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i have a question.
i regularly go home every other weekend
which means being away from the turtles
(leaving friday back on sunday)

ive read that it is not good to keep the lights on all day
if im away
should i keep the light on
or turn it off?

and if i feed them before i leave on friday morning
that means i have to keep the light on so they can digest?
but if i leave it on. then it's gona be on for the whole weekend

any suggestions?
thanks!

buy a timer then the light will go on and off automatically, i've got one on my turtles and on my fish, keeps them in a regular rythym..

they gotta be cheap mine only cost me $3.99 in nz .. and mostly our stuff is expensive

That's what I do, also you may want to get the "outdoor" timers so if your turtles splash on the timer it doesn't malfunction.

good point!

ahhh.
i knew u ppl would say to buy a timer..............................
looks like i dun haf any other option

but my point is.. if there's no such thing as a timer =P
is it better to haf too much light
or no light at all.. well.. it's next to a window.
so.. i guess they get a little day light........

You can get really good timers for very little cost. I got the one I use from Lowes for under $6. It's real basic but it gets the job done!

there is such thing as a timer ... so u should get one.
if they were in the wild they would have a nite and a day, so they need light and dark, they obviously arn't expensive, so you should just go and get one.

If you are away a lot, it gives the impression that you aren't really gone. We use timers for some of our lights as well as the tanks, just to keep people on their toes.

How about feeding? I am going away for thanksgiving from Friday to Sunday night. Is it okey just to feed them when I leave and restock there cuttlebone, and lettuce? Will they be okey for that long?

They should be fine feeding friday and then again when you get back on Sunday. Turtles in the wild don't eat as often or as frequently as our captive turtles do..

alrities!
thanks!!!
timer it is!
=)

turrbee wrote:ahhh.
i knew u ppl would say to buy a timer..............................
looks like i dun haf any other option

but my point is.. if there's no such thing as a timer =P
is it better to haf too much light
or no light at all.. well.. it's next to a window.
so.. i guess they get a little day light........

definantly get a timer.. i am a college student who goes home every weekend leaving her turtle thurs night-sunday night.. i have a timer for my turtle and its been working out nicely for the last 2 years...

also, you mentioned that you have his tank next to a window? this is a bad idea ... direct sunlight can cause the water in his tank to overheat rapidly... i suggest that you move his tank away from the window

Hey Jessica, you mentioned you were a college student. I am too, and I also use a timer, but my main problem has been the lack of space. For now I have my 5 inch RES in a 20 gallon (I know, bad, but I have no choice until I move out next year). What size tank do you have in your dorm?

its funny you say that... i also have a HUGE lack of space... and i also have my 5 inch res in a 20 gallon(long).. i also know its wayyy too small but dont have any other choice until next year too. i plan to get im a 100 gallon (or larger) when i am done with school... but for now this is really the best i can do for him , even though i know its not great, i do know what i NEED to do once i dont have to move twice a year to and from school.. also, there is just no room at all in my dorm for a bigger tank...

i feel bad for him but i had NO idea what i was getting myself into...(as most people dont when they get a RES)
i think the important thing here is that i DO KNOW what i need to do, and it will be done ASAP..
im sure u feel the same way too

I agree, and to be honest, I'm kinda glad there is someone else in the same situation. I actually already bought a 55 gallon that I have at home, but I can't move it back and forth, nor do I have the room for it here. So, next year I plan on getting an apartment and bringing it there, I know it's still too small to use for the rest of his life, but I saw it at a tag sale and it's much better than the 20 gallon lol.