would suggest that when you stop at night have a container where they can swim and hydrate a little. Keeping them at the 78-80 degree range and damp is important.

I moved last year from So. California to Georgia with my turtle and a rabbit. I just used a 10 gallon bucket filled halfway and changed the water at a rest area if I needed to (for the turtle, not the rabbit

). Most rest areas have a water pump. I don't know if that's the best way to do it, but she did just fine. The bucket was wedged in between the seats in my car. With normal driving it didn't splash out, unless the turtle was swimming like crazy. I figured she'd be more comfortable being able to submerge herself. When we stopped at a motel and I let her enjoy the bathtub.

It really isn't a good idea to have a turtle traveling in water in a moving car, just in case something happens and driving isn't "normal" anymore.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

So plan of attack is as follows - 1 shoe box sized dark rubbermaid container for each turtle. I am drilling holes along the top ridge and in the top of the lid itself.

I'm going to line the boxes with loose rags and fill the rest with shredded news paper. I'll have extra news paper and rags to change out as necessary. Also a squirt bottle to mist them as needed.

The trip will be 2 days and one overnight stay. So I'll have my small 20 gallon tank available for them to swim and such at the hotel after the first days trip. First day will be 13 hours of travel and the second will be 10 or so by the time we arrive and I setup their permanent home.

I realize these a pretty resiliant creatures but their world is going to be quite different for a few days so I want to make sure they are in the best situation as possible.

Anyhow, and more critiques to my plan are welcome and I'll post some pictures of the setup in the next few days!

A plastic tub would be just a fine as the 20 gallon tank and easier to handle. I would probably have a few of their favorite treats ready when you feed them

General Care Discussion :: Big move coming up - input and suggestions welcomed

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