Habitat - Indoor :: HELP! NEW RES OWNER!

[rosielorien]

well, today my sister came home from chinatown in NYC with a pair of baby RES. thank god they're in good health, but we have ABSOLUTELY NO habitat for them. for the past couple of hours they've been in a girl scout cookie case swimming in some tupperware with bottled water. what are some of the basics to buy? what size tank should we get? is 20-30 gallons ok? HELP!!

[turboturtle8]

Ok well first off if you haven't already check out this link

http://redearslider.com/startup.html

If they are babies start off with a 30 gal so it gives them room to grow.You can buy really cheap ones or real expensive ones.You will need a submersible heater to mantain the temp.You will also need a filter.Try to pick a filter 2 to 3 times higer rating.So if you have a 10 gal tank get a filter for a 30 gal and so on.UVA heatlamp and a UVB heatlamp setup at the side of the tank.A thermomter just to make sure what the temp is.Preferbly a digital one they work better.They need somewhere to bask or dry off at so maybe get a ZooMed basking platform either at Petsmart or Petco.If you don't already get a stand for there tank.



Food I would give them pellet like Reptomin daily and start them off with veggies.

having a RES is a big responsibilty of you have the right setup and feed them the right amounts they will be fine.

[steve]

Start with a Rubbermaid container, use warm water. Go to a pet store and get a fully submersible water heater, 2 thermometers, a small fish net, some Baby Reptomin and some gammarus. Avoid handling them and give them some privacy. Use the heater to get the water around 80F. Don't leave them in there while you are filling it with water and put them in only when the water is around 78-80F. Add a basking area ( a dry area) where the can easily climb onto. Add a heat lamp (a regular light bulb will do) and use the 2nd thermometer to make sure that the area is about 90F. Do not keep them in cool air, exposed to drafts, near a closed OR open window. Use the net to scoop out uneaten food and solid waste.

Next look into the largest tank you can get and afford. 2 will grow fast and quickly out grow a small tank. Check online and get a filter rated 3X greater (if you get a 60 gall tank, get a filter for a 180 gall aquarium). Also get a better basking area, a heater suited to your tank size, some water conditioner and a UVB bulb.

[rosielorien]

THANKS! we put them in a bigger tupperware, but since petco was closed and i was warm, they enjoyed basking outside on top of the floating butter dish. my mom says there gonna die in 3 days (pessimist!), so we might start out with a 10-15 gallon tank, basking area, and a filter.

on another note, the turtles are about an inch in diameter and arn't eating much. are they still running on yolk sack? we put small bits of carrot and celery as well as "turtle food" from a can in the water but...

and, they are SUCH good swimmers. is 2-3 inches of water too deep? THANKS A MILLION!

[rosielorien]

btw, if anyone has any cool tank pics for inspiration, that would be GREAT. =]

[berkleykc]

if you go to the top of this page you can do a search on tank pics. Or you can go to the habitat indoor forum either way you'll find a ton

[grey goose]

The photo section has lots of tank pics....There is lots of info on this site for newbies (Thanks steve!). Long ago, I was in the same situation, a turtle with no home! Hang in there, they may not be the easiest pet to take care of, but they are not the hardest either.

[DavidY]

Ha ha ha! I love the names you picked out for them!

[RunninWideOpen]

It's not too likely your turtles are going to die in 3 days, especially if they really are in good health. If you take care of these little guys and give them what they need, everything turboturtle said, they can live 20-50 years. They make great long term pets.

See the feeding and nutrition section on the main site. Celery isn't really good for them, but baby turtles are more carnivorous anyway. Feed them things like mealworms, bloodworms, etc. There are also baby turtle pellets that are good for them. It may take them a couple days to get used to their new environment before they start eating.

Make sure you get that heater. Their water needs to be at 80deg. If it's too cold they won't eat either.


Baby turtles are not like getting a goldfish and you have them for a few days and then they die. They require a lot of things for them to be properly cared for. and grow to be up to 12" long. They're a long term commitment. Just so you know. They're a lot of fun though and eventually start to develop personalities and get to know you.